Questions to Ask Cat Breeders
Questions to ask before reserving a pedigree kitten, covering health testing on both parents, how the litter has been raised and socialized, what the contract commits you to, and the answers that suggest you should look elsewhere.
The questions
Open any question for the note
How many litters do you have available now, and how many do you raise in a year?
Why ask it
A careful cattery usually runs a small number of litters a year with a waiting list. Several litters ready at once, or multiple breeds on offer, points to volume rather than a breeding program.
Can I visit and see where the kittens are being raised?
Why ask it
Kittens raised underfoot in a house develop differently from kittens kept in a separate room or an outbuilding. If a visit is refused outright, or you are offered a handover in a parking lot, stop there.
How old are the kittens now, and when do they go home?
Why ask it
Twelve weeks is the usual minimum and some registries require it. A breeder offering an eight-week-old kitten is cutting short the weeks when the mother teaches litter habits and bite control.
Can I meet the mother?
Why ask it
Her condition and temperament tell you more than any photograph of the kittens. A queen who is thin, frightened, or unavailable to meet is the clearest warning you will get.
What health testing has been done on both parents, and can I see the results?
Why ask it
Ask for certificates with the cats' registered names on them rather than a general reassurance. Which tests matter depends on the breed, so look up the screening for yours before you visit.
What conditions does this breed carry, and how do you breed away from them?
Why ask it
Every pedigree breed has a few, and heart, kidney and joint problems are the common ones. A breeder who says their breed has no issues either does not know the literature or is not telling you.
What vaccinations and worming has this kitten had, and what's due next?
Why ask it
You need the dates, not just confirmation. Later doses often fall after the kitten comes home, and knowing the schedule prevents a gap in cover during the first weeks with you.
Has this kitten been examined by a vet who isn't connected to you?
Why ask it
An independent check carries weight that an in-house assessment cannot. If nobody outside the cattery has looked at the litter, ask whether your own vet can examine the kitten before money changes hands.
Have the kittens and parents been tested for feline leukemia and FIV?
Why ask it
Status matters especially if you already have cats at home. A breeder who tests as routine answers without hesitating, while one who treats the question as an accusation has told you something.
How have the kittens been socialized so far?
Why ask it
Ask what they have met: children, dogs, a vacuum cleaner, a carrier, a car ride. Cats that miss this window often stay fearful for life, and this is the period when it is still easy to get right.
How would you describe this kitten compared with its littermates?
Why ask it
A breeder who has spent time with the litter can tell you which one climbs the curtains and which hides behind the sofa. Identical descriptions of every kitten suggest nobody has been watching.
What are they eating, how much, and at what times?
Why ask it
Get the brand and the routine in writing. Changing food at the same moment as changing homes is a common cause of a week of upset stomach in a new kitten.
Is the kitten neutered, or is that mine to arrange, and by when?
Why ask it
Some breeders neuter early as standard and others sell on a contract requiring it by a set age. Find out which applies, and what happens to the registration papers if you are late.
Are the parents registered, and will this kitten come with a pedigree?
Why ask it
Ask which registry, and whether the kitten is registered as pet only or with breeding rights. Papers described as available later, for an additional payment, deserve careful reading.
What does the price include, and what's the deposit policy?
Why ask it
Microchipping, first vaccinations, neutering, a few weeks of insurance and a bag of food vary widely between breeders. Ask specifically what happens to your deposit if no kitten in the litter suits you.
What does your health guarantee actually cover, and for how long?
Why ask it
Check whether the remedy is a refund, a replacement kitten, or vet costs to a limit, and whether it requires returning the cat. A guarantee that only offers a swap is little use once you are attached.
What happens if I can't keep the cat in five years?
Why ask it
Serious breeders write a take-back clause into the contract and mean it. The answer also predicts whether they will still reply to your messages long after the sale.
Can I talk to someone who bought a kitten from you a few years ago?
Why ask it
Recent buyers are still in the first flush of it. An owner three or four years in can tell you about problems that appeared later and whether the breeder stayed reachable.
What do you want to know about me and my home?
Why ask it
Turn the interview around. A breeder who asks nothing about your other pets, your children, or whether the cat will go outside is not screening homes, which means yours was never assessed either.
What should I have ready before the kitten arrives, and how do you prefer to be contacted afterward?
Why ask it
Practical and revealing at the same time. You get a specific list for the first week, and you find out whether support after the sale is real or a line on a website.
Choosing a Cat Breeder
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
What a careful breeder looks like
Paperwork offered before you ask
Test certificates for both parents, vaccination records with dates, a written contract and registration details. Having these ready is a stronger signal than anything said about how much they love the breed.
Kittens raised in the middle of the household
Litter trays, scratching posts and toys in a lived-in room, and kittens that approach a stranger rather than scattering. Confidence at this age is the product of daily handling.
A breeder who screens you
Questions about your other animals, your work hours and whether the cat will be allowed outdoors. Someone protective of their kittens will make you work a little for one.
Warning signs worth walking away from
- Several litters, or several breeds, available immediately.
- No visit allowed, or a meeting proposed somewhere other than the home.
- Health testing described as unnecessary for this breed.
- Pressure to pay a deposit today because someone else is interested.
- Kittens offered before twelve weeks, or the mother unavailable to meet.
- A contract that cannot be read before payment, or no contract at all.
Before you visit
- 1Read the breed standard and the specific genetic conditions your breed is screened for.
- 2Check which registry the cattery claims and confirm it exists and lists them.
- 3Work out your full first-year cost, including neutering, insurance, food and vet visits.
- 4Write your questions down, because a room full of kittens will empty your head.
- 5Decide in advance that you will not pay a deposit on the first visit.
The first week at home
- Keep the kitten in one room with the litter tray, food and a hiding place, then widen the space.
- Feed the same food on the same schedule for at least the first ten days.
- Book a vet appointment within the first few days and take all the paperwork with you.
- Introduce other pets through a closed door before any face-to-face meeting.
- Tell the breeder how it is going. Most want to know, and it keeps the door open if you need advice.