[b]Inbreeding[/b]  
Inbreeding happens when closely related pets (siblings, parent/child, etc.) are bred together. While it can sometimes produce unusual or rare traits, it usually comes with negative consequences.

[b]How It Works[/b]  
When two pets are bred, the system checks their family tree. If they are related by blood (such as sharing a parent or being siblings), their [b]inbreeding score[/b] goes up. The higher the score, the stronger the risks.

[b]Possible Effects[/b]  
- Lower overall health of offspring.  
- Increased chance of sickness at birth (congenital illness).  
- Higher chance of stillborn kits.  
- Greater chance of shortened lifespan.  
- Pets may inherit visual markers (such as an [i]inbreeding badge[/i]) to show their history.

[b]Severity[/b]  
The closer the relation, the harsher the effect. For example:  
- Parent × Child → Very high inbreeding score.  
- Brother × Sister → High inbreeding score.  
- Cousins → Lower score, but still risky.  

[b]Gameplay Impact[/b]  
Inbred pets may:  
- Require more care (more likely to get sick).  
- Perform worse in battles or scouting.  
- Have less energy or mood each day.  
- Be harder to keep alive long-term.  

[b]Why Does It Matter?[/b]  
This system helps keep the gene pool diverse and encourages players to find unrelated mates for their pets. Careful breeding avoids long-term problems for your colony and makes for healthier, stronger pets.

[b]Tips[/b]  
- Check the [i]Parents[/i] and [i]Siblings[/i] sections of each pet’s profile before breeding.  
- Avoid repeated pairings of the same family lines.  
- Watch for warning messages in the breeding dropdown — they will tell you if the chosen pets are related.  

[b]Inbreeding Risk Chart[/b]  
Relation → Risk Level → Possible Effects  
- Parent × Child → [b]Extreme[/b] → Very high sickness, high chance of stillborns, lifespan reduced.  
- Brother × Sister → [b]High[/b] → Frequent illness, weaker stats, more stillborns.  
- Half-Siblings → [b]Moderate[/b] → Increased sickness, occasional stat penalties.  
- Cousins → [b]Low[/b] → Small risk of sickness, slight stat penalties.  
- Unrelated → [b]Safe[/b] → No penalties.  

[b]Summary[/b]  
Inbreeding can be tempting for convenience or to lock in a rare trait, but it carries serious risks. Healthy bloodlines are the key to thriving colonies!