Adopting Or Acquiring A Cat Or Kitten
Bringing a new pet into your family
involves a long term commitment of time, energy, and money.
Buying your kitten from a responsible breeder is one step in
getting off to the best possible start with your new family
member.
What can I
expect from a responsible breeder? When you buy a kitten
from a responsible breeder, you can expect the breeder to:
- Guarantee that your kitten is in good
health and free from Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
- Strongly urge you to have your own
veterinarian examine your kitten within a few days of purchase
to confirm its good health.
- Require that you have your kitten
neutered or spayed at the appropriate age.
- Provide a written sales agreement that
describes all terms of the sale, including the breeder’s
health guarantee and the neuter/spay agreement.
- Be intensely interested in the welfare
of every kitten they produce, and encourage you to call
whenever you have questions or concerns about your kitten.
How can I
tell if a kitten is healthy? Handle the kitten. It should
have good muscle tone, a clean coat, and bright, clear eyes. The
kitten should not be sneezing or sniffling. Its eyes should be
free from discharge and its ears should be clean and pink
inside. There should be no bald patches or signs of dry, flaky
skin. Check behind its ears and low on its back, at the base of
the tail, for flea dirt (which looks like black sand).
When can I
take the kitten home? Most responsible breeders allow
their kittens to go to new homes at 12 weeks of age or older. If
you’re used to seeing barely-weaned kittens in pet stores,
this might seem old; but it’s actually a good age to make the
transition to a new home. At 12 weeks, a kitten is weaned,
litter trained, and has been vaccinated at least twice. And it
still has plenty of comical, lovable kittenhood to go.
What should
I do after I bring the kitten home? When you bring your
kitten home, make sure you follow the breeder’s instructions
carefully. Making the transition to a new home can be very
stressful for any cat. Changes in food water, litter, and
overall environment can cause minor ailments, even in healthy
cats. (For example, dairy products usually cause diarrhea, so
don’t give your kitten milk unless instructed to do so by the
breeder.)
How can I
tell if a kitten is well-socialized? Play with the kitten
using a nonthreatening toy, such as a feather or ribbon. After a
period of normal caution toward strangers, the kitten should
relax into a friendly, active and playful attitude. Many
perfectly friendly kittens would rather play than be held;
however, after becoming acquainted with you, the kitten should
let you hold it for a short time.
Will I
receive the kitten’s papers? When you get your kitten,
you’ll receive its health/vaccination record and a written
sales agreement. After you have the kitten altered and send the
breeder a veterinarian’s certificate of neutering or spaying,
the breeder will send you the kitten’s TICA registration form.
To register the kitten, you fill out the registration form, and
send it with the proper fee to TICA.
Why is the
breeder asking me questions? Don’t be offended if the
breeder asks you questions (for example, whether you have other
cats, whether your current cat has been tested for Feline
Leukemia, etc.). The breeder is not trying to embarrass or
intimidate you; they are simply trying to determine whether
their kitten will have the kind of home they want. (Remember, to
a responsible breeder, a kitten is not a commodity; it is an
individual to be loved.) A responsible breeder strives to find
the best possible home for each kitten.
Why buy
from a responsible breeder? While no one can guarantee
that your kitten will never have a medical problem, a
responsible breeder’s commitment to ethical, responsible
breeding increases your chances of getting a healthy,
well-adjusted kitten. What about the pet overpopulation problem?
A responsible breeder is acutely aware of the vast numbers of
unwanted cats and kittens, and breeds for quality rather than
quantity. Breeding a cat with less than ideal “show
conformation” adds to the pet overpopulation problem and
degrades the overall quality of the breed. Don’t think you can
“offset the cost of the kitten by having just on litter” -
have all your pets altered!
How do I
decide on a breed? While you’re visiting the show, take
the opportunity to talk to breeders of various breeds. Be sure
to find out how much grooming each breed requires, and whether
the breed has any special needs or characteristics. Cat books
and cat magazines are another source of information. If you
haven’t decided on a breed, or if the expense of a purebred
kitten is beyond your current budget, please consider adopting a
cat or kitten from a local shelter. There are many lovely and
loving cats in need of good homes.
Questions
to Ask:
What are
the characteristics of this breed? A responsible breeder
will be happy to discuss the breed’s characteristics and
special requirements with you. For example, some breeds require
a lot of grooming; others typically have loud voices; and still
others are relatively aloof. Be sure you discuss the breeds
characteristics wit the breeder and decide whether they are
right for your lifestyle and personal preferences.
Do you
provide a written sale agreement that includes a health
guarantee? A responsible breeder sells a kitten only with
a written contract that includes a health guarantee.
What
diseases and conditions does your health guarantee cover? A
responsible breeder guarantees that the kitten is in good health
and is free of Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
What
vaccinations has the kitten received? A responsible
breeder will vaccinate the kitten at least twice against
Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper), Calicivirus and
Rhinotracheitis.
How are the
kittens raised? A responsible breeder puts careful
thought and much care into raising healthy, outgoing kittens,
and will be happy to discuss their methods with you.
Can you
provide references from people who have purchased kittens from
you? A responsible breeder will be able to provide
references on request.
BOYCOTT PET STORES
Selling Puppies & Kittens
Puppy & kitten Mills are the filthy mass production farms. They are purebred and designer crossbreeds. They are bred for profit in filthy, cramped conditions with no care and only enough food to keep them alive. They are bred every heat until live babies are no longer produced. There is no health testing, no temperament testing and no genetics background. These puppies and kittens are sold at auctions, flea markets, Internet ads and through pet stores.
A lot of people looking for a pet will buy from these places and then breed that pet, with little thought on consequences or expense, and therefore continuing the puppy/kitten mill
lines
Purchase a Sphynx Cat
