Duke having a rest. Photo: Howard Barton
Getting a kitten from a responsible cat breeder shouldn’t be quick and easy!
A good cat breeder will ask you lots of questions to make sure their animal is going to the right home. A good breeder will put health, welfare and temperament above appearance.
So, what’s a responsible cat breeder?
Healthy kittens come from good breeders who:
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Plan ahead and aim to find good homes for every kitten they breed
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Provide a high standard of care and living conditions
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Are genuinely concerned about the welfare of their cats
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Are open to questions and provide a complete history of the kitten
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Make sure that you will suit the kitten and the kitten will suit you
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Breed to produce happy, healthy pets, free from known genetic disorders
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Provide ongoing support and information to new owners
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Provide a guarantee
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Provide references on request
- Meet all their legal requirements
(Source: RSPCA Smart Kitten and Cat Buyers Guide)
ASK THE CAT BREEDER LOTS OF QUESTIONS!
To make sure the breeder is a responsible cat breeder, you need to visit in person to inspect the facility and ask lots of questions before you buy a kitten. Perhaps the breeder is located in a regional area or interstate. If you can’t travel to visit the breeder in person, you could contact a local Veterinarian and ask them to do an inspection on your behalf for a small fee.
A good resource is the RSPCA Smart Kitten and Cat Buyers Guide to help you to find a kitten or cat that is healthy and well-socialised from a responsible cat breeder. The Guide covers a list of questions you should ask a breeder, feeding tips, the benefits of cat containment, inherited diseases and why it is important to de-sex your kitten.
Kitten warning!
The RSPCA recommends that you do not buy a kitten from a pet shop or through an internet or newspaper advertisement without being able to visit its home, as you can’t check out the conditions in which the kitten was bred or know where it came from.
