Although I am sure this is a hot topic for debate, I would simply like to ask those that have small level of breeding (as in, in-home not full cattery) have their own males or if they seek stud service from outside sources. I am passionate and familiar with the breed and would like to eventually breed my one non fixed lilac female to produce some quality, family pets for others to love as much as my family does on the other hand I am not sure I am ready for a male in my house as I am too afraid of spraying (although I do realize not all males spray...I have one, but he was neutered as soon as he could be).

I highly doubt you will find someone who offers stud service. Most reputable catteries are closed catteries for fear of disease. Sometimes the breeder of a cat that you buy will allow you to bring the cat back to be bred. Do you have breeding rights on this girl? I am not being nasty, but have you really researched breeding? There is a lot of money involved - and it isn't coming to you, it is going out for vet bills, food and other things. For example my vet bills for one 3 month period were over $2000 - granted that was because I had a very ill cat - but that happens. A friend of mine spent over $5000 in vet bills on a kitten that she couldn't sell. Are you prepared to lose your girl or the kittens - a possibility. I haven't lost my girls, but I have lost entire litters of kittens - it broke my heart! Are you prepared to bottle or tube feed kittens every 2 hours if needed? Speaking from experience, it isn't fun. What if you can't find homes for the kittens? I still have an entire litter, 3 years old. They are now part of the family. Males aren't the only ones who spray - females in heat will to.
Now, I have to admit, having kittens around is the joy of my life. It isn't all bad. It just takes a great commitment on your part, both financially and in time. Breeding Persians isn't like having a household pet give birth. Much as I love these guys, I sometimes think we bred the instincts out of them - sometimes they just don't know what to do.
I do have to say that I breed for show, but I do have pet quality kittens as do most breeders - they can't all be show quality. If that was all I got, I would not breed. I don't want to focus my efforts on producing more pets - there are enough of them to go around.
If I have offended you, I apologize, but I said what I did with all good intentions.

I'm surprised that few have responded, so I'll break the news to you. Your question will probably not be met with a lot of positive comments. Here's why:

1.) Most breeders here work very hard to improve the breed and use shows to judge their success in part. All the breeders have spent years learning about Persians, breeding, and vet med, so they can care for their charges. None of the breeders are in it for money, because I doubt any get close to breaking even. If the breeding isn't done right or the cats aren't properly cared for, there's tragedy mainly for the cats.

2.) If you want a near show quality Persian for $55, let me know and I will send you a list. I'm serious -- the LA County shelters have between 3-6 high quality, purebred Persians available at any time. $55 is the adoption fee, or $25 is spayed/neutered. PLEASE, before you start to breed, look on Petfinder.com or Petharbor.org and see all the Persians that are available. Contact the Persian rescues and ask them if you should breed more. Bottomline: there is no shortage of pet Persians out there. There are also lots of backyard breeders out there, so how will you sell your kittens? Most "CFA registered" Persians here sell for $75-100 (course they forget to do the paperwork ).

3.) There's a lot of responsibility that comes with breeding and, honestly, I question your level of commitment. Having a male in the house that may or may not spray is part of what a breeder deals with. Having a non-fixed female potentially cycling in heat is not good for her health. "Eventually" is when? With 2-3 cycles, her health is very much at risk. The quality breeders have these things planned in advance.

If this comes off as nasty or biting, so be it. I'm not a nice person. I deal with the end result of not-so-responisble breeders. I only want to save more Persians from being dumped in county shelters to be put to sleep because there's not enough homes.

I wish I lived near you! I would have 3-6 high quality, purebred persians to keep my Muki company! They aren't real common around here for some reason. I always want to adopt/rescue and would love to add another to my household! (Or 3-6) The closest rescue has a bunch, but she won't adopt most of them to households with dogs and alot of them to households with cats.

Have you checked Petharbor? This is a website for public shelters -- not private rescue groups. The reason I mention this is most public shelters would rather anyone take the animal than for them to euthanize it. LA County asks for name, address, and DL -- period, nothing more. Yucca Valley (my local town) asked for name, address, DL, and a form with all these "I will take the animal to a vet", "I will feed the animal", etc. It's only when you get to private shelters or rescue groups that the requirements get more stringent.

The private rescue shelter I know best (where my two came from) has several Persians and Himmies for adoption. They just today re-homed an odd-eyed bicolour doll-faced Persian to Boston. He was jaw-droppingly cute. Someone flew in from Prince Edward Island to adopt a Maine Coon. If you don't live too far, it is possible to adopt one of their cats. Now, I don't know if they fit the "high-quality purebred Persian" designation. I'm not all that fussy. My two would not be perfect according to type, but they make wonderful companions. I am happy if they are well-socialized and healthy, neutered and appropriately vaccinated and vet-checked. This is the website of Animal Adoption Montreal. http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/QC35.html

I'm actually not too picky either. The only requirement I really have is that it is smooshy faced. Or a sphynx. Otherwise, I'm pretty open. I have not tried petharbor, I am going to though. Thanks for that tip!

I just wonder if MuMan would be happier with a younger cat to play with. Our other cat is 19 and she hates him. Hate is actually too kind of a word for how she feels about him. He tries to play with the dogs too, but they really don't understand him. No wonder he acts like a dog.

Lynda has given you some great info. I grew up with my mom breeding AND showing Dobermans...so I got it honest. It was drilled into my head that if you cannot show then you should not be breeding. Mind you, I am not at a show every weekend because I just can't be. I work full time, my mom needs me right now and after the vet bills last year...I need to work on those. But I will be out showing very soon. My point is and I believe also Lynda's point...you are not doing the breed any favors if you are not showing them in the show ring and learning what is out there. Your goal as a breeder is to breed for the QUALITY of the breed in Health, Type and Temperment...not just to produce kittens.

I think ALOT of soul searching must be done before making the decision to breed. The heartbreak is imense to say the least. No it isn't like that all the time but enough. You have to REALLY love the breed and be willing to do whatever it takes to keep them healthy. I had a momma a couple years ago...great mom and never had any issues previous to this last litter. She had to have a c-section and we came home with 3 beautiful babies. By the time the kittens were 4 weeks old...mom was back at the vet as she had turned septic and developed mastitis. She was unable to nurse any more. We had to hand feed these little ones for several weeks until they would finally eat on their own. Mom came home from the vet with a Pharmacy and I had to take 3 days off work to care for her and her babies. Sleep? Not sure what that was then. Then if things were not bad enough...the babies all got their first set of vaccines and I lost one of them to a reaction to the vaccines. So...total vet bill for this one litter: $1300+, kittens sold in the litter: 1 for $450...other kitten stayed with us for a bit and was later placed as a pet for $100. No I am not concerned about the cost of this hobby to the point that it is why I do it...I point these figures out to show that profit is not there it you have even the smallest thought of making money.

These are living creatures....and like Lynda said we have bred out the instinct of giving birth...they are lost and cannot do it on their own. Sure there are a few who can and will but they are VERY few and far between. In 11 years I have seen one of my girls like that. If you are not present to deliver...you could loose mom and the babies. Education is the KEY to this hobby...

Oh I could go on and on...but no one here is trying to be cruel...only honest. This is a hobby plain and simple...it requires alot of forethought and patience and education.