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Anyone know anything about pedigree cats?

31 replies

Socci · 27/08/2006 23:07

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ChicPea · 27/08/2006 23:49

I always wanted a Siamese cat after my father went on and on over the years about his siamese cat. So when I was ready I got 2 seal point brothers from a mad breeder I found in Loot. I did buy the cat fancy magazine called Cat World and went to see a few breeders but didn't like what they had. But the lady in Loot had two boys left and I went to see them. They were gorgeous and I gave her a deposit, they were 9 weeks and they could leave at 12 weeks. They were the most amusing, funny, intelligent, lovable cats and I fell completely in love with them. When they heard a noise the both jumped elegantly at the same time, they were funny all the time. As time went on, they became adult cats and I had my favourite who was so affectionate and attentive. Very very sadly he died unexpectedly of a heart attack before his 4th birthday (the next day I found out I was preg with DD) and the autopsy confirmed an enlarged heart (cardio myopathy). I cried solidly for 4 days. His littermate walked around the house miowing for him even though I let him see the body and it was heartbreaking. I decided to get him a companion and after many breeders I found a beautiful lilac oriental boy. This didn't really work as the oriental was quite dominant and Leo started to display signs of distress which never really eased. I got a cat behaviourist to try to help me and she gave me pointers but it wasn't going to work. As Leo by this stage was pooing in various places on and off after getting advice from vet and re-homing people I decided to rehome Leo as the situation wasn't going to improve. I managed to find him a lovely home 20 minutes away and have visited him since where he is very happy.

Siamese cats are very special but they need alot of attention, they are prone to stomach problems, heart problems too. But the upside is that they are beautiful to look at, they are funny, they talk all the time, they are attentive and interact all the time, they are very intelligent and affectionate. If I was to start again, I would get 2 kittens again from the same litter. If you are seriously thinking about this, do buy Cat World and look up the breeders. Sadly though there are alot of people breeding siamese cats that are breeding as many as they can in cramped dirty conditions which is sickening. Also, there are the pointy faced cats and the round faced cats and you may prefer the pointy. There is a special word for it and I have forgotten it. You may also consider a rehomed siamese and there is a rehoming charity which you can find on the internet where there are photos of cats to be rehomed.
Also, with a siamese, alot of breeders tell you that the cat would have to be kept inside as it would be stolen etc so this is another thing to consider.
Sorry if this post has gone on and on but I was enchanted by my 2 cats and never imagined that it would end in heartbreak. They are a fabulous breed if you have time to devote to an animal and want a cat who is devoted to you as they usually are.
I paid £200 per kitten and I think at the time there were breeders charging as much as £400.

Socci · 28/08/2006 01:05

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Socci · 28/08/2006 10:23

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expatinscotland · 28/08/2006 10:29

We adopted a pedigree Persian who was found as a stray.

He's A LOT of work but he is SO lovely!

He does require a special diet, but Hill's Science does him just fine.

His eyes we wash out w/cotton wool soaked in cool boiled water every other day - b/c his face is smushed, his tear ducts are compromised.

His coat needs daily maintenance, but it takes all of about 5 minutes to brush and matt comb.

We shower him once a month and clip the fur around his bum.

His teeth are prone to problems b/c he doesn't have a normal cat jaw, so a vet checks them every 3 months when we take him to have his claws trimmed.

He has such a terrific personality, though. He's talkative, affectionate and mellow.

Katymac · 28/08/2006 10:30

Mine is a chocolate tabby point called Romeo
He is an outdoor cat & a hunter (well he used to be - he's nearly 11 now - we prob won't have him much longer)

He is microchipped and insured - you will need insurance as they do have health problems
He has a dicky tummy - so all dried food, we started on the Vets expensive diet and over the years have weaned him on to go-cat...but if he gets a tummy it is boiled (or Microwaved) fish or chicken and a little rice
He also has a sticky eye - and when he was younger (& I was preg with DD) we had it all tested and checked out.....we have a cat with hayfever and chronic rhinitus - but no infections
He was so attentive while I was PG & also whenever anyone is ill he knows before hand and gives them lots of cuddles

My mum had one called Toots.....he ended up with 3 legs after a car accident and several thousands of pounds of surgery!!!(Insurance is necessary) - He died at about 9 - heart faliure

When Romeo goes we will get another...(I think 2 - but dh doesn't)

expatinscotland · 28/08/2006 10:34

Our Persian is an indoors-only moggy. We live in a 2nd floor flat w/no outdoor space in an urban area, so the cats are indoors.

