Finding the greatest cat breeder requires research and time, but the effort is absolutely worthwhile!
If you’re looking for the right cat to add to your family but have a certain breed in mind, you can absolutely check out breed-specific animal rescue and foster networks or browse through websites like Petfinder to look for the breed in pet shelters.
If you can’t find the purebred cat you’re looking for at shelters, you can also purchase your furry friend from a reputable cat breeder. You can choose the best cat breeder—one who genuinely cares about the animals and isn’t running a kitten mill—by following the advice in this article.
Conduct analysis
Consult veterinary professionals, cat associations, and specialist websites to learn more about breeders who offer the breed you’re interested in. Once you have this list, you will need to conduct more research to eliminate any dog breeders who don’t seem moral, dependable, or accountable. Utilize the ability of the Internet to study evaluations and discover more about their reputations.
Are there any references you may call, for instance, to learn more about a certain cat breeder? Do they additionally offer numerous means to reach them and a reliable website?
What may be gleaned from reviews of a cat breeder? Do these testimonials contain pictures or stories of the kittens? A story about the kittens when they are all grown up may be interesting. Are they still healthy and happy? Simply put, what do a breeder’s consumers think of the breeder and the kitten they purchased from them?
Verify the breeder of cats has a license.
If you purchase a cat from a recognized breeder, your chances of receiving a healthy kitten who has been socialized and is calm around people and possibly other animals will increase.
A reputable breeder will also guarantee that the kitten comes from a pure bloodline, reducing the possibility that the cat may develop any health problems (although you should keep in mind that certain breeds may be prone to certain diseases).
Pay the Breeder a Visit in Person
A respectable cat breeder is one who does not breed cats just to make money. On the other hand, breeders who don’t truly care about the animals and are solely concerned in earning a profit frequently keep the animals in appallingly inhumane conditions. Visit the facility or the breeder’s home instead of taking the breeder’s word for it to see how the animals are handled and treated.
All cats should have comfortable, sanitary, and secure housing, as well as a lot of enrichment and care from their human guardians. They should be warm, healthy, well nourished, and there shouldn’t be any signs of cruelty, overbreeding, or neglect.
Ask the Right Questions
When you get there, you should question the breeder a lot. Again, some breeds are more prone to certain illnesses than others, so you should ask the breeder what steps they are taking to lessen the probability that the kittens will inherit these problems. But you should be prepared for the interview by learning enough about the breed to know what questions to ask. Any potential issues with a particular breed will be disclosed by an honest breeder.
The cat breeder shouldn’t get annoyed by too many questions. To determine if information is being suppressed, it is also important to study the temperament of the breeder. Additionally, if you aren’t allowed to take a complete tour of the facility, you should be very skeptical of the breeder’s honesty.
Ask questions about the mother cat’s food, the vet who examines the kittens, any tests carried out to check for abnormalities or communicable diseases, and the vaccinations the kittens have received. See if you can get a hold of the records of these veterinary evaluations, and inquire about the breeder’s approach to caring for sick kittens and cats.
A great breeder may even interview you to ensure you have what it takes to be an excellent cat parent for the breed you’re interested in, especially since many purebreds have specific personality traits and needs.
When should the kitten be brought home?
Kittens should be maintained with their mothers until they are at least 10 weeks old, while some breeders keep them until they are 14 to 16 weeks old. You should exercise caution and most likely steer clear if the breeder is willing to sell you a kitten that is younger than 10 weeks old.
