Lately, I have noticed that more and more kitten requests begin with the following two
questions: “Do you have kittens on the ground?” and “How much do you sell them for?”. I do understand that for many
people, it is a great financial burden to buy a purebred cat and that buyers have to compare prices. But, the purchase
price should by far not be the only and most important criterion.
Sometimes buyers are lucky enough to find a great bargain. But beware, there are very few breeders that can sell their
kittens at bargain prices and cover the costs of raising them with the love and kind of care that they require. This
would be the exception and not the rule and there is usually no such thing as a free lunch!! Nevertheless, expensive
does not automatically mean good and cheap does not automatically mean bad.
I appeal to you, if you are looking for a bargain, please consider the following
points:
- A purebred cat from a responsible breeder ALWAYS has a certified pedigree and registration papers. Club membership
costs about 40€ a year. Registering a kitten is about 5€. These are not large expenses, and they should not make a
difference in the purchase price of a kitten. If a breeder does not have his kittens registered, he usually has other
reasons. Either his animals are not registered themselves and are of unknown origin or the breeder does not fulfill the
by-laws of the clubs. The clubs usually only require what good breeders who care for their animals abide by anyway.
A good example could be that a breeding female should have no more than 3 litters in any 2 year period. One should under
no circumstances buy a kitten from a breeder who is not willing to, or who is not able to fulfill the few requirements
the clubs dictate.
- Another reason why it is important that breeding cats are registered is to help eliminate genetic
diseases from purebred cats. Purebred cats
are more commonly thought to have more genetic diseases, although generally not
the case in Maine Coons. An experienced breeder can read a pedigree and be able to determine whether the ancestors of a
cat are free from genetic diseases. There are some “Black Sheep” breeders who do not take unhealthy cats out of a
breeding program. Those breeders share in making the breed unhealthy and wrongly giving the Maine Coon a bad reputation.
Therefore, the pedigree is one of the most important tools
in breeding healthy cats.
- A conscientious breeder emphasizes that the animals he sells will lead a long and healthy life. For that reason he
has his breeding cats tested for known genetic diseases. Please, inform yourself about the potential diseases that
can occur in the breed of cat that interests you and ask the breeder for test results. Ask him to show you the
certificates. The clubs do not require their members to test their cats and there are vast differences in opinion
among registered breeders. The medical costs, the quality of food, and all the testing, make breeding a very expensive
hobby. It should be in your own interest that the parents of your fosterling be tested. Here again, expensive does
not necessarily mean good. Not every licensed breeder who sells for 700e or more has his breeding cats tested. You
must make sure.
- Aside from genetic and congenital diseases, many catteries have problems with infectious diseases. Places where many
animals live are breeding grounds for all kinds of different germs. When visiting a breeder, please insist on seeing
all animals that live in the household. Do they look healthy and well fed? Do they have enough space and the
possibility to have privacy. Do the cats live in well lighted and ventilated rooms? Many breeders have their cats
tested for FIF and FelV on a regular basis. Ask the breeder to show you the test results.
- Kittens must stay with their mother for at least 12 weeks. Even if it is appealing, please never take a kitten that is
younger home with you. A breeder who gives his kittens to you sooner wants to save money or he has serious hygiene
issues that force him to reduce his number of cats.
- A kitten that is old enough to move out has at least two vaccinations against cat flu and feline panleukopenia. A
breeder should be able to inform you which additional vaccinations are advisable. Please insist that your kitten is
checked by a vet prior to your purchase. Canvas the breeder about any pre-existing illnesses that could recur.
Ask the breeder about the cat’s diet. There are several philosophies about how to best feed a cat. A responsible
breeder should be able to tell you about the contents of the food he feeds and why he feeds it, and that should not
be “because of a cheap price!!”.
- Spend lots of time with the kitten that interests you. Get to know it. Is it affectionate and open? Do you have a
healthy and playful impression of the kitten? If you have children, maybe you should consider an outgoing and
courageous kitten instead of a
rather sensitive kitten. Take your children along with you to the breeder’s home. A good breeder should not have
any problem with you visiting your future companion more than one time before it is old enough to be adopted.
- Do not make compromises. If the hygienic circumstances in a cattery do not meet your expectations, leave without
rescuing a kitten from such a bad situation. Remember, for every kitten that you buy from such a breeder, ten will
be born. Do not support such reproduction establishments. Be aware that you can have large vet bills if you buy a
sickly kitten. Ask many questions and be honest with the breeder. For example, some people are opposed to early
neutering or opposed to indoor only homes, if you feel this way, ask the breeder why this is a requirement, and
listen to his knowledge and experience.
- Never buy a kitten from a cat show. Of course, you can arrange for everything else there, but it is better to wait a
few days after the show before moving the kitten. A show is stressful enough for such a small creature, all those new
impressions, strange people and many strange cats and smells. You should wait and see that the kitten has fully
covered from being in a strange environment. He wants to make sure that he does not stress the kitten too much.
I wish you success in your search for a kitten and lots of fun with your new companion. I am happy to answer all
of your questions if you have any.
