Finding a RESPONSIBLE breeder

While there are many caring and responsible breeders out there, sadly there are also many unscrupulous ones who prioritise profit over their kittens’ health.

But, how do you spot the breeders who do put the health of their cats and kittens first, over those who just force their queens to produce litter after litter, regardless of the health of the mother or her kittens?

FINDING A GOOD BREEDER

A good place to start is by finding a breeder who is part of The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy’s (GCCF) breeder scheme.To be members of the scheme, breeders have to follow recommended breeding policies, use health screening schemes to ensure their kittens are healthy, and must be prepared to answer all questions you may have about the breed and their kittens.

Breed clubs can also recommend responsible and experienced breeders on their committees, and among their members.Your vet may also be able to recommend breeders who they know take good care of their cats and kittens.

A responsible breeder should offer you the opportunity to see the kitten with his mother and the rest of the litter, and, if possible, his father.This is very important, because it will not only give you an opportunity to see the temperament of his relatives, but may also give you an idea of the future characteristics of the kitten.

During your visit, you should be able to handle and play with all the kittens, rather than just seeing the kitten being offered to you.

The breeder should be able to tell you how they have started to socialise the kittens, and give advice on how

you can continue with the socialisation process once you bring your kitten home.

You should be provided with written advice on your kitten’s food, and what flea treatment, worming, and vaccinations he has already had. If the kitten is advertised as GCCF registered, you should also be provided with a pedigree detailing your kitten’s ancestry, and copies of any additional health certificates for the parents, as well as a receipt of the GCCF registration certificate. Don’t forget to transfer your kitten into your name.

WHEN TO WALK AWAY

What you should be looking for is a home with a clean environment, a healthylooking mother cat who is confident with people, and healthy, interactive kittens. Some people come away with a kitten who is not 100 per cent healthy because they are told that all will be fine by the breeder, but taking on an unhealthy kitten, with a seemingly minor issue or illness, may open you up to more problems, expense, and, potentially heartbreak, later down the line.

If you have arrived to find that the breeder’s home is dirty, smelly, and has lots of other cats and kittens, then be very wary. Good hygiene is essential to keep kittens healthy as they can be very vulnerable to diseases, such as feline infectious enteritis (FIE) and cat flu. Overcrowded, dirty, and smelly environments, with lots of cats and kittens, are not conducive to health.

If the breeder has a range of litter ages, and even breeds, to choose from, or has different rooms full of cats, then look elsewhere. Although a good breeder may well have two litters at a time, common sense should allow you to make a sensible judgement based on what you have seen.

Kittens should not be away from their mother until they are at least eight weeks old — if your breeder says the kitten can leave earlier, walk away.