Pure bread cats SO EXPENSIVE

[MowMow]

Originally Posted by yingying

Third, you don't have a clear health background of the shelter/petfinder kitties. No guarantee for genetic issues, and you don't know what breed specific issue you need to pay extra attention. It's sort of like a lucky draw, which I'm not willing to take the chance.

The breeder you bought your cats from guaranteed they didn't have genetic faults? Or they guaranteed to replace them if they DO have genetic faults? The problem with genetics is that things pop up when you don't expect it so I don't see how a breeder in good concsious can guarantee there will be no problems. ONly that they will make good if there *IS* a problem.

Personally, it's too late then. ONce I've had the cat/kitten and am attached I"m not going to send my loving pet back to the breeder for a replacement.....

Also, we keep working on the assumption that the breeder will be a 'good' breeder. To keep googling cheap kittens is majorly going to reduce the chances of it being a 'good' breeder. This is one area, imo, that you get what you pay for.

Like I said, I'm not AGAINST buying from a breeder, I just don't agree that it increases your chances of a healthy and well adjusted cat/kitten.

[mimitabby]

YOur breeder might know your cat's parents and grand parents but he doesn't know what your cat is going to turn into in 8 months.

[Dave_ph]

**** you MomwMow. You made me google "cheap kittens"

[yingying]

The breeder you bought your cats from guaranteed they didn't have genetic faults? Or they guaranteed to replace them if they DO have genetic faults? The problem with genetics is that things pop up when you don't expect it so I don't see how a breeder in good concsious can guarantee there will be no problems. ONly that they will make good if there *IS* a problem.

For certain genetic problem, there are tests that can be done. A good breeder will test they kings/queens for particular genetic problems that are common in this certain breed. Also good breeder follow up with buyers. If a buyer's cat show genetic problem, the breeder will stop breeding from that cat's parents, and inform all other breeders who are using that cats decendent as king/queen. So yes, genetic problems can be minimized, if not eliminated, with precausion.

Also, we keep working on the assumption that the breeder will be a 'good' breeder. To keep googling cheap kittens is majorly going to reduce the chances of it being a 'good' breeder. This is one area, imo, that you get what you pay for.

Exactly. When you want a pure breed, you shouldn't google or even go to pet finder to find a "deal". Price should be the last thing you concern. Spend time to study the breed, visit and communicate with the breeder as much as you can, spend time with your future kitty's mom and dad, understand the necessisity to wait for months or even years, because good breeders usually have long waiting list. People shouldn't buy a pure breed from a BYB or petshop, and when problem comes, they comment "see, pure breed is just as problematic as shelter cats". Those comments are not fair.

[yingying]

Originally Posted by mimitabby

YOur breeder might know your cat's parents and grand parents but he doesn't know what your cat is going to turn into in 8 months.

Not 100% true. Many traits can and will be passed. Your grandson has higher probability of resembling you in term of apprearance and personality than resembling your neighbor. So you sort of having an idea of what your cat will be like at 8 month old, if you know their ancestors. Even more so, a breeder will know what a pairing will highly likely result, after couple of litters. If its a good pairing, they will continue, otherwise they don't mate this paticualr pair.

Really, don't take it personal, but MowMow and mimitabby, you may want to learn a bit more on the topic of "selective breeding"...

[MowMow]

Originally Posted by Dave_ph

**** you MomwMow. You made me google "cheap kittens"

Unless you had the adult filter on, I bet you got some interesting hits....

[Dave_ph]

All kitties. I'm at work

[MowMow]

This turned into a nature vs. nurture discussion. Sorry for the off topic Wonder.

No offense taken, I've been observing selective breeding since childhood and while it does apply to appearance, performance and health it does NOT apply to personality. My parent's have bred dogs since the mid '50s and horses since the late '50s and I can tell you, a dog/horse will NOT have the temperment/personality of it's parents/grandparents if it is raised differently as a puppy/yearling. If two people buy kittens from the same litter how they are raised *IS* going to effect how they are as an adult.

So to say a breeder can even remotely guarantee the genetics and personality of a kitten(or any animal)is a very bad thing to teach people who don't know better.

[Dave_ph]

Hmmm. My siamese wants to sit down and have a long talk with you about this. A long talk. She never shuts up. Siamese

[dweamgoil]

If you are really serious about researching breeders, go to Meet the Breeds. It's coming to the Javits on Nov. 19 & 20. You will be able to ask questions from breeders themselves, interact with the kitties, make contacts with Raggie experts...can't beat that for $12/ticket. It's really interactive and fun. I take my kids to it every year.