Online shopping
Attending a show is probably the most enjoyable way to start tracking down a breeder, but you have other options, too.
Most people will immediately perform an internet search, putting the breed they’re interested in and their city or state into the search bar. When the results pop up, they think they’re good to go, but nothing can be further from the truth.
Click-and-ship kitten sellers may be in your neck of the woods, or they can be hundreds or even thousands of miles away, pretending to be local. The kittens may be healthy, or they may be very sick indeed. If you’re looking for a particular breed, it's fine to start with an internet search, but under no circumstances should you submit your credit card information (or use any other means of payment) and buy a kitten online. You may luck out and get a healthy kitten, but you may also be rewarding a cruel operation that isn’t caring for the cats in its care.
Spotting the less-than-ideal breeders
A very few breeders are downright evil and fail to provide for even the basics of their animals’ needs. A few more are mentally ill, living in filthy homes packed to the rafters with freely mating cats. These people are fairly easy to spot and avoid — unless their kittens are cleaned up and sold elsewhere.
The majority of “bad” breeders are not uncaring. They’re just uninformed. They don’t know that many of the cats they produce can end up in shelters or spend their lives in pain from a congenital illness. They just want a litter “so the kids can see” or because “kittens are fun” or because they heard that breeding cats is an easy way to make a little money. They aren’t bad people, but they’re still not good breeders.
Following are a few things that should give you pause in dealing with a breeder:
Lack of knowledge about the breed: Someone who doesn’t know much about the breed, its history, or its normal behavior isn’t someone who’s too concerned about producing kittens that are healthy examples of the breed.
Ignorance or denial of genetic defects: Many breeds have some problems, some of which can be avoided by careful breeding. A person who isn’t aware of congenital defects certainly isn’t planning her breedings to avoid them.
Not letting you observe the litter, meet the mother or other cats, or see where the kittens were raised: Healthy, well-mannered adults and a clean, well-run cattery are a breeder’s best testimonial. If a person doesn’t want you to see anything except the kitten she’s trying to sell, you ought to be wondering why.
No documentation: If the kitten’s represented as “CFA registered,” the registration papers should be available. (The same goes for other registries, too.) So, too, should the papers backing up health claims. A sales contract spelling out the rights and responsibilities of both parties is highly desirable. Such a document provides you with recourse should the kitten not turn out as promised — if it has congenital health problems, for example, or isn’t suitable for showing, if that was part of your intent in buying him.
Doesn’t seem to understand the importance of socialization: Kittens need to be nurtured, loved, and handled to make good pets. Someone who can’t explain what they’ve done in this area or who tries to sell a kitten less than 12 weeks old probably doesn’t understand enough to be breeding cats.
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE BREEDER
Reputable breeders are not only happy to answer questions but also welcome them as the sign of the caring buyer they want to share their cats and kittens with. You can find out a lot about the breeder by asking a few questions. Try these and listen carefully for the right answer:
How long have you been breeding cats? How many breeds do you have? Do you show? Why or why not? You’re looking for someone who has been breeding cats long enough to know what she’s doing. Someone who concentrates on one breed, or maybe two or three related ones. Showing? It’s a sign of someone who’s not just into breeding to make a buck, but if everything else checks out, you’ll probably be OK.
What congenital defects are in this breed? How are you working to avoid those defects? You want someone who’s upfront and knowledgeable about problems in the breed, and someone who’s actively working to minimize them.
How large is your breeding operation? Where do your cats spend most of their time? You’re looking for someone who isn’t overwhelmed with cats, so each kitten can get the care and socialization that are so important. Make sure you get a look “behind the scenes” to ensure the cats are kept in healthy conditions — don’t just take the breeder’s word for it.
Are your cats tested for infectious diseases? Are the kittens? May I have the kitten checked out by my veterinarian before I commit? A reputable breeder keeps his cattery clear of preventable illness by making sure infectious diseases don’t exist among his cats in the first place and by never allowing cats who haven’t tested negative for these diseases to interact with his cats. As for a vet check … it’s always important to get a professional opinion.
What sort of health guarantees do you offer? What happens if the kitten gets sick? Not even the most reputable of breeders can offer a 100 percent guarantee that your kitten is going to stay healthy. Your pet may become ill within days of your bringing her home, or she may manifest congenital health defects months or even years later. A reputable breeder, shelter, or rescue group is going to want to play fair and is prepared to compensate you for some of the financial loss — although sadly, not the personal one — should your new kitten become ill or die.
What determines the different prices of a cat or kitten in your program? Most people looking for a pedigreed cat end up with “pet quality” because of the large expense associated with acquiring “show quality” cats and because breeders prefer to place their “best” cats with people whom they know intend to show them. A knowledgeable, reputable breeder can honestly assess a kitten’s show potential and explain what “defect” classifies the animal as pet quality. In other circumstances, price differentials may depend on desirable markings or other attributes. Asking why will help to determine if you think the breeder has her priorities in proper order.
A “pet-quality” cat or a cat with less-than-desirable markings is in no way a lesser companion. Very few cats are born with the traits they need to be truly competitive in the show world. Their markings may be wrong, or their coats may not be lush enough. Their ears may not fold forward or curl back as their show standards dictate, or their “expression” may not match the ideal for their breed. Even though they may be missing these traits, these kittens are still beautiful and loving. As long as their faults aren’t health- or temperament-related, such cats are wonderful prospects for purchase or adoption.
Pet Stores: What about Those Kittens in the Window?
You don’t need to put much effort into buying a pedigreed kitten at a pet store. Pet stores usually stock kittens of the most popular breeds by the handful — and maybe some mixes, too. If you go to a pet store, you don’t need to talk to breeders, do your homework,