Looking for 2 purebred kittens: Help with breed selection, please

http://www.rfci.org/info/scratching_posts.php <--scratching posts.

I don't own/live with/breed Bengals, so you may choose to ignore my opinion if you wish.. but I'm going to echo what others have said about Bengals. I love to look at Bengals (especially Nikita!) but a Bengal is not for me. Way too much energy (and this is coming from a Doberman admirer)! If after doing more research and talking to more Bengal owners and breeders you're still in love and want one to be a member of your family, then I'd suggest seperating them from Chelsea when they get their zoomies (if possible). My older kitty took quite a while to get used to kitten zoomies, and now he joins in, but it was pretty rocky for a while.

Since I don't have a breed reccomendation, I'll just address a couple of things... many cats do just fine (even active kitties) in apartments, so if you have a decent-sized house, I think you're okay no matter the activity level of the cat. Our house is big enough that I can cheat with mine, and instead of letting them play with lures/feather toys, I let them chase me back and forth, or I chase them.

With a little bit of encouragement--or for a zealous cat, training--your furniture will be fine. You just need to nip bad behavior in the bud. If your new kittens are scratching on furniture/rugs/etc, you need to squirt near them with a squirt bottle or use a can filled with coins and shake it, something startling that will stop the behavior, and then lure them over to the scratching post and entice them to use it. Catnip works well, or a feather toy--if you drag the toy or the 'nip up around the top of the post they will jump and paw at it, just encourage them and tell them they're doing great.

I just wanted to mention that you may would want to look into young adults, if you are concerned with 2 hyper kittens, you may find 2 retired queens or kings, or since you are looking for pure bred, you might look at breed specific rescues.
However, you may would find the 2 beautiful purrfect kittens/cats in a mixed breed at a shelter with the temperament you would love, just placing more ideas out there.

Interesting development: I spoke to an Aby breeder here in Los Angeles who has no kittens due any time soon but was eager to recommend a friend of hers with a litter of Aby-Ocis. I told her we'd set our hearts on purebred cats and she responded by saying that Aby-Ocis are purebred cats, a recognised breed. Thoughts, please, oh wise ones?

What is the breed supposed to be called? I'm not familiar with a breed that is an Aby/Oci combo. They sound like they might be really cool, though. I'd love to see what they look like.

They are quite gorgeous, here's a slideshow. Let me know what you think:

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailsh...48/t_=50503453

Sorry I cannot get the text hyperlink button to work. You may have to join Snapfish to be able to see these pics, which is annoying but they are relatively unobtrusive and you might feel it's worth it, these are striking cats.

An Ocicat/Aby cross that's born before 2015 is an Ocicat. The Abysinnians are an allowable outcross for Ocicats.

Ocicats were originally created from Siamese and Abysinnians so crossing back to Abys is crossing back to one of the founding breeds.

Originally Posted by Siggav

An Ocicat/Aby cross that's born before 2015 is an Ocicat. The Abysinnians are an allowable outcross for Ocicats.

Ocicats were originally created from Siamese and Abysinnians so crossing back to Abys is crossing back to one of the founding breeds.

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Exactly the info I neeeded, thank you. I'll probably visit them with the family tomorrow. The breeder says they are a little more placid than her Abys and less preoccupied with making a break for the border.

Originally Posted by Bahger

They are quite gorgeous, here's a slideshow. Let me know what you think:

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailsh...48/t_=50503453

Sorry I cannot get the text hyperlink button to work. You may have to join Snapfish to be able to see these pics, which is annoying but they are relatively unobtrusive and you might feel it's worth it, these are striking cats.

Click to expand...

They were used as an accepted outcross for Aby's, but are no longer an accepted outcross, I don't know the date when outcrossing to Oci's became unaccepted. They are absolutely gorgeous kittens, but I would be concerned on pedigree, and if they were registerable, and if not, then the price should reflect that it is not a registered kitten.
I fell in love with Kingston and Veeshan, 2 Somali's that own a member on here, a longhair Aby, and they are just gorgeous.

