How to Buy a Kitten

How to Buy a Kitten

Besides the new kitten, what else should you receive from the breeder at the time of payment? He or she should ask you to take your new pet to a veterinarian of your choice within two days of purchase. The breeder should also offer to let you return the kitten for a refund if it is not in good health.

Cat Bill of Sale

You should receive a written bill of sale stating:

• The aforementioned privilege of return.
• The date of purchase and any conditions of sale.
• The price paid.
• The registration numbers and names of the parents.
• The litter or individual registration number of the kitten.
• Its date of birth and description, including breed, sex, and color.

You should also receive registration papers. If the breeder has not yet received the papers (sometimes this happens), be sure that the bill of sale states this fact and indicates that the papers will be sent when they are received by the breeder. You should never be asked to pay extra for the kitten’s registration papers—you have a right to them.

In some instances, the breeder may indicate that the kitten is not for breeding purposes and will ask you to sign an agreement to this effect. One copy of the agreement goes to the registry. Breeders are within their rights to ask this.

Instructions for Care

The breeder should also give you written instructions on feeding and care. Dates of any warming that has taken place, and the type of medicine used, should be included. You should also receive a statement, signed by a veterinarian, of all vaccinations given and the date of the next scheduled vaccination.

When you take your new kitten home, be sure that it has plenty of time forest. Have a litter box, bedding (a blanket or soft pillow), food, and water awaiting your new arrival. Be gentle and patient and always keep in mind your size. After all, the kitten has been brought to a strange home to live with giants who cannot communicate directly and who have new rules. Follow the breeder’s instructions for feeding and care until you see your veterinarian. Be sure that you are present when your kitten is with small children. Kittens can suffer severe injuries and even death from being dropped, hit, or squeezed by a child.

Registries

After the first cat show was held in England in 1871, breeding cats for certain physical and temperamental qualities, and registering the cats produced, became important. There are several registries in this country, and more abroad, each with its own standards and specifications for the breeds.

The Cat Fanciers’ Association (C.F.A.), founded in 1906, is the largest registry in the United States. The C.F.A. has registered more than one-half million cats since its inception, and it sponsors some 200 annual shows across the country. The American Cat Association registers over 10,000 cats a year and sponsors 75 national cat shows. In addition, there are the Cat Fanciers’ Federation, the American Cat Fanciers’ Association, the International Cat Association, and United Cat Federation. In Canada, the Canadian Cat Association is a major registry. The Federation of International Feline Europe is a primary European association.

See more: How to Choose a Cat