Visiting The Cat Breeder

Some breeders house their animals in an outside cattery, others within their homes. A reputable breeder will not hesitate to allow a prospective owner to visit. The advantage of the house reared litter is that the kittens are socialized earlier.

They have greater contact with day to day noise, humans and perhaps other animals such as dogs. On the other hand, the disinfection and restricted contact routine of a first rate cattery reduces the risk of disease and infection.

Kittens from a good cattery will be handled and socialized, but this process cannot be as complete as if they were raised within the home. Beware of the unscrupulous cattery owner rearing kittens solely for financial gain.

Conditions can often be substandard. Usually, you need to make an appointment to see and select from a litter of kittens, but it is also possible to book a kitten in advance of delivery if you are drawn to a particular cat.

By visiting the breeder, you can assess the general environment and conditions in which the kittens have been brought up in the first few vital weeks of their lives.

If you ask the right questions and see the rest of the litter, the mother, and possible the father, you will be able to build up a complete picture of the kitten’s heritage, its breeding line, how long its relatives have lived, how big it is likely to grow; what it will look like as an adult.

In addition, you can lay the foundations of an ongoing relationship with the breeder, who, if reputable, will be available for advice and help in the years to come. A pedigreed kitten will not usually leave its breeder’s home until it is twelve to fourteen weeks old.

By this time it should be properly house trained, inoculated and used to being handled. If it has been brought up in a family environment, it may already be happy with dogs and children.

But if it has not been in an ideal environment, it may have difficulties bonding with a new owner. In this case and with a non pedigreed kitten only, it may adapt more easily if it is taken away at seven or eight weeks.