Let the Buyer Beware -
Things to consider when purchasing a pedigreed cat
By Paula T. Beall, PhD,
Sagarmata Cattery, Richmond, TX
In today’s world, the purchase of a fine cat of any breed is fraught with danger. Good animals cost upwards of $1000-$3000 dollars and often have to be purchased from people you don’t know and are viewed only in pictures on the Internet. Computers have opened up a whole new world for cat purchasers whether they are looking for a prestige pet, a solid breeder, or a fine show cat. Problems are inherent when purchasing a perfect dream in an imperfect world. There really aren’t any guarantees when purchasing a live animal, especially one that may be full of promise but has a long way to go to its fulfillment. Every cat breeder has a compendium of tales about purchases they or their friends have made. Yet much of this knowledge is hidden away and not discussed. No one likes to be made a fool. What can you do to protect yourself as much as possible from an unsound purchase??
First, don’t have unrealistic expectations.
We are talking here about living breathing animals not perfect china figurines. There are no perfect cats. Some buyers try to find the imperfections and dwell on those. Other buyers make a list of the characteristics they want and swear not to settle for anything less. But in the end there will be something about the pedigree, the color, the expression, or the personality that will grab you and you will be lost. Here are a few hints to keep the newbie or the experienced breeder out of trouble.
Do your research.
Define what you are looking for in a cat or kitten. Try to stay as close to that as possible. Don’t be swayed by the online picture, that may or may not be the cat that is being touted. If you want a fine show cat don’t settle for a breeder quality cat that someone says will improve. If you believe that, I have a bridge I want to sell you. Investigate the cattery and the breeder. Ask senior breeders you know. Read the Almanac and the Yearbooks. Try to find pictures of the parents and grandparents. Go to the internet site for the cattery name for the other cats in the pedigree. If the exact cats aren’t there you can see examples of that cattery. A reputable breeder will supply plenty of pictures. Try to get to a show where that cattery is entered. Look at the cats on display, their health and condition. Try to hold them and feel the boning, size and features like ears, teeth, tails, and eyes. Probably the cat or kitten for sale will be similar.
Hold the cat or kitten.
I would strongly advise visiting the cattery so you can see and feel the kitten. There is no substitute for holding and playing with the potential purchase. Oh, that is too expensive, you might say. But think about it. If you are going to pay $2500 for something (cat, car, antique) don’t you need to see it? Look around for cheap airfares or go on standby to the site city. If you decide not to buy you can come home on standby. If you buy, your new kitty can come home with you; much safer and cheaper than air freight shipping.
Get on a waiting list.
If the breeder does not have what you want, but you are crazy about her cats, get on her waiting list for the exact cat you want. I don’t recommend putting down a large deposit as getting these back can sometimes be a problem. If you do put down a big deposit make sure there is a written contract that explains under what conditions you will get it back. Don’t assume anything. If you have visited the cattery you might take a chance in the future on shipping in a cat based on your experiences there.
Read the pedigrees and learn about the lines.
If you are buying the cat to add to your breeding program, get a copy of the pedigree before you go. Ask friends about cats on the pedigree and learn about the lines it represents. While we won’t name names here there are many individual cats and lines known to throw problems. If the pedigree contains famous cats in the third and fourth generation, but the parents aren’t even champions try to find out why. Has the breeder basically retired due to health problems or has the line died out due to genetic inbreeding.
Have a written contract.
ABSOLUTELY get a written contract on your expensive purchase. Don’t assume anything. There is nothing wrong or insulting about asking for a copy of a blank contract prior to your visit. If the breeder says something like, “I don’t want any kittens from this cat sold into my region”, make sure this is in writing if you choose to accept it. Any financing arrangements should be spelled out clearly. Owning cats is pretty difficult as it is. Think very hard about contracts which call for kittens back or promises to show a cat so many times. What you want is a no strings exchange of money for your cat. Papers should come with your cat not later. If you are buying a breeder make sure the PIN box on the blue slip is filled in.
