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Buying pedigree cats

51 replies

KatyMac · 13/02/2010 15:56

Allowing for kittens being born around now and available after 13 (16?) weeks

When buying a cat, what do I need to look for?

They all seem to have:
4 weeks insurance
Inoculations
paperwork

Help??

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KatyMac · 14/02/2010 20:24

I don't think I could cope with 3, not even sure I could cope with 2 tbh - that is one of the issues with the 2 girls we are seeing tomorrow

Oh I don't know - I am all indecisive

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RedbinDippers · 14/02/2010 20:40

I'm sure that you will make the right decision for you and your family, hope it all goes well.

DrivenToDistraction · 14/02/2010 21:23

I have a siamese and an oriental and they are fantastic animals, they behave as if they're part-cat-part-dog-part-parrot. They are ever so sociable and seem to really need and love the company of other cats. If you visit a (good) breeder you will always see a pile of at least 3 adult cats curled up sleeping together. Mine always sleep together.

We have a male and a female, I really like the balance, but if I had to have two of one sex I'd go for two males rather than two females.

Anyway, If you are going for siamese/orientals I would strongly advise you to get two kittens rather than one. Two siamese/orientals are almost certainly less work than one! (like parrots) they need a lot of human interacion if kept alone they can be destructive and/or miserable if they don't get it.

They are very intelligent cats and impressionable as kittens, a rehomed cat may have real and dramatic problems settling. That said, if the situation the rehomed cats were coming from were very similar situation I would consider it.

I don't know who issues the official pedigree documentation in the UK, but you need to make sure that if you get a pedigree cat (kitten or re-homed) they are registered with them. Kitten farms are terrible places and the cats they produce are badly socialized (if at all) and are likely to have health issues.

A reputable breeder won't allow her cat to have kittens more than twice a year and the best only allow one pregnancy per year. The kittens should be being brought up in the household of the breeder, not in a back bedroom somewhere but actually in the sitting room with the family. Ideally you shouldn't choose a kitten before you can see the individuals character traits 4 - 8 weeks old is fab. Although, they shouldn't leave the mother until 12 - 14 weeks.

waffle, waffle

Good luck!

CarGirl · 14/02/2010 21:31

KatyMac our current pair are rehomed pedigrees as was our previous cat.

The were all genuine reasons. Former cat breeder got very unwell and had to rehome all her cats, so very for her as she clearly hadn't been able to cope for a while. Current pair the owner had married after being widowed) and they want to go abroad every winter for 5 months - not something forseen when buying her kittens after her previous boy of 19 years had died.

I should imagine some breeders want to rehome retired show cats to take on or keep kittens to show and/or breed. Surely it's kinder to rehome them to families where they will get attention then keep them out in pens because they have more cats than one person give affection to. Or too many adult cats in one household just doesn't work.

I really vote for rehoming adults. None of ours had experience of young children, they adapted very happily, I just ensured that our bedroom was out of bounds to the dc if the cat(s) were in there so they had a bolt hole. Funnily enough they prefer being with the dc much of time, it is clearly very entertainging for them!

KatyMac · 14/02/2010 21:31

Really?

Both my mum & I have had sole cats & neither was at all destructive....maybe they were 'spoilt' by their owners

We are being cautious about the rehoming - I think that is sensible, but that I should give them a fair chance

We are home all day every day, if a little busy - but as I am never to buy to cuddle a baby, I imagine I will not be too busy to cuddle a cat/kitten & DH will certainly have time

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CarGirl · 14/02/2010 21:34

Have to say having 2 somalis has been less work because they keep each other company they are always found together syncronised sleeping, again they are a very sociable breed falling into the part cat-dog-parrot category.

The solo somali was much more "needy" which at times did get wearing.

DrivenToDistraction · 14/02/2010 21:35

siamese/orientals are nothing like 'every day' cats character wise. Seriously nothing like them at all.

KatyMac · 14/02/2010 21:38

Sorry - DrivenToDistraction did someone say they were everyday cats?

