?? about breeds

As some of you know I already have 2 cats just good ole regular house cats but after having gotten our purebred basset, David has decided to spring on me tonight the idea of getting a 'purebred' cat. Which is something I have begged and dreamed about for years!!! I would like to get information on all kinds of breeds, pricing, and just in general the whole process of getting a 'purebred' cat. Im not even sure if thats the proper terming for cats... This is an area Im completly confused about, I know a lot more about dog breeds than I do about cats even though I know relate and know more about having cats than I do dogs. Im relearning everything with Bruno. But if hes willing to do this for me I want to research every aspect I can to give him as much information as possible to make a great decision for our family and the other pets that we have now. So anyone who thinks they can throw anything useful at me feel free please. If its too much to post on here you can also PM me or email me at [email protected]
Thank you,
Tyler and David

www.cfa.org

I dont know TICA site

I just realized after looking at only ONE website I needed to be a bit more specific. I would prefer a long hair cat. But I do love the look of the bengals *SP?*....I love their coloring...But Im going to look around the web a lil more and maybe Ill even have specific breeds that have caught my interest and maybe someone here will even be able to give specifics....
Thank you for the website addy Sharky!!!

I think looking at general personality traits for different breeds would probably be a good place to start. Some cats generally are laid back and even a little shy and would be a good fit in a quiet household. Some cats are very active and want to be in the middle of a lot of activity and would be a better fit in a more active household with other animals and different people in and out of the house. Being properly socialized early and staying with the mom cat long enough also plays a big part in personality development. If you get a cat from a reputable breeder than that part of it will be taken of. The bengals definitely fall into the category of a very active cat.

breeds to look up

Persian/ himilayian

long hair bengal/ has a name but I forget

tiffany

ragdoll

somali

Ok here we got. Here are the breeds that I looked at and liked just off sight. Please let me know if you think some of these are going to be down right impossible for me to find without paying out the ying yang. Id really rather not pay more than what I paid for my puppy which was 550....But heres my list...lol..
*Ocicat
*Chartreux
*Exotic
*Persian/Himalayan
*Scottish Fold
*Selkirk Rex
*Siberian
*Maine Coon
*American Bobtail/Curl
*Ragdoll
*Ragamuffin
*Norwegian Forest Cat
I really value the opinions I can get from you guys especially since some of you own specific breeds of cats or even may breed these types. Im only in the start of my research so I might be a pain in the butt, Im sorry, I cant help it once I get started Im like a bull just charging ahead to get to end result. Please keep in mind this is something that we wont be purchasing for approx another yr or yr and a half. Especially since we are planning on going through a breeder, and I know this process can take a while just to wait for a kitten.

I haven't had any experience with any of those breeds but there is someone on this sight, Goldenkitty45, who has an ocicat and used to breed Cornish Rexs. She will probably fill you in on at least those two sometime tomorrow. The way I understand it the Rexes are a lot alike personality wise they just have different types of coats. She has also shown cats and I think at one time judged the household pet class so she probably knows about the personalities of a lot of the other breeds.

U got some good choices some here are $600 i have seen but I did send you a pm with all sorts of info and a list of PA breeders Which I hope helps u out, and u have a great choice to choose from !! Like I said feel free to pm me

It's not easy deciding on a breed when there are so many lovely breeds to choose from! Think carefully about temperament and activity level as well as looks. In general, those with a slender body type (siamese/oriental being the extreme) have a livelier disposition than those with a cobbier body shape (eg persian). You also need to consider the size and temperament of your existing cats -eg if they are very small getting a large breed like a maine coon might not be a good idea. Similarly, if they are timid getting a lively breed like a bengal might not be a good idea. Also think about how much time you have to spend with a new cat. A lively breed sounds great on paper but you will have to spend more time playing and interacting with a cat with that sort of personality otherwise they may become destructive.

Good luck with choosing a breed. Can you get to a cat show so that you can see some of the breeds you're interested in in the fur, so to speak?

Selkirk rex are quite different in personality to the other rex breeds - they are much stockier cats, and calmer than the wiry althletic cornish & devon rexes, not at all similar, so disregard anything you know about other rexes!

They come in longhair and shorthair - the shorthairs coat looks like a lambs fleece, and the longhair is soft curly waves, both are fairly easy to care for as they don't have a tendency to mat, so are lower maintenance than a persian or similar.

I'm not sure about availability or pricing in the US, in the UK they are gaining popularity but not the most common breed to find, so I'd imagine there may be waiting lists involved in finding a kitten! A pet quality selkirk would be one that doesn't have a perfect quality coat for the showring (but they are still curly).

