Scottish Fold kitten I like

I took my two DD's (age 6 &8) to a local cat show for fun; they both adore cats. We have an almost 2 year old neutered male fluffy, black and white kitty.

Anyhow, my kids (and I) fell in love with a sweet 5 month old spayed Scottish Fold girl. I have a feeling the breeder would have let me have her right then if I had asked.

She wants $500.00 for the cat. Though she has the "fat" round face, her ears are not folded, just slightly flat. She said out of 11 kittens last year, only one had folded ears.

That seems like an awful lot of money for a house pet; I am not interested in doing shows. I did love the temperament of this cat, however.

If I decided to go ahead with it, do you think I would insult the breeder by offering her $350?

Yes, I do think it's insulting. It costs a lot of money to breed cats and I don't think it's right to question what they charge.

Before I answer the question I'd like to know why exactly the breeder only had 1 folded kitten out of 11!

Logically if you mate a fold to a non fold (required) you should get out of 4 kittens, 2 folds and 2 unfolded. Of the 2 folds, one may be more folded than the other (Show quality fold vs. breeder quality). The breeder should have gotten at the very minimum 4-5 folded kittens out of 11!

As a breeder, I would be offended if you wanted to "negotiate" price. However, a truthful, ethical breeder would tell you why the cat is that price and not cheaper or dearer. If that is her price for pet quality kittens, and it is normal for papered, already vaccinated and neutered cats.

Folds are a little tricky. You could get a "straight-eared" fold for about $350 - one that would look more like a normal cat.

While this little girl has partially folded ears, they may wind up folding tighter or staying the same and therefore would be worth more - so $500 is reasonable.

Did the breeder of this kitten say she was possible show? Or was she strictly a pet quality? Most pet quality kittens for the more "exotic" breeds are running about $500-600. Show quality is higher.

IMO if you want the kitten, you should not bargain with the breeder. When I was breeding my rexes I had a set price for my kittens. Rarely would I go lower and people didn't question my prices. I know I could have gotten more, but I didn't want to overprice and wanted a good home for them.

If you like the kittens and the breeder, ask how much a straight ear fold would be and wait for another kitten.

Thanks for setting me straight. I know her vet expenses have probably been high; she is already spayed and has been screened for PKD and had some kind of cardio scan.

The breeder made mention of "everyone wanted males" which is why the female is still around. I guess I was using more "free market" thinking -- the longer she has the kitten, the less someone will be willing to pay for it, ears or not.

Keeping records straight...cost is irrelavant as to age of cats. It is the quality that is important.

Don't haggle with a breeder, very bad form! She is not making any money out of that kitten and has been feeding and socialising it all that time. Once you find out the price, decide whether you can pay it or not - if you can, then check out the breeder and let them check you out, sign contracts and pay the sum requested - if not, don't waste her time.

Just for the sake of interest, that to me seems like a real bargain - a common breed like a Siamese, pet quality, from a good breeder will cost £350-500... that is $700-1000 USD. You would not be able to get any purebred cat here from a good breeder for as little as the equivalent of $500.

I think 500 is cheap too! Pet Somalis go for 650 and up.

Oh, $500 is a bargain. In Sweden a pet purebred generally cost $750-$900. Some breeds are more expensive, some are cheaper though. I believe a Scottish Fold would be one of the more expensive breeds here.

If you try to negotiate the price chances are you'll have no chance at all buying the kitten. I don't sell cats to people who try to negotiate.

I'm a bit confused by the fact that the kitten has been screened for PKD and HCM (I guess it's HCM the kitten has been screened for). Today there are DNA-tests for PKD and a DNA test will give a definate answer as to if the cat has PKD or not. An ultrasound is not definate. If it was an HCM-screening... the kitten is far to young to have it done. Is there any special reason for it being done so early? Heart disease in the family?

For what it's worth in your situation, I'm glad that I paid the extra $$$ for a purebred cat. My maine coon I got as a kitten has turned out to be far and away the best cat I've ever had. The breeder did cut us a deal, actually. We had to drive two states to her cattery (nearest maine coon breeder), and were getting two kittens (my parents bought one too) so she took $100 off the total price of them together. (I definitely recommend mrs paws maine coons if you are in the midwest).

The O.P. seems pretty new to the cat show/breeder scene. I can't believe some of you would get so offended as to flat out refuse to sell a cat to someone who haggled on the price. Wouldn't you just tell them that your prices are firm, instead of getting your you-know-whats in a bunch? I mean I see how it could be offensive if they kept at it after being told that your prices are firm. It could be insulting for sure. I guess I have this scene in my head thats something like the Seinfeld "soup nazi" where a person just totally overreacts..."No cats for you!"

Originally Posted by Jaws808

I can't believe some of you would get so offended as to flat out refuse to sell a cat to someone who haggled on the price. Wouldn't you just tell them that your prices are firm, instead of getting your you-know-whats in a bunch? I mean I see how it could be offensive if they kept at it after being told that your prices are firm. It could be insulting for sure. I guess I have this scene in my head thats something like the Seinfeld "soup nazi" where a person just totally overreacts..."No cats for you!"

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The thing is that I haven't met anyone who's just asked once if they could get a better price. Of course I don't dismiss them at once, but so far the ones that have asked me for ceaper cats haven't stopped. "Oh, but the cat will only be indoors so no vaccinations are needed, that should make the cat cheaper", "I trust the cat is healthy, you don't have to have it checked by a vet... that'll make it cheaper won't it" etc.

It doesn't take long to learn to know the type...

If the buyer wants a cheaper price, then no I will not haggle. If I feel the person is a good owner, I may decide to lower the price for them. But it would be MY decision and not cause they wanted it cheaper.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

If the buyer wants a cheaper price, then no I will not haggle. If I feel the person is a good owner, I may decide to lower the price for them. But it would be MY decision and not cause they wanted it cheaper.

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Exactly! I do the same