Are contracts really necessary?

Few realise the potential economic impact of this countrywide "cottage industry". More than 1500 kittens are registered each year in South Africa. Undoubtedly the time is ripe to adopt a more professional approach to the breeding and sale of pedigreed pets.

The focus of the following articles is to clarify the contractual agreements between  stud owners and the breeders/owners of a brood queen/s. Unfortunately the Ethics of stud keeping and their services are not always appreciated or clearly understood. Other aspects of breeding have been cursorily addressed viz., a *Teaser Tom and the service he provides as his act is essentially similar but without a fertile result.

Breeders should bear in mind that they are paying for the *services rendered by the stud male, whether their queen produces a large litter or a single kitten or even if, unfortunately, the litter fails to survive. Litter size is always dependent on the fertility of the queen being bred; the male determines the sexes of the kittens. The contract price is not usually negotiable on the size of the litter, whether the queen is pregnant or even the ultimate survival of the litter. The customary verbal contract between breeders is for the stud male to perform a service.

Author's Note: This article was written for "The Gazette"
[published 1986] 
- the official newsletter of the South African Cat Register.
Nothing has changed in all these years ..