Questions to Ask Cat Breeders

If you decide to purchase a pedigreed cat, you need to contact a local breeder of the type of cat you would like to buy. Once you locate a breeder, you need to ask him many questions about the cat you plan to purchase and about the breeder's facility itself. Ensure you and your new cat have many happy years together by finding out as much information about the cat and its background as you can.

  1. Facility Conditions

    • Find out about how the breeder raises the kittens and their living conditions. Breeders who raise kittens "underfoot" will allow the kittens to roam freely around their homes to better socialize them with people and other cats. Ask the breeder to see the home or facility, which should appear neat and clean, with no foul smells or ill animals. See if the breeder provides fresh food and water for the cats daily. Make sure that the breeder has a license to breed cats in the county and state that he lives in if required by law. Look around the facility and inquire about the number of cats the breeder has in his home or kennel. The breeder should have adequate space for the cats to comfortably move around and rest without being overcrowded.

    Health Guarantees

    • With the purchase of a kitten from a breeder, ask if you will receive a guarantee of the kitten's health in writing. This agreement should list any veterinary expenses the breeder will cover if the kitten has any illnesses or other health conditions when sold to you. Ask the breeder about any genetic diseases that run in the breed and if the health guarantee covers the veterinary costs to treat these conditions. Make sure that the cat you purchase comes with a veterinary health certificate from the breeder's veterinarian. This item states that the cat is currently healthy and free of disease or parasites. Inquire with the breeder if the veterinarian has given the cat all of its vaccines and spayed or neutered the cat. Obtain written records to prove this information.

    Pedigree Paperwork

    • Ask the breeder if she has registered the cat with the Cat Fanciers' Association and if the breeder herself has registered her cattery with the association. Registered cats come with a "blue slip" from the CFA, stating the cat's registered name and breed. Some breeders will only give this to you once you have spayed or neutered the cat if you have not purchased the cat with breeding rights. The breeder should also provide you with the cat's pedigree, listing the cat's ancestors and their titles. The pedigree should include cats from other catteries to prevent inbreeding. Inquire if the breeder regularly shows cats since breeders who participate in shows interact with other breeders regularly and encourage favorable characteristics in the cats she breeds. Keep in mind that you cannot register or show non-purebred or mixed-breed cats that do not come with a pedigree.

    Considerations

    • Find out the purchase price for a cat or kitten you wish to buy from a breeder up front as these prices vary for different types of cats. Always inspect the breeder's home or facility before purchasing a cat from him. If a breeder refuses to show you the facility, avoid purchasing a cat from him. You should also ask to see the parents of a kitten you purchase from the breeder to get an idea of how the grown cat will look, especially if you want to show the cat. Sometimes the breeder only has the mother available since the father was borrowed from another breeder to prevent inbreeding. Avoid breeders who will not provide you with pedigree paperwork or written health guarantees. If you see a facility or breeder who keeps cats in unhealthy or unhygienic conditions, report that breeder to your local animal control.