Choosing a Breeder
You have decided to add a beautiful kitten to your home. The internet has become the searching grounds for most of us. Kitten advertisements are easily found across the US at various prices. With so many breeders out there, it's inevitable that some will be bad. As a breeder, I have also been a buyer and have learned how to be careful. I have compiled a simple list of ways to aid in ensuring a positive buying experience and to avoid scams, sickly kittens, and unscrupulous breeders.
The basics to buying:
Your responsibility as the customer:
When a customer ends up dealing with a bad breeder it can be an awful experience, but this goes both ways and it's equally awful to a breeder when dealing with an unpleasant or untrustworthy customer. Just as you expect certain things from the breeder, the breeder should also be able to expect some things from you.
You have decided to add a beautiful kitten to your home. The internet has become the searching grounds for most of us. Kitten advertisements are easily found across the US at various prices. With so many breeders out there, it's inevitable that some will be bad. As a breeder, I have also been a buyer and have learned how to be careful. I have compiled a simple list of ways to aid in ensuring a positive buying experience and to avoid scams, sickly kittens, and unscrupulous breeders.
The basics to buying:
- Watch for scams. Ask any questions you have before paying any money. If the breeder acts offended or upset during simple questioning, this can be a warning sign. Check to be sure the breeder is registered with a major registry like TICA or CFA. Don't just take their word for it. TICA and CFA both have lists on their websites of all their registered catteries where you can check for yourself. Get their phone number and give them a call back. Many scam artists will use email only or fake phone numbers. Asking for a safety picture can also be a good idea to avoid scams. Before asking for the photo, make sure they are currently home with the kitten. A safety picture is where a paper is placed by the kitten and you ask them to write a specific message on it, giving them a limit of an hour or less to send it to you (so they don't have time to use Photoshop). They may try to claim they can't right now for some reason or other, but it only takes a moment to snap a photo. This gives you simple proof that they do indeed have this kitten. Never send money via gift card, money services like Western Union or MoneyGram, or bank wire. Do a google search. You should be able to find mention of the cattery on the internet besides just on their website. If you have any doubt at all, travel to meet the seller and get the kitten in person, paying at pick up.
- It's risky to pay more than the deposit! If something goes wrong, would you rather lose just your deposit, or possibly several hundred more? I always tell my customers that I prefer they don't pay anything more than the deposit until their kitten is delivered to them. The only circumstance where the full amount should need to be paid in advance is if the kitten is being delivered by a courier, in which case, the kitten should still be vetted and vaccinated before the full amount is paid, so a health traveling certificate from the vet is advised.
- Read the contract carefully and follow the terms. Find out if refunds or exchange are allowed and under what circumstances, and if so - how long they can take. It's common for breeders to only give a replacement when warranted (no cash refunds). Replacements can sometimes take months or even a year or more. Cattery money often goes back into the cattery or into the breeders family once it is received, the same way money is used from any job. Know what is covered and what isn't. It's important for you to fully understand the contract. If you don't agree to the contract, don't buy the cat.
- Fill out and return your contract! Most breeders will have a contract to protect both parties and the cat. The contract is not just rules you have to follow, it is usually also your warranty. Without a contract filled out and turned in, you have no proof of warranty and that also means that if something goes wrong, the breeder has no written obligation to make amends! It only takes a moment to fill it out and return it to the breeder.
- Expect the registration papers to be ready at the promised time. Some breeders may retain the papers for pets until the kitten has been spayed or neutered to insure that the cat will not be used for breeding. If the kitten has already been altered, registration papers should be given at the time the kitten is picked up. Find out how your breeder handles registration papers. Registration papers are important because without them, how do know you are really getting a pedigreed cat?
- Examine the kitten the best you can at pick-up before handing over the balance! Look for a healthy weight. It's not always the case, but underweight kittens are often ill. You should not be able to feel or see bones easily. Make sure the bottom is clean. Make sure the ears and eyes are not gunky or infected looking. Tell the breeder if you don't think the kitten looks healthy and point out what you see that's wrong. Neither you or the breeder should have a bad attitude towards the other. Give the breeder a couple of weeks to correct the problem and if they don't, find another kitten even if it means losing your deposit! A responsible breeder will try their best to remedy any problems as soon as possible.
Your responsibility as the customer:
When a customer ends up dealing with a bad breeder it can be an awful experience, but this goes both ways and it's equally awful to a breeder when dealing with an unpleasant or untrustworthy customer. Just as you expect certain things from the breeder, the breeder should also be able to expect some things from you.
- Understand that these are the breeders kittens and the breeder does not have to sell them to you. The breeder wants to find ideal homes, and some living situations may not be acceptable for the breeder. Some things that may cause a breeder to turn away a customer may be the customers desire to declaw, customer already having a large number of pets, customer expressing desire to keep cat outside, customer having high prey drive breeds of dogs, and even rambunctious young children. All breeders have different rules. Remember, the breeders kittens, the breeders rules!
- Make your intentions clear and be honest. Let the seller know from the beginning if you want to breed or are looking for a pet. Don't lie to the breeder about wanting a pet, if you actually plan to breed, or you may face legal consequences. Let the breeder know your expectations for the sale.
- Keep a good attitude even if something goes wrong. Please remember that you are dealing with living animals, not goods assembled in a factory. It is inevitable that sometimes things will go wrong. All breeders experience problems from time to time so if a problem does arise, give the breeder the opportunity to correct it within a reasonable amount of time. If you feel unhappy for any reason, please let the breeder know in a civilized manner and give them opportunity to help you feel better about whatever may be wrong. Remember, breeders are not super machines producing golden kittens, they are PEOPLE and pet owners just like you and they do experience problems sometimes.
