Buying a new kitten is a exotic shorthair cat for sale and should never be taken lightly. Cats can live for up to 20 years, so it is important to choose a breed of cat that you can devote enough time, money and attention to. Different breeds have different requirements, so before choosing a kitten, consider which one is right for you. Never select a kitten based on looks alone. While there are many beautiful breeds of cats, each one has a different temperament which you should be aware of before deciding which to bring into your home. For example, Siamese kittens will grow into very vocal cats, Bengals are big and highly active and Persian kittens will need frequent grooming throughout their lives.
Spend some time browsing cat websites, magazines and books to learn a bit about the breeds that you are interested in, and once you have decided on which type of cat is right for you take the time to study all that you can about them before buying. Not only will this help you to be prepared for cat ownership, but will also help you to make a wise choice when picking out a kitten.
If you are looking to buy a pedigree kitten, familiarize yourself with the breed standards. Knowing what a well bred cat should look like will help you to judge the quality of the kittens that you see.
A reputable cat breeder will be quick to point out the pedigree of the kittens’ parents, and should be able to answer any questions you have about the breed in general and the kittens specifically. They should also seem genuinely passionate about their breed, and show interest in where the kitten will be going. Some breeders may even vet potential new owners carefully to ensure that their kittens go to a good, suitable home.
Breeders should be registered with a cat club such as The International Cat Association or the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, and should be able to provide proof of their breeding and/or showing history. You should also ask about what support is available after you take a kitten home, in case you have any questions, as well as if they guarantee the kitten’s health for a length of time. This is one area that separates reputable and established pedigree breeders from kitten farms and pet shops, and if you are investing a great deal of money in a new kitten, you will want to make sure that it is money spent wisely.
On the topic of money, the price of kittens can vary wildly. From “Free to a good home” to over a thousand pounds, the price tag that accompanies the kitten is usually linked to it’s pedigree and rarity. Be prepared to spend several hundred pounds for a pure bred pedigree kitten. Before forking over your hard earned cash, call around a few breeders to try and assess an average price. Most breeders will charge extra for kittens that display extremely good breed standards and may be suitable for showing.
This may not be important for many pet owners, but it is important to keep in mind that the better quality of breeding, the more likely you are to know about the cat’s future health. Well bred cats may be free of genetic diseases while over-bred cats or cats bred as experimental hybrids may be weaker and more prone to illness.
Ask to see pedigree registration documents or certificates, and double check the details with the registering authority before committing to buy.
When viewing kittens at a breeder’s home, kittens should be sociable and seem happy and healthy. You should also ask to see the mother, as well as the father and any other adult cats from the family if possible. This will give you a better idea of the adult cat that the kitten will grow into. Be wary of any breeder that shows you the kittens in isolation and refuses to let you meet the parents as this is a common trick amongst dishonest breeders.
