Kitty Math 101

[Liriel Garnet]

Here's the best argument I've seen yet for selling cats for a reasonable price on the secondary markets: the cost to produce one back-bred offspring from a brand-new starter (this is the technique most often used for pulling out the new traits in starters).

Assumptions:
1) all food and milk is at most beneficial pricing (multi-pack discount)
2) partner cat is one you already own, so the only cost associated with that will be food/milk for one week
3) no vitamins or other enhancements used

cost of starter = 250L
cost of food for week 1 = 0L (assume using starter food)
cost of food/milk for one week (2 cats) = 140L (first gen OS box at end of week)
cost of food/milk for one week (starter) = 70L
cost of food for one week (1stG OS) = 38L
cost of food/milk for one week (2 cats) = 140L (2nd gen box at end of week)

grand total = 638L (add another 500 if the starter is one of the specials)

Even using a 9T cat for a partner, you're going to be lucky to have 3-4 traits showing in the 2nd gen box. Also remember, if this is a new recessive trait, your chances for pulling it out on the first backbreed are only 25%. We won't even *talk* about how long it could take to get an offspring of the right gender to backbreed!

You might get lucky and pull out some super new super rare thing that you can sell immediately for 1000s of Linden. But let's be honest, other than a few very lucky breeders, how often has this happened to you? I've been breeding about 9 months with a relatively large cattery, and I've never once had this happen. Most of us spend weeks, if not months pulling the traits out and onto reasonably well-traited cats.

I know there are those that disagree, but this is why I refuse to sell cats for firesale prices.