Buying A Kitten
A Few Tips On What To Expect When Buying A Kitten
Buying a kitten can be a tedious and exasperating experience for a first timer, and it is recommended that you study up on your favorite breeds before taking on the venture. Buying a kitten from a long distance breeder can be risky business, and you may want to get as many reputable reviews of the breeder, location, and stock before making a decision. Purchasing anything sight unseen, especially a living creature, should give anyone a pause, and you will do well to listen to that inner voice before leaving your credit card number on a registered ordering website.
If you are thinking about buying a kitten that is advertised in the newspaper locally, you must do a complete tour of the facilities before making your decision. Even some mixed breed kittens are sold after being vaccinated and wormed, but it is important to determine how well they were cared for before your purchase. If the parents are on site, check them for healthy weight and good coat condition, as well as for signs of any abnormalities or illnesses. If you ever stumble onto a situation when buying a kitten where living conditions are horrible or cats are mistreated, you are encouraged to report the situation as soon as possible to the Humane Society or your local police/animal control division.
Whichever method you choose, buying a kitten should always be done in person when possible. There are certain aspects of each individual cat that you will want to see for yourself, such as temperament and body language. Kittens are as varied in behaviors and personalities as humans are, and you will find a shy one, a spunky one, an antisocial one, and a goofy one in every litter, to name a few. When you are buying a kitten, you are adding a member of your family, and trusting a stranger to determine who that might me is not a great idea. If you must purchase on long distance terms, be sure to ask a lot of questions about demeanor and attitude.
There are a few things that you will need to have ready before buying a kitten and bringing him home. The placement and set up of the litter facilities should be done ahead of time, as should the purchase of a few toys and maybe a scratching post. The more prepared you are, the more smoothly the transaction will go for everyone involved. Hold off on buying food until you find out what type he has been given, as switching him suddenly to the food of your choice could cause him illness. Also when buying a kitten, ask for a small bag of the food that he is used to, and begin to switch him over gradually by mixing his old and new foods together.