Guidelines for keeping a stud

1. Stud House

This should be large enough to accommodate the stud at all times. It should be at least 6’ x 6’ x 6’ (1.8m x 1.8m x 1.8m), but preferably larger, with good ventilation and window space. Walls and Roof of house should be lined and insulated. Inside walls should be covered with paint or PVC. Floors should be covered with impervious material which should extend some way up the walls. Doors into the house should be large enough to allow easy access. A stable-type door is desirable.
Shelves and Ledges (of which there should be several) should be finished in easily cleaned material.

Heating and Lighting: Electricity should be used for heating and lighting with all wires concealed or protected and plug sockets out of range of a spraying tom. There should be adequate illumination to allow management of the stud and visiting queens after dark.

2. Queen’s Quarters

This should be separate accommodation incorporating sleeping area, litter tray and sufficient space for feeding and stretching. There should be easy access to the stud quarters but allow access to the queen without molestation by the stud. It can be a partitioned area of the stud house or it can be constructed as a small box-type pen within the main house; this must have secure fastening and a solid wall around the sleeping compartment to allow the queen privacy. The size of the queen’s apartment should not be less than 6’ x 2’ x 2’ (1.8m x 0.6m x 0.6m) and should be well ventilated.

3. Outside Run

This should be large enough to provide scope for exercise – minimum size 6’ x 6’ x 6’ (1.8m x 1.8m x 1.8m) – with shelves situated at various aspects. It should be constructed from strong supports covered with a wire frame (eg Twilweld, chain-link, chicken wire, etc) with no wire-ends protruding into the run. There should be no gaps in or under the wire from which a cat could escape. The base of the run should be constructed from concrete, paving slabs, or similar, allowing easy cleaning and disinfecting. The safety run should be incorporated in the main run and have a secure inner door and lockable outer door.

The general impression of stud quarters should be one of hygiene and comfort, suggesting good management on the part of the stud owner.

The stud list

All entries in the Stud List are supported by the following declaration, signed by each stud owner:

I agree

that my stud must be on the Active Register
that all queens accepted must be on the Active Register only
that my stud(s) will not be “free range”
to advise owners of queens on the care of queen and kittens and to assist with the identification of kitten colours if necessary
to stress the importance of and give advice on the registration of kittens
to my stud and quarters being inspected at any reasonable time by a member of the BCC Committee or someone authorised by them
I declare that to the best of my knowledge my stud is not affected by the gene for Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy. I will advise the Burmese Cat Club Committee without delay if in the future any verified case of Hypokalaemia is sired by my stud