I know nearly all these threads on here are about queen and kitten welfare but what about breeder welfare?

Having heard of a case last year where someone left their house & came back to all her cats being stolen bar a few I have been thinking about this issue along with personal security with strangers coming in to the house.

Just wondered what other people had been doing or if they had even thought about this aspect. I won't be allowing anyone in my house unless my husband is there & I won't be saying "sorry that isn't suitable, we're out". My husband also said that he doesn't like the idea of kittens on the ground-floor in case someone thinks "£££" and likes their chances.

I feel the same it is scary, and Ive had some right weirdos

__________________

You seem to have had more than your fair share TB

Messyhearts - I don't breed but have pedigree cats from two different breeders. The first time I visited each of their houses, there were two adults present, male and female. This didn't bother me at all, in fact, it didn't enter my head it may be for security. The next time I visited to bring my kittens home, the breeders (female) were alone. So, I think you're right to get hubby to be at home, at least for the first visit as you're sure to get a feeling if they're weirdos or not - in which case you probably wouldn't let them have one of your kittens. Good luck

lol Im always one of those people, I get random weirdos/odd people come up and talk to me! They say its because im a smily person i look approachable!! will try and keep mouth shut in future! opps i mean

__________________

Exactly my train of thought!

I am both apprehensive and excited about next year when I hope to be breeding my first litter & I am worried about things like this. It worries me that there are elder single women who do let strangers into their home who may think that they have several hundreds of £ cash about (if kittens have just been homed) or that the kittens are easy cash if stolen & sold on. I am a natural worrier though.

I don't worry/think about this hugely but I have changed certain things I do. I personally know a breeder who left a (supposedly) husband and wife couple in her lounge (they'd come to see the one remaining kitten from a litter) whilst she went out to the cattery to retrieve the mother of the kitten to show them. On returning after just a few minutes they were gone and so was the kitten A very good reason to ensure that contact details you've been given - such as address, phone number, etc - are 'kosher' before allowing anyone into your home.

Separately... I know not all of us have outside accommodation for our cats but a lot of us do. Prospective purchasers are always told that breeders they visit should be 'open' and happy to show them all their cats, where they live, etc, but this also raises a big security issue. Showing what are, in effect, total strangers around your house and garden obviously allows anyone to see what sort of security you have (or haven't), access in/out of the garden, cattery security, etc.

I now never have people visit to see kittens unless my partner is here and I no longer routinely take people outside to see any of my cats that might be in the cattery at the time. In how many other situations do we regularly give strangers a tour of our home? Not many.

As an added security measure, you (as the breeder) could make a note of the car registration number of prospective buyers. Not much I know, but in addition to phone number and address it's a little bit of additional info about the people who are visiting your home should you ever need to try and trace them. It seems highly unlikely that people would put false plates on if they intended to steal a kitten!! It doesn't hurt to be vigilant but instinct plays a bit part in who we allow into our home. MH - trust your instinct

Am I just a trusting soul? None of this had ever crossed my mind
I have to deal with a lot of strangers (and very odd some of them are too ) during my work and am in a position where I could be in danger because of that job but it has never occurred to me to be worried about it or worried that the people who come to see my kittens might be intent on stealing them or robbing me
Allowing strangers into your home? My previous house was on the market for 2 years and I lost count of how many people got the 'grand tour'.

__________________

How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

I agree, for the most part. I'm very trusting and can honestly say that I've never had anyone who's come to see kittens that I've been the least bit suspicious of and that's over several decades. I don't think it hurts to be vigilant though; the world seems to me to be a very different place than it was even just 30 years ago. Pets (usually pedigree dogs) stolen from gardens and people's houses... and the instance of the kitten I mentioned above, although rare, isn't a solitary case.

I keep a few 'pure bred' chickens (just for eggs, we don't breed them) and, as unbelievable as it may sound, the theft of pure bred poultry from enthusiasts premises is a huge problem countrywide.. most often the thefts happening when a member on an internet forum has openly discussed, in general conversation, what shows they're attending and thus away from home all day.

I don't get hung up on it and it's usually the furthest thing from my mind when I'm dealing with kitten enquiries and people visiting... but I don't think it hurts to be a bit mindful.

I too dont really dwell on the issue to much, my catteries are alarmed,cctv,and insured against damage from someone breaking in, all the cats are insured against theft or straying, any animal in my care is also insured for the same.Because we have a strangers coming into the house we bought a fairly decent safe, to keep everything in, just incase.

So I kind of just go about my daily routine, I do make sure that when people are visiting I have someone else present, either the kids or my wife

__________________
http://www.funkyfurballs.co.uk