Burmillas?

Hi all, I'm new to the forum. I'm getting a new cat right away and am thinking about going purebred. I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with burmillas or burmese? The description the CFA gives sounds great, espically for a dowtown appartment.
Also I was at a local breeder's cattery and the kittens were very hard to handle. They seemed scared and unformliar with human contact, is this normal for kittens of about 8 weeks? If not will it be very easy to act like a loving companion?
Well thanks for taking the tiime to read this, looking forward to your responses!

Originally Posted by SpaceCatSpiff

Hi all, I'm new to the forum. I'm getting a new cat right away and am thinking about going purebred. I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with burmillas or burmese? The description the CFA gives sounds great, espically for a dowtown appartment.
Also I was at a local breeder's cattery and the kittens were very hard to handle. They seemed scared and unformliar with human contact, is this normal for kittens of about 8 weeks? If not will it be very easy to act like a loving companion?
Well thanks for taking the tiime to read this, looking forward to your responses!

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While I'm not terribly knowledgable about this breed, there's no real reason the kittens should have been so scared and skittish, unless they are being raised in cages and not socialized properly.
IMHO, the only purebred cat worth purchasing is one that has been raised "underfoot" as a pet in someone's home--allowed free roam of the house and given attention and socialized by all the family members, including children, friends of the family. This is what creates a social and outgoing, people-friendly personality in a cat. My opinion only, of course, and not gospel truth. I'm sure that some kittens that seem scared at first could develop into social and friendly cats once in your home and given lots of love and affection.
And, I have to put in my $.02 about purchasing a purebred cat vs adopting one from a local shelter--its the time of year when the shelters are overflowing with cats and kittens needing good homes. These cats are just as beautiful, friendly, and special as a "fancy" purebred cat--I have two shelter-rescued kitties of my own. If you think a rescue is going to have behavioral issues or won't be friendly, please read this thread :
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60877
It tells the story of my youngest kitty, Emma, who had a rough, abusive start in life, and is now a loving, cuddly, gorgeous and well-adjusted member of our family.

Also: almost any breed of cat will do well in a small apartment. Oliver lived his first two years in a one-bedroom in NY, and until recently we lived in a 2 bedroom condo with both cats. If you think you "have" to get a breed that does well in apartments, you'd be wrong--almost any cat at the shelter would be happy to share a small and cozy home with you!

Let me make sure I understand. You visited a Burmese cattery and they 8 week old kittens were afraid? That's not good at all and highly suggests that the breeder leaves them caged and alone (minus the other litter mates) 24/7.

The European Burmese especially should be very laid back with a "hey, how ya doing?" attitude. Now, it's not impossible for a kitten to be socialized after 8-16 weeks by the new owner, but keep in mind that you're paying for this kitten and socialization should already be done before you get him/her.

Originally Posted by SpaceCatSpiff

Hi all, I'm new to the forum. I'm getting a new cat right away and am thinking about going purebred. I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with burmillas or burmese? The description the CFA gives sounds great, espically for a dowtown appartment.
Also I was at a local breeder's cattery and the kittens were very hard to handle. They seemed scared and unformliar with human contact, is this normal for kittens of about 8 weeks? If not will it be very easy to act like a loving companion?
Well thanks for taking the tiime to read this, looking forward to your responses!

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Hi and welcome to TCS. I sincerely hope you will find your visits here both informative and fun!

I don't have any personal experience with either of the breeds you mentioned (never heard of a Burmilla until your post here - did a Google and read on it a bit) but I can address the concerns you had while visiting your local breeder ...

At 8 weeks old, kittens should not be hard to handle at all. They should be well familiar with a wide variety of situations, including new people. Kittens are naturally curious and should come over to investigate and explore new people - not run and hide from them. This tells me that the breeder may spend lots of time with them, however, she may not be exposing them to the normal, everyday things they will encounter once they leave her.

Also, I haven't read the Canadian Breeder Standards of Ethics for any of the registry organizations but here in the States, the earliest recommended age for a kitten to leave her Mother is 12 weeks. Of course, things may be different in other parts of the world. For me, it depends entirely on the individual kitten - there are those who are quite mature and ready to leave at 11 weeks and then there are those who need an extra bit of time here with Mom and me so I don't let them leave until I feel they are ready - sometimes 13 to 14 weeks.

You will want to choose a kitten (or it may be that a kitten chooses you!) that is bright, interested, curious and wants to come to you. It might be helpful to take a little toy (ask the breeder during the phone call to set up the appointment if she would mind) and try to engage the kittens. Look for a robust, healthy kitten whose eyes, ears and nose are all clean and free from debris, fur is clean and smells fresh, check his or her hiney to make certain that area looks clean, healthy and free from irritation.

