If you're about to buy your first Oriental kitten then it is very easy to be taken in by a disreputable breeder. We have listed some guidelines below to help you learn how to make sure that the kitten you are buying is coming from a reputable breeder and not one who is just "in it for the money" (backyard breeder).

Ask the breeder why they breed Orientals?
A good breeder will never hesitate to explain why they breed Orientals. I don't actually know any breeders who won't talk for hours about their beloved Orientals. Most breeders will go on and on about their favourite breed to the point where they start to bore you. If a breeder doesn't seem interested in extolling the virtues of their cats to you or if they aren't able to tell you why they breed Orientals, then I would certainly question their love and knowledge of the breed.

Ask if their prefix is registered?
The breeder you choose should have a prefix which has been registered with either the GCCF or Felis Britannica. These are the only 2 cat governing bodies in the UK. The breeder should be able to show you proof that their prefix is registered with one of these organisations.

Do they show their cats?
It is not essential for a breeder to show their own cats however I personally would recommend you buy a kitten from a breeder who has been involved with showing and shows their own cats. If a breeder shows cats then they are constantly seeing other Orientals of great type that conform to the breed standard and it means that the breeder will know the quality of their own cats and will know how to breed to improve the quality and type. Apart from this, breeders who show cats are always in contact with other breeders and members of the cat fancy so there is always a network of support there that they can rely on.

Can you visit their cattery?
No breeder should hesitate in allowing you to view their cattery. Catteries will all vary, a breeder who has a lot of cats will have outdoor runs and cat houses whereas a breeder who only has one or 2 queens will probably not have any outdoor facilities as there will be no need for it. It makes no difference whether the breeder you visit is a large or small breeder. Always make sure you ring and make an appointment though before visiting a breeder, don't just turn up at the door unexpected. Breeders are usually busy people and they can't just drop everything because someone has turned up without notice. If a breeder is very hesitant about letting you view their premises then go elsewhere.

Does this breed get along with other pets?
This is something you need to consider as you may already have a dog or may be getting a rabbit or even more cats in the future. Some breeds prefer to be the only animal in the house so make sure that you find this out before obtaining your kitten. If the breeder has cats as well as other animals, then this is a sure sign that their breed is a sociable one.

Can you see the kitten agreement before you buy a kitten?
Not all breeders use a kitten agreement when homing their kittens, however they are becoming more common and it's important that you know what they mean before undertaking to sign one. The agreement that a breeder uses will be the same for each kitten sold on the non-active register so there shouldn't be a problem with you being able to see an example of this agreement. Again, if the breeder won't let you see a copy beforehand, then find another breeder.

What support does the breeder offer to new guardians?
A good breeder cares about the home their babies go to and will always be onhand to help a new owner both before the kittens are born as well as after they go to their new homes. Any breeder that doesn't want to help or give advice to new guardians should NOT be breeding. When you get your new kitten, your breeder will be your lifeline as far as your kitten is concerned. You should always be able to telephone or email your breeder with any concerns you might have. Again though, if you phone your breeder with a concern and they ask can they ring you back, don't worry, they may be in the middle of cleaning out litter trays or they may have prospective new guardians with them at the time you ring.

What paperwork do you receive when you buy a kitten?
All new guardians of kittens should be given (when they collect their kitten), the transfer of Registration paper (pink slip) as well as a pedigree certificate, vaccination certificate, kitten diet and care sheet as well as the kitten sales agreement (if it is applicable). Very occasionally, the transfer of Registration paper may have been delayed for one reason or another. If this is the case and the breeder isn't able to give it to you when you collect your kitten, then it is essential that you get it in writing that the pink slip will be sent on to you within a few weeks.

Ask if the kittens will have been vaccinated before going home with new owners.
Your new kitten should have been vaccinated at 9 and 12 weeks of age. It should be vaccinated for Cat Flu (FCV & FCR) as well as FIE. These are a must! It may also be vaccinated against FeLV (Leukemia) but this is not not a necessity. If the kitten hasn't been vaccinated against FeLV, then the new owner can choose to have this done at a later stage.