But Persians also have cobby bodies and don't have the jumping skills of a normal cat.

They also have the strangest miaow I've ever heard.

PeachyClairHasBadHair · 28/08/2006 10:36

I have a book on pedigree cat breeds, I can post it to you if you want (CAT me, if you don't have CAt I'll post my e-mail on request but prefer people to CAt for the sake of MN's finances), it will be a day or two before I get to the post office.

FWIW, Siamese cats are OK ime. A it supercillious and not always given to being petted, but not particularly problematic either. My personal faves are Burmese (lots of brushing, the childminder back home kept them and they were so lovely with the kids) and ragdoll 9again a particularly family friendly breed)

gladbag · 28/08/2006 10:50

My family have always had pedigree cats, and I am a complete unashamed cat snob now. They are just so fantastic. I had siamese cats as family pets when I was growing up, and I've now got a chocolate oriental, although we're thinking about getting a siamese as well.

Some breeders are very precious, and won't sell to you if you're going to let them out/have children etc etc, but we want them as normal pets, so have always bought from more family-orientated breeders iyswim. Kittens are normally around £250, which is steep. They come in through the RSPCA and rescue centres more often than you'd think, so if you don't mind not having a kitten, that's a route to go down.

The only difference in care that I've noticed is that they hate being left alone - they crave human attention and company, so, for example, we couldn't leave our cat for more than 2 days being fed by the neighbours as she goes a bit loopy (think of it like owning a dog). They can be a rather neurotic like that. You also need to be prepared for them being very vocal - they 'talk' (and I know it makes me sound like a mad cat woman') all the time, follow you about, will cry if you shut them out of a room, demand to be played with (our oriental brings her selection of toys and drops them on your lap, pats you, and then if you throw something, she retrieves it like a dog).

There's tons of information on the web, so if I were you I'd just keep reading, and researching until you find what you're looking for (oh and be prepared for the backlash from cat-hating football-throwing poo-in-my-garden mumsnetters ) . Good luck!

expatinscotland · 28/08/2006 10:58

'You also need to be prepared for them being very vocal - they 'talk' (and I know it makes me sound like a mad cat woman') all the time, follow you about, will cry if you shut them out of a room, demand to be played with '

This is also true of Persians, who are Oriental cats, of course.

They are not the independent sort.

This may be why some end up in rescue centres, as pointed out.

They do require attention and lots of it. Which is great w/our kids b/c our 3-year-old has learned to stroke 'Smokey' gently and show him affection.

He likes to be at the centre of attention or in the same room we are in.

Katymac · 28/08/2006 11:03

It's funny Toots (my mums cat) was vocal & talked, he aften had long conversations and you could tell if he were talking about food or cuddles etc (sad I know)

But Romeo is very quiet - he is very much the centre of attention & actually mentioned in my OFSTED report.....the children love him and so many mindees first word is CAT!! He can tell the differenc between a baby exploring him and a toddler "experimenting"....if the baby gets rough he will walk away - but if the toddler is cruel he will hold thier hand/arm in his mouth - not a bite just a warning - he has never broken the skin

prettybird · 28/08/2006 11:16

I have had Siamese cats all my life. They're always best as pairs, as they need company.

Dh and I got a pair, brother and sister from the same litter, 12 years ago. Leo was an enormous chocolate tabby point, really cuddly and affectionate and his sister Muscat is a chocolate (althrough looks more lie seal) point.

Sadly Leo died 3 years - he had kidney failure, which was young, but not unheard of, to happen - it can be a problem with the pedigrees.

We rang his breeder, who has become a firend and who had just started breeding again, and she had one kitten left in a litter which just about ready to go (although no blood relations to our irginal two). She had been going to be keeping her for breeding, but becasue it was us, rationalised letter her go as she was a small kitten from a samll mother, so probably not good breeding stock. (just as well, as she is still tiny). By pure coincidence, she is alos a chocolate tabby point - and her pedigree was already Cleo (spooky!), so we kept it.

