We like to joke that our cats are born retired, and they certainly do have a pretty relaxed life. Yet even so, showing, travel, and reproduction does take its toll on cats and kittens. When our cats retire from the show ring and/or from breeding, we seek to place them in other loving homes, not because we no longer care for them, but because we do really love them. That last statement might sound odd to someone who is thinking, 'how can you place your cats if you love them?' but the cats are often much happier in homes with less competition for attention, and where they can rule the roost.
Our first show cat, Murabi was, we thought, going to stay with us forever; however, once she was spayed, she lost her position as 'top cat' in the house and was picked on by the younger dominant, breeding females. When it got to the point that she was living in a cat bed next to my pillow, too intimidated to roam the house as she used to, I knew that it was time to place her needs before my love for her. She went to a man in Wilkes-Barre PA who was distantly related to one of the breeders in her pedigree. After his death, Murabi went to live with his niece, and she is there still, queen of the house and the center of her owners' hearts. (In fact, I did not find out the gentleman had died until several weeks later because the niece knew my contract stipulated that Murabi was to be returned to me - she loved Murabi and was worried that I would demand her back)
I wrote the example above so that you might know that 'retired cats' are not discards, tossed aside because they no longer serve a breeding program. Cats retired by an ethical breeder are pets whose future happiness depends on relocating to a family that matches their needs and personality. Most retired cats are healthy, and the breeder should know the cat's quirks and charms well enough to make a good fit with a new family. I still miss Murabi, and think about her often.
Some cats retire quite young: they don't like to show, develop a fault, or do not quite meet the show standards or the goals of the breeder's program. Other cats retire after a show career and breeding. Of course, you are best able to determine whether or not you might welcome a retired cat into your home. Orientals are 'kittens' for a good portion of their lives and stay active and alert longer than many other types of cats.
