BUYING A KITTEN

 
SELECTING A BREED:

Your first step is to give some thought to the breed of cat that would best fit into your home. To do this you will need to get 
some information on the different breeds and talk to breeders. Some breeds require more grooming than others and some can be very vocal to mention just two characteristics of different breeds.

FINDING A BREEDER:
You would be well advised to look for a reputable breeder. 
The Semi Long Hair Cat Association and the individual breed clubs 
have a list of breeders whom they can recommend and often a kitten 
list is available. The breed clubs may be contacted through the 
registering body.   The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), at 4-6 Penel Orlieu, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3PG.   
Having chosen your breed, your next step is to visit a breeder 
to discuss what you are looking for. Always ask lots of questions 
and ask to see the entire litter and queen if possible. If they are 
under thirteen weeks of age, they should still be with the breeder 
as the GCCF  insist that no kitten goes to it's new home without being fully vaccinated and at least thirteen weeks of age.   Watching the kittens at play will highlight the characters in the litter, the shy, the manic, the quiet and the inquisitive. You should also ask to see the 
stud cat if he is at the breeders premises.  Queens and kittens are 
best if in the home, socialising and mixing with the family. The stud 
cat will usually have his own stud accommodation which should be clean 
and tidy. Seeing both will give you the opportunity to assess the temperament of the parents.

CHOOSING YOUR KITTEN:
You should carry out a visual check by looking for these signs 
of good health:

* The kitten should look clean and lively.
* The eyes should he bright and clear of any discharge and the 
  third eyelid (known as the haw) should not protrude at the inner 
  corner.
* The ears should be clean and free of wax or black grit-like   
  particles which would indicate the presence of ear mites.
* The nose should be damp but clear of any discharge.
* In the mouth, the gums should be firm, pink and free of any sores.
* The coat should be clean and soft without any bare patches.
* The coat, when parted along the back by the neck and at the 
  base of the tail, should be free of any black specks that might 
  indicate the presence of fleas.
* The body should feel firm and muscular with the backbone and 
  hips well covered.
* Under the tail, the anus should be clean and free of any yellow 
  staining which could indicate diarrhoea.

If the kitten passes all these checks, then there should be no health problems when you get him/her home.