Finding a Good Breeder
How does one go about finding a good, ethical
Savannah breeder? Where does one look? What areas are best
avoided? Here are my observations, which come from my own experience and
the many experiences of others I've had shared with me.
1. Check your Breed Association Club -- The Savannah Cat Club has a list of members, email
addresses, and website addresses.
2. Contact the various breeders and if they have
nothing available, ask them to recommend a breeder to you. Good Breeders
are happy to recommend another breeder they feel has quality, healthy
cats. If you are considering a kitten purchase from a particular breeder,
ask other breeders about this breeder. A good breeder will not badmouth
another breeder, but you can easily learn who is spoken highly
of.
3. Search the Internet for web pages specifically
put up by a breeder of one or two breeds of cat. Not Yahoo ads, classified
ads, or breeders who always have a large number of kittens
available.
4. Check with a breeder referral such as FBRL - you
can search by breed and state.
Remember TICA is just a breed registry, not a
guarantee of a good breeder, so don't assume that a TICA registered breeder is
always a good breeder. Do not assume that any TICA registered cat or
kitten carries any kind of guarantee that the cat is healthy and without genetic
defect, either. TICA's primary job is to keep records on which cats bore
litters and how many kittens were in that litter, NOT whether the kittens are
healthy and free of disease or genetic defect.
5. Attend CAT SHOWS if at all possible; talk to the
various breeders. Ask them if they recommend anyone in your
area.
6. Check with cat rescue
organizations.
7. Typically, newspaper ads are an area to
avoid. This does not mean that good, ethical breeders don't occasionally
place ads here, but that the majority of ads are from backyard breeders and
kitten mills.
8. Once you've found a breeder, ask many
questions. A good, reputable breeder will be happy to answer any and all
questions, and will be impressed that you are that concerned / interested,
too.
9. VISIT the cattery, if at all possible.
Fancy websites, show champions, etc. do not necessarily make for a good
breeder. Visit and take care to note the health and care given to the cats
and kittens, their personalities, and the cleanliness of the cattery including
food and water bowels and litterboxes, etc.
Know what you are looking for:
1. Good breeders NEVER sell their kittens to
brokers, pet stores, flea markets, etc.
2. Good breeders stand behind their cats and
kittens for the life-time of the Savannah, meaning that they will take back any
cat or kitten for ANY reason that a buyer can no longer keep it, just like a
good rescue does.
3. Good breeders don't ALWAYS have kittens on
hand and you often have to be put on a waiting list.
4. Good breeders require a spay / neuter
contract with proof the cat was altered before you'll get the papers if you are
not buying the cat for breed/show purposes. OR, they practice early spay and
neuter.
5. Good breeders will give you references of other good
breeders or proud pet owners who have Savannahs bred by them
and actually WANT you to talk to them.
6. Good breeders will almost never breed more than
two breeds, and usually only one.
7. Good breeders often show their Savannahs,
but not always.
8. Good breeders do not let their kittens go to new
homes before ten weeks of age.
9. Good breeders socialize their
kittens.
10. Good breeders are proud to show you the
parents of the kittens, if both are owned by the breeder, and are also happy to
show off the cattery and its cats -- excluding of course young kits. They
will also produce pedigrees and health information.
11. Good breeders breed only to improve their
line or their breed, not for the sole purpose of making money.
12. Good breeders will speak honestly with you about the
positive and negative aspects of the Savannah breed. They will not
tell you the Savannah is the perfect cat for everyone.
13. Good breeders will speak frankly about
health / genetic concerns in the breed or line.
14. Good breeders truly love their cats, and
treat them as pets first, taking the very best care of them that they
can.
Jennifer
Miller
Katznjamr Savannahs
