What to be asking another breeder when considering a new kitten
We often get emails from brand new and seasoned owners. We often notice that for new cat owners this is both a big venture and a massive commitment (this is why we also do the video call, to discuss and answer any questions around this). It also isn’t surprising that new owners may also be checking with other breeders what they may have.
We will usually see people considering a few different breeds initially, often dwindling things down as research is done. Due to this we recommend that prospective owners ask some set questions so they can also screen any breeders they come across. Things may shift and vary depending on the breed and association people are registered with, but ethical breeding practices should always remain quite similar.
What are some good questions to ask?
We always recommend trying to do a video call or a visit to different catteries. This lets you see the cats, see how their temperament is and check the premises and breeding practices of the cattery. If you have allergies, we recommend trying to be around the breed you choose for a while to ensure there are few to no reactions and that everyone feels confident things can work.
We also recommend asking about breeding practices and the genetic coefficients that different catteries aim for. The lower this number, the less closely related any cats are and the science generally shows use there is less longer-term risk of health or genetic issues (though, nothing with genetics is bulletproof). With a low COI and a cattery that breeds in such a manner helps to give some peace of mind of getting a happy and health kitten.
Other things to look and check for a things like tail kinks, as some cats can be prone to getting these though they often don’t affect the overall health and happiness of the cat. Asking how future breeding is planned around genetics and how far litters are spaced out (we aim to do ours past 8 months from the last litter to give the queen recovery) are also good questions. See the living area for the cats can also be helpful to know they have space and room to move and exercise, as well as stimulation.
These provide a good base point to know your breeders’ practices. We recommend to check with any breeder in Australia around these, as well as the code of ethics they work with and who they are registered with (we are with Cats NSW). Being based in regional Australia but only 2 hours from Canberra, Wagga and Orange gives us good and easy access to visit the cattery and see our setup in person, or online.