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Purchasing a kitten from a reputable, ethical, and responsible breeder
is the most likely way to acquire a healthy, well-socialized pet for
your lifetime. You want to find the person that considers breeding to
be a responsibility: to their breed, to their cats and to their cats'
owners. Finding that good breeder requires research.
Responsible breeders are those that study the breed,
have a registered cattery name, are active members of their breed clubs
and Breed Council, and who exhibit their cats for evaluation against
their peers. They do not breed their kittens for profit, but instead
are earnestly seeking to preserve their breed and its unique characteristics
of appearance and temperament for the future. Breedings are done with
care, consideration and purpose, both for the breeder, and for their
prospective owners. This care produces kittens of superior quality.
Consequently, be wary of those that always have kittens available, particularly if they claim to be a "business". Cat fanciers are hobbyists, not "businesses".
Another concern is if the kitten price is significantly
lower than "average". Breeders who offer cut rate prices don't
provide the health care to their cats and kittens that is needed to
produce healthy cats.
A reputable breeder should be able to discuss their
bloodlines, and what expectations and goals he/she has regarding the
kittens. They should be able to talk extensively about their cat's show
records, and what their relatives have accomplished. It is necessary
for show cats to be the cream of the crop in temperament and appearance,
so their descendents and relatives are the most likely to make a beautiful,
healthy, and well-tempered pet. Not every kitten (and sometimes not
any kitten!) in a litter bred for exhibiting will be a show kitten,
so wonderful pets will be available from those litters.
You can expect an ethical breeder to ask many questions about your
home and situation. They are very interested in finding the perfect,
lifetime home for their babies. They know their kittens best, and can
most easily match the kitten's personality to your lifestyle. Don't
expect to have "pick" of the litter. A responsible breeder
is not breeding only to supply pets, it is a happy side effect of preserving
the breed. Not every Ocicat is suitable for every household, so someone
who pressures you to purchase a kitten from them may not have your best
interest at heart.
You can expect to sign a contract for your kitten. Contracts
should provide a health guarantee, and provide for the return of the
kitten/cat if the new owner can no longer keep it for any reason. There
may be other qualifiers, including spay/neuter (if not done before placement),
keeping your kitten indoors to prolong its life (outdoor cats live only
3-5 years on average) and recommendations regarding food and declawing.
A reputable breeder stands behind his/her kittens and is a good resource
of information regarding cat care.
A responsible breeder will keep their kittens until
they are 12-16 weeks old, so that they are properly socialized. Unlike
puppies, kittens need to spend time with the mother and siblings to
become the best pets. They learn bite inhibition, and learn to play
nicely from their "family", as well as learning proper elimination
habits. This also allows the breeder to get the kitten through the stressors
of kittenhood prior to their acquisition by their new owner to minimize
the chances of illness. This includes all their vaccinations, and generally
their spay or neuter. Ocicats usually mature very early, and no breeder
wants their kitten to lose its home over urine spraying (male and female).
In addition, there are no "oops" litters in their new home
to contribute to the number of relinquished cats. Breeding cats is a serious endeavor
that, like most hobbies, is very expensive. If you are interested in
raising and showing Ocicats, click here
for more information.
Ethical breeders do not sell to pet stores. The pet
store kitten has left its mother at a very young age (usually 4-5 weeks)
so that it is at peak "cuteness" in the pet store. Unfortunately,
it is also at an age when it is extremely vulnerable to illness, and
pet store kittens often succumb to upper respiratory illnesses or FIP.
Never mind that they are not properly socialized, and can go on to have
bad biting, scratching, and elimination habits. A pet store is not a
good source for a kitten.
For further definition of a reputable breeder, see the
Feline
Rescue site, and the Fanciers
Breeder Referral List for questions to ask a breeder.
You can often meet breeders at cat shows (see http://www.cfainc.org/exhibitors/show-schedule.html
for ones near you).
Breeder Listing
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