I am positive that every reputable breeder can totally relate to this poem...I cry EVERY time I read it.

I love my little Kitty
I love my little kitty, she makes my house a home.
She always is my best friend, I never feel alone.
She makes me smile, she makes me laugh,
She fills my heart with love ...
Did some breeder breed her, or did she fall down from above?

I've never been a breeder, seen life through their eyes,
I hold my little kitty and just sit and criticize.
I've never known their anguish, I've never felt their pain,
The caring of their charges, through snow or wind and rain.

I've never sat the whole night through, waiting for babies to be born,
The stress and trepidation when they're still not there by dawn.

I've never felt the heartache, of a little life in my hands,
This darling little baby, who weighs but 60 grams.

Should you do that instead of this ....or this instead of that,
Alone you fight, and hope one day, he'll grow to be a cat,
and bring joy to another being, and make a house a home,
You know it's all just up to you, you'll fight this fight alone.

Formula, bottles, heating pads, you've got to get this right,
Two hourly feeds for this tiny guy, throughout the day and night.
In your heart you know, you're almost sure to lose the fight,
to save this little baby, but God willing ... you just MIGHT.

Day one he's in there fighting, you say a silent prayer,
Day two & three, he's doing well, with lots of love and care.
Day four & five ... he's still alive, your hopes soar to the heavens,
Day six he slips away again, dies in your hands day seven.

You take this little angel, and bury him alone,
With aching heart and burning tears, and an exhausted groan,
You ask yourself "Why do this? ... why suffer all this pain?"
But see the joy your kittens bring... it really self explains.

So, when you think of breeders and label them with "greed",
Think about what they endure to fill another's need.

When you buy a kitten and with your precious dollars part,
You only pay with money ... we pay with our heart.

Tears....

I love this.

Holding em back

I have to let Luis read this - he so wants to breed cats
when the kids are gone.
He just doesn't realize there's a lot more to cute kittens running around

Beautiful poem, Heather - thanks for sharing

Oh wow! How touching and true! I have known quite a few folks who breed kitties and they ALL say that it is a labor of love.

Beautiful poem and so very true!! I NEVER tire of reading it... thanks for posting it Heather!

Tears! It's beautiful...

That was lovely. I could never be a breeder as the part about the kitten dying at day 7 would tear me up and if it happend more than once I couldn't do it. I do want to thank the wonderful breeders that have given me the likes of Winston as he's been my darling love now for 15years. Also Alaska and her Dad were given to me by someone tho got them from a breeder and Francis too. So while I didn't get all my cats from breeders I do have to thank them indirectly for all the love I've received or benefited by their loving/caring hands.

That's a wonderful poem,it brought tears to my eyes...and it is so true!

tears if love , joy and sadness, thank you for sharing