Conference misery::feline

    Hi Lisa!  Actually, not in the direct sense.  We have had many people
    tell us though that we must make a lot of money from breeding cats, it
    couldn't be any further from the truth!  I do worry sometimes that when
    people walk past and see a basket full of unusual looking cats, that
    they may want one.  Many people stop to look at them or ask questions.
    I would like to believe that someone wouldn't break in to actually
    steal the cat!
    I'd just die.
    Karen and her 13.

    I am careful of telling people that my cats are purebred.  Taja is a
    humane society cat, but he looks pure because his markings and coloring
    are that of a purebred.
    
    When I say people, I mean strangers who come into the house for
    whatever reason... to repair something, install something, etc.  If
    they inquire about the cats and ask if they are pure, I will usually
    say something to the effect of "I think so, but I don't know.  They
    came from the shelter."
    
    I think more folks (breeders) encounter the problems Karen has in .1. 
    People don't realize that when you spend a lot of money for purebred
    cats, you usually sacrifice something else, like a new car, spiffy
    wardrobe, beautifully furnished home, etc.  Like anything else, it's a
    trade-off.
    
    I was actually able to pay for most of the purebred cats I've owned
    over the years by making monthly payments to the breeder.  Only once
    did I pay up-front, and that was for my neutered Himalayan who was sold
    at a much lower price due to the fact that he was already two years
    old.
    
    Sort of like making car payments, and even the cat depreciates!  (In
    monetary value only of course.)
    
    -Roberta
    

    Yep....That's the first thing people ask me when I tell them
    about my Korats.  Korats are rare, so they think that equates
    to a $$$$$ pricetag...
    
    
    
    

	Lisa, do people actually notice that the cats are pedigree, or that you
	keep them indoors?

	I have found that many people in the UK don't understand you can get 
	pedigree cats, just pedigree dogs.

	People who do have pedigree cats usually have them as indoor/outdoor.

	The fact that you keep them in, may make people think that they must 
	be valuable, maybe a lot more valuable than they are.   
    	It's very rare in the UK to keep cats as indoor only, and therefor 
	would attract attention.

	Heather - with two ginger moggies who think they own the whole street.

    From a different perspective....because I have 9 stray cats (Garden
    Variety as Jo says)...people think I'm a poor bag lady living with
    the cats.  The worse thing is that they assume my house smells 
    like urine and it is a pig sty!!!  I can't tell you how many folks
    walk in my house and say "gee I'm shocked your house doesn't smell
    like pee."   
    
    Sandy  

    If someone comes to the house, they have to stand in the hall so that I
    can shut the front door to keep the cats in. Then they say ... "Hey,
    these cats are cute. What are they ....." "Why don't you let them out"
    "Doesn't it make the house smell" "They must be worth a lot".
    
    I have a bay window in the lounge and the cats sit there during the day
    keeping a watchful eye on the street.... and I have a neighbourhood
    watch sticker in the window too! Most people notice the cats when they
    are passing.
    
    
    I think most people think you have money to burn because they can't
    understand why you would pay so much "just for a cat" when you can get
    a free one from ads in the paper .... No such thing as a free cat
    right?!?!?!?
    
    
    
    I don't think you look like a bag lady Sandy :-)
    
    
    Lisa.

    Sandi, re:.5:  I sometimes feel that I have to explain to people that
    my house doesn't smell like cat pee. When you tell them how many You/I
    have you can see their expressions change!  Of course, when I keep a
    whole adult boy, things could change.
    
    Roberta, re:.2: If I could take the money I have spent on vets, shows,
    food etc., we would have our addition, I would wear nicer clothes, and
    the bills would be paid!!!!! 
    Karen and the bountiful, bouncing, beasties
    

    >>>Of course, when I keep a whole adult boy, things could change.       
    
    Hehehehehe, don't I know!!  I have two whole boys who seem to be
    involved in "spray wars."  But, I try to keep on top of the odor since
    I have them in the house with me and I have to live with it.  I keep
    telling Nepenthe that if he isn't going to breed, the least he could do
    would be to not spray. ;')
    
    The other day my cleaning lady brought her husband with her.  He saw
    all the cats that looked alike and started asking me, "how much is that
    one worth, how bout that one?" etc.   It made me very nervous,
    especially since I am about to leave to go to an out of town show and
    will be gone for a few days.  I told him that they weren't worth
    anything to anyone else, since they were spayed/neutered (lie, lie,
    lie), but they were worth the world to me because they are my pets.  He
    dropped the questions at that.
    
    It is true that the perception is that if you breed you must be rolling
    in dough.  The truth is that Ken and I haven't had a vacation together
    since our honeymoon, which was before the cattery was started.  We also
    haven't refurnished our house, or bought a new car, etc. etc.  I end up
    spending almost my yearly salary on their feed, housing, showing, and vet
    bills each year.
    
    Jo

Lisa,
I'm also in the UK.
We have 2 Russian Blues who are indoors-only. Visitors often remark
"They must be worth a lot of money...?". I usually reply that the
previous cat we got from the CPL shelter cost as much in Vet's fees in
the first 6 months than each of pedigree cats cost to buy.

In March, we were burgled, and I arrived home to find the patio door at
the rear of our house forced and ajar. After a frantic few minutes' search,
I managed to find both cats, very well hidden indoors.

We counted ourselves very lucky that the cats had not been stolen or harmed.
(However, hifi equipment etc. is much easier to steal and get rid of, I
suppose).

*Dave

    Dave,
    
    > I managed to find both cats, very well hidden indoors.
    
    Phew! That was lucky. I hope that if it ever happens to me, my two
    would have the good sense to hide and not run! Actually, Rolf would
    probablt lick the burglar to death ;-)
    
    Lisa.