Information for Prospective Kitten Buyers
I hope you've enjoyed browsing my web pages and meeting my cats and kittens! If you've decided that you might like a kitten or two to share your life, your first step should be to contact me, either via the response form on the Kitten Corner page, via email, or by phone (01777 249075). I do respond to emails within 24 hours (frequently much sooner) and am usually available on the phone. Other points to note:
- All kittens not sold for breeding are neutered before leaving me - this does not mean that I never sell kittens for breeding - I am always willing to discuss possibilities and offer advice should anyone be interested
- All kittens are fully vaccinated for flu, enteritis and feline leukaemia
- All kittens are GCCF and/or FIFe registered, and microchipped
- I don't take deposits on unborn kittens
- I don't often have a waiting list, as I've found that most prospective buyers prefer not to wait
- I would normally expect you to visit and meet the kittens, myself and my other cats before making any decision - an exception would probably be made if you live too far away to visit
- I allow visitors only when the kittens have reached 4-5 weeks of age
- I request a deposit of £100 when we have mutually agreed on your choice of kitten(s) - this is refundable up to 2 weeks before collection of your kitten(s), if there is a good reason for your change of mind. At later dates any refund is at my discretion.
- I prefer not to sell a single kitten into a home where the owners are out all day (two kittens would be a better option)
- Purchasers are asked to sign a Sales Agreement when collecting their kitten(s)
- Kittens are sold with 6 weeks insurance cover from Petplan - I strongly encourage continuation of insurance for at least the first year
Birth to New Home - How my Kittens are Reared
I prefer my queens to give birth in my bedroom where it's warm and quiet. They mostly agree with this, and there's always a couple of kittening boxes to choose from. Most births are straightforward, and within a few hours the new family is happily settled and the kittens are feeding well. Kittens of my breeds weigh around 80-100g at birth, so they have a lot of growing to do by the time they leave! For the first 3 weeks of life, there is little to be done other than gently handling and stroking the babies, so that they become used to being picked up and held. Luckily my queens don't object at all to their babies being admired.
At between 3 and 4 weeks of age, the kittens are far more aware of their surroundings (their eyes are usually open by 10 days of age) and beginning to be fully mobile. A box is far too limiting for them and they will be desperate to climb out! At this time the family is moved downstairs into a large pen in my kitchen, where they have a lot more space to begin exploring. I introduce a litter tray at this stage, and also encourage the kittens to start eating solid food. Most seem to start eating at 4-5 weeks of age, and will start to use the tray around this time also. Pretty soon they are trying to escape from the pen, and I let them begin to explore the kitchen for part of the day. I have a low scratch post for them, which they soon learn to climb - the larger post is relegated to another room as it would be dangerous if a kitten climbed too high. This is also the time at which prospective new owners are able to visit and meet the kittens - it's a critical period in their socialisation, so it's good for them to meet new people at this time.
By the time the litter is 9 weeks old, they are fully litter trained, weaned and only suckling for comfort (if mum will even let them!) They are now ready to be given their first vaccination and they also get a thorough health check from my vet. Between 9-13 weeks, I sometimes feel that I might just be happy to see them go, as they are into everything and eating me out of house and home!
As you will have read above, my non-breeding kittens are neutered before going to their new homes. I've started getting this done fairly recently, as I believe that it is the only way to prevent any of my kittens being bred from against my wishes. The practice of "early neutering" is quite new to the UK, but breeders in other countries have done it for many years now and there is absolutely no evidence that it has any long term adverse effects on development or temperament. I can say that I have been delighted with the way my kittens bounce back after their surgery - they really do seem to suffer far less than an older kitten or adult, and they have the advantage of waking up from the anaesthetic together with their litter mates, and coming home to mum and a familiar environment. The cost of neutering and microchipping (I'm a qualified "chipper", having done a training course with Pet-Detect) is incorporated into the price you pay for your kitten(s). My kittens are neutered at 13-14 weeks, and they can then go to their new homes 10-14 days later.
Here are some helpful links regarding kitten development and early neutering:
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