Start a home-based pedigree cat breeding business

Families and individuals looking for a pet of a particular breed, and other breeders or exhibitors looking for show-quality kittens.

A price per kitten, usually set higher for show or breeding quality than for pet quality, with income arriving in lumps after each litter rather than every month.

• Caring for cats and kittens
• Patience and attention to detail
• Screening buyers and clear communication
• Record keeping

• Municipal bylaws on cat numbers, zoning and home-based business or breeder licences, which vary widely, so check with your city or town
• Provincial animal welfare rules and, in Quebec, its own regulations and French-language requirements, so check your provincial authority
• Vet bills, genetic testing and emergency costs, such as difficult births, can be high and unpredictable
• Registration requirements with a cat association and the rules for selling pedigree kittens, so confirm the details
• Use a written contract with health guarantees and spay or neuter terms, and check insurance options for a home-based animal business
• Selling kittens is emotionally and physically demanding, and income is uneven, so don't depend on it as your only income at first
• Register for GST/HST if your sales go over the small supplier threshold, and check how your province treats the sale of animals

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on the breed, your cats, health testing and home setup. Vet bills, genetic testing and emergencies such as difficult births can be high and unpredictable.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on how many litters you place and what you charge. Income is uneven, so don't depend on it as your only income at first.

Check municipal bylaws on cat numbers, zoning and home-based business or breeder licences, plus provincial animal welfare rules (Quebec has its own). Also confirm cat association registration requirements, insurance options, and GST/HST and provincial treatment of animal sales.