Tips on buying a pure bred cat or kitten. When you are looking for a prue bred cat or kitten you have to take in mind the relationship you and your pet has or will have with the breeder. It is important you find a breeder you are comfortable with. The breeder should be registered with either a local or international cat club. Don't be afraid to ask questions....... How long they have been breeding for? Do they guarantee the health of the kitten and if so for how long? Is it ok for you to e-mail or phone them with any questions once you have the kitten at home? Can you go see their cattery? Are the parents on sight and are they ALL regestered pure breds? Do you get weekly updated or messages on your cat or kitten? Any breeder who is trying to find good homes for their cats and kittens will be happy to answer all your questions. Pet Stores. Please don't buy a purebred kitten from a pet shop unless you personally know the owner and they will guarantee the cat or kitten didn't come from a kitten mill. Also be aware that there are unregistered catterys. In some cases it might pay to ask for their cattery #'s and call TICA or CATCA to verify them. If the cattery is ligit they will supply you with their cattery registration and they even should have the phone #'s for you to check on. If they are not a registered cattery or the parents don't have registration papers you will not be supplied with the cat's papers and you won't know anything about the cat's history. Responsiable Breeders The cat or kitten should be of propper age to travel. I like my kittens to have the socialization that they need and to be fully cat box and kitten food trained. Somewhere between 9 and 12 weeks depending on the kitten. A good caring breeder will not "get rid of" the litter. They will pay attention to each cat and it's personality to decide on the take home date. The cats and kittens sold as breeders will have a written contract fully vaccinated and be microchipped. This not only saves you time running around organising ityourself but it can often save you money because breeders are able to pass on their veterinary discounts. I have found some states that require your cats and kittens to be microchipped. Unregistered Kittens You may think you are saving money buying an unregistered kitten but more likely than not you end up with expensive vet care. Most unregistered kittens and cats are from an unwated litters or kitten mills. They might not have even had routiene care, worming or shots. Don't buy a kitten just because you feel sorry for it because it looks sick or unhappy. You may think you are doing the right thing by getting the kitten out of such an environment but in the long run you are not doing any favours. By paying for unpapered cats or kittens to unregistered and or unethical breeders who don't take proper care of their animals you are just encouraging them to continue. Selecting Your Cat or Kitten. This is very important and you need to take care when doing this. It is advisable that you contact breeders several weeks in advance. As in my case I have waiting lists for my cats and kittens. I have contracts for you and I to fill out. I also have families pay a deposite to insure you are serious about the cat and also for you to be sure I am holding a cat or kitten for you, when one comes available, that fits what you are expecting. You should be allowed to go and choose a kitten when the litter is around 2 to 3 weeks of age. If your contracts are ready and deposits made. You can make a selection then and watch what they do as they play. You can also see in a couple more weeks which kittens are outgoing and those who are a little quieter. Once you have chosen your kitten you should be able to get updates on the progress of the kitten. The Cattery Remember to take a look around the cattery, does it look & smell clean? Steer clear of a cattery that has too many cats kept in cramped & dirty conditions. Try to take a look at the parents, their nature will give you a good indication of what their kitten’s nature will be like. Do the cats appear happy and healthy? Are they given toys and lots of attention. See how the kittens act when the breeder and others interact with it. When you are deciding on a kitten give it a GOOD looking over. Check it’s ears, eyes, bottom and nose. Make sure it is the sex the breeder says it is. If the kittens or cats look very much alike decide how to mark it as yours. Never buy a kitten with discharge coming from the eyes or nose or dirty ears. The kitten’s coat should look and feel healthy, soft and shiny. You should not see or feel any dry skin or scabs. There should not be a greasy feel to the coat, which could mean the kitten has not been properly groomed by its mother. What to ecpect from your breeder. A good breeder will ask you a lot of questions. This is because they have raised these kittens from birth and want to make sure that they are going to the best possible home. That the buyer is fully aware of the responsibility of owning an animal that can live for up to 15 years. You should also expect an attention to the details. A complete shot record, transfer of vet papers, pedigree paperwork, and most important a list of food and TOYS. Some questions the breeder should ask you are... Do you plan to for the kitten to be indoors only? Many breeders won't sell their kittens to people who plan to let their cats outside, unless they are either supervised, in an enclosure or on a harness. Too many cats are killed on the roads, or by other animals. Will you be breeding from this cat? If not, the breeder may well desex the kitten before you take it home. This is because breeders put a lot of time, effort and money into their breeding program. They want to ensure that they are only selling a cat for breeding to a person who understands what they are undertaking. How Much Time Do You Spend At Home? If you are out for long hours daily the breeder may recommend you get a second cat. This is because a cat left alone every day will get lonely and bored. I know how bored kids act I can't imagine a lonely bored cat. Do you already have a vet? This is important. With my pet and breeding contracts this is a must. I will require you to bring your new cat or kitten there as part of the guarantee. So should any breeder that loves what they do. Before your kitten comes home you will have to buy a few items. 1) A cat bed, with a blanket 2) Cat toys, most cats love toy mice, but even basic home made toys can provide hours of entertainment. A paper sack or crumpled newspaper works good. 3) Food bowls. Washable!! You will need at least two. One for food and one for water. 4) Food find out what kind the breeder uses and have it on hand. To switch to your or your vets brand SLOW is good. Mix a little more of the new kind in each time. 5) Litter tray. It is best if you match the breeders and their litter too. If you are planning to use clumping litter it is advised if you wait untill your kitten has grown up. To switch brands slowly mix the new kind in with the regular. Receiving Your Kitten Into Your Home First it helps if you remeber you asked, begged, pleaded, and maby even promised stuff to get this kitten into your house. Next you have to understand this cat or kitten was minding it's own business one day then was put into a car or plane and went far, far away from it's original home. It is scared, tired, and motion sick. This is the time to take it slow. Have a quiet place in a closed off room set up for the new family member. Leave it in the cat carrier open the door and let it come out when it want's too. This will also give you time to double check you cat proofed your home. No poisionus house plants. Cleaning supplies in a securly closed cupboard. Family members reminded about shutting the doors to outside at all times. It will take a while for it's tummy to settle down so it might eat much later. Check on it ever so often. I find if I sit quietly on the floor the cat or kitten comes up to me pretty quickly. Let it climb on your lap don't force it there. After a couple days you can let it expand it's exploration in a controlled way. You waited so long for this pet to be in your home so don't blow it. The slower you introduce it to new people, pets, sights, and smells the better. Also it might be in your contract. I have seen many with a clause that you will quarantine your new pet for xx days. This insures a smooth transaction into your home and also protects the animal from anything your other pets may have. It also insures you brought a healthy pet into your home. You can take the time to observe it for any obvious signs of illness that it might pass to any of your pets. This also fits into your vet contract terms. Then after all of your waiting you will be rewarded by a new friend.