TOUGH ANIMAL BREEDING LAWS COME INTO FORCE IN THE ACT

Report From Canberra Times

Intensive breeding of dogs and cats for sale as pets will be illegal in the ACT from Tuesday as tough new anti-puppy and kitten farm laws come into force. 

Domestic dog and cat breeders will be required to hold fee-free licences, and will only be allowed to breed dogs aged between 18 months and six years with a limit of four litters per dog. A dog can only have one litter within an 18-month period. 

Breeders of cats will be required to only breed their animals between the ages of 12 months and seven years, with a limit of eight litters per cat, restricted to three litters within any two-year period. 

New criminal offences for the intensive over breeding of female dogs and cats have been created, with penalties of up to $15,000 for an individual and $75,000 for a corporation found guilty of exploiting animals for Canberra's domestic pet market. 

The new protections, part of the governance agreement signed by the Greens and Labor in the wake of the 2012 ACT election, are designed to stop abuses similar to those seen in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. The laws follow October 2013 moves to establish fines of as much as $11,000 for breaches of a code of practice in the ACT.

Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury said the laws were a major step forward for animal welfare in the territory, and would stop dogs and cats being impregnated as often as possible. 

He said animals forced to over-breed were "treated as money-making machines with no concern for the animal's health and welfare". 

"This kind of breeding operation, otherwise known as puppy and kitten farming, sees female dogs and cats deprived of social interaction, exercise and responsible health care for their entire lives.

"The new legislation under the Domestic Animals Act 2000 introduces a licensing scheme for dog and cat breeders which allows for the inspection of breeders' premises to ensure intensive breeding is not occurring," Mr Rattenbury said.

The new breeding licences are designed to ensure irresponsible breeders cannot operate within the ACT. 

"These breeding standards have been designed to reflect the minimum standards that legitimate breeders are currently applying, so it won't impose an additional burden on those already doing the right thing," Mr Rattenbury said. 

Breeders will be able to apply for a licence until January 8, 2016, as part of a phase-in period for the new laws. Breeding organisations and those with licences for breeding have been contacted and given assistance to comply with the new requirements.

The ACT's first enforceable industry code for the sale of animals came into force in 2013, applying to pet shops, breeders and anyone selling animals as pets. The code set out minimum standards for hygiene and accommodation and can be enforced by RSPCA officers, police and municipal officials.

CAT BREEDING - THE BREEDING OF DESIGNER CATS AND CATS WITH GENETIC DISORDERS

Banning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids

Recently the USA state of Iowa banned the keeping of Bengal cats. This ban included all cats with a wild ancestry meaning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids. These cats are the Bengal, Chausie, Savannah and Safaris for example. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) refuses to register domestic cats with "wild blood" in them. Fourth generation Bengal cats have about 12% Asian Leopard in them. The CFA is the most conservative registry. The International Cat Registry is more adventurous and registers more breeds including the Bengal. There is divided opinion about wild/domestic cat hybrids. The Bengal though is a very popular cat demonstrating the desire of the public to keep wild cat substitutes.

There is a continuing desire by the cat lovers to "own" (I prefer keep or adopt) unusual and valuable "objects" and that includes animals and one of the most popular animals to keep are cats. How do cat breeders keep up with the demand for the exotic and unusual while maintaining a moral code and high standards of animal welfare?

Moral issues/arguments

The moral issue is whether it is good for wildlife to create designer and exotic cat breeds by mating wild and domestic cats. The idea is that in keeping such a hybrid cat the keeper is reminded of the plight of the dwindling number of wild cats in the world.

The counter argument is that this form of breeding damages the wild cat in that the increased interest is fed by the breeding program which encourages malpractice by importers of wild cats into the West and increases the importation of wild cat breeds into Western countries. The biggest market for exotic pets and cats by far is the USA.

Genetic Mutations

Not only are there questions about exotic cats the same moral dilemma exists in relation to the breeding of cats that suffer from genetic defects (mutations). These cats such as dwarf cats, tailless cats and cats with malformed ears are interesting and rare. Once again the unusual catches the eye of the public consumer and cat lover and breeders feel an obligation to create more of these rare cats. But is it right to create more cats that have a major defect/disorder which sometimes (rarely with careful breeding) has fatal consequences and secondary conditions that harm the cat (e.g. flat chest kitten in dwarf cats). You can see links to articles about a number of mutated breeds at the Different Breeds Page of my website. Examples are the Bobtailed cats and the Dwarf cats.

Commercial pressure

There is then commercial pressure to breed more cats and it could be argued cats of the wrong type. The public's desires are being checked and controlled by the authorities (see the Iowa ban above).

Conclusion

It is not possible to make a cattery highly commercial and prioritize the cats welfare in my opinion. Catteries should be small and one litter should ideally be bred at one time. The exception appears to be the Allerca cat, a wild/domestic hybrid being bred by a company and which sells at high prices (up to $30,000 per cat or so). The company treats these cats as a product. I find this to be an incorrect moral attitude.

As to the exotics and mutated breeds; I can accept the exotic designer breeds provided the breeders observe high standards and can see the wider issues (effect on wildlife). I cannot, however, agree that creating more cats with disorders is acceptable and in that regard I agree with the CFA who don't register for example Dwarf cats for that reason.

The author is Michael Broad, as retired solicitor and cat lover, who runs his website http://www.pictures-of-cats.org for the charitable purpose of helping cats less fortunate than the majority of those in the Western World. The website is being continually added to and includes well researched facts and photographs by the world renown cat photographer Helmi Flick plus many other fine amateur made photographs from a wide range of legitimate sources.