The breeds used in its development (British Shorthair, Persian, Exotic SH) have all contributed to its personality and they tend to be quite laid back and patient, and a good mix of independence and affection-seeking - they're not likely to spend the day glued to your side but are happy to seek out a lap for a cuddle while you're watching telly.

Can't help with the other breeds you mention though!

Do your research first! Get some purebred cat books out of the library that shows you pictures, general info on the breeds, etc. Go to a local cat show in your area to see the breeds in person, talk to breeders of those breeds you like.

Make a list of what you are interested in. Do NOT buy the first purebred you "think" you want. Look around, shop slowly - not impulsively. Look on the net at different cats, breeders, and what they have to offer.

If you are looking for a pet and not show cat, expect to pay about $500 or more. You might think this is a lot. But most good breeders will have tested their breeding cats for genetic problems, have the kittens neutered/spayed BEFORE you get them, have all shots given, and the price may or may not include shipping.

Try to pick out a breeder that is close to you so you can visit their cattery, see how the cats are kept and see if that is what you want.

Be aware of "red flags" and breeders - those that charge over the norm of other breeders. Those that want to push a certain cat on you. Those that claim they have the BEST cat and its SUPERIOR to all all breeds.

Ask questions. Do they test for genetic problems and ask which ones? Do they spay/neuter first? Are they willing to guarentee the health of their cats for a certain period of time? Are they willing to take the kitten back if your vet finds something wrong (rule of thumb - get your kitten checked by YOUR vet within 48-72 hrs after bringing home)?

Most good breeders will not place a purebred kitten that is less then 3 month old - usually between 3-4 months old. If they do, RUN!


Now how to pick:

Do you want long or short hair? How much time to you have for grooming. Longhairs (most breeds) need daily or at least 2-3 times a week with combing and brushing.

Do you want an active cat or one that sits around looking pretty on the chair?

Do you want a talkative cat or one that is quiet?

If you have other cats, dogs, children, you want a cat that is easy going, will be tolerate of all these changes and animals.

And remember, any breed you pick will probably be with you for a long time 15-20 yrs - make sure you want to make that committment to the breed.


After you decide the basics, you can let us know which breed might work best for you and your household and then we can go from there.

Originally Posted by WhosaMyHercules

Here are the breeds that I looked at and liked just off sight. Please let me know if you think some of these are going to be down right impossible for me to find without paying out the ying yang. Id really rather not pay more than what I paid for my puppy which was 550....But heres my list...lol..
*Ocicat
*Chartreux
*Exotic
*Persian/Himalayan
*Scottish Fold
*Selkirk Rex
*Siberian
*Maine Coon
*American Bobtail/Curl
*Ragdoll
*Ragamuffin
*Norwegian Forest Cat

Click to expand...

First I really think you should attend a cat show or 2 before you decide on a breed.

Ocicats are shorthair and there is someone here who can tell you about that breed
Chartreux are shorthair also and may be harder to find
Exotic are shorthair fairly common
Persians are very common and matt terribly and need to be brushed every single day.
Scottish folds do come in longhair
Selkirk Rex do come in longhair but many have the same issues as persians I was told by a breeder
Siberian newer breed I have not seen many of these
Maine Coons this is a good choice imo but they are very large
American Bobtail come in longhair but again is a newer breed
Ragdoll is another good choice imo and there are breeders here who can tell you about this breed
Ragamuffin is another new breed
Norwegian Forest I have not seen many of these

I know very little about pure bred cats, as i have always had rescued moggies. Since you have a Bassett, who if I remember correctly, are very laid back dogs, you may want to consider a cat that is generally a laid back breed. Unless you are completely set on a kitten, you could also check out some of the pure breed rescues. In some cases, that could be the best of both worlds. (Until I found TCS, I had no ideas those eve existed.) Whatever you decide, good luck on finding the perfect feline friend to suit you and your household.

I think that Goldenkitty has given you very good advice! There are many online sites that you can research. But if you are near a library. get some books. Also, someone else mentioned attending a cat show - that is also a good idea. Remember at a show, every breeder will probably say that their breed is "the best" And that's not a bad thing, because, obviously they love the breed that they represent. Then, cruise around TCS. There are many breeders her nad they will be very happy to be more specific about their breeds that they raise. In fact, I am in the oprocess of "adopting" (Ha,Ha,) a beautiful ragdoll boy from one of the breeders that I met on this site!
Visit both the breeders corner and the fur picture forum because you will see alot of purebred cats and kittens and learn alot about their temperments, needs, etc!
As far as shows, both the TICA and the CFA website have calendars of upcoming shows!
Also, don't forget that if you are looking for an adult cat, many breeders will "retire" a male or female when they are still just a few years old. You can also use Petfinders - they have breed specific rescues!