Ask how kittens were raised, how often they have been handled by the breeder etc.
No matter how many cats a breeder has, ALL kittens should be raised indoors. Kittens need to be properly socialised before going home with new owners and this involves getting the kittens used to everyday household events, such as the doorbell ringing, the washing machine being used, the phone ringing, the TV or radio on. As well as getting them used to people in the house and visitors coming to and fro. If a kitten isn't socialised like this, then when it goes home with you, it is likely to be a very scared little kitten who will run and hide at any noise or movement. You want a kitten that is a happy, confident kitten who will easily adjust to life with a new family and a kitten that wasn't socialised never will. So if the litter you see has been raised outdoors in a shed, or a cat run, then don't buy it. That breeder is not doing the right thing either by the kittens or new owners.

Ask if there are any health problems which have been hereditary on the dam or sire's side.
As a rule, Orientals aren't prone to any more health problems than any other purebred cat. Responsible breeders will not breed from a cat which has health problems in it's line. You may come across Siamese which have kinked tails, or perhaps a squint. This is in no way a health problem though and certainly won't have any bearing on your new family member. These would only be a problem if you were showing your new pet.

Ask if you are allowed to view the kittens before going out to pick them up?
All breeders should allow new owners to come and view the kittens before buying them. Some breeders will prefer you view and handle them after they have had their first vaccination, others will allow you to view but not handle them from an earlier age. When going out to view or handle a litter, please do the breeder the courtesy of not handling any other cats or viewing any other litters beforehand. Most breeders will ask you to wash your hands before handling their cats and kittens so please don't be offended by this as it's our way of trying to keep infection out of our catteries. If your breeder won't let you view the kittens before you buy them at 13 weeks of age, then find another breeder.

Ask how old the kittens are when they are allowed to go to their new homes?
Kittens should not go to new guardians under 13 weeks of age. If a breeder offers you a kitten to take home any earlier than that then say no. The reason for this is that as the last set of vaccinations are given at 12 weeks of age, this then allows an extra week should the kitten have any adverse reaction to the vaccine. I would query any breeder who wanted to let a kitten go before 13 weeks age.

Ask to view the kitten's pedigree?
A breeder obviously can not show you the kitten's pedigree before it has been registered as the kittens registered name and registration number must be on the pedigree you receive. However, all breeders should have both the dam's (mother) and sire's (father) pedigree there for you to view. As well as that, a breeder should have what's known as a "Litter Pedigree" which will show you all details of the sire and dam as well as their ancestry.

What to look for when viewing a litter.
When you go in, make sure that the area where the kittens are is clean and hygienic. The litter tray should be clean and there should be no unpleasant odours. The queen may look a bit tired but should otherwise be in good health. The kittens bottoms should be free of any "muck", they should have no gunk in their eyes, and their eyes should be bright. Provided you don't see the kittens while they are asleep, they should be very playful and active (remember though, that young kittens sleep a lot but older kittens should be happy and playful). Be wary of any litter that are very fearful and hide behind things. They should not have pot bellies as this may be an indication of worms. Make sure food and water bowls look clean. It's important that any cats the breeders own are friendly, (it may take them a little while to get used to you) but they shouldn't be hissing, spitting, or be petrified of you. Make sure kittens have been raised in a part of the house where they are in contact with everyday things and not hidden away in a bedroom where they see no one as this would indicate that the kittens haven't been properly socialised.

Note: If a breeder isn't prepared to answer any of your questions, or doesn't give what you think is a direct answer then go elsewhere because that breeder is hiding something! Also, be wary of the breeder who doesn't ask you any questions as a prospective owner. Breeders who care about the kittens are bound to ask you things like: do you have a vet, have you had cats before, will you keep him/her indoors. Don't be offended by breeders questions as they are trying to ensure that their kittens are going to the best homes possible. Be honest with the breeder and make sure they are aware what you expect out of your kitten, i.e. show quality, pet quality as this will avoid all confusion.