The future of KittyCats (or lack of?)

[Theodore Nacht]

(08-30-2011 05:26 AM)Bo Iwish Wrote:  Well my opinion in this is it would be nice if good traited cats remain valuable as the breeder has invested time, money land in it to breed it to the max.

I'm not sure what--if anything--other breedables have done to arrest the natural decline in prices as supply outstrips demand. If there are principles that have proven effective, steps that could be taken, I'd be very eager to hear them. Suggestions?

As it is... highly traited cats become more readily available at an unstoppable rate. Like most animal populations existing without natural predators, their numbers grow exponentially in sync with breeding cycles. People who are not able to afford their prims/kibble will sell at any price they can to recoup some of their losses, which devalues the cats because those persons were not treating it as a business (at least, not in the traditional sense of having budgeted for such eventualities). If virtually the same product is available at the same quality (at least, to most consumers' eyes) for much less elsewhere and in sufficient quantity, there's very little one can do to force anyone to see them as valuable anymore.

Many of us are part of that cycle. If you've ever bought a highly traited or rare cat for next to nothing, then you have to accept that expecting its offspring to sell higher is not a good bet. Once enough cats of that type are seen selling at that rate, that becomes the amount which people are willing to pay for it. If you try to sell it higher, many will think you are trying to rip them off, especially if they saw you buy the parent(s) for less.

If more recessive traits were added, and I mean -very- recessive, with extreme trickiness to breeding out...that would be helpful, I think, as only the most skilled and patient breeders would be able to work with those genes. Then those who are less patient would have to buy from those who have one to spare for whatever price that person was willing to part with it. That would ensure steady value with a very slow decline due to supply v. demand issues.

As to the issue of what will become of classic furs and traits, I still routinely see extremely desirable aesthetics selling high. If you develop a very strong aesthetic that appeals broadly, you WILL sell that cat for a good price because few people are able to target sets of traits for visual appeal. Most people sort of buy two cats they like to look at and mash them together hoping for the best. Targeted breeding which selects very unusual trait combinations will net you the best profits because it takes more skill. If what you're doing is something any breeder can do, then any breeder can and will do it, and won't need to pay you for your cat when they feel confident they can breed their own.

I absolutely have faith in the future of kittycats, but it's going to require those who want to stay on top of the game to take their breeding to the next level with a strong, specific goal not of making money but of making dream cats not easily bred or easily found elsewhere. And hopefully KC staff will take my earlier post's suggestions about Menagerie and new traits under consideration.