I love the 2 siamese we have had - but they certainly weren't 'everyday' cats - they were people

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CarGirl · 14/02/2010 21:44

somali's certainly aren't "everyday" either!!!

KatyMac · 14/02/2010 21:45

Oh Cargirl I really miss my boy

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CarGirl · 14/02/2010 21:52

We got lone boy somali after losing our gorgeous ginger tom who was a right charcter to cancer at the age of 12. For a long time he just didn't compare (onlyb a 6 weeks gap) but I think after several months we realised we had fallen for him and he was very different but had his own but equal place in our hearts. Dh was distraught when he got knocked down and killed.

The current pair are nutters and the girl seems to have imprinted on me which is would be extremely lovely if I weren't actually allergic to cats she basically wants to spend her time with her arms around my neck nuzzled under my chin having given my ear a good nibble first. She is a looney, before we caved and let them go outside she leapt out the first floor window. Boy cat had pondered the option for 50 minutes without doing so but it took her 5 mins to work out that the recycling crates provided a very nice landing spot.........

ravenAK · 14/02/2010 21:53

We have a Siamese male & Oriental tabby female (siblings).

They are gorgeous, intelligent & super-friendly BUT they're a handful - much more so than our two non-pedigrees.

We've had big problems with soiling with the male for example, & whilst the female is incredibly affectionate now, she took some time to settle in - very nervous, needed lots of quiet gentle handling.

I'd lost a much-loved part Siamese & desperately missed the 'conversation' - dh found these two & foolishly took me along to choose, so of course we ended up with both!

DrivenToDistraction · 14/02/2010 21:59

cats (whatever sort) get so close to us. You must really miss him.

KatyMac · 14/02/2010 22:00

My mum had a lounge diner which was ground floor at the front & first floor at the back

As a kitten Toots (my mums cat), had been jumping in & out of the front window; then he wandered down the room and jumped out the back window

He walked off & between each step he lifted & licked each paw all the while looking round to make sure no-one had seen him

Romeo was a sausage, he let the childminded- children do anything to him in the swing or the pram, dressed up or down the slide

& he always had the option of being away from them - but no he chose even in his last days to be with the babies

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CarGirl · 14/02/2010 22:04

Our boy will let the dc do anything, he's so laid back half the time you get those thoughts is he still breathing . They both shove the laptop out of the way when they decide it's in the way of their cuddle.

Bizarrely they wait until 7am to break out of the kitchen to come and demand a cuddle and the back door opening, they're not food focussed just attention/interaction and exploring EVERYTHING

KatyMac · 14/02/2010 22:08

I am sure I am doing the right thing meeting the that need rehoming

If they aren't right for us there are other options - so it isn't Hobson's choice - I guess I feel they need a chance

But I won't take them unless I am sure they are right for us

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CarGirl · 14/02/2010 22:11

I think you just "know" I've always managed to choose stroppy animals, I even picked a bossy guinea-pig as a child that was so full of character and a sense of entitlement!

KatyMac · 15/02/2010 09:27

I do hope so - I really hope I know

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minimu · 15/02/2010 17:54

KatyMac have you visited the cats how did it go?

Hope your DD is feeling a little better - still miss my lovely ginger boy who wormed his was into out hearts.

KatyMac · 15/02/2010 18:40

Not seeing them until their dc are in bed so at 8pm I am nervous

If they need lots of vets stuff we are stuffed

Between boosters, dental work & microchips not to mention having them done

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KatyMac · 16/02/2010 05:17

I have cats!!!

They are micro-chipped, spayed and delicious

& running round like mad things (still)

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Joolsiam · 16/02/2010 08:38

Lovely

DrivenToDistraction · 16/02/2010 10:06

Wow! Congratulations! Here's to your beautiful new cat friends

Are we allowed to know their names?

KatyMac · 16/02/2010 12:38

They have massive pedigree names but their owner called them Mellow & Pinto

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CarGirl · 16/02/2010 22:35

FAntastic. Ours paced for a couple of weeks!!!!!!!!

I don't like the "look" they have but they are stunning and that's how Charlie & Lola are together always sychronised when sleeping/sharing a bed etc.

Let us know how they get one