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Ethical Breeders - what should you look for?
Ethical Breeders work hard to earn and keep that reputation!
Ethical Breeders are honest and trustworthy, they stand behind and take responsibility for every kitten that they breed and are prepared to take cats of their breeding back at any time.
They may sometimes appear to be difficult or fussy, this is because they place the welfare of their cats, kittens and Breed above all else when making decisions!
Don't be in a hurry for that kitten of your dreams! Learn as much as you can about the Breed by reading, browsing websites, attending shows and correspondence with the one or two Breeders that you are considering getting a kitten from.
Take your time and build a relationship with him or her. This will allow the Breeder the opportunity to get to know you and give you time to evaluate the type of Breeder you're dealing with too.
What Questions Should You Ask?
- Ask with which Registering Body the Cattery is registered.
- Ask whether they show.
- Ask at what age the kitten will be available.
- Ask where the kittens are being raised
- Ask whether you may visit the Cattery if approved as a future kitten owner.
- Establish exactly what all is included in the price (all inoculations or only one, spaying/neutering, health certificate, registration etc.)
- Ask whether both parents have tested negative for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD),
Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
and Feline Aids (FIV)
- Ask if the kitten is sold with a written health guarantee.
- Ask for references from previous kitten purchasers.
Important Note :
An impressive pedigree is NOT an indication of the quality
or condition of the kitten that you will be receiving!!!
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What is a Reputable -or- Ethical Breeder?
- A Breeder (with a capital "B") is one who thirsts for knowledge and never really knows it all, one who wrestles with decisions of conscience, convenience, and commitment.
- A Breeder is one who sacrifices personal interests, finances, time, friendships, fancy furniture, and deep pile carpeting! She gives up the dreams of a long, luxurious cruise in favor of turning that all-important Show into this years "vacation".
- A Breeder goes without sleep (but never without coffee!) in hours spent planning a breeding or watching anxiously over the birth process, and afterwards, over every little sneeze, wiggle or cry.
- A Breeder skips dinner parties because that litter is due or the babies have to be fed at eight. She disregards birth fluids and puts mouth to mouth to save a gasping newborn, literally blowing life into a tiny, helpless creature that may be the culmination of a lifetime of dreams.
- A Breeder's lap is a marvelous place where generations of proud and noble Grand Champions snoozed.
- A Breeder's hands are strong and firm and often soiled, but ever so gentle and sensitive to the thrusts of a kits wet nose.
- A Breeder's back and knees are usually arthritic from stooping, bending, and sitting at the birthing box, but are strong enough to enable the breeder to Show the next choice kitten to a Grand Championship.
- A Breeder's shoulders are stooped and often heaped with abuse from competitors, but they're wide enough to support the weight of a thousand defeats and frustrations.
- A Breeder's arms are always able to wield a mop, support an armful of kittens, or lend a helping hand to a newcomer.
- A Breeder's ears are wondrous things, sometimes red (from being talked about) or (from being pressed against a phone receiver), often deaf to criticism, yet always fine-tuned to the whimper of a sick kitten.
- A Breeder's eyes are blurred from pedigree research and sometimes blind to her own cat's faults, but they are ever so keen to the competition's faults and are always searching for the perfect specimen.
- A Breeder's brain is foggy on faces, but it can recall pedigrees faster than a computer. It's so full of knowledge that sometimes it blows a fuse: it catalogues thousands of good boning, fine ears, and perfect heads ... and buries in the soul the failures and the ones that didn't turn out.
- The Breeder's heart is often broken, but it beats strongly with hope everlasting ... and it's always in the right place!
- Oh, yes, there are breeders, and then, there are BREEDERS !! ... Author unknown
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