Originally Posted by Siggav

An Ocicat/Aby cross that's born before 2015 is an Ocicat. The Abysinnians are an allowable outcross for Ocicats.

Ocicats were originally created from Siamese and Abysinnians so crossing back to Abys is crossing back to one of the founding breeds.

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I looked it up, so I am sorry for any miscommunication, what I read on an article on the internet was that they were allowed, but it had stopped. That is good information, thank you for the correction.

Let me ask a naive question: Should this issue of purity of breed be relevant to me? I do not intend to show or breed these cats (the ones for sale are all male, anyway) but had decided on purebred cats because of their beauty and (relatively) predictable characteristics.

If there is any reason why I'd be well advised to stick to "pure" bloodlines in my circumstances I'd be very interested in knowing before I get my children all excited about these Abi-Oci kittens.

And, yes, the price ($400) appears to be a little over half what I'd expect to pay for Abys.

Well for some crazy reason, I cannot use Snapfish. They are INSANE! I tried to sign up for a new account. The told me I already had an account, and so I requested my password. They sent it to me in the mail, then when I put it in, they said I was using the wrong name and password. I did this about 5 times, and I've had it! Snapfish can go to !$!-#@@!

I am sure the owners of either breed will chime in...

Looks like the ?? s have been answered

Originally Posted by sharky

lovely cat s but they look like poorly breed Abys...

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Ouch!

Nothing on CFA.

Originally Posted by Bahger

Let me ask a naive question: Should this issue of purity of breed be relevant to me? I do not intend to show or breed these cats (the ones for sale are all male, anyway) but had decided on purebred cats because of their beauty and (relatively) predictable characteristics.

If there is any reason why I need to stick to "pure" bloodlines in my circumstances I'd be very interested in knowing before I get my children all excited about these Abi-Oce kittens.

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These kittens if they're from a registered Aby and registered Ocicat should be registered as Ocicats. They're not show quality ocis since they're not spotted so there's no way you would be able to show them. However they should still make very nice pets providing the breeder has done their job properly.

Both Ocicats and Abys are very high energy cats but since you are getting two it might very well work to add them to your household. However I would go over there check out the breeder, play with the kittens, meet the adult cats over there etc. to try get a feel for the breeder and the cats before making any decisions.

If the parents are not registered and the kittens don't come with papers I would be VERY wary because that smells of kittenmill. Any responsible breeder will only breed from registered cats and sell papered kittens with official pedigrees.

Originally Posted by Bahger

Let me ask a naive question: Should this issue of purity of breed be relevant to me? I do not intend to show or breed these cats (the ones for sale are all male, anyway) but had decided on purebred cats because of their beauty and (relatively) predictable characteristics.

If there is any reason why I'd be well advised to stick to "pure" bloodlines in my circumstances I'd be very interested in knowing before I get my children all excited about these Abi-Oci kittens.

And, yes, the price ($400) appears to be a little over half what I'd expect to pay for Abys.

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I would think an Aby would be at least $800, especially here in Southern California, where everything is MORE than it is elsewhere. I paid $1000 for Simba 3 years ago, and they wanted $1500 for him. I talked them down.

HopeHacker, I'll put those pics in an IM if you accept my buddy invitation on Yahoo Messenger.

Sure if I can figure out how to do it.

yes, i would be very wary of purchasing a kitty from a 'breeder' who can not give you GOOD information on the bloodlines of that litter and paperwork. And also definitely be wary of 'cheap' or 'deal' cats, or even exorbidant prices. NO breeder (I think) breeds to make money and they ask what's appropriate to the care they give them. If they give crappy care, they can ask a crappy price and you get a crappy cap. They could also give crappy care but charge an arm and a leg. I would go with the prices the members here gave you and once you find one or two breeders - contact them. Call their vet. You'll know if you have a good one or not.

I think I'm going to swerve away from this Aby-Oci notion. I think I'm going Abyssinian...

Honestly, I think that no mattter what breed you choose, you will not choose it lightly. You are going about this all "right" to me. Looking at all your options.

I highly suggest you look around for good breeders of breeds you are considering & contact them. Breeders, IMO, are your best source for info!