Getting a kitten... What to expect from breeder?

[BittersweetMemories]

After doing months of research, I think now is the ideal time to get a kitten. Specifically, a Sphynx.

I've done lots of research on the breed itself and general cat care but this will be out first cat (we have had dogs, rabbits, hamsters etc?)

What I am confused about though is what to expect from the breeder... I've messaged three different breeders with litters and they have all said that the kittens haven't been vet checked or chipped due to COVID and that would be our responsibility, does that sound right? I'm reluctant to buy a kitten that hasn't had a once over from a vet.

Also they all seem to say different ages for the cats leaving the mum, some say 8, 10 or 12 and advice online seems conflicted!

Any help about what expectations we should have of the breeder would be great.

I can't answer your question (except that a kitten shouldn't ideally leave it's mother until at least 10 weeks). However, why a pedigree? And why a sphynx? Why not one of the many, many lovely kittens in rescues needing homes?

The thing with sphynxes is that if you lose them, then they're basically dead as they quickly die of hypothermia. And it's very easy to lose a cat, at least for a few days. Are you in a flat or a house? If in a house, can you be sure you will never leave a door or window open that they cat could escape through? Do you have children? If they're young, and you're in a house with a garden, then they are bound to leave the back door open at some point.

I don’t know much about them but I would imagine a sphinx to need specific care. Can it go out like any other cat? Would it get cold?
No way would I get a kitten that hadnt seen a vet. I don’t believe vets won’t microchip etc. I know someone with puppies. They had first vaccinations a day or two ago.
If you’re absolutely set on this breed then start by going through the breed club.
Personally I won’t get kittens again. A young adult rescue in a rescue centre (there are loads) would allow you to get a much better idea of character etc.

Please contact your local rescue. Don't go to a breeder.

Vets are doing kitten checks, kittens need their first vaccs at 9 weeks. Microchipping at that age is not a good idea though, the needles are huge and it can put cats off the vets for life! Most cats get chipped whilst under anaesthetic during neutering at around 6 months of age, they shouldn't be outside before that anyway. Pedigrees should always be vet checked within 24 hours of purchase anyway and a decent breeder will have a clause that they can be returned should any problems be found.

Go to your local rescue where all kittens and cats are chipped, neutered and checked over as standard and usually come with 5 weeks insurance. My local rescue has over 15 kittens needing homes atm, if I didn't already have 4 cats I'd rescue them

Adopt don't shop!

What they said ^

Check the contract. If there's no contact - don't do it! It should give provision for you to have the kitten checked over within 3 days of bringing it home. I've never known an ethical breeder to let them go before 12 weeks. They can end up with all major of behaviour issues if they go too young.

If a kitten is GCCF registered it should be at least 13 weeks old and the final vaccine should be given a week before going to their new home. The kitten should also be wormed and microchipped, ideally they will also be neutered if not on the active register.

If the kitten isn’t GCCF (TICA, Fife or CFA) registered, 13 weeks old and fullt vaccinated then you are most definitely speaking to BYBs. Beyond this kittens should be regularly wormed, microchipped, living in the family home with mum, well socialised, appropriate diet, and come with four weeks insurance.

When speaking to breeders ask for their prefix and ask for physical evidence of breed specific health tests for the queen and the stud.

A registered kitten is proof of the kittens pedigree status, a non-registered kitten has no proof it is actually a pedigree.

We got our puppy in June, so different animal but he was seen by the vet twice before he came home, once when he was a few days old and the second when he was 8 weeks to be microchipped. Vets are seeing animals, they are especially seeing kittens and puppies due to how vulnerable they are.

I’d be suspicious of no vet checks or letting them go before 12w tbh.

Op wants a breed, it’s a minority who want breeds. The issue is finding a reputable one.

Check to see if the breed has any inherited conditions that you need to check by dna tests.

My kitten arrived in June at 14 weeks. Contract, 4 weeks insurance all vaccinations complete, worming and flea up to date and microchipped. Also came with food, litter and toys. He is my first ever cat so I researched for 6 months, cat sat to check for allergies and to get a feel for if I could look after a cat. I was then in touch with the breeder for a year before I went ahead.

