Healthy Cattery Alliance Philosophy
The Best of Two Worlds
Today, there are two main approaches to veterinary medicine: conventional and holistic. Each has its own strengths and limitations.
At the Healthy Cattery Alliance, we take the best from both approaches and combine this knowledge into one unified system with one primary goal—healthy animals.
A Strong Immune System Is the Foundation of Health
We believe that the foundation of a kitten's health is its own immune system. Our goal is to help that immune system develop properly.
That is why we place special emphasis on:
• high-quality natural nutrition;
• a clean cattery environment;
• reducing stress;
• daily access to fresh air and natural sunlight.
Our Approach to Vaccination
Regarding vaccination, we follow the alternative approach presented by veterinarian and researcher Dr. Don Hamilton.
We believe it is important that every breeder and every pet owner knows that there is not only the conventional veterinary viewpoint, but also an alternative one.
That is why we provide free access to Dr. Don Hamilton's book and other educational materials on this topic, allowing everyone to study both perspectives and make an informed decision.
The early FVRCP vaccination protocols were developed in the 1960s to control viral diseases among large populations of stray animals and animals living in shelters.
Today, those conditions have changed dramatically. Home catteries are not animal shelters. Kittens are born and raised in a controlled environment, and the widespread stray cat population for which these protocols were originally developed no longer exists in the United States. For this reason, we believe it is logical to re-evaluate these recommendations in the context of today's home catteries.
In the United States, the FVRCP vaccine is recommended but is not required by law. Therefore, every breeder and every pet owner has the right to make an independent decision after considering different professional viewpoints.
Within the Alliance, we have chosen to follow Dr. Don Hamilton's alternative approach because we believe it is more logical for healthy home catteries.
The only vaccination required by law in the United States is rabies vaccination, and we fully comply with this legal requirement.
Safety Within the Alliance
One of the greatest advantages of the Alliance is the ability to work together with a much higher level of confidence and safety.
No individual or organization can guarantee with absolute certainty that an animal will never develop a viral or infectious disease.
However, we can significantly reduce those risks.
All Alliance members share the same philosophy of health, the same principles of raising animals, and the same ethical standards of cooperation.
We know one another, communicate regularly, learn together, and openly discuss the health of our catteries. As a result, the level of confidence and security within the Alliance is significantly higher than when purchasing breeding animals from unknown breeders through the internet or social media.
Every Alliance member is personally responsible for being honest with fellow breeders.
If a viral or infectious disease occurs in a cattery, the breeder is required to temporarily suspend the sale of breeding animals to other Alliance members until the situation has been fully resolved.
If a member conceals such information or knowingly puts the health of other catteries at risk, their Alliance membership will be terminated permanently, with no possibility of reinstatement.
We are building a community that significantly reduces the risks associated with acquiring breeding animals through honesty, transparency, and a shared philosophy of health.
Mutual Support in Kitten Sales
One of the Alliance's core goals is to encourage breeders to support one another in finding homes for their kittens.
We believe that cooperation benefits everyone far more than competition.
If one cattery has no kittens available and a buyer contacts them, the breeder may recommend a kitten from another Alliance member.
In doing so, the breeder does not lose the client.
Instead, they help the buyer find a healthy kitten while strengthening trust in both their own cattery and the Alliance as a whole.
This recommendation is easy to explain to buyers. We do not refer people to random breeders. We recommend catteries that share the same philosophy of health, the same breeding principles, and the same ethical standards.
The buyer understands that, even if the kitten was not born in your cattery, it is still part of a system that you personally trust.
This strengthens confidence in both the individual cattery and the Alliance as a whole.
When one breeder temporarily has no kittens available and another has the right litter, everyone benefits.
The buyer finds the right kitten more quickly. The breeder places a kitten sooner. The referring breeder receives fair compensation for the referral.
Based on our experience, a referral fee of $500 has proven to be the most practical arrangement for a successful placement. However, the amount is always determined by mutual agreement between the breeders.
We view this system not as brokerage, but as mutual support within a professional community.
Every breeder helps strengthen the reputation of the entire Alliance, and a strong Alliance reputation helps every member earn greater trust from buyers.
We believe that the success of one cattery strengthens the entire Alliance.
Joint Promotion
One of the Alliance's goals is to build a recognized community of breeders united by a shared philosophy of health.
The Alliance website includes a Find a Breeder directory featuring all active Alliance members. Buyers can search by state or region and choose a cattery that follows the principles of our Alliance.
In this way, buyers are choosing not only a particular cattery, but also the breeding philosophy behind it.
Today, our Alliance is just beginning its journey. For this reason, listing a cattery in the Alliance directory is currently free for breeders who share our philosophy and are committed to following its principles.
We believe that, over time, buyers will search not only for a particular breed of cat, but also for catteries that are committed to the principles of healthy breeding.
Our goal is to make the Alliance name a mark of quality.
When buyers see that a cattery is a member of the Alliance, we want them to know:
• the health of the animals comes first;
• the breeder follows shared ethical principles;
• the breeder is part of a professional community where members support one another and take responsibility for one another.
We are building the Alliance not only for breeders.
We are building it for buyers as well, making it easier for them to find a cattery they can trust.
Our goal is not to become just another breeder directory. We are creating a community of breeders united by a shared philosophy of health, honesty, and mutual support.
The School of Felinology — The Foundation of the Alliance
The Healthy Cattery Alliance is built upon the Joie De Vivre School of Felinology.
There are no colleges for cat breeders. There are no government training programs or mandatory licensing examinations.
Most breeders enter this profession because of their love for animals. But loving animals is not a profession.
As a result, nearly every new breeder eventually faces questions for which there is simply nowhere to find reliable answers.
That is why the School of Felinology was created.
It brings together knowledge, practical experience, and educational resources that help breeders make better-informed decisions in their daily work.
Alliance members always know where to find answers when questions arise.
Whether the topic is cat health, genetics, kitten raising, kitten sales, client communication, legal protection for breeders, marketing, or cattery development, the School is always there as a trusted source of knowledge.
We do not believe that a breeder must know everything. We do believe that a good breeder should always know where to find reliable information and continue learning. That is why education within our Alliance never ends.
We continuously expand the School with new educational materials based on both current scientific knowledge and many years of practical breeding experience.
Our goal is to help breeders raise healthy animals, avoid common mistakes, and feel confident even in difficult situations.
We believe that every strong cattery begins with knowledge.
Professional Community
Alliance members have access to a private discussion group where they can ask questions, share experiences, and seek advice from fellow breeders at any time.
Protecting Breeders Through Buyer Education
We believe that the best protection for a breeder is a well-informed buyer.
That is why Alliance members use the contracts we have developed. These contracts are part of an educational program designed to help new owners better understand how to raise a kitten and avoid many common mistakes and misunderstandings.
Each contract includes a link to the guide, Guidelines and Recommendations for Owners of Joie De Vivre Kittens Participating in the Healthy Cattery Alliance Program, where the most important topics owners may encounter after bringing their kitten home are explained in detail.
As a result, breeders encounter far fewer misunderstandings caused by a lack of information.
We are united by a common goal: to create a new culture of cat breeding in which health, knowledge, mutual support, and respect for one another are the highest values.