I think she cost £200, but it might have been £300. But that also included a full set of injections before we picked her up.

You're only allowed to get themwehn they are 12 weeks old.

A good breeder will "audition" ypu - go and see the kittens, see which one you like (they'll tend to choose you) - and at the same the breeder will be checking you out.

We don't insure ours - with two it would be expensive and we are in the fortuante position that it something did come up, we are able to access the funds to cover it. Even when Leo was being treated, it only came to about £100 for all the saline drips/reydration they tried to see if the kidneys would re-stabilise, before agreeing that the kindest thing to do was to put him down. He used to get into lots of scrapes - infections from fights with other cats (even though he was neutered), but the cost was usually less than the £50 excess that an inurance policy would have charged.

They are outside cats in that they have a cat flap and come and go as they please. They don't wear collars (tried it once and Muscat got herslef quite damaged trying to get it off and had to go to the vet!) but do have microchips.

Boys traditionally have a much wider range than girls - a radius of up to 2 miles as opposed to half a mile, apparently, so if you are worrie daobut them wandering, then a girl is better.

Personally, I find boy cats slightly friendlier and cuddlier. Some epople find SIamese aloof and snooty - but I have alwys found that if they are brought up as family cats, then they are (IMHO) much more friendly than "ordinary" cats - more demanding of cuddles and bit dog like (ironic, as I don't like dogs).

Where do you live. I know in Scotland, someone looks after the "kittening list" - a list of kittens avaiable from reputable Siamese breeders. I don't know who has it now, as we just ring the lady who bred our cats - but that was how we found her initially. We had got names of various people who had kittens avaialble and had gone to visit a few of them.

When Leo died, we would have liked to have got another two, as Cleo often wants to play and Muscat is getting a bit old for all that - but only Cleo was available and Muscat was very lonely for the month she was without any company. We're thinking of getting another one, so that there isn't such an age gap between cats when Muscat does finally go to "the heavy side layer".

Our breeder prefers the slight more old fashined face - not quite the full "apple pie" round face, but not the extremely pointed faces that are the current fashion. But the important thing for you to do is visit the breeder, get to know the mother cat and find out about her temperament, do you like how she looks - and do you like the attitiude of the breeder?

I think I've gone on for long enough!

expatinscotland · 28/08/2006 11:29

Cats rock.

expatinscotland · 28/08/2006 11:29

Cats rock.

Tickle · 28/08/2006 11:45

agree with peachyclair - burmese are fab - play all the time. my sis got 2 from a rescue society, so didn't pay anything. One did have lung problems after neglect, so was on lifelong steroids, but still a gorgeous personality. Maybe ask the nurses at your local vet clinic if they have any addresses of pedigree societies locally?

DH is a vet, so my advice would be... if you get your cat, start saving regularly in a separate bank a/c that you don't touch for vet's bills, or get your cat insured!

Socci · 28/08/2006 11:49

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prettybird · 28/08/2006 11:58

Just read of bit more of the thread and thought I would add that if you are going to get just one, then be prepared for it to be noisy. Siamese do have a very distinctive and loud "miaow" (to me, it is "normal" and I find the sound - or lack of it - of ordinary cats a bit pathetic). They do need company and they are on their own will miaow. A pair tends to be quieter, as they have each other for company.

Cats - or pets in general - are good for kids to teach them both reposnsibilty in looking after them and appropriate behaviour (as in be gentle).

Siamese are good as Katymac says, as they tolerate behaviour in babies (and toddlers) that they wouldn't from an adult.

They're also good for reducing stress! (Stroking them redcues blood pressure) Apparently people who have pets are healthier than those who don't.

expatinscotland · 28/08/2006 12:09

Pretty
Have you heard a Persian miaow? I wonder if the Siamese is the same type - very gravelly?

Socci · 28/08/2006 12:09

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prettybird · 28/08/2006 12:23

ExpatinScotland - I think I've heard Persians at the cattery when we book our cats on for thier "holidays". A Siamese miaow is very "deep" and forceful - in fact some people say it sounds like a baby or child crying.

