Step 2: Finding a Breeder or a Shelter

Once you’ve decided on the cat breed you want, the next step is to choose the correct breeder or a shelter home you’ll be happy with. Want your cat have a lineage like a Queen of England? A (correct) breeder is your go-to place. Or would you rather have a cat with a different type of ‘baggage’? Then bravely head to a shelter to find your purry soulmate, and earn a rightfully deserved pat on the back in the process!

Breeders’ Selection Criteria

Choosing the right breeder should ultimately lead you to finding the right cat. It might sound tedious, but doing a bit of homework and compiling a list of breeders will pay off in having the perfect kitty down the road.

The main breeder criterion is of course their reputation. Ask your friends with pedigree cats where they picked theirs, see if you can find reviews of the breeder, and carefully go through the breeder’s website. Those with nothing to hide will gladly put reviews online, and will provide you with references and contact details of previous customers.

A cat’s character, behaviour, adaptability, and friendliness are almost always formed during her time at the breeder’s. Therefore, the main task of the breeder is to make sure the cat is given the right care in the first 7-8 crucial weeks of her life. There are definitely good and bad breeders. The bad ones are in it for the money. They will try to breed as many kittens as they can, without any care for their well-being and health. Both the mother and the kittens will not get the right kind of looking after. Crowding too many cats in a limited space can facilitate spreading of viruses and diseases. The good breeders, on the other hand, will have the right knowledge, mindset and will to correctly care for the kittens and make sure they grow into loving, healthy, and happy cats. A good breeder’s home should be like anyone else’s home – a clean environment, a confident, healthy looking mamma-cat, which is comfortable around people, and happy playful kittens. Steer clear of ‘cat factories’, with kittens of various ages and more than one breed of cats under one roof. Good breeders will be very knowledgeable about the breed they have, as well as cats in general.

Interview your breeder. Ask them to show you around. A breeder with nothing to hide will gladly answer your questions, and give you a tour of the premises. Make sure to ask pertinent questions, including the kitten’s age, vaccinations, and any potential congenital diseases the breed might have (of course it’s also good to do your homework on the breed and associated diseases beforehand). Ask how the breeder keeps the congenital defects in his or her cats to a minimum. Prepare for questions from the breeders as well. It is a good sign. Breeders who care about their cats will want to know who they’re giving their kitten to. They will want to make sure their kittens end up in loving and caring families that understand their responsibilities to minimise the chance of having to re-home the cat.

Ask the breeder if you can take the kitten to an independent vet for a checkup before committing to buy it. It is a usual procedure, and acts as an extra screening test in case the breeder becomes uncomfortable with allowing you to do so.

Kittens are ready to go to their new home at or after 13 weeks. Kittens that have been removed from their mother earlier are likely develop behavioural problems and will be more timid than usual.

So you’ve chosen your cat, and now what? Follow these steps to cat-proof your home prior or shortly after her arrival.