So you have decided that you want a Cat as a Pet versus a Dog or a small animal like a Rabbit, Guinea Pig or a Hamster or even a feather friend like a Bird.

Most people are driven by emotional when it comes to purchasing a pet, you could hear remarks like – hey, it is so cute, it is so furry and so adorable and cuddly etc, etc, etc, there is a little kid in all of us and we just want to shower our attention or seek attention from the pet.

But are you ready to take on the responsibility associated with the upbringing of a pet, you will be spend money on food, litter and litter pan, vitamins, toys, utensil, water supply, fur care solutions, vaccination, medicine, time to play, grooming etc, etc, if you are not prepared, please don’t purchase a pet.

So before you go running out to the pet shop to purchase your feline friend, please ask yourself the following questions and please be honest as

YOUR FELINE FRIEND IS A FRIEND FOR LIFE.

1. Why do I want to purchase a pet i.e. what is my intentions?
2. How much time do I have for the pet?
3. Would I be able to take care of the pet when it is in its old age.
4. Do I have any known allergy toward a pet like fur, dust, smell etc?
5. Where do I live – can the environment handle a pet?
6. Do I need a pedigree pet or a local bred pet?
7. Should I adopt a stray from the local SPCA?
8. Which breed is ideal for me – long or short hair, active or laid back personality, aloof or super doting etc

If at all possible, go to the local Cat Show and then talk to the cat owners/breeders at the show, they will be able to provide you with very valuable advice about the breed and it also would give you a chance to decide on which breed suits you.

Next step, is to observe some of these guidelines on Do and Don’t of Purchasing a Cat or Kitten, given that you have done your research in sourcing out a local cat breeder near you:

Do

1. Ensure that you are “clean” i.e. in the last couple of hours, you have not touch a stray or some of cats that does not belong to you, as you will innocently be bringing in some virus to the breeder’s cattery.
2. When you are at the cattery, observe for cleanliness and overall hygiene level of the cattery.
3. Ask to see the breeder’s affiliation like Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA), The International Cat Association (TICA), Waratah National Cat Alliance etc etc.
4. Ask the breeder how long has he/she been breeding and how many litter has been bred so far.
5. Ask the breeder, his/her objectives to breeding and what he/she aims to achieve.
6. Ask the breeder about the breed standards, profile, personality, history etc.
7. Ask the breeder what is being fed (type of dry food – Evolve, ANF, Science Diet, Royal Canin etc) to the kittens.
8. Ask to see the Queen and/or Sire of the kittens (if possible).
9. Ask to see the Pedigree papers of the Queen and Sire.
10. Ask how old the litter of kittens is, the color and sex of the kittens.
11. If the kitten is of Show Quality, ask breeder if it is possible to register the kitten with a recognized bodies, please note that the Singapore Cat Club is closely linked to CFA, only CFA registered cats will be eligible to take part in the Annual Cat Show.
12. Ask when the deworming was and vaccination given to the kittens, ask also to see vaccination papers if vaccination was done.
13. If deworming or vaccination is not done on kittens, ask if breeder will be providing that to you (at his cost).
14. Stay a distance from the litter of kittens and observe for telltale sign of sick kittens and watch how playful, alert and healthy the kittens are.
15. When picking up a kitten, observe the eyes for redness, nose for extremely wetness or running nose, mouth for bad breath and broken or missing teeth, ears for any ear mites or dirty ears, fur for fur mites, paws and miss marking or deformity etc for telltale sign of sick kittens.
16. Check for any bad habits like biting, hissing, shyness etc.

Don't

1. Immediately go and pick up the kitten as it may snarl or run away from you, observe how the breeder handle the kitten to you, observe for his/her caring attitude towards the kittens.
2. Discuss price as some breeders may find this repulsive as it can be treated as an insult, rather gain the breeder confidence before asking the price of the kitten.
3. Don’t be fool by price bargain unless it is a bona fide and creditable breeder who breed for the love of the breed, maintain high breed standards and is concerned with who the future pet owners are.
4. Purchase any kittens under 3months as its immune system may not have been fully developed and it is probably still weaning from its mother.
5. Be sway by your emotional side when you see the cute little kitten looking sadly at you to bring it home, be convinced that you need to purchase from a reputable breeder and a proven one too.

Copyright article written by Felix Yeo