Yes, of course. I was just trying to find the best picture of the look I like, the surrounding cage is not part of that look. Although we don't know why is in there, has it been trapped for treatment perhaps? Or to be tagged or chipped for I'd to help with some study? Probably not but still...
I certainly didn't mean to imply "look at this beautiful animal, it's caged for a better look isn't that great".

Oh god. This will sound awful and it's embarrassing as I feel very show-offy but me being out of pocket isn't a problem. Money isn't a concern for me. Sorry if that sounds awful but that's my situation.

I do understand the financial risks most breeders face, your right it is important not to gloss over that aspect. I can only talk about my own situation of course, which is very specific and not one most people are in. I wouldn't want to appear to be dismissing the risks and pitfalls or to encourage anyone to go into this lightly without a lot of thought and careful planning. That's the stage I'm in at the moment, thought and planning, really thinking about what I want to achieve and how to do it and have healthy, happy cats too! I'm gathering info, as much as I can get.

I'm not much interested in what is 'fashionable' I have to say. I have my ideas about what I like to see in the breed, I certainly won't be retiring an otherwise very healthy queen just because she's 'not the current trend' especially if I've gotten and contine you to get good HCM screening results from her, older, regularly screened females have a lot to give to a breeding programme. That's another advantage of giving her a good recovery time between litters, she will be in better condition and will be able to produce healthy litters for longer.

Well my plan initially at least is to use studs. The challenge there of course is finding a stud from a low risk line that has been screened annually and is a good age, 6+ ideally. I know there are only a few breeders with boys like this.

I only found one stud available to outside queens who fits all of those requirements, he is up in Scotland. Gorgeous boy but my girl gets stressed in the car so too far for us, we used a 3 year old boy who had screened negative that year but finding HCM screened studs to send our girl to was very hard, I would advise getting your queen from a breeder who regularly screens all their cats and allows you to use their stud for your girl until you are in a position to increase your program with a boy of your own.

I think I know the breeder you mean. If I'm right I am in contact with her and she's been really helpful answering questions and pointing me in the direction of some great fb groups too! She recomended exactly the same thing regarding getting a queen from regularly screened parents. Health is absolutely my top priority, no point starting to breed if you're just going to add to the growing health problems in the breed, that does nothing to help the breed advance. Great type or a lovely coat mean nothing if your cats are dead at a young age. I'm prepared to wait as long as it takes to get the right queen and use of the right stud, I'd rather never do it at all than breed unhealthy animals. I'm shocked at the number of breeders who breed with a blindfold on and fingers crossed, just playing Russian roulette with the lives of their cats.

Well firstly, no way would I think of having 5 girls. 1 first, see how I go, get some experience, then maybe move to two. Secondly I'm in contact with a breeder who has offered to help me learn how to identify low risk lines as it takes experience to really know what you're doing. Thirdly, I'm not doing anything before I can walk, I have no breeding queen, no immediate plans to get one either, I'm just learning.
I'm not 'happy' to give kittens away for free, just meant that if I was in a situation of needing to I could, the financial impact isn't, for me, something I need to worry about. I appreciate the costs (I'm in london), I hate to have to say it again but I can afford it. Sorry if that's a problem, that I won't struggle in that respect, but that's the truth of my situation. Separating cats is also no problem, I have the space.

So there are 2 open studs that meet my criteria, great, I also hope to build relationships with other breeders who are concernd about HCM so hopefully I can access other studs that way, like was suggested, maybe from the breeder I eventually get my queen from. I'm just sounding things out, getting ideas, learning what I can. This board isn't my only source. I'm talking to other breeders too.