Buying from a Reputable Breeder
The Pros and Cons

PRO:

• INFORMATION AND RESOURCE:
  Buying from a Breeder offers you the opportunity to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about the particular breed and bloodline and its characteristics & personality. A breeder will make sure you are aware of the care that the cat will need.
  
  In addition, reputable breeders offer you a resource for advice if at any time there is a problem with your pet or a question. Also, you and your vet can get information on the health history of the kittens or cat.
• KITTENS:
  Kittens of 12 weeks of age or older may be available.
• COST:
  A cat of a recognized breed generally costs considerably less from a Breeder than from a Pet Store.
• SOCIALIZATION & TEMPERAMENT:
  Kittens have been fully socialized to people and to other kittens & momcat.
  
  In addition, if you might be able to visit the breeder's home, and you may have the opportunity to meet the parents of the cat/kitten and see what they look like and how they socialize... temperament does tend to have inherited components. NOTE: Please do NOT visit one breeder or rescue after another without returning home to change and shower, as you may help transmit germs which may effect the kittens.
• REFERENCES:  You can ask the breeder for references from people who have previously purchased kittens or can ask permission to discuss the breeder's cats with his or her veterinarian.
• CONTRACT:
  There is a written contract (which protects both you and the breeder)
• HEALTH WARRANTEE:
  To protect you and the kitten, the reputable breeder offers a health warrantee. Any living being may become ill. Despite being born into circumstances aimed at providing an optimal environment and use of the best genetic screening techniques available to identify mutations that can occur in any cat, some kittens may have inherited conditions or become ill after you bring them home. A health warrantee offers a level of protection.
• SAFETY NET:
  Reputable breeders will help with placing the cat if, at some future time, circumstances force you to have to part with the cat.

• PERKS: 
  Sometimes you will find that perks are offered by breeder: Some breeders offer kittens that are already neutered/spayed.* Others offer kittens that are already microchipped for identification to assure return home if they are lost and then found by a rescuer or animal control agency. You may also find that some offer kittens with veterinary insurance.

* Early spay/neuter has not been shown to do harm to kittens at all. In fact, kittens bounce back much more quickly from the surgery than do cats.

CON:

• COST:
  A kitten or cat may well cost more money than a shelter or rescue cat or kitten, though generally less than a pet store.
• AVAILABILITY & ACCESS:
  You may have to wait until the right kitten or cat is available.
  
  With the rarer breeds, you may have to travel to get to the closest Breeder or may have to have the animal transported to you if that breeder does ship.
• SCREENING PROCESS:
  The process may take some time. You will have to answer many questions about your knowledge of cat care and be willing to learn. You will also be asked many questions about the home you offer, and there is a chance you may not be approved for purchase of a kitten. Reputable breeders do screen buyers as they care about the quality of the home they are placing their beloved kittens in. If you don't like answering a lot of questions about yourself and your home, you may count this against buying from a breeder. However, this process is beneficial as this "screening" actually helps them ensure that the new feline family member will be an exact fit with your family's expectations and desires.
  
  If you are looking for a cat as a pet to breed "just for one litter" or if you haven't shown you know the responsibilities entailed in breeding and shown you can live up to those responsibilities, you're out of luck. Reputable breeders value the enormous amount of time, effort, and caring that has gone into developing their respective breed over the years, as well as having invested sweat and tears of their own in developing their lines. As a result, only a person that has shown that they might have the same intense dedication to the breed and sense of responsibility will be considered as a suitable placement for a breeder or show quality kitten/cat. Only breeder or show quality cats are sold with an open registration, which will allow that cat to be bred; all others must be neutered or spayed.