Moonpie is an example of what can go wrong with selective breeding. She was bred to show but, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, she was not considered 'show quality'. The first time she was introduced to a judge and he put his hands on her, she ripped him open. Right then her life took an unexpected turn.

Her owner, disgusted by the fact that they had this cat that wouldn't be of use to them, were going to dispose of her. To some breeders a cat that won't show is simply trash. To these people the only worth an animal has is how much money they can make off of it. Thousands of breeded dogs and cats each year are disposed of in shelters or killed because they are not 'show quality'. Moonpie was lucky, I heard about her.

Moonpie & Chester

I contacted the breeder and they agreed to let me have Moon. I brought her home and Skip said she looked like a Moonpie so that's how she got the name. Because of her lineage, Moon suffers from arthritis, her tear ducts are deformed and her nasal passages are 'squashed' to get that 'persian' look. She cannot breathe right because of this. Her teeth also are turned in and she has trouble eating, sometimes having to be hand fed. The squashed nasal and tear ducts sometimes cause fluid to back up in her ears which leads to infection. She also hates to be groomed but, I think this is more a personality trait than breeding! Moonpie is a high maintenance girl.

Everyone who comes here falls in love with her. She can be a bit of a twit sometimes but, is also very loving too. You can't enjoy the sugar without a little spice! Moon is a man's cat and she does love the men. She is really Skip's cat and is never too far away when he's home. My website designer, Donna and her husband Mike kept Moon and a couple of my other cats when I went to Woodstock in 98. Mike calls her his 'little Moonbeam'. I have to check under Donna's coat everytime she leaves here to make sure she hasn't tried to take Moon home with her!

You should do research on the internet and at the library if you are thinking about getting a breeded animal. Almost every breed has some inherent physical defect that goes along with the breeding so it's wise to get a heads up on what you might have to deal with down the road. I'm not saying don't get a breeded animal, I'm just saying don't get one if you are un-informed. Always, always ask for references on the breeder and check them before you purchase an animal and under no circumstances should you purchase an animal from a pet store or puppy/kitten mill. These institutions need to be closed down and the only way to do that is to stop the demand.

Moonpie & Mouse

Puppy/Kitten Mill Information Sites

(May contain graphic photos. Kitten mills operate the same way. I'm looking for sites that show it.)

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