The contract should include an inspection clause. This should give you at least fourteen days to have the cat tested by a vet. If you don’t like what you get then you should be able to return it for a full refund. Needless to say this can be a problem and getting your money back may require a lawyer.
Don’t buy a kitten too young.
Our pet buyers at Christmas always want a 6-8 week old cute little kitten, Well, I won’t sell them that young. Certainly I feel for the kittens being ripped from their family and sent to a strange home, but I also feel for me. That young is just asking for trouble, illnesses, unhappy clients, and lawsuits. So don’t look at buying a fine cat for yourself with that rosy glow of little kitten in your brain. The best cat to buy is a proven breeder with a show record. But if you just want something to hold and cuddle, try to get a kitten that the breeder has held back for herself. These may be 6 months old when they are available to sell. That is fine. They will have gotten over all the baby illnesses and be sturdy enough to ship. There will be a pressure to purchase a cute young kitten, but there is a long way to maturity. Adult teeth must come in properly. Heart problems must have time to show up. Even small tail faults may develop later. You can place a deposit on a young kitten with the written understanding that if it does not develop as promised that you can get your money back. Good luck.
Get references.
There is nothing wrong with asking a breeder for several names and phone numbers of people who have recently bought cats from her. Of course these will be people she thinks are going to give good references. Call them and ask if they are totally satisfied with their purchases. After they say “Oh, of course”, pause a moment. All good interrogators know that people feel an obligation to fill a silence. The next sentences may be very revealing.
Get more than one picture.
I simply cannot believe the number of people that will purchase a $2000 kitten on the basis of one photo online. Try to get the breeder to email or send you several pictures of the kitten and maybe some of its parents or siblings. I would highly caution against buying a kitten from a photo. Many breeders now can provide a video either on line or on tape showing the kittens moving around.
Shipping a cat or kitten.
It is very hard on a cat or kitten to be shipped to a new home. Hundreds survive this process every year, but you should do your best to make it easy. Make clear arrangements with the breeder about the time of shipping and who pays for what. Normally the purchaser would pay for a carrier, the health certificate, and the shipping. Since the breeder is making a nice profit on the animal, you would not pay them a fee or gasoline costs to take the animal to an airport. Watch out for temperature restrictions on shipping. Arrange for the confirmation number for the shipment to be called or emailed to you within minutes of shipping, so you can find the carrier if something does happen. A very good friend once shipped me two kittens from San Antonio, TX to New York La Guardia Airport. With her Texas accent she sent them to “Nu Wark”. At midnight they did not arrive at La Guardia. The shipping number was able to locate them in Newark, NJ. Direct flights with no stops are best. Second best are the same airline all the way. International shipping is a whole other problem. Ask for help.
Do get Medical tests.
No matter how cute and healthy the kitten looks, take it immediately to a vet for a full check up. Even if it comes with a health certificate don’t believe it. Such papers can be created on any computer. It should be checked for congenital defects, Feline Leukemia, worms, ear mites, fleas, and fungus at your vet. Samples should be sent off for FIP and PKD. Do not take the breeder’s word that their stock is free of all these conditions. I cannot tell you how many times something has come up after the cat has been mixed into your population. Don’t trust anyone. They may be innocent of the knowledge of problems, but you should not be. Also do not believe the breeder if they say the cat has all its vaccinations. When you take it into the vet, have rabies and three in one vaccinations done. You won’t save money if some of these haven’t been done and your home cats get infected. If the vet finds something like ear mites or fungus, give it the proper treatment before it meets your cats. Then call the breeder and scream at her.
Talk to senior breeders about purchasing new cats. Most have a standard speech of cautions. I can’t tell you how often I’ve given this advice out to new members of the cat fancy. They nod and then call me up and say how excited they are to have purchased a 10 week old kitten for $3000 from a single photo on the internet. I just shake my head and say “Good Luck”.
