Hi there, just wanted to post this in the breeders' section, I would be interested in your perspective on this.

When we got our Maine Coons last year the breeder stipulated in the kitten contract that the cats must be kept enclosed. Either they must be house cats, or we must enclose our garden and keep it cat-proof so that they can't freely roam around the neighbourhood. This of course we did: it's only a small garden but the cats have plants, lawn and trees to climb, a good view up and down the street, and they even manage to catch the odd bird and mouse. We've built them some tree platforms and a ladder to make it more interesting for them. And we get peace of mind that they are safe. So we are happy with the arrangement, even though all our previous cats freely roamed in our street with no problems. I sometimes feel a bit sorry for my lads now, that they can't explore a wider area, but this is a compromise and when you hear of what can happen to them out in the big wide world I'm thankful that I always know where they are.

My question is, is it now common practice among breeders to put this in their contracts? And if so, when did it become common practice? None of my friends and family really understand why we are so careful about keeping our cats in. My in-laws had pedigree blue shorthairs about 20 years ago and they did not have to keep them enclosed, so they feel rather sorry for our cats that they are restricted in this way, especially as our cats are such big athletic young creatures at the moment. I'm sure some of our friends think we've gone paranoid, but I usually explain it by saying 'but we are contractually obliged to keep them enclosed', or 'the road's much busier these days', or 'there are so many student houses in our road that we don't know our neighbours'.

From a breeder's point of view, is it that you've spent so much time and effort breeding your cats, that you want to ensure that they are safe in their new homes? Is it that each kitten is still partly your baby, even when they're in their forever home?

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Rescue cats for many years, currently one moggie and 3 young Maine Coons.

I can't comment on how long but it is extremely common place for this to be a clause in a contract and yes it is because breeders still care about kittens when they are in their new homes. It is devastating to hear of a cat being run over and this is so easily avoided.

I explain it to people by refering to the changing practices that have occured in dog ownership oer the last 40-50 years. It was common practice to just let your dog out the front door, no leads or 'walking' of the dog.

Now its considered cruel to let a dog free roam, due to all the trouble it could get into, or the bother it could cause to other people.

Why is a cat different? They can get run over, cause accidents, get stolen, poisoned, poo on other people's property ( in children's sand pits + veg patches), kill the local wildlife. You only have to read forums regularly to hear of the heartache a missing or injured pet can cause. Cats don't really understand roads, I wouldn't let a small child, a dog or a cat out on its own to take its chances.

Mostly my birmans got to indoors homes, I hae agreed to a few being allowed out on thier own, but these cats lived on large private grounds.

It is becoming more common to see that in contracts. I understand why some breeders do it, but I don't think its right.

Personally, I would never ever buy from a breeder who demanded what I do or don't do with the cat I am buying. My cat, my rules.

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I don't know how long it has been but it is now very common especially amongst some breeds in particular.
Personally I don't stipulate that my kittens must be indoor or enclosed only but I do advise that they should be. It has broken my heart to lose cats in the past, I would rather that others avoid that but can only say that they should do what they feel to be in the best interest of their own cat.

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

Same for me - I would SERIOUSLY advise that cats are indoors or kept in a run as pedigrees are prone to being stolen and are renowned for walking up to ANYONE and allowing themselves to be picked up, they also seem to be unable to gain road sense. Having had a cat escape from the run and get run over 2 months later having been on the run since I know how horrid it feels to lose and then be informed of the death of a loved animal. However, it is impossible to enforce but I would hope a new owner would be honest about their situation and take my advise. Pedigree cats are expensive too - and to see a £500 cat wandering about on the street makes you wonder if it has wandered and needs rescuing.

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please look at my website - www.finesthourcats.webs.com - for gorgeous GCCF registered RagaMuffins and Selkirk Rex

someone that I know that breeds Ragdolls puts it in the contract but is flexible on it - it's mainly there to see what type of owners the people are...

if they protest it but have no reason to protest she won't sell them the kitten, if they want to let it out 'cos that's what you do with cats' then she won't sell to them

however if they go "well, come see the estate, we live in the middle of 6 acres of private land" etc - then it may be removed from their contract if she is happy that the area is safe - though she still advises that with being ragdolls - their personality and coat type makes roaming a fairly daft idea

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My contract stipulates that cats are NEVER to be allowed out on their own, and must either be kept as house cats or have a cat run/professionally cat proofed garden which is the only place they are allowed to explore. I am absolutely not flexible on those points. Why? Because every one of those little kittens that leaves for a new home takes a piece of my heart with them, and I will never stop caring for them or loving them, no matter how many years they've been gone. I don't want to hear that one of them has been run over or gone missing, because it would torment me that I, by my choice of home, had put my cat in that situation. Most breeders never stop caring about their cats, so I can understand why this is in many contracts these days.

If a cat is let out to roam, there is a possibility that it might be stolen by someone else. In this situation, who knows the kind of home it could end up in.

the bottom line is this. Those cats are in this world because of me, and as such, I will always have a responsibility to ensure their welfare. For me, this includes making sure they aren't stolen or become road kill, and if someone refuses to cooperate with that, then they don't get one of my cats, simple as that.

i fully agree that cats are kept in preferably with a run for access, but how do you know what will happen when the kitten leaves the breeder. if you dont keep in touch with the breeder then surely they will be unaware of what happens?

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When I set my heart on getting an Egyptian Mau four years ago, I found a lot of breeder websites that had their contracts on their websites; I knew that I wasn't going be keeping them indoors (for various reasons that have proven correct), so I mailed the breeder who I eventually bought my two from to explain my point of view. She responded:

"Regarding if you let them out or not is really for you to decide, I have decided from experience that you can only advise and not dictate. People will say they are going to keep them in if that's what they think you want to hear. However wether it is good to let them out or not would depend upon where you live etc. I know this is not terribly helpful but only you would know the situation in your neigborhood."

Which seemed quite a pragmatic response, but one reason I settled on Maus (apart from their looks, which I love) is that they bond very closely with their owner and are very fast, so tricky for a stranger to steal. They are also very intelligent, which has meant (for me) quite traffic-savvy and able to keep out of trouble, but they are also quite hyper, so I wanted them to be able to burn up their energy outside. I do know that other breeds, such as Burmese and Ragdolls (I think) can be less suited to the outdoors, so I can understand breeders of other breeds wanting to ensure their kittens are kept away from trouble.