Breeders

Breeders, by virtue of selling their kittens for profit, can be more interested in profit than in the welfare of their animals. Many breeders who sell without any screening questions to the buyer may fall into this category. Just because the person has succeeded in getting cats to mate, do NOT assume them to be experts NOR ethical. A professional breeder not only has registration papers for all their cats, but is active in showing them. Ask about where the cats have been shown and how they placed in the cat shows. Some breeders "economize" by not testing their kittens against feline leukemia and fiv. Their argument is that the parents or grandparents are negative, so there is no need. This is not true, as breeders often put their cats out to stud or bring in outside studs.  Anytime the cats are so exposed to felines out of the breeder's control, the risk of disease exists. The way to be certain your kitten's health is not affected is to have a veterinary record of its testing. When choosing a breeder, ask about their return policy and for customer references, particularly ones who have had to return a kitten. Some breeders will insist on only an exchange rather than a refund, and some will threaten you with euthanizing the returned animal, in hopes of preserving their sale. Find out from your breeder how often the cats are bred. If they mention a particular dam (mom), ask if you don't like the kittens from this litter, when that cat will have more. If the answer is less than 6 months, then the breeder is using the cats harshly. When you choose the breeder, go to where the animals are kept, meet your kitten's sire and dam. Their temperaments and appearance give you an indication of what your kitten will be like. If the animals don't look healthy and well-fed, or their environment is NOT clean and sweet-smelling, please do NOT give the breeder any money!  Such breeders profit from the misery of animals by minimizing their food, recuperation time, space, and maintenance (cleanliness). Giving such breeders YOUR money to "rescue" a kitten only encourages them to continue. The same is true for pet shops who sell kitten-farm purebreds. NO reputable breeder would ever sell to a petshop! If you see kittens or cats living in miserable circumstances, do NOT reward their keepers with money! As difficult as it may be, walk away to discourage the owner from continuing their abuse. Report the breeder or shop to the local humane enforcement. If you feel you must do something immediately, persuade the breeder or shop to give you the kittens for free or a highly-reduced cost, arguing that they're in poor condition. Do NOT allow the seller to profit from the misery of animals! Even if you don't believe in or care about the suffering of your kitten's parents, to ensure your kitten is healthy, it is still wise to follow the above precautions.   Good luck!

Not all are Good Breeders!

Robert was kept by a breeder as a working tom to produce kittens for pet shops.  He was held for YEARS in borderline starvation and horribly filthy conditions, complete with fleas!

Poor Crystal's health was broken by her breeder who forced her to have HUGE litters every three months, and on cheap food!  She was nursing two litters at once when we rescued her; she nearly died from her body's depletion!

Because we're a breed rescue, we're often asked to recommend a breeder.  While we can't refer you to specific breeders, here are some suggestions on how to find a good one, and recognize a bad one!