THE MANY DIFFERENT CAT BREEDS OF OUR WORLD

Throughout history we have bred and studied cats to invent different breeds and also to eliminate troublesome character traits. The result of controlled breeding, as well as genetic science, created many of the different cat breeds you see today. These genetic breeds, that were introduced in the last decade, included non shedding breeds as well as hairless cats. Most of us can recognize many of the breeds today and know them by name, like the Calico, Persian, and the Tabby.

Presently there are well over seventy breeds known and cat registries keep track of all these breeds. In many of these breeds their are variations, which include wild cats that have a longer tail and longer hair.

Some of the most common domestic breeds native to North America are the long haired, Persian, and the Alley cat. The Siamese breed can also be found commonly in North America. Siamese breeds tend to have a bad temper and can be destructive to your home. The Persian breeds are said to have a loving and loyal personality and make great life time companions. Based on what kind of Persian cat type you want to purchase, prices for this breed can get very expensive.

Some of the older breeds in cat registries can be traced far back in world history. The Japanese Bobtail, which was native to Japan, has been recorded over a thousand years ago. The Japanese Bobtail is now gone, and only stories of it exist.

North America's most common feline is the Alley cat. The name Alley cat in reality refers to many different breeds, but most people simply call them Alley cats. There is no shortage of Alley cats in the world, literally hundreds of thousands of these cats exist today. Many Alley cats are homeless because of over breeding. In many cities across America controlled breeding programs have been put into place. These controlled breeding programs work by catching wild cats, neutering them, and then setting them free.

The best way to tell what breed a cat may be is to look for some of the distinctive characteristics of particular breeds. Most people can instantly tell if the feline in question is Siamese by its distinct eyes and black color. By examining the body type and hair characteristics, Persian breeds are easily identifiable.

Many new breeds have come into existence over the years. One of the first pets in the world was the cat. The ancient Egyptians used felines for protection, as well as companions. Many people prefer cats, even over dogs, in today's day and age. In the end it does not matter what breed you choose, but that your breed will be a loving companion to you in your life together.

Brian has been writing articles and informational guides for over two years. To view some of his latest work visit [http://roundpictureframes.net/] which provides detailed information about round picture frames [http://roundpictureframes.net/] and more photo frame ideas to help redecorate your home.

WHAT BREED IS MY CAT?

"How do I find out what breed my cat is?"

This has to be the number one question we get on the cat breeds forum.
Cats come in a variety of coat lengths, colors and patterns. Add to that a unique facial structure and an exceptionally svelte or maybe rather a chubby body form and people start wondering - is my cat a purebred or a pedigreed cat?

The Short Answer

Unless your cat came with official papers delineating her or his ancestors, then your cat is not a pedigreed cat of any breed. You won’t be able to show him or her at any breed category in any cat show, nor should this cat ever be a part of a breeding program.

Purebred cats can “lose their papers” and end up in a shelter, where they will later be adopted by curious new owners. That is not a likely scenario where ethical breeders make sure, through various means, that the cats leaving their cattery never end up in a shelter. However, it can happen and all that’s left in that case is to try and say which breed the cat most resembles - it will never regain it’s pedigreed status, unless clearly identified (for example, using its microchip to trace the breeder).

So, What Type of Cat Is She?

So, we can start by assuming that the cat you adopted is not a purebred. However, we all like fancy terms and words, and you can still learn what the correct terms are for describing your cat appearance.

Judging features like facial proportions or body shape is best left for professionals, but  coat length, color and pattern, are usually easy enough to tell. First, you need to determine whether your cat has long or short hair. Accordingly, he or she is either a Domestic Longhair or a Domestic Shorthair, also known as DLH and DSH respectively.

Then, there’s an entire spectrum of patterns and colors. We have an entire article dedicated to Cat Coat Colors and Patterns which you should check out. Once you identify your cat’s colors there, you too can own a “longhair red tabby and white van” or a “shorthair cream and blue tortoiseshell” - now, doesn’t that sound fancy? It will actually be a  very accurate answer to the original question, even if it does not offer an actual breed name.

Not sure which terms apply to your cat? By all means, post about your cat and add a few clear pictures and we’ll try and help out on the forums!

But Which Breed Does Your Cat Resemble?

Here are a few popular breeds and some of their more prominent features. Remember, this does not mean your cat is of that breed - only that you might be able to say there’s a resemblance.

Siamese Cats - short hair, blue eyes and a color point coat pattern are the traits shared between traditional and modern Siamese cats. Modern Siamese also have uniquely svelte bodies and an elongated head.

Persian Cats - a stocky build and a very long coat constitute the typical Persian look, along with large round eyes and a short nose. Modern Persian cats have a flat face, with their nose pushed back. More about Persian Cats.

Himalayan Cats - Himalayans, aka Himmies, share the build and coat length of the Persians, but have a pointed color pattern. More about Himalayan Cats.

Maine Coon Cats - exceptionally large, with long silky yet dense hair and sometimes tufts on the tip of their ears. Maine Coons can come in any color and coat pattern, except for colorpoints. More about Maine Coon cats.

Russian Blue Cats - the bluish gray short coat is what this breed is famous for, along with bright green eyes. There are other “blue” cat breeds such as the Korat and the Chartreux, but Russian Blues are probably better known. More about Russian Blue cats.

The common trait here? These are all breeds that have a prominent feature, be it a certain coat pattern or color, or maybe coat length, that is not very common, yet is displayed among non-pedigreed domestic cats. You’ll find many “Russian Blues”, “Persians” or “Main Coons” lookalikes in shelters, all in need of a good forever home. These cats are just as beautiful and special as their purebred counterparts, just please don’t ever breed them just because they’re beautiful!