10/31/2026
“ADOPT DON’T SHOP” — WHY CAN’T WE SUPPORT BOTH?
Adoption is a beautiful thing, and we will never argue otherwise. Giving an animal a second chance at a loving home is something worth celebrating. But ethical breeding and adoption are not opposing causes. There is room for both.
Ethical breeding helps preserve established breeds, maintain genetic diversity, and produce healthy, well-tempered animals. Many purpose-bred dogs go on to serve our communities through police and military work, search and rescue, and assistance for individuals with disabilities. These traits and abilities are worth preserving for future generations.
Let’s also remember that shelter overpopulation is not caused by ethical breeders. It is largely driven by irresponsible ownership, abandonment, neglect, and careless breeding practices.
Here at Indigo Exotics, if a kitten hasn’t found the right home by 12 weeks, that baby stays with me. I take responsibility for their healthcare, spaying or neutering, and continued care. I would rather wait months to find the right family than settle for the wrong one. And if that home never comes? That baby has a home right here. The shelter is NEVER an option.
Ethical breeders understand that their responsibility doesn’t end when a kitten leaves their cattery. We also recognize that some families value knowing an animal’s lineage, genetic background, temperament, and medical history — information that isn’t always available with rescue animals. Both paths offer something valuable, and neither should be diminished.
At Indigo Exotics, giving back is important to us. Through TNR, helping reunite missing animals with their families, and finding placements for feral kittens, we do our part to support animals beyond our own cattery.
Something else people often overlook is the financial commitment behind ethical breeding. Quality food, genetic testing, veterinary care, registrations, starter packs, and unexpected emergencies that can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars all go back into the animals. Many responsible breeders are barely breaking even sometimes because their priority is the well-being of their cats and kittens.
So before assuming all breeders are greedy, or commenting “adopt don’t shop” underneath a breeder’s post, take the time to investigate. Ask questions. Look into their health testing, breeding practices, and lifelong commitment to the animals they produce.
We don’t have to tear one cause down to support another.
Adoption deserves to be celebrated. Ethical breeding deserves to be recognized. We can advocate for rescue without condemning responsible breeders.
At the end of the day, we should all want the same thing: healthier animals, responsible ownership, fewer animals in shelters, and loving homes for every animal. 🤍
There is room for both.
— Indigo Exotics Bengals
