Unless you have been mentoring with a reputable breeder and are absolutely positive you want to enter a breeding program (and have the knowledge to proceed responsibly) your best bet is to adopt a pet quality pedigreed cat. Most breeders will not be willing to sell you anything else unless they are convinced that you know what you are doing and that you will not become a "backyard breeder."
Breed Rescue Organizations
Breed rescue groups perform a valuable humane service in rescuing and returning lost purebreds to their owners, and finding good homes for others that have been given up by their previous owners for one reason or another. This would be a good place to start if you're looking for a particular breed of cat. Expect to be carefully screened as reputable breeders will not place a cat in a household unless they're positive it will be cared for properly. No one wants a revolving door scenario for these cats. Here is a list of breed rescue organizations. You may be lucky enough to find one in your own area.
Cat Shows
Many breed organizations and registries encourage rescue groups to bring rescued kitties to cat shows for adoption. They usually are kept in a separate area, near the main entrance to the show hall. The kitty pictured to the right is a beautiful cat who was rescued by a Persian Rescue Group in Alameda County, California. This group regularly brings their rescues to cat shows in the area, hoping to find great new homes for them, and quite often succeeding.
Cat shows also provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about the various breeds, and to talk with breeders who may be expecting new litters of kittens
Breeders
If you've enjoyed cat shows and are burning to show your own Siamese,
Maine coon cat or Persian, you'll probably want to buy from a breeder.
You may meet the likeliest candidates at a cat show, or call the local breed club of the breed of your choice. You'll want to learn all you can about that particular breed, so do your homework, starting with the CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association) or the TICA (The International Cat Association Inc.) These and other organizations offer loads of information on the breeds they recognize, as well as member lists. You can also find basic information about a number of breeds in our About Cats Breed Snapshots pages, which are alphabetically organized.
When you find a breeder, ask lots of questions. Observe first-hand the breeding stock and conditions of the "cattery". Again, expect to be under as much scrutiny as you're giving their setup. Breeders put a lot of love, time and money into developing their line and they'll follow-through without hesitation if they think you're not living up to your sales contract in terms of food and housing, veterinary care, neutering (in case of a pet or retired breed stock), and regular vaccinations. Don't attempt to fool a breeder into selling you a pet quality kitten if you intend to breed it-- it just isn't going to happen.
Pet Stores
In a word--DON'T. Most pet stores get their kittens and puppies from "kitten mills"--breeders who are breeding for profit, and not to preserve and promote specific traits of the breed. These commercial catteries often breed dozens of different breeds, paying little attention to conformation or lineage, and many times the animals live in unsanitary, inhumane conditions. Many pet stores are refusing to sell cats and dogs, and some states are even looking at laws prohibiting the sale of those animals in pet stores. By purchasing a "purebred" cat from a pet store, you are only feeding a huge "profit machine" which has no interest in the welfare of the cats.
By all means, go to your local pet store to buy toys, cat food, beds and scratching posts, or for their Adoption Days programs described on the previous page, but otherwise, look elsewhere for that precious new family member, and you can save yourself a lot of money and potential grief.
Franny Syufy
The Series:
Part 1 - Are you ready for a cat?
Part 2 - Where to go to adopt.
Part 3 - Shopping List
Part 4 - Cat-proofing your Home
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About Cats Chatroom:
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