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ADVENTURES > STARTING A CATTERY.

Last day of the year 2005.
For a lot of people this is the moment to reflect on the year that's about to end. It's also a moment to look forward and to make plans for the year to come. Personally I don't do that much, but this year things were different.

On Friday December 30th as of 3.30 p.m. I watched every news broadcast and especially the weather forecast. There was a blizzard passing over the Netherlands, followed by black ice. In the north-west of the country there was no public transport. In the south, just under 's Hertogenbosch there fell about 15 cm of snow. I missed the black ice, I was asleep by then. Not that I slept peacefully.... I had made plans to travel to Emmen the next day, by train. It wasn't until the end of the night that the black ice was expected in the east of the country. So if there would be trains going?

Saturday I got up around eight o'clock and searched cee-fax for any news. I didn't become much wiser, so I phoned the national travel information-line. Of course all the employees were busy and I had to wait five minutes. The lady on the other end of the line told me that all trains were on the move again and there were no expected delays. Thank goodness. After summoning up my courage, I got on the 9.25 intercity to Zwolle and pulled a book out of my bag. After 90 minutes I got on the next intercity, to Emmen, where I arrived around 12.30 p.m.

Emmen is the city where the breeder of my Burmese cats lives. About four years ago it was with her that I found my first Burmese. Regular contact by phone and email resulted in my first, careful steps in the show world. My second Burmese was blessed with very nice show results. Fully addicted on the breed it wasn't long before number three entered my life.

In the meanwhile I started to get itchy. I thought it very pleasant to breed a litter my self. With a castrated female and two castrated males that is somewhat difficult. That meant that there would have to be an other one. Was that possible? If I wanted to breed, how would I do that in a responsible way? What would I have to know or do?

After asking around, I found a few experienced breeders who wanted to assist me. From answering questions to tips and from advise to the offer of a little female for breeding. After careful consideration and talking to wise and sensible people, I decided. I would accept the offer of the kitten and in the mean time I would prepare myself for the first litter and all that's involved with that.

So on the last day of the year I went to Emmen to see my new Burmese girl. She has a lilac-tortie coat and ooh how little she is. Particularly compared to the giant of seven months that lives at home. She will remain with her mother for a few weeks more to grow big and strong enough to start the journey and move to me.

At fourteen weeks old Mirre travels from Emmen to Sint Michielsgestel. The introduction goes well. The three “oldies” watch her climb out of the pet carrier and want nothing to do with her. They retire to quieter rooms and ignore her. Zohra also retires, just to be sure. Robbyn looks, sniffs and moves backwards whining. “Oh no”, you see him think, “let's get out of here!” And Djavi.... he can't believe his eyes. Is that for him? Cóól!!!!

Mirre explores the room, tail held high, followed at the paw by Djavi. Each time she disappears from his sight, he seems to panic. Where is she? O, I can't get there, now what? Luckily she returns every time. It's a pleasure watching them. They are the best of friends in no time.

In the next two weeks, she tries to conquer the hearts of all the other cats. She won Djavi's harts just looking at him, the others are less easily surrendered. Of course she succeeds just fine. From that moment on I find myself on the couch with a tangled ball of cats all over me. I love it!

But now? What do I need to know? A lot, quite a lot, it seems to me, but where to start? I think it's wise to start at the beginning (where else). The first thing to encounter is a cat in heat. When does she go to the stud? Does she need to be on the pill until then? Is there a need for extra vaccinations or deworming before mating her or before she has her litter? Where does she have her litter, can the other cats remain nearby?

All these questions I put to several breeders. The answers are short and clear. A cat in heat goes to the stud around the 3rd day. The pill is used, but only when the periods of heat follow each other too soon. The normal vaccination is good for a year, but the owner of the stud might require more. Deworming is done 7-10 days before the delivery or even during delivery. The delivery will take place in my living room. Where? In a box, a crate or a basket, what ever she prefers. The ideal size is approximately 40x60 cm. Whether the others are allowed near, is up to the mother. But if I don't trust them, I have a bench handy.

The first steps are taken, the first knowledge gained. I'm not there yet, but I have plenty of time to learn what I need.

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