Rosemary Fisher: Buying a Pedigree

When it comes to enjoying cats, few people can be more involved than Rosemary Fisher. She owns, breeds, shows and judges them — but also helps less fortunate cats through supporting a cat rescue.

Chinchilla Persians are the cats with a particular hold on Rosemary’s heart. She is also on the Board of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and is involved in delivering the World Cat Congress taking place in Liverpool in April 2026. Though a little sad not to be showing her Chinchillas there (she will be otherwise engaged judging the British shorthairs), Rosemary is proud of the seminars being run (and live-streamed) at Congress with world-leading veterinary and behavioural experts discussing key areas of cat welfare.

What to consider before owning or breeding

Ensuring that people embark on cat ownership and breeding with their eyes open, and the right knowledge and support in place is something Rosemary is passionate about — not least because of what she’s seen at Chinchilla Persian Rescue.

“Cost of living issues affect the cat world too,” she asserts. “If people don’t have insurance, the cost of care can be a real slap in the face,” — though all her own kittens and rescues join their new homes with Agria’s five free weeks of care.

The best way to try to minimise your vet bills in the early years is to buy a kitten from a reputable breeder who has carefully considered which cats to breed from.

“Go via the GCCF and get some recommendations from a breed club. Then you know the kittens have been properly registered and certain breeds will have had a DNA test if necessary — in the case of my breed I know both parents have been tested for polycycistic kidney disease, for example [a genetic flaw that can affect Persian and Exotic cats.].

“When it comes to buying a pedigree cat, as breeders, we generally knew who the good and bad guys were, but with the digital world these days it’s so much more of a free for all and you don’t always have an idea of breeders’ credentials,” Rosemary continues. 

“People need to do their research if they’re going to buy a pet. You have to groom a Chinchilla for example every day, just for 5 or 10 minutes. If an average pet owner is prepared to do that, it’s not onerous. But if you leave it for a fortnight, the cat is going to object and it is one of the reasons we get cats into rescue. So if you don’t have time for that, buy a different breed.”

“Rosemary’s experience highlights just how important it is to choose a reputable breeder and have the right support in place from the very beginning. At Agria, we’re proud to work alongside GCCF breeders to help provide that protection and peace of mind from day one.” – Sarah White, Agria Breeder Channel Manager

Mentoring new breeders

As someone who has been breeding since the mid-1970s, Rosemary is clear about who should and should not embark on it.

“Breeding is a lovely hobby, but it can also be heartbreaking,” she warns. Nothing beats finding yourself a mentor, and Rosemary believes any good breeder who has sold you a pedigree cat would be willing to fulfil that role and help answer questions for someone with less experience. “Breeders may actually have seen more kittens being born than even your vet,” she reasons. 

But first, visit some breed shows to see the different styles of cat, and which one appeals most to you and your lifestyle. World Cat Congress and Supreme Show in Liverpool on Sunday 26^th April will be a marvellous opportunity to see many breeds and breeders under one roof.

Rosemary also urges novice breeders to consider breeding as a hobby rather than a profit-making venture. She breeds around 12 to 15 kittens a year — “that’s enough for me to deal with” — but doesn’t expect to make money. “Once you’ve paid for vet bills, feed, litter, show costs, you’re very lucky to break even. But each year you hope you’re going to get something special you’ll be able to enjoy showing.”

When cats need our help

Rosemary manages the website and Facebook page of Chinchilla Persian Rescue which rescues Persians and Exotic Shorthairs “when we found there was a need”. Some are abandoned, while others are given to the rescue charity when their owners have died or need to move into residential care. Rosemary is pleased that this year’s new Renter’s Rights Information Act makes it harder for landlords to prevent renters from owning a cat: “This will help rescues as it is another reason cats are given up sometimes.”

The charity rehomes some 15 to 20 cats a year, under the leadership of Welfare Officer Jo Clements. A local vet conducts a free health check for any new arrival, any spaying, neutering, dental work, vaccinations that are needed will be done, and any prospective home is checked, before a cat is rehomed with six weeks of free Agria insurance. “It’s brilliant — it’s immediate and for any age of cat,” adds Rosemary. 

https://www.gccfcats.org/show-calendar/word-cat-congress/

Congress takes place on 26th April