*** Quoting Robin Sheppard from a message to Ivy Iverson ***
 II> Speaking of inbreading, I have kept my mouth shut while reading all
 II> the worries about what it might be doing to current and future
 II> generations of cats from this line.  And every time I read yet ANOTHER
 II> such comment, I want to scream, "How the blazes do you think that
 II> animals are bred to get certain characteristics?"  You take a male and
 II> a female which show the characteristics you want to encourage, and you
 II> breed them.  Then you take whatever offspring show the strongest
 II> characteristics you want and you breed them, either to their siblings,
 II> their parents, or to others who also share the desired characteristics.
 II> This is how the different breeds of cats, (longhair/shorthair/special
 II> markings/bone structure, etc.), dogs, miniature horses, potbellied
 II> pigs, sheep, or any other breed of animals... they were ALL bred the
 II> same way: by inbreeding!  
RS>  
RS>      Oh, I'm sorry.  I didn't realize that inbreeding was something th
RS> been practiced before; I thought you were the first one to attempt it.
RS>      Realistically, though, what kind of an argument is that?  "They h
RS> done it in the past so it must be okay!"  That's crap, and you know it
RS> not debating the fact that it was (may even still be) an accepted prac
Grin, sorry but you know little of breeding tactics for pedigrees.  You may 
not *like* the idea, but that is exactly how it is done.  Eventually, you end 
up with a clean gene chart, although there is a cost along the way to getting 
there.  Newer breeds, are more prone to flawed genetics due to still 
lingering bad/non-desireable recessives.  After many generations, they are 
weeded out.  That is *why* pedigreed animals cost money.  They have had some 
clearing of the genetic traits one doesnt want.
Lab rats make a perfect case in point.  They arent just cute little white 
things with pink eyes that all look the same, they are now bred almost to be 
clones of one another.  Inbreeding and culling over thousands of rat 
generations.
Ivy, is a cat breeder.  There is nothing wrong with that. She does it 
responsibly and with care, and has homes for all the kittens.
RS> I just think you selectively ignore facts that don't fit your picture
RS> way things work, and you try to rationalize things.
I think the shoe is now on the other foot.
                                       xxcarol
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