How to Find Purebred Kittens

Finding Reputable Cat Breeders from Which to Adopt Purebreds

Oct 21, 2008

Persian Cat, Enpcc, Wikipedia, Public Domain

Beware of disreputable kitten breeders. Use the following guidelines to find ethical breeders of healthy purebred kittens.

There are many ways to find reputable breeders. These include:

Veterinarians – Ask a veterinarian, particularly one who specializes in treating cats, to recommend local breeders.
Cat shows – Local cat shows are a great place to meet reputable breeders.
Breed clubs – Conduct an Internet search of the breed name along with the words “breed club” – there are clubs for every recognized cat breed, and all should be able to recommend reputable cat breeders.
Cat magazine advertisements – Ads in magazines such as Cat Fancy and Cat World are more likely to be placed by reputable breeders than those in the newspaper.
Non-profit organizations – The Purebred Cat Rescue and the Cat Fanciers Breed Rescue list are good places to seek purebred cats in need of loving homes. Rescued cats cost about 10% as much as purebred kittens, and this money (usually $100-$200) goes to cover the costs of the foster families that have supported cats awaiting adoption.

Newspaper classified ads are hit and miss. While some reputable breeders advertise in the paper, many unethical individuals do as well, and some of these people may steal deposits without providing kittens whereas others may engage in dubious breeding practices. There are some red flags that signal breeders who are unreliable or lacking in knowledge, including:

“Rare colour” – The breeder is careless and thus fails to meet breed standards.
“Championship lines” – This could just mean that some distant ancestor of the cat was a purebred champion – look instead for “champion sired” or “champion parents.”

Signs of a Reputable Cat Breeder

Good breeders are not only enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the breed, they also:

Don’t engage in high-pressure sales techniques
Breed no more than a few litters each year
Never breed a female more than once a year
Don’t adopt kittens out until they’re 12 weeks old
Specialize in only one or two breeds
Enter their cats in shows and/or belong to a breed club
Ask you questions about your home and lifestyle to ensure that the kittens are going to a good place
Conduct genetic screening to eliminate breed-related medical conditions
Offer to take kittens back in the event that they develop health problems and provide refunds rather than replacement kittens
Avoid breeding cats with negative traits such as aggression or nervousness
Are willing to show you the kitten’s littermates and mother, as well as the facility in which they are kept
Provide health and vaccination records, and registration papers from the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA), or The International Cat Association (TICA)

Beware of Backyard Breeders and Pet Shops

Backyard breeders are not professionals; rather, they are people with little knowledge of cat breeding issues, such as the need to screen for genetic problems that may afflict certain breeds. In addition to increasing the risk that kittens will suffer from horrendous genetic defects and illnesses, backyard breeders often don’t know how to properly socialize kittens, and they tend to adopt them out too young, which can lead to a lifetime of physical and psychological problems (for more information on this, see the Ideal Age to Adopt a Kitten). Backyard breeders can usually be recognized by their failure to register their kittens, keep them until at least 12 weeks of age, or participate in cat shows.

Purchasing kittens from pet stores is also not recommended, as pet stores are often supplied by abusive and neglectful kitten mills. Also, kittens purchased from pet stores are more inclined to have medical and psychological problems.

How to Find Purebred Kittens

Finding Reputable Cat Breeders from Which to Adopt Purebreds

Signs of a Reputable Cat Breeder

Beware of Backyard Breeders and Pet Shops

Further Reading