Ladybug's Unique Story

Despite the unsuccessful attempts to mate Ladybug, finally, in March 2004 she was going to have her very own first litter - according to her choice and not planned by me. Instead, she ended up having a C-section and the one kitten died a few hours later. I took the Vet's advice not to spay her because I was unsure of her due date. This time, however, my records indicated she was due on Jan 14, 2005 and I blame myself for going against my better judgement of spaying all queens that require a C-section. An Xray was taken on the 17th showing a kitten looking normal and according to the Vet, no more than 55 days old. Unfortunately, today, we lay to rest Bugsie who needlessly passed on trying to deliver her kitten that had long since deteriorated and died within the womb. Despite the Vet's insistance she WOULD deliver without requiring any assistance, she couldn't. I believe she knew this herself. It is by God's grace she lasted this long. During her last 48 hours, she purred and talked differently, wanting to be beside me all the time. May God forgive me for I cannot forgive myself and I feel I may never get over her death. I have no offspring from Ladybug to carry on her lines. She will be gravely missed as both her parents are retired from the breeding program. Ladybug needed only one more final to become a Grand Champion (GP) in ACFA. She was a great surrogate mother, as seen in her picture (previous page) taken in the spring of 2004 feeding some kittens from other mothers, after the loss of her first litter.



Personal Comments

In my opinion some Vets today take offence when a breeder objects differently to their advice, especially one that has more knowledge than expected with no Veterinarian education to back it up. Most of us breeders have learned through good old fashioned YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, yearly trails of very expensive Vet bills, with no kittens (or queens for that matter) to show for all that effort and money spent. My knowledge came to me by way of a Professor of Veterinarian who taught at Guelph University, Province of Ontario, with my very first litter.

A Very Special Week!

On Feb 19th, my friend Joan, surprised me by coming home with Ladybug. YES! That's right, you're reading is just fine. She was still alive. The Vet didn't put her to sleep, but instead, gave her medication to abort the dead kitten and nursed her back to health for three weeks. I was not told as he didn't want me to have my hopes up in case her immune system couldn't recover from the toxins of the dead kitten and knowing that spaying then could end her life. This past week she was so happy to be home, talking, making sure all the cats missed her and taking charge of the nursery. When she came home Friday evening lookly rather withered and thin (which is usual after surgery), I noticed some bruising spread throughout the shaved area. My first thought was to take her back, but I was just too happy and excited to have my Ladybug home that I dismissed it. Sunday morning, I found so much blood in her house, she was rushed back to the Vet. With the extensive infection spread throughout, caused from prolonged internal bleeding, her immune system was too weak to survive the surgery for a second time. So again, we lay to rest Miss Ladybug for her final journey to Rainbow Heaven. Thank you Lord for these extra seven days you gave to me as I truly had a very special and joyous week.
I will cherish this one for the rest of my life!
Rules & Regulations

With local authorities in some provinces enforcing us to pay for FAR TOO expensive business/hobby licenses, requiring us to adhere to strict breeding regulations, there are fewer registered breeders today. For example: limiting the number of litters per year, spaying and neutering prior to selling, tattooing or microchipping all cats and kittens (I agree with this), and limiting the number of cats (whole or altered) allowed on the premises which varies in each city or town per province, despite the fact that they are INDOOR ONLY. There is a planning in the works to require all breeders to apply for GST (Federal tax), PST (Provincial tax) and HST (Harmonized tax in some provinces) business tax numbers to charge on top of selling prices, so that the Federal and Provincial Governments can collect more taxes.
We are over-taxed as it is!

YES, there is an over population of unaltered cats (and dogs), but it is not caused by registered breeders! Registered breeders don't expect to make substantial profits or earn a living from breeding. Our Code of Ethics is for the good of the breed(s) and to provide future generations with the pleasure and experience of registered pedigreed (purebred) animals. If we continue to "overkill in the altering" of all breeding stock (this is coming VERY SOON) there won't be any animals in the future. Look back in history to the DARK AGES and time of the BLACK PLAQUE. With poor sanitation, few and far between cats (expecially black that were considered a curse), the rodents took over. Must mankind learn the hard way again? We are supposed to be the CARETAKERS, not the EXTERMINATORS of this planet EARTH.
God gave us DOMINION over HIS animals, not EXTINCTION!

Veterinarian Costs Soar!

Many breeders are quitting as sometimes Veterinarian assistance is beyond reach due to lack of cash. My costs for 2003 were over $2900. I believe some pets should be altered, but registered breeding stock we NEED! Look at our local shelters and SPCA's to see if you can find an abandoned purebred. Without us breeders, these Vets will go out of business, as most people are not willing to spend the dollars to spay and neuter domestic animals let alone care for them. Veterinarian costs have more than trippled in the past 20 years that I have been breeding. Estimated average expense for a C-section in lower mainland of British Columbia Canada is $500 to $900. A breeder is expected to spend as least $250 or more for queen and kittens per visit which includes health checkup and vaccines. Spaying ranges from $50 to as high as $150 and neutering varies from $45 to $100 plus taxes. Dental cleaning is minimum of $300. It is again my personal opinion that those who have invested substantial money for their pets are more apt to take better care of them. (No pun intended.) But this is not fair, as everybody should be able to afford and maintain within reasonable costs a pet if they choose. After all, we expect them to be our companions for their lifetime. It is also a proven fact that animals maintain and\or improve our own health.

Taking a Break?????

Brandi/Glacier litter born January 5, 2005 will be my only litter for now. It is with overwhelming grief that I will be taking a long over-due Sabbatical before I make the decision to stay in the breeding program. Those of you on my waiting list, I will redirect you to other breeders if I don't have enough kittens available. Kittens that have been reserved by deposit will be supplied as per preset conditions. Please visit the RETIREES PAGE for retired adults as they become available. My two year health guarantee will still be provided on all kittens and young adults.
Thank you - all my past and current customers and God bless you!

Decision already made - Not by Me

Well, I was going to take a break, however, the good Lord had other plans as my two youngest adults (10 months) decided to become parents. Missianna (seal point female) and Sylverado (lilac point male) are proud parents of 6 kittens born on March 31, 2005. Pictures of this litter will be up on the Siamese nursery page soon. Regardless of how sweet my young males act, from now on, they will no longer be allowed to roam without wearing their stud pants.

Since I personally believe that Ladybug's death COULD HAVE and SHOULD HAVE been avoided, I have since changed Veterinarians. The clinic I go to now came highly recommended by numereous acquaintances and friends, has a fabulous reputation, with very reasonable prices and gives Breeders a discount in which I haven't seen offered anywhere in Canada in over 15 years.
What a blessing!