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June 18, 1998:

Dear diary....this evening I feel the need to write down som thoughts concerning human ethics and relations within the realm of catbreeding.

Everyone is full of ideas and oppinions on how things should be done. This definately also applies to the breeding and care of animals - cats, in this instance. We've all heard the saying; "Everything is relative", but do we really think about what it means? Everything we do and say, as well as what we see others do and say is "colored" by the "glasses" we're wearing - relative to where we're standing (our viewpoint).

It's not always easy to understand why others make certain decisions, care differently for their pets, or act the way they do towards others. But does that make them automatically wrong and us right? I personally don't think so, though it's easy for such thoughts to "sneak" their way in every once in a while. Do we stop to think that maybe others disagree with our decisions, or wonder why we do the things we do? It's sure something worth thinking about.

We can accept that everyone is different - it's what gives our society color and spice. Why can't we let this principle also apply to catbreeding?! Different personalities and viewpoints can add a certain spice to the breeding world...if we'll let it!

We should also be able to accept that people make mistakes, and that most of us have to learn from our own mistakes. Are we really willing to do this, without pointing our finger at them? Do we want others to point at us if we should stumble along the way?

I don't know, sometimes I miss the time when we had one Birman...just as a cuddly part of our family. I think also of why we decided to expand to breeding - because we really "believed" in this beautiful breed, and felt we had something to contribute. Sound familiar to anyone?.....probably to the majority of us!?!!

I recently saw something that I found interesting, and painfully true - it's called "A Breeders Development"
1. year   -  Enthusiastic
2. year   -  Knows everything
3. year   -  Feels in a position to judge others
4. year   -  Thinks the judges at shows don't know what they're doing
5. year   -  Acquires a few more cats
6. year   -  Asks oneself why "the top" isn't reached yet
7. year   -  Starts listening to other breeders plans
8. year   -  Can admit and accept that one's own cats aren't perfect
9. year   -  Starts listening to good advice
10. year   -  Doesn't breed one's own queens with the most convenient, "popular" stud available.
11. year   -  Has acquired real quality breeding cats.
12. year   -  Starts to understand....

Now, some may smile or laugh at this, but I think that most of us (at least if we're honest with ourselves) can relate to it!

"We're in this together" is a phrase that also applies to the wide world of breeding. Though we may live in different countries, and have been breeding for a shorter / longer period of time, we will all face similar problems and challenges with our furry friends. Let's try to stick together instead of pulling away from each other!
 



 








May 31, 1998:

Dear Diary....this evening I feel like contemplating on how much there is to learn about our beautiful cats...so much untouched territory...!

I think back to a year ago, when we thought we had started to understand the wide world of cats - at least a little. Today we realize how little we really do know and understand about the Feline world...though we do (hopefully) understand more than we did a year ago. As I look back on the past months, which have held both sorrow and happiness, I'm struck by how many mysteries our furry friends hold to themselves.

Just take the world of science and research - how little research has been done on cats and cat diseases, in comparison to for example dogs. "It's only a cat" has been, and unfortunately still is, the mentality of many, and has undoubtedly colored the world of research. Because of the lack of studies done on different areas dealing with cats, we breeders, as well as all other cat owners, are left with a lot of frustrations and unanswered questions....questions that deal with the health and welfare of our beloved feline friends, which are a lot more than "just a cat" to us. The fact is that there are 59 million cats just in the United States (taken from the latest study, "U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook," published by the American Veterinary Medical Association), which shows that cat welfare should be taken much more seriously than it has in the past.