In fact, when dh "lost" ds when he was 17 motnhs old (long story that has been told on Mumsnet before), that was how he found ds "in reverse". He thought he heard one of our cats "calling" outside - and used reverse thinking to wonder if it could be ds - and it was!

Socci - different breeders expect different thins. Some like the fact that you will be treating it as a family cat, some don't. Some don't want you to let them go outside. Some might want to know if you are thinking of breeding them. Good ones just want reassurance that you are going to love the cat and treat it well.

Which reminds me - do get a Siamese neutered/spayed - otherwise they are really noisy!

ChicPea · 28/08/2006 21:20

Socci, I also meant to say that Leo had tummy problems and at around 6am he would heave and I would just in time put newspaper under his direction to catch this frothy liquid. We didn't have carpet at the time as we were living with builders but the vet didn't knwo the answer and we tried different dried foods. We did eventually find a sensitive stomach dried food that did the trick. Another thing, when I decided to rehome him, the lady that runs the charity said that even if I kept Leo and rehomed the oriental, Leo could still poo around the house and lift his hind quarters when he wees. She said that they can even carry on this behaviour in their new home but thankfully he didn't.
My DH wasn't keen at all and I was really dreading the kittens being destructive. They weren't at all but I have heard of siamese chewing on wool, running up curtains and scratching furniture with a high wool content. Apparently wool really attracts them.
Another thing, they are really noisy as are orientals and if I am on the phone and my cat miaows, I am asked if I have a baby. They really do have a sense of humour and are almost human mixed with being like dogs. When we lived in a flat with the staircase being commonparts, my cats would hear the neighbours enter the entrance which I couldn't yet hear, their ears would prick up and then they would run to the door and growl like dogs. It was astonishing.
My advice would be to read as much as you can (Bruce Fogel has written alot about individual breeds) and really think about if you are ready for the committment a siamese cat demands. You could have a really easy one or a really difficult one but either way, you will be swept off your feet by the personality and intelligence of a siamese cat. When I went to see various breeders I was always asked a) if I had children (I didn't then) and b) if I had a dog (didn't) and c) if I would let my cat, to that I answered that i would take their recomendation.
What is hearbreaking is that there are alot of breeders who are breeding from older cats, living in unsuitable conditions and I even reported one breeder who had 6 dogs, 3 queens who eahc had a litter so 18 kittens in total. The kitten she showed me had an eye infection and when I pointed that out she removed the gunge with her finger tip. Yuk. The stench of urine was unbearable but I had driven 3 hours and didn't just want to walk away. Needless to say I reported her to the RSPCA as she needed educating on cat care.
I don't mean to end on a bad note but I found the breeders I went to see a real eye opener.
Where do you live Socci as I have tons of books on siamese cats that I could lend you as I read as much as I could to be certain I was choosing the right breed.

ChicPea · 28/08/2006 21:24

Oh, the word I have been trying to remember for the pointed face and the word is 'typey' as opposed to the round faced type which is called 'apple'.

Socci · 28/08/2006 22:28

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2ndtime · 28/08/2006 22:29

What about a devon rex? I have a rexy boy and a siamese girl. They are both adorable and very gentle friendly cats but I would have to say the devon rex has the most amusing,endearing temperament.

The other advantages are that he doesn't "talk".
The siamese will prowl the house howling for attention all night if she's not confined to her own bedroom, where as Ralph the rex is more independant and much quieter. Also where as Angelina moults white hair constantly, Ralph had a lovely curly suede like coat that bearly sheds at all.

I once read the devon rex described as a cross between a monkey and a toddler! They are amazing and they look a bit wacky too with their huge eyes and mad curly hair.

Lastly Ralph loves EVERYONE! As soon as there is a knock at the door he runs to greet visitors and has converted many a cat hater by flirting outrageously with them and kidding them that he loves them more than anyone. (until the next visitor arrives!) Angie on the other hand runs for cover when strangers arrive. I adore them both but if I had to pick a favourite breed the devon rex is the one for me.

Socci · 28/08/2006 22:34

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vnmum · 28/08/2006 22:43

i had a siamese/oriental cross DSH and she was very friendly and affectionate. unfortunately i had to rehome her as Ds was allergic and i was gutted, still am and its been 8 months now. i would love to get another cat but probably wont be able to because of ds, if i could it would be a siamese or oriental

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