Hervey Foundation

Deal

The ad you saw in the newspaper read, “Purebred kittens $100.00 without papers or $300.00 with.” When you ‘phone the “breeder,” you are told it’s expensive to register. Not true! At the time of this publication, the cost to register an entire litter is only $7.00 (US). So what’s the deal? Chances are these kittens are not even registerable, and you are about to fall victim to the “Backyard Breeder.”

“What is a backyard breeder,” you ask? It is a person who is trying to make money by selling domestic kittens that they feel look like a recognized breed. They often are sold too young, without vaccines, and sometimes in questionable health, These kittens do not have health guarantees, nor do they come with a neuter/spay contract. And once they are sold to you, you are on your own!

How can you avoid problems when purchasing a kitten? First, by doing some research, visiting a cat show and talking to breeders there, reading some books, talking to other breeders, or maybe even surfing the ‘net. This will help you decide which traits you desire in a cat. Appearance is not the only thing to consider: personality, liveliness, and amount of grooming required are also important factors. It may take a while to find the kitten of your dreams; but a happy, healthy, appropriately socialized kitten is well worth the wait.

Never purchase a kitten on impulse: remember, this cat will be with you for the next 15-20 years, so this is a decision not to be taken lightly. All too often, those cute impulse-buys end up at a shelter or as a stray when they no longer fit die lifestyle of the purchaser.

So you have done your homework and you are ready to purchase a kitten. What should you look for in a breeder? It should be someone who is knowledgeable about the breed and is willing to discuss the animals’ good points, as well as potential bad points. You should be welcomed into the home or catter to visit not only the kittens, but the breeding cats, as well. The cat area should be clean, and the cats should have fresh water and clean litter boxes, as well as appears to be healthy. The kittens should be active and playful. They may approach you with some caution at first, but after a few minutes they should be ready to interact with you. Beware of sick-looking kittens (ones with running eyes or noses), as well as kittens that may sit off on their own, unwilling to participate with other kittens.

Never purchase a kitten just because you feel sorry for it and want to get it out of that house. Giving money to a bad breeder will only encourage and help him/her to produce more unhealthy kittens. The only way to break the cycle is to make sure they can’t make any money. Don’t give them yours! Similarly, purchasing a kitten from a pet store is only helping these people to make a lot of money from a huge pet overpopulation problem.

At the time of purchase, the breeder should supply you with a written contract outlining the agreement between you as to such matters as refund policy (elapsed time, monetary consideration, etc.). Kittens sold as pets will have to be spayed/neutered, and it is common practice for breeders to retain the registration papers until they have a copy of the spay neuter certificate. The kittens should be at least 12 weeks old before they go to a new home. At this age, they should have had two sets of vaccines, and their immune system will have developed enough to withstand the stress of a new home. Also, they have passed what is called the “fear imprint” stage. This is the stage where trauma or stress can affect a cat’s personality forever. For this reason, it’s not recommended to take a kitten away from its family between 6 and 10 weeks of age.

If you have decided a purebred kitten is not in your budget, then please visit a rescue society or a local shelter to look for your new friend. These kittens and cats have been vet-checked, vaccinated, and are very much in need of homes.

If you have already “got your cleat,” then perhaps this information will help you out the next time that you are ready for a new member of your family. If you need some help in locating a breeder of a specific breed, please feel free to contact Kathy Byram at 461-1766 or Barb Hallett at 417-2866, and we will be pleased to help you. You can also visit The Edmonton Cat Fanciers Club website at www.edmontoncat.ab.ca and follow the Links you will find there.

And we hope you will attend the Edmonton Cat Fanciers Club’s next Show. It will be held September 24-25, 2006 at the Shaw Conference Centre.

Kathy Byram, President
Edmonton Cat Fanciers Club

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