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Personally, I would
NEVER buy a pedigree kitten from a pet shop, as they are often taken away
from their Mum’s far too young, and will very rarely be vaccinated. These
kittens will have been subjected to poking, prodding, stroking etc by the
public, unprotected from any airborne diseases. If the kittens have been
taken away from Mum too early they will be poorly socialised and will be
likely to develop behavioural problems later on. In any case you should
never buy a kitten less than 12 weeks old.
If you are
unfamiliar with your chosen breed be sure to research thoroughly. Read
breed related books, articles and cat magazines. If you have access to
the Internet, you will find a wealth of information.
Do
Your Research
Contact breed clubs
and associations. Most breeders are members of these clubs and must
adhere to their strict guidelines. They can also provide you with a list
of available kittens in your area.
Never be afraid to phone breeders for
a cat chat, most of us love to chat about our favoured breed(s).
Furthermore, reputable breeders will be honest about their breed. None of
us want one of our much-loved kittens to be placed in a home where the
lifestyle and/or preferences of the owner are wrong for our breed.
Finding a Breeder
Breed
clubs/associations hold lists of breeders, contact TICA for a list of
affiliated clubs or search the Internet. Others advertise in cat
periodicals and others have web sites. Alternatively visit a cat show and
talk to breeders there.
Look beyond the big fancy advertising
and web sites. Many excellent breeders do not need to place lots of
advertising, simply because their cats speak for themselves! (This is
not to say that those that do produce inferior kittens). Others can boost
lots of show wins, but I have met many who do not show themselves but have
cats adopted by others who are doing well on the show bench. As a judge
said to me at the Supreme this year “There are just as many beautiful
cats out there who are never shown!” If showing is important to you
ask your breeder if they show and if not why not? They may have a
perfectly good reason.
Be Aware of Price
Breeders are at free
will to charge any price they like for their kittens. Never be afraid to
ask what they charge before you visit and possibly fall in love with a
kitten you cannot afford, or that is grossly over-priced. Find out the
average cost of your chosen breed and do not pay too much above or below
this average price. Kittens that appear cheap, may not be vaccinated,
registered, or may be inferior. (Expect to pay approximately £350 to
£450 for a Maine Coon pet.)
Some vets (though they are few and far
between), are now spaying/neutering kittens, if your breeder has had your
kitten spayed expect to pay approximately £50-60 more depending on the sex
of your kitten, (the cost should be less for a male).
Rapport.
As in
all walks in life there are some people you feel drawn to and some you
don’t, the cat world is no different. Speak to breeders and find one you
feel comfortable with, after all this may be the beginning of a long and
hopefully fruitful relationship. It needs to be someone you feel you
would be able to contact for advice if and when needed. A reputable
breeder will want to establish a good relationship and maintain some
contact with you anyway– after all we put lots of love and care into our
kittens & love to have news and photographs from time to time. (I have
made great friends with the breeders of two of my kittens, and they love
to have news of their progress).
Visit
Your Breeder
After talking to
your breeder and feeling comfortable with them ask to visit. Your first
visit should be a ‘get to know you’ time, where you see and play with the
adult cats and observe their interactions with their owners. If there are
kittens available at this time you will also be able to observe these.
Check that the cats and kittens look healthy and happy. Ask yourself the
following questions: Do they seem content? Do they look free from any
ailments (ie fleas, runny noses, weepy eyes)? Are they well socialised
for their age? Never be afraid to ask the breeder questions and expect
them to ask questions of you. Our kittens are precious and we want to
know they will have a good loving and forever home.
Never be pushed into a sale, be wary
if a breeder attempts to get you to make a decision. This is a big
decision and should not be made in haste, you may need time to go away and
reflect before you decide.
What You Should Expect.
All cats should come
registered, vaccinated, free from worms and fleas and with a pedigree
certificate showing at least 4 generations. They should all have been
checked at the vets (this will also take place at the time of final
vaccination). Expect to sign a kitten contract, which at the very least
will oblige you to spay/neuter your kitten at the appropriate time. Many
breeders will also provide a kitten care leaflet, 6 weeks free insurance,
and some food samples of good quality cat food.
What Breeders Expect.
Please remember when
visiting cats/kittens that you are entering some bodies home and respect
their space. If you cannot make an appointment please let your breeder
know. Never visit more than one cattery on the same day when visiting
kittens, until fully vaccinated kittens are very vulnerable.
Miscellaneous
If you are at work
all day, please consider more than one kitten. A single kitten will get
very lonely whilst you are out all day. If you cannot afford to buy two
together (and not many of us can!), consider getting another at a later
date.
Many breeders also offer older retired
cats; these are well worth considering and are often offered at a reduced
price to special homes.
Helpful links:
http://www.coontica.org.uk
http://www.tica.org/members3.htm
http://www.understandinganimals.com/article/8
http://www.kittenlist.co.uk/
Maine Coon Breed Society
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