Tips: A cat joins your home

You want to have a pedigreed cat, many things have to be taken into consideration.

Tip 1

Do not buy a cat in a pet shop, even you feel sorry for those cats.
No demands, no supply.

Contact a breeder, when you want to buy a cat.
There exist many clubs and breeders' lists, when looking into the phone books or the Internet.
Breeders mostly have to follow very strict quality rules, especially concerning the health of cats, their cats must have complete vaccinations and must undergo several tests.

Tip 2

Pedigreed cats have a pedigree, that is like the certificate of birth. The pedigrees are issued and signed by a registered club. The pedigree is a certain certificate of quality, because breeders mostly must follow very tough breeding rules and the information entered in the pedigree is checked by the club.

Tip 3

Always make a contract with the breeder, where it must be clearly stated, which documents are provided to you:

• pedigree
• vaccination passport
• eventually also the confirmation of transfer - many clubs do issue such a transfer paper.

You must receive at least those documents from the breeder.

A pedigree is no reason to increase the sales price of a cat, because a pedigree is quite cheap and does not really cost so much.
If a breeder offers you a pedigreed cat without a pedigree for a reasonably cheaper price, it is better not to buy this cat.
Please read also carefully any special clauses concerning breeding, which might be included in the contract. It makes a difference in price if you buy pet quality or breeding quality.
Note: Non-negotiable notices concerning breeding are also mostly included in the pedigree itself.

Tip 4

The cat must have its vaccinations completed, i.e. 1st and 2nd booster.

Cats, which are vaccinated for the very first time, must have 2 boosters for each vaccination, in the following years only one booster is needed.
The cat must have at least the following vaccinations:

• vaccination against Panleukopena
• vaccination against respiratory problems (rhinotracheitis)
• vaccination against cat aids (FelV)

If the breeder offers you to pay for the 2nd booster, which means you shall go to your own veterinarian for the 2nd booster, it would be better not to take this cat.
Only the 1st booster of a vaccination does not guarantee any protection.

Tip 5

Do not buy a kitten which is too young, even little kitten are so cute.

Breeders are usually not permitted to sell kitten before 12 weeks or 3 months of age.
This fact has very good reasons based on the development of a cat:

• With a certain age cats have all the necessary vaccinations.
• Many kitten still drink their milk at mammy's bar with an age of 10 weeks and more, the longer the better.
• A kitten of 3 months age has already a certain weight, which is good and necessary.

Do not buy a too young cat, those kitten are mostly not robust and resistant enough.

Tip 6

A cat is not like a toy, even it looks sweet, and even it is so small and cute.

A kitten is your companion and will become about 15 years old, sometimes even older. You should keep in mind that you will have to care for the cat for many years and years, because cats can become quite old.
You have to take measurements for your vacations, too, because a cat needs to be fed at least 2 times per day, kitten need to be fed more frequently.

A cat is also not a suitable Christmas present or a birthday present.
Think about twice if you shall buy a cat, and do not buy a cat if you are just in the mood to do so. Speak about your wish to buy a cat with your family first.

Tip 7

Visit the breeder where you want to buy a cat.
Thus you can see how the cat's environment is.
If the breeder only shows you those cats which are for sale and you can not have a look on the other cats, it is better not to buy a cat from this breeder.

Tip 8

Watch the cat which you want to buy for some time.
Kitten like to play and are very keen on their surrounding, they are always busy when not asleep. If the kitten is apathic or listless, it is better not to take this kitten.

A healthy cat has bright shining eyes.
If the cat shows weeping eyes or the cornea of the eyes appears to be red, this might be a sign for an inflammation. The fairy tale that the wind has blown into the eyes of the cat is a mere fairy tale.

The nose must be also clean.
Also inspect the abdominal part of the cat which must be clean and neat, the anus should not show any sign of reddening, which might be an indication for diarrhoea.

Check if the cat does not have any fleas.
Fleas are located mostly around the neck and at the base of the tail, you shall not see any signs of flea bites.

A healthy coat is shiny.
If the coat is dull or shaggy, be cautious.

Stroke with your fingers carefully along the back and the flanks, if you can feel every single bone of the vertebrae or every single rib, this might be a sign that the cat is undernourished.

Tip 9

Which type of cat do you want to have ?

Think about that slender shorthaired cats are more active cats.
Is your furniture suitable for a cat which might jump on your shelves ?
Longhair cats need more intensive grooming. Do you have enough time every day to brush the cat ? Are you aware that many hairs will fly around in your apartment when the cat changes its coat, which is the case at least two times per year ?

Do not buy a cat because of its rare colour or because of its interesting and special pattern.
Buy a cat because of its type, if it is a longhair or a shorthair cat, if it is more an active cat or a rather quiet cat.

Tip 10

To own a cat means:

• to accept a great and permanent responsibility - and this will last for many years.
• to take care about the daily needs of a cat, to clean the litter box, to provide dishes with food, to provide a scratching tree, to comb and brush the cat on a regular basis, to provide enough toys for playing, etc.
• to have enough time for your companion, the cat, to spend time for care and grooming, but also to spend time every day for playing and cuddling with your cat.

A responsible breeder will provide you with a little brochure how to take care and how to feed a cat properly.

To own a cat means to spend money. Cats are not cheap companions, the price to buy a cat is relatively cheap compared to the monthly costs for your cat.

Tip 11

Have your cat neutered, males as well as females, if you do not intend to breed with them.

Cats, females and males, come into a certain hormone stress, when they are in heat or when the male looks for a new bride.
You will save a lot of stress for your cat and for yourself, the cat will have a more peaceful life.
Females, which are not spayed, are more susceptible to inflammations of the ovary or the uterus, if they are not mated.
Males, which are not neutered, might start to set their markings (spray), when they become pubescent, and want to claim their territory by leaving their aroma. When males are neutered, they mostly stop spraying. By the way, also females may spray!

Tip 12

• Do not breed blacklegged.
  If you seriously wish to be a breeder, join a registered club.
• Do not make your contribution to the increase of the numerous unregistered cats which are already existing.
• Many cat clubs do have an interest, that not too many unplanned cats are bred, just to generate more pedigrees.

The less the better!

Tip 13

Read the breeding rules a breeder has to follow.

• Ask, which tests are mandatory for certain breeds:
  Thus it is absolutely important, that Persians and Exotics, and also sometimes British Shorthairs are tested for PKD.
  White cats must have an audiometric hearing certificate.
  Maine Coons shall be tested for HCM and HD.
  If a breeder cannot show you those tests, it is better not to take the cat.
• Take also a look at the test results of the parents.
• If those tests described above are not mandatory in a club, it is better to go to another club.

Ask and collect the information before, it will save you from a lot of troubles!

Enjoy your new companion
The cat will be your best companion for a life time.