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The Cattery:
When you visit their cattery
you should find it clean and odor free every
time you visit (even on short notice) Exception
would be the males - they are never odor
free :) and are usually kept outside unless
someone is lucky enough to have one that
does not spray.
Cattery should be inspected
and certified by at least one of the cat
organizations (TICA Outstanding Cattery,
TIBBA Cattery of Distinction...) If they
are not certified ask them why?
Outside enclosures should
be large enough for the cats to play and
have an area that is completely enclosed
for them to sleep and keep warm in (like
a dog house).
There should not be any
exposed wires for them to catch their feet
on and no wire enclosed bottoms.
Note: if the cattery has
been inspected and certified a Veterinarian
will have already checked on the enclosures
and made sure they fit the requirements
of the cat associations.
The
Cats:
You should ask to see
and be able to immediately see the Vet records
for the parents of the kitten you are interested
in.
You should ask about Vet
records and see that they show all the adult
cats have been properly vaccinated
and seen by a Vet within the last 12 months.
The breeder should be
able to easily pick up any cat in their
home to show it to you, if they can't, they
don't spend much time with them.
The parents should be
tested for Feluke/FIV even in a closed cattery.
The Bengal parents should
be HCM tested (when age appropriate) and
the results should be available to you.
Please keep in mind a cat can be tested
and be negative and a week later develop
the disease so there is no sure thing with
this type of testing.
The cats should have clear
eyes, clean ears, no nose discharge and
should smell and feel clean. If that
is not true - you are buying a sick kitten.
You should be able to
see when asked the pedigree for the kitten
you are interested in and you should be
given an copy when you receive your kitten.
All cats should at least
be TICA, ACFA or CFA registered. Never
buy a cat without registration paperwork.
If breeders don't register their cats there
is a reason - usually it is because they
are no longer allowed to by the organization.
The
Breeder:
They should have signed
the Code of Ethics for the organizations
they belong to.
Should have a health guarantee
that includes replacement for any genetic
disorder.
You should never purchase
a kitten/cat without a health certificate.
In many states it is illegal to sell a cat
or dog without a health certificate.
The breeder should provide
you with the name of their Veterinarian.
You should receive updated
pictures on a regular basis once you pick
out your kitten
A good breeder will NEVER
let a kitten leave their home before 10
weeks of age and if leaving at 10 weeks
it must be by pickup only, no flying before
12 weeks.
A good breeder will be
honest about the feline herpes virus -
at least 80% of cats in the world have
it and I have never seen a cattery that
did not have to deal with it at one
point or another. The test for Herpes
can only confirm a cat has it as a
positive result. A negative result DOES
NOT MEAN the cat does not have it. Many
false negatives have been reported.
It is normally not an issue if the cat
does have it - it can mean the cat will
possibly get runny eyes or a runny nose
when stressed. Breeders should
remove any cats that test positive from
their programs to eliminate it from
their breeding lines.
A good breeder will replace
a kitten that develops FIP in the first
year.
A good breeder will insure
your kitten has at least two sets of shots
and two wormings before you pick it up.
Ours will have 3 sets of shots and 3 wormings.
They should be feeding
an all natural premium cat food and supply
you with enough for at least a week when
you receive your cat. We only feed
Life's Abundance and it is the
only food we recommend. A bag will be sent
to you with your kitten.
A kitten sold as a pet
should be neutered before it leaves the
cattery and that should be part of the purchase
price quoted. Keep that in mind
when looking at prices. The only thing
your kitten will need when it leaves our
cattery is it's final set of adult
shots. All else has already been done
for you and is included in the price.
The breeder should encourage
and/or insist you take the kitten to the
vet for a check up when you get it home
(within 4 days or so)
The breeder should answer
any questions you have and you should feel
you have met someone you can trust when
you are working with them. This is someone
you should/will have a long relationship
with since they will want to know how their
kittens are doing in their new homes and
should want to see pictures to see how their
babies are growing! If you find a breeder
you like stick with them - better to wait
for a good kitten then take a chance on
a new breeder.
When you contact the breeder
they should tell you to make every attempt
to make the trip to see the cattery and
select a kitten and then again to pick it
up.
A good breeder will take
the cat back at any time for any reason
if you are no longer able to keep the cat.
Keep in mind that does not mean they will
refund your money. If it is still a kitten
they may be able to resell the kitten and
you can ask them about a partial refund
if the cat is able to be placed in a new
home.
A good breeder will never
insist that you pay in cash only.
To
Protect Yourself:
Check the state Lemon
Law division for pets and see if there have
been any complaints.
Check with TICA, ACFA,
TIBBA, TISBA... to see if there are
complaints. Never buy from a cattery that
is not a Cattery of Distinction or an Outstanding
Cattery in at least one of these organizations.
If they are not certified there is usually
a reason they can't be.
Contact the Better Business
Bureau in the area the cattery is in to
see if there are complaints.
If you find a cattery
you like and they don't have a kitten you
want either put down a deposit or ask them
if they know of a cattery to recommend to
you. An ethical breeder will refer you to
another cattery that they feel meets their
standards of excellence.
NOTE: The above
comments are my personal opinion only.
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