[Buying a cat - Quotes are Helmi Flick]
"If you are interested in a
breed, visit the breeder's house and see the cats there."
This gives you the chance to see if things look OK with the breeder's
set up. Buying a cat is not like buying a TV. When you buy a cat you
are paying the breeder for raising a cat to the point when he/she can
be re-homed. You are not buying a product.
It is vital
to know how the cat was raised as this will dictate your cat's
character to an extent and how your cat integrates with other animals
including humans.
The breeders
house should be free of the smell of urine. This should be the case
even if the breeder has "whole" (un-neutered) males (studs - who tend
to spray more than neutered males). "The kittens should be isolated
from the rest of the cats (the nursery)"
It
is advisable to see if the cats are caged and if so don't deal with the
breeder. The exception is for studs. Studs are often caged outside. "The
best breeder to go to is one who rotates their cats on a schedule so
they all have "face" time with the human family at some time during the
day". This
takes time and effort but is important for the integration of the cat
with humans resulting in a much happier cat companion, which is the
objective after all. This means work and a caring/loving approach from
the breeder but this tells you how good the breeder is.
Conclusion: when buying a cat "..where
you get your purebred cat is very very important. Never a pet
store. Never. And the newspaper is not a good idea,
either. Go to the breeder's house, let the kitten choose
you. That is what makes a good companion for you....."