Ok - here's my thoughts on your list so far, but read my post above Almost all these breeds you will pay about $500 or more for a pet (neutered/spayed). The Chartreux may be higher as well as the Bobtail/Curl since they are not as common.


*Ocicat - we paid $600 for our boy (pet price) - VERY active cat, easy grooming, smart, social, gets along well with dogs, kids, people. Semi-talkative. Loves interactive playing. Will be top cat (just on principals)
Oci's do come in non-spotted patterns - classic, pointed, and ticked like the aby - because they still have the influence of the 3 breeds that created them (aby, american sh, siamese) - these non-spotted kittens still have ocicat personality and can be gotten at a much lower price - only spotted ones can be shown.

*Chartreux - laid back cat, easy grooming. fairly quiet. I've only seen a few of them in the shows and a friend back on the east coast had one they showed, so I don't know a lot about them.

*Exotic - shorthair persian. Less grooming then a normal persian, but still more then you think. Quiet but more active then their longhair cousins. Comes in a rainbow of colors/patterns.

*Persian/Himalayan - highest maintenance cat of the group - daily grooming required if you don't want them to mat! Quiet, laid back. Can act "anti-social" at times thinking they are better then everyone else This is the "glamour" cat.

*Scottish Fold - quiet, laid back, cute, more of an American or British SH personality. The non-folded cats would be less money.

*Selkirk Rex - got to meet them at this past show - unusual fur - SHOULD be plushy and dense feeling. General grooming. Comes in SH and LH (I like the SH better). Not as active as the other rex breeds.

Siberian/Maine Coon/Nor.Forest Cat - these are very similar to each other and basically need about the same grooming - 2-3 times a week in combing to keep mats out. They are all interactive cats and fairly active. These are the bigger cats when full grown - 15+ lbs. Gets along well with other cats, dogs, kids.

*American Bobtail/Curl - I know more about the curl - they are medium size cats, come in long and short hair versians and need general maintence in grooming (the long hair more then short hair of course). Seems to adapt well to most situations and animals.

*Ragdoll/Ragamuffin - the muffins are an offshoot of the Ragdolls. - laid back, social cats, they need less grooming then most longhairs cause their coats are silky and soft and don't mat easily. Gets along well with dogs, kids, etc. However, they usually tend to be on the pricey side - $800 for pets, sometimes more. Ragdolls are more/less a pointed/bi-color cat; the Ragamuffin comes in a lot of other colors. These also wind up being large cats 15+ lbs when grown.


Thanks for the mention of the "retired" cats. This can be a good option as you still get a nice cat, but one that is full grown and more tolerate to things. Also the breeders will probably charge about half the price of a kitten on a retired cat. They want the cat to be loved and spoiled and usually only want the cost to cover vet expenses and spay/neuter and shipping. We tried to get a retired cat when looking for our Ocicat but no one had the "right" one we were looking for - so we ended up with a kitten

Thank you so much for helping me get started on my research. I have a friend who is going through the same thing just trying to do it in a faster time frame. She would like her cat in a yr or less if possible, Im looking towards over a year maybe 2 till we get Bruno in the "calm basset" zone that people claim they have...I still have yet to see this, granted he is only 7 mths old. **I will be posting new pics of him for anyone that wants to see** Chels and I are trying to make a coordinating schedule to be able to go to a cat show since we are both pretty much looking for the same thing. A family cat that handles adjusment well, can tolerate people yet isnt going to destroy our house if left alone for a couple hours. I have already eliminated the persian or himalayan as a choice because I just dont want a "stuck up" cat and everyone that Ive had contact with had that "Holier than thou" attitude. I love to play with my pets so I dont want a cat thats going to sit around and look pretty all day long. Being kid friendly is the biggest issue. My oldest daughter is extremely hand on with all of our pets and Hercules is techinically her cat, she feeds him waters him and even helps scoop poop. Very responsible for a 4 yr old. (Im so proud of my baby) Katy on the other hand is pretty much well if they come up to her she will pet them but shes not going to run around chasing them for attention. I would like one that is going to like to sit and snuggle, Dave just wants one that isnt going to wake him up. Vocal wise doesnt bother me, both boys now are "cry-babies" and jabber jaws. So Im pretty much used to having to listen to them and reassure them that I love them both the same...Ummm Im trying to think if I left anything out......Oh yea...In any of the breeds that I was interested in do you know of them needing special dietary needs. My moms friend is a vet tech and said that I should ask about this. Shes more of a dog specialist that cats so she wasnt sure. She told me to ask the cat people so I figured this was the place to go!!! LOL.

Ok, then eliminate the persian/himalayan, exotic, chartreux, and scottish fold - the other breeds you listed would suit your family a little better as they are more interactive and like kids/dogs better

None need speical diets - just good quality foods Perferably dry and canned.