Assalaam Aleikum. I would like to know is it permissible to breed cats? Some breeds are worth a lot of money and the young kittens are very expensive. Is it o.k to make money in such a way? Thank you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to breed cats, especially if there is a need for them, like keeping insects away, for example. It is confirmed that the Prophet ruled that cats are pure and did not prohibit their presence at homes.

As regards the ruling on selling cats, there is a major difference of opinion among the scholars about it. In our view, in Islamweb, the preponderant opinion is that it is forbidden to sell them, because it is confirmed that the Prophet prohibited their price (i.e. trading with it). [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The fact that their price is expensive is not a sound reason for trading with them.