The Heart Behind What We Do
Our Ethics
At Dragonglass Cattery, ethical breeding means always placing the physical and emotional well being of our cats first. Our cats are raised in a clean, enriched, home based environment where they are cherished as family. We are committed to responsible breeding, transparency, ongoing education, and lifelong accountability for every kitten we produce.
We intentionally keep our program small so we can maintain full control over our environment and provide individualized care for each cat and kitten. This allows us to truly know their personalities and needs, which ultimately helps us place them in the best possible homes.
Our goal is to be present with our queens every step of the way—from their rest periods to breeding, labor, and nursing. By limiting the number of cats in our program, we ensure that every queen, kitten, and stud receives the time, attention, and care they deserve. Expanding beyond that would compromise the level of dedication and hands-on involvement that we pride ourselves on. We are hands on and intentional in every step. We closely monitor all pregnancies and births, carefully plan each pairing, and house queens and sires separately except during scheduled breedings. We have never missed a birth. Our queens are bred once per year (at most twice a year) to allow proper recovery, and all breeding cats are DNA tested, Fecal & Respiratory PCR tested, fully vaccinated, and receive routine veterinary care. Health is always prioritized over litter production.
Kittens are raised in a controlled nursery until vaccinated and litter trained, then gradually introduced into our home to ensure confidence and proper socialization.
Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of our breeding program. Our queens and kittens are fed a premium diet of dry Life Abundance and wet Tiki Cat Baby kitten shreds wet food, while our sires are fed Life Abundance formulas and wet Tiki After Dark. Fresh food and water are available to all cats twenty four hours a day.
Enrichment is an essential part of daily life at Dragonglass Cattery. Our cats enjoy a stimulating environment that includes cat wheels, interactive toys, cat trees, catnip, secure catios, and plenty of opportunities for play, exploration, and relaxation.
Ethical Breeding is About Patience
Because Rested Queens Make Stronger Kittens
Allowing a queen to wait between litters gives her body the time it needs to fully recover from pregnancy, birth, and nursing. This rest period supports proper nutrient replenishment, hormonal balance, and overall physical strength. Well rested queens are more likely to experience smoother pregnancies, easier deliveries, and produce stronger kittens with healthier birth weights and more resilient immune systems. Adequate recovery also nurtures emotional well being, reduces stress, and helps extend a queen’s healthy breeding lifespan.
The Cost of Not Waiting
Breeding too frequently places continuous physical and emotional strain on a queen. Without sufficient recovery time, she may face nutritional depletion, weakened immunity, increased risk of reproductive complications, and elevated stress. Kittens from overbred queens may be more vulnerable to illness and lower birth weights. Over time, repeated breeding without rest can shorten a queen’s breeding career and diminish her overall quality of life.
