Adopting A Cat From A Breeder: What Precautions? Advantages And Disadvantages ?
Adopting A Cat From A Breeder: The Precautions To Take
If you have decided to adopt a cat from a cattery, you will need to check certain criteria. Our recommendations in your steps:
Find A Serious And Passionate Breeder
Word of mouth remains the best publicity for a breeder enjoying a good reputation. Get information from those around you, look at opinions on the internet, in forums, social networks, ask veterinarians. Before leaving its birthplace, a kitten must be well socialized and for that, not be separated too early from its mother. Early weaning is forbidden because it has consequences as much on the health of the kitten as on its behavior. A breeder concerned about the well-being of his animals will entrust the young feline after his 12e week of life (ideally 14) and only to a home that seems suitable.
Check Compliance With French Legislation On Breeding.
From one litter per year, all cat breeders are considered professional and must therefore:
- Have a SIREN number and indicate it in any sales announcement;
- Have a structure that meets the health and animal protection standards provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry;
- Identify the animal by tattoo or chip;
- Present the vaccination record of the mother and her kittens;
- Establish a certificate of sale specifying the data relating to the identity of the cat, its breed, the selling price as well as the contact details of the buyer and the seller.
Evaluate The Cats Environment
An experienced breeder is generally proud to show the environment in which his animals live. When you visit its premises, pay particular attention to the hygiene (bowls, litter, general cleanliness), the space given to felines and the layout: beds, outdoor and indoor shelters, cat trees, toys. If the cats are housed in a box or any other isolated place, they risk being poorly socialized. Choose a structure where the animals benefit from regular contact with their human family;
Take A Close Look At The Kitten
When you visit the cattery, take your time to look carefully:
The Physical Appearance Of The Kitten
He should have a shiny, soft coat. His nose, eyes and ears are clean, not sticky or encrusted.
The Behavior Of The Little Feline
It should reflect an inquisitive, playful and active temperament. If he appears frightened or apathetic, remain cautious. The breeder must be able to inform you about the character of the members of the litter: bold, shy, affectionate…
The Mother
There mother must live with the breeder in order to have also benefited from good socialization. Observe her character: is she fearful? Agressive ? Is she easy to approach? Study the way she behaves with her young because it is largely from her that the kitten inherits its character, both genetically and by education.
Make Sure Of The Cat Breed
If you wish to acquire a purebred feline, the breeder must present you with the appropriate documents, such as the pedigree. This pedigree record provides information on parents, grandparents and certifies that all breeding requirements are met. To be considered “purebred”, a cat is necessarily registered in the Official Book of Feline Origins (LOOF), as are its parents who have tested negative for hereditary diseases.
Adopting A Cat From A Kennel: The Advantages
As seen above, by choosing a kitten born with a competent breeder, you are assured:
- To acquire a purebred cat registered with the LOOF, thus guaranteeing you a perfect traceability;
- To know the environment in which the animal was born and spent its first months;
- To meet the kitten before welcoming it into your home. Thanks to a first contact, you could see if it was clean, well maintained and sociable;
- To benefit from a follow up. A qualified breeder accompanies you in your adoption. It answers your questions and your uncertainties. He is happy to help and advise you, even after adoption.
Adopting A Cat From A Breeder: The Disadvantages
Among the aspects that can hinder the purchase of a feline in a breeding, we can mention:
The Price
A purebred cat can be very expensive because the investment made by breeders is significant. Their costs include the purchase of breeding animals, genetic tests, registration with the LOOF, visits to the veterinarian (identifications, vaccines, deworming, antiparasitics, etc.), examinations (cardiac and kidney ultrasounds), quality food, litter, etc.;
Genetic Flaws
A breeder certifying that the breed does not suffer from any hereditary disease should be avoided because either he knows the breed poorly or he is trying to sell you a cat at all costs. The animals are reproduced to guarantee criteria specific to the breeds, it therefore happens that certain felines inherit genetic defects even within very serious breedings. For example, the Maine Coon is known to carry hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is wise to ask the manager of the structure for all the test results genetics, guarantees of its professionalism;
Traffic
While many breeders are honest, others less scrupulous practice animal trafficking or cheat on the origins of cats. If an individual cannot show you the mother of a litter on the pretext that she died giving birth, it is often a scam. For the purchase of a kitten, the recourse to the recourse to the classified advertisements is the most used means but a breeder enjoying a solid reputation does not generally need to advertise on these well-known websites. Not only is it referenced on breed clubs but in addition, he gladly answered all your questions by telephone and received you at his premises. A good professional wants the best family for his litter and reserves the right to refuse an adoption if the promised living conditions do not seem appropriate to the kitten.
