Finding a reputable breeder can be challenging. The safest approach is to contact the breed club for the specific breed. Alternatively, you can take your time and ask around.
I find it useful to attend multiple cat shows and talk to breeders there. This also gives you the opportunity to see some of their cats. It’s always an advantage to find a breeder who seems reliable and pleasant—someone you get along with and share similar views on cat care.
For an inexperienced cat owner, it is also reassuring to have a breeder as a resource who can provide advice and guidance when needed. After all, the breeder knows their cats and bloodlines best.
When you bring home your kitten, it is 14 weeks old, vaccinated, microchipped, and comes with both a pedigree and a health certificate. This means it is actually two weeks older than most domestic kittens at the time of handover.
This is something domestic cat breeders should prioritize when they decide to have a litter. Unfortunately, many are quite negligent in this area. The goal often seems to be getting the kittens out at 12 weeks, and many still hand them over as young as 8 weeks. It is also rare for domestic cat breeders to vaccinate, conduct health checks, or, most importantly, microchip their kittens.
If they did, lost cats would have a much better chance of being reunited with their owners.
Many pedigree cat breeders take lifelong responsibility for their cats and offer help if a situation arises where the cat needs a new home. Domestic cat breeders, on the other hand, are often more focused on giving away or selling the kittens—often without a microchip—just to make a little extra money. Unfortunately, this is the reality in most cases.
It should be mandatory to microchip kittens before they leave their first home and owner. Perhaps previous owners should even be visible in the chip’s registration?
There are exceptions, but in general, most domestic cat breeders invest very little in their kittens. By failing to microchip them before they go to new homes, they also do not contribute to reducing the number of homeless cats.
Fortunately, we have found a breeder we get along well with, and we have had many pleasant conversations. We have met Jonatan and regularly receive pictures and videos as he grows. Together, we are making a solid plan to ensure Jonatan has a safe and smooth transition to his new home with us.
This is important for us, for Jesper, Kasper, and Odin, for Jonatan, and for the breeder. We all want the best for this little kitten, even if it means some extra work for the breeder—something most are more than willing to do if they feel they have found the right home for their kitten.