I went in reverse and found the right breeder then waited for a litter rather than see the litter and then research the breeder but I appreciate that may not be practical if you are ready now.

Thanks, so it was as I thought and along similar lines as a puppy, vet checked, microchipped, vaccinations etc alarm bells were ringing but i had wondered if maybe kittens were different!

Sphynx cats do need particular care, weekly baths, daily ear and toe cleaning, sometimes moisturised, they (obviously) get cold, are not outdoors cars although you can get them a harness and a lead if they would tolerate it for walks. They are supposedly more affectionate than other cats (because they want to use you for your warmth) and playful, and typically get a long well with other animals, although of course each cat is different.

If you see any Spynx cats in shelters for adoption, let me know however I am not in the market for any other breed of cat right now, but definitely in the future when we have a bigger house!

Oh and also for Spynx specifically they should be testing for HCM so that is something else I would have expected from a breeder!

They are supposedly more affectionate than other cats (because they want to use you for your warmth

So it's not affection is it, they are just cold 🤷‍♂️

We got our kitten from a breeder in June. They were fully up to date with their jabs (2 sets), wormed and flea treated. We’ve since had him neutered. Vets are open but with social distancing arrangements in place.

Please consider going to a rescue centre instead

For all those suggesting shelters, we tried that first. All of our local ones had no young adult cats available over several weeks of calling and very long waiting lists for kittens. It sounds like the situation is variable, depending where you live.

www.sphynxcatclub.co.uk/breeders/

sphynxcatassociation.org.uk/

@SimonJT

If a kitten is GCCF registered it should be at least 13 weeks old and the final vaccine should be given a week before going to their new home. The kitten should also be wormed and microchipped, ideally they will also be neutered if not on the active register.

If the kitten isn’t GCCF (TICA, Fife or CFA) registered, 13 weeks old and fullt vaccinated then you are most definitely speaking to BYBs. Beyond this kittens should be regularly wormed, microchipped, living in the family home with mum, well socialised, appropriate diet, and come with four weeks insurance.

When speaking to breeders ask for their prefix and ask for physical evidence of breed specific health tests for the queen and the stud.

A registered kitten is proof of the kittens pedigree status, a non-registered kitten has no proof it is actually a pedigree.

We got our puppy in June, so different animal but he was seen by the vet twice before he came home, once when he was a few days old and the second when he was 8 weeks to be microchipped. Vets are seeing animals, they are especially seeing kittens and puppies due to how vulnerable they are.

This

Vets are cmdoiung kitten health checks, vaccinations and spaying / neutering

The people when say otherwise but try baffling a £800+ kitten are fraudsters

Don’t touch them with a bargepole

I am not in the market for any other breed of cat

Is it ethical? Breeding Sphynx cats is animal cruelty: court ruling

What is it you like about Sphynx cats that you couldn't get in a bog-standard moggie?

Not "being in the market for any other breed" is a bit odd. A cat is a cat, at the end of the day.

I'm really confused as to why you would need a bigger house for another breed of cat? I'd of thought it was the other way round, a normal moggy (that can go outside) doesn't need a massive house. A bald cat would need a bigger house if the poor thing would freeze outdoors.

Plus the implications of having an indoor cat (of any breed) are huge. Keeping windows and doors shut all summer, making sure children never let the cat out accidentally, having litter trays that are being used constantly etc etc

Go to a rescue and get a cuddly normal cat!

Plus the implications of having an indoor cat (of any breed) are huge. Keeping windows and doors shut all summer, making sure children never let the cat out accidentally, having litter trays that are being used constantly etc etc

While there are implications of indoor-only cats, I wouldn't say they were huge. I have three indoor-only cats and they're really no work at all.

@LastDaysOfSummer

Please consider going to a rescue centre instead

This.

Also, they are hard work. My (rescue) boy is from a sphynx mum and is has many sphynx trails. He's clingy, vocal and climbs everything in sight. He can be destructive if not properly entertained.

As a kitten he was incredibly hard work.

I love him, but I would not have anything with sphynx in it, particularly a kitten, again. My other rescue moggies have been a dream in comparison.

I just don't understand why you want this particular breed if you just want a cat to look after?

Traits*