Selecting a Reputable Breeder

Yup, there sure is such a thing. When looking for a purebred cat, or dog, after you've done your homework and selected the breed that works best for you, you set out for a breeder. What should you expect?

In an ideal world, you'd visit the person's home. You want to see the parents, evaluate their temperament. Make sure kittens are raised underfoot, a term of art in breeding meaning the kittens get regular exposure and socialization to their human family. You want to see if their other cats are sick, have adequate facilities, all those sorts of things that create healthy, happy cats.

It's a two way street - expect to provide information about every member of your family, including pets; how you plan to keep your kitty; be prepared to sign a contract indicating any number of things, such as that you intend to keep the cat indoors, not declaw, and will turn the cat over to the breeder if anything should go wrong. (This is something any good breeder will require - they do not want their cats in shelters.)

Don't be too influenced by a sales pitch, or the favorite line "You get what you pay for." In many cases, that's an attempt by the unscrupulous breeder to charge far more than the "going rate" for a cat. Above all, talk to more than one breeder - you'll be able to ask them questions about one another and only through multiple opinions will you begin to get an accurate picture of who is ethical and who is not.

CFA now offers a breeder referral program from their website to find kittens in every accepted breed. Good luck, and send questions if you have them!