This is where I anticipate your questions and try to answer them. Remember that if your question can’t be answered with this page, you can always email me.
What is a Cyber Cattery?
A Cyber Cattery is a cattery that is located on the web and purely in the mind. None of the cats are real, no money is exchanged or made, the cats are merely pictures that stay on the web.
What is a Cattery?
A cattery is a place where pure breed cats are bred and raised.
What does "underfoot" mean?"
It means to raise a cat as though it were a pet, letting it roam free around your home, and not in a cage like at a puppy or kitty mill or at a pet store.
What are “Queens” and “Kings”?
Just what I call my breeding females and males, respectively.
What are “Projects”?
Here at Mouse House Cattery we undergo "Projects". Projects are basically goals and can be either breeding, showing or other such things dealing with the cattery.
What do you mean by "providing a good home" if they're web based?
I mean providing a suitable web site for a home. This should be one you want your kittens growing up in. Therefore, you have to be able to take them there by uploading to your own server so places like neopets, ludus equinus or some other such places will not do. The best home I could hope for would be another cattery, but a personal web site or information page also works perfectly. You site must also be able to link back to me, otherwise I won't give you the cat since that's part of the terms and conditions. You want all your visitors to be able to get a kewl kitten of their own, don't you? Don't be selfish, the more visitors and adopters to a cattery the more active it must therefore become. The more kittens I make the better artist I become. And the more kittens you have the chance to adopt. ^-^ Everyone wins.
Can I request a litter from you?
Tentatively, yes, you can request a litter from me, provided you follow a few conditions. Those being I have to own at least one of the cats, the girl, and you have to own the boy. If you don’t, then you have to be willing to accept both a male and female I own for the request.
Ideally, you’ll ask for two of the same breed that are still capable of mating. If you want a cross, I still may consider breeding the two, provided I believe adequate homes can be found for all the kittens.
Some things you should know when requesting is that I refuse to breed two cats that may cause genetic defects in the kittens. This includes inbreeding. I shy away from crossbreeding, and I won’t allow you to adopt more than two kittens from the litter.
The cost of this request is that you have to have a home for the kitten(s) you want to adopt and that the kitten(s) be for showing and/or breeding. If all you want is a pet, it ain’t happening. The amount of showing or breeding? A least one litter and two shows to satisfy me. Another thing is that you have to be a part of the CCA, else I won’t do your request.
So, after you have one or both cats picked out, what now? Email me with the cats and a polite request to breed the two. Make sure the subject is “Request” or I might delete you. Wait for my reply. Done deal. It’s best if you request during a peak season when kittens are being adopted, that why I won’t have the next litter already planned (probably) and will be checking my email often.
My email can be found on the ‘Contacts’ page.
Can I request a cat from you?
No. I only breed cats, any foundation stock which lack parents I keep for myself. If the cat you want isn’t in an available litter or there are no cats up for adoption, you can either request a complete litter be bred to try and match your ideal cat and wait for the results or simply hold off till a scheduled litter or cat to be placed up for adoption.
Can I make a request for something other than a cat from you?
It all depends on what you want and its use. If you want me to draw your neopet to put in the Beauty Contest, that’s obviously a no because we’ll be violating rules. So, really it all depends. Go ahead and make a request. My email can be found on my ‘Contacts’ page.
Is it okay if I change the cat I adopted from you a little?
No, unless it is to make the picture transparent. Not even the information I send with it, such as genetics, can be tampered with legally.
Why do you make such a big deal over pictures of cats?
Because they’re my creations, my works of art, and I like to enjoy myself by using my imagination to pretend like they’re real. If you can’t see the point in this, please do not adopt from me. Thanks.
Can I have [insert cat name here]?
Unless they’re previously placed up for adoption, no. Please don’t even ask.
Can you help me with layout/drawing/whatever?
Yes, I’d be glad to help you if you think you need it. My skills are limited and I’m more likely to point you in the direction of a few good help/cheat sites, but ask away. Email’s on my ‘Contact’ page.
Can I join you cattery? I wanna draw too!
How about you just join the CCA and create your own cattery? If you need help, you can get a mentor, which is an experienced breeder. There’s a page at the CCA that can tell you all about it called ‘Mentors’ or some such.
You wanna join my site? We breed and show [insert animal here]!
Um... Don’t spam me. But yes, I would be interested. I’d be more interested in established sites that have lots to do and a fair amount of other members than one that has a bunch of “Coming Soon!” throw about it and only two people.
You didn’t give me a kitten when I applied for one! Do you hate me?
NO. The kitten you may have requested could have already been adopted out, or you might not have a correct site/email address, or I might not have received your email. I do my best to reply to each and every applicant to inform them whether or not they received a kitten, if you didn’t get a reply from me then your email either wasn’t working or I didn’t get your email at all.
Otherwise, if you did get an email from me and you think I just denied you because I hate you or some other prejudice other than allowing CCA member first pick in litters, you’re wrong and I’m sorry you feel that way. Please remember kittens may go fast, just keep applying if you really want one or go to another cattery. Don’t worry, eventually you’ll get yourself one.
What are “Swains”and “Femme fatales”?
What I call my showing or non breeding males and females. A “Swain” is also an archaic noun for a country youth or laterally a young lover or suitor with its origins in Old Norse for ‘lad’. A “Femme fatale” is another noun for an attractive and seductive woman with its origins in French, meaning a ‘disastrous woman’.
What are “Shorthand” and “Longhand” Genetics?
“Shorthand Genetics” lists just the relevant genetics, assuming all other to be normal for the breed. “Longhand Genetics” lists all the genetics dealing with the animal that we use in Cyber Cats. Remember! There are TONS more genes controlling everything in real life and that these genetics are just a simple version we cyber catterists use.