Consider an Adult Cat
Many people new to the world of pedigreed cats do not realize that from time to time, most breeders have "Retired Adult Breeders" available at reduced prices. Purchasing a Retired Breeder can offer many advantages over a young kitten: Retired Breeders are almost always of extremely high quality - often top breeder to show quality; they are already spayed or neutered; they are past the "kitten" stage which often requires making major adjustments in your home for the safety of your new kitten (as well as your possessions!) and often, Retired Breeders are still quite young themselves. Why do breeders "retire" their best animals from breeding? There can be a variety of reasons, but most of the time, it is due to fertility issues, difficult pregnancies or births in females, and the need for new bloodlines in an established breeding program. None of these factors have anything to do with the fact that these animals make outstanding pets!
Finding the Right Breeder
Once you have made your decision regarding which breed of cat or kitten, you need to find a breeder! Are breeders all the same? Absolutely not! Besides going to cat shows, you can also find lists of breeders in the cat magazines' breeder sections, and many breeders now have their own websites, too. You can also look in your phone book for breeder listing services, another place to start. Ultimately, your best bet may be to look for a breeder through the major cat registration associations or breed clubs. There is often more protection for you, the consumer, when a breeder belongs to an association of their peers. Many organizations (such as The International Bengal Cat Society, for Bengal breeders) require breeder members to sign a code of ethics before they can join, which ensures they will provide quality care to their animals and provide excellent service to their customers, and that they are held accountable for their actions if they do not honor those commitments.
Your first contact with a breeder may be via phone, fax, letter or e-mail. It is important to listen or look carefully at every communication you receive from the breeder. It can indicate more about them than you might think. If written, is their communication professionally done? Are the spelling and grammar correct? Does the written communication evoke a feeling that they care about their animals, and would want to work with you? In all communications, does the breeder invite you to visit their facility? While it is often ideal to purchase a pedigreed animal from a local breeder where you can actually go see their facilities and meet them and their animals face-to-face, you can also learn much about a breeder by talking to other people who have purchased animals from them. Don't be afraid to ask the breeder for references, and definitely follow up and contact these references.
Be Prepared to Wait
Do keep in mind that most reputable, established breeders have waiting lists for their kittens. It's a good idea to ask about their waiting list, and about their deposit policies. Most pedigreed cat breeders will offer a refundable deposit option (often $100.00), which will then hold a kitten or cat for you until it is ready to leave for its new home. You should be clear about under which circumstances the policy is refundable, or is not refundable. Most breeders will refund the deposit for any reason up until the time that a specific kitten or cat and the terms are mutually agreed upon. But, you should always have this information in writing.
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