A Breeder's job

A Breeder’s Job
Originally published on AllEarz Savannahs Page 2015
©T. Savannahs

As I arrived in JFK airport, I could feel a calm surround me. I was officially on my vacation-- a rare event I was intending to savor as completely as possible. With no kittens at home, everyone happy and healthy in the cattery-- I could finally have my well deserved break which never seemed to happen anymore.
While the wheels were just touching the tarmac and the plane bounced and jostled, I switched my phone back on and noted multiple messages/texts from a kitten owner. Crap-- so much for my vacation!
Yet as I jounced my way through the airport, evading the crowd with my ear to my phone, I found I could not reach my kitten owner and it wasn't until I was waiting outside, shivering in the cold because I could not put down my phone and luggage to shrug into my jacket that I finally reached her.
Her questions were of the non-emergent type and sure, I could have waited to call. But her kitten is a part of my family and therefore her family is a part of my family. Circle upon circle, layer upon layer, my family expands with each kitten headed home. It took probably ten minutes of my time and as I hung up the phone and climbed into my best friend's van, I knew things would be okay.
Within the next few days, my best friend watched me at 'my job.' It's rarely on 'location' once the kittens go home. Instead I answered emails, virtually cheered on a kitten at a cat show while his owner learned the ins and outs of showing, and complimented my owners as they posted pictures of their growing babies (and adults) on social media. Texts and phone calls ensured my cattery was thriving in my absence, but I expected nothing less. I've taught my family members well.
Yet-- why was it when I was finally seated at dinner and a friend from 20 years ago inquired that age old question, "What do you do?" Why did I pause? Why did I hem and haw and brush off my job as a cattery owner-- a breeder-- a friend and family member to many new families-- as nothing important? No big deal? It's not a real job, right?
I mean-- my three companions were all Army officers. Their jobs were 'real' jobs. Important jobs. Jobs which mattered.
When I finally came home and decompressed though, I had to ask myself-- why did I sell myself short? Sure, my job isn't a traditional job per se. Yet-- it's a job and here is my job description:
1. I am a breeder. I understand the details regarding my particular breed standard and help to create beautiful, amazing, intelligent kittens to bless families for hopefully upwards of 20 years.
2. I am an unofficial vet tech. Oh sure, I didn't go to school to be a vet tech-- but I know my animals and I know more about their particular health and specific needs than many in the veterinarian field. Why? Because they need to know everything about everyone-- dogs, cats, birds, every breed, every size. I can concentrate on knowing the intricacies of my breed. I can talk about PK Deficiency and HCM screenings with the best of them. Also quiz me on PRAA, FIP, and a few other health topics we've needed to learn about over the years. It'll surprise you to learn how much a layperson can know.
3. I am a midwife. I spend days waiting on kittens to be born, I spend nights anticipating that first squeak of a baby coming into this world. I am there as their 3-4 ounce bodies enter the world and watch their tiny souls blossom and grow.
4. I am a NICU nurse. I have intricately placed more feeding tubes down tiny newborn throats than I'd like to admit-- but in the end, having a tiny kitten grow into a beautiful well loved adult is the point of the endless days and nights.
5. I am a business woman. I may not have a place of business such as a pet store and I may not have customers walking in my doors. Yet I have contracts and deal with customers on a daily basis-- every day of the year, any hour, even on holidays.
6. I am an artist with social media. What does breeding have to do with social media? Even the most reputable breeders are now learning they need to understand the intricacies of Facebook, Instagram and all of the other constantly changing applications and social media platforms. In order to find customers-- you need to be active in the community where they exist.
7. I am a show enthusiast. I pack up my car and lug my kids, cats and show cages all over the west coast to catch that high known as 'getting a final.' This doesn't just make me feel good, but it helps open my eyes to cattery blindness and enables me to pick out my own cats' faults in order to improve my breeding program.
8. I am a family member to families across this continent. From New York to Canada to Arizona and California, I have homes everywhere and they share the details of their lives with me-- the good, the bad, and the ugly-- and I feel privileged to be there with them and to share.
9. I am a kennel worker of the highest degree. Might not sound glorious and I assure you, it is not-- but you can't run a cattery without learning the details of cat poop and how to scrub urine out of the carpet or off your walls.
10. I am an educator. I don't always have kittens or cats available. Yet I have a passion for my breed and believe I owe the community the knowledge I've eeked from those who came before me.
11. I am a website operator. I maintain and upkeep my own website in order to educate as well as advertise babies needing great homes.
12. I am a shoulder to cry on. Whether it's over the loss of the tiniest newborn life, a baby who never drawn that first breath, or a cat in its final days-- I will be there to hold my owners' hands and help them through their darkest days.
13. I am a mentor. I do not sell my kittens with rights indiscriminately. In fact, I can tell you-- those who have bought from me know that my major requirement is that they are willing to learn, willing to ask questions, willing to go that extra step-- because one day, they'll be juggling all of this as well.
So sure-- I guess I am just a breeder. I just deliver kittens into people's lives which will bring laughter and love for hopefully 16-20 years. And during those 16-20 years, I will be there for my homes whether I continue to breed or not. It's a 24-7 lifestyle which wears you out, wrings every tear from your body, but also brings joy, renewal and happiness.
Next time someone asks me that infernal question, "What do you do?"-- perhaps I'll just tell them the key to my job description-- I bring people indescribable joy and laughter... In the shape of a kitten.

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