Make certain the breeder offers a health guarantee and read her agreement carefully. Ask questions if you have them and know what the breeder expects of you as well as what to expect from the breeder in the event something goes wrong.

Please feel free to ask questions here if you have them - I am always happy to help.

~gf~

I am aware of shelters and it's is definetly the next option I'm considering. However cats have such an amazing range of personality traits not to mention sizes. My grandma's cat was a hunter through and through, shed leave for days and come back with mice, birds, bats. I'm sure a cat like this would be quite restless and uncontent being cooped up all day.
I've already checked out the local human society's shelter but I still have to wait till I get settled in my new place before I decide. Thanks for the link!

The cats were all in cages, and from what I understood the breeder is just trying to get ride of the cats because they belong to an eldarly lady who can no longer look after them. He even offered me a 2 for 1 deal. They are beautiful kittens but you literally have to catch them and then they are very eager about getting away from you.
Doesn't sound like this is par with the norm, poor kitties

Originally Posted by SpaceCatSpiff

The cats were all in cages, and from what I understood the breeder is just trying to get ride of the cats because they belong to an eldarly lady who can no longer look after them. He even offered me a 2 for 1 deal. They are beautiful kittens but you literally have to catch them and then they are very eager about getting away from you.
Doesn't sound like this is par with the norm, poor kitties

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That's not a good breeder. Cats shouldn't be in cages, except maybe for a male.
Kittens are obviously not socialized. I would look for another breeder.

Originally Posted by OllyExtra05

And, I have to put in my $.02 about purchasing a purebred cat vs adopting one from a local shelter--its the time of year when the shelters are overflowing with cats and kittens needing good homes. These cats are just as beautiful, friendly, and special as a "fancy" purebred cat--I have two shelter-rescued kitties of my own. If you think a rescue is going to have behavioral issues or won't be friendly, please read this thread :
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60877
It tells the story of my youngest kitty, Emma, who had a rough, abusive start in life, and is now a loving, cuddly, gorgeous and well-adjusted member of our family.

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I have to put in my .02 worth. This is the Breeders Forum. It is for and about pedigreed cats and kittens. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with adopting a shelter cat, this is probably not the forum on which to make the suggestion. No doubt this person wrote on the Breeders Forum because she wants a pedigreed cat. Mixed breed cats are lovely and wonderful, but the advantage of a breed is consistence of type, temperament and known genetic traits (assuming its not from a BYB who throws two breathing cats with reproductive parts together and begets a litter).

As for 8-week old kittens being scared, it is very possible that the kittens might not have seen anyone other than the breeder up until the point the person came. There is no reason to believe that they were caged or not socialized. Kittens are like babies - if a child doesn't have contact with people other than his parents, then he is likely to be shy for a while when he first meets someone new.

Barb A

Originally Posted by tailsoluv

I have to put in my .02 worth. This is the Breeders Forum. It is for and about pedigreed cats and kittens. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with adopting a shelter cat, this is probably not the forum on which to make the suggestion. No doubt this person wrote on the Breeders Forum because she wants a pedigreed cat. Mixed breed cats are lovely and wonderful, but the advantage of a breed is consistence of type, temperament and known genetic traits (assuming its not from a BYB who throws two breathing cats with reproductive parts together and begets a litter).

As for 8-week old kittens being scared, it is very possible that the kittens might not have seen anyone other than the breeder up until the point the person came. There is no reason to believe that they were caged or not socialized. Kittens are like babies - if a child doesn't have contact with people other than his parents, then he is likely to be shy for a while when he first meets someone new.

Barb A

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The poster him/herself states the cats were all in cages and somebody is trying to get rid of them because an elderly lady can't care for them anymore, offering 2 for 1 deals.
Sounds like these cats don't have much human contact, and definetly a situation to avoid.

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

That's not a good breeder. Cats shouldn't be in cages, except maybe for a male.
Kittens are obviously not socialized. I would look for another breeder.

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Even males should not be in cages. A cage is no life for any cat, regardless of gender or status of their reproductive organs (whole or altered).
Responsible breeders go to great lengths to ensure the comfort and well being of their male stud cats. This means they are cordoned off from each other and the female cat population in a nice enclosure, their own room, etc., and they are loved and socialized.
Many stud cats have a 5 year or more "career" at stud. Can you imagine that cat in a cage the whole time?
I'm sure their are some low life breeders doing that sort of thing and they should be publicly drawn and quartered!

I do not agree with caged catteries At ALL. a stud encloser is diffrent. but not a cage. that being said our boy is not going to be caged and hopefully will not have to be enclosed. he enjoys his little "diaper band" that i altered and made just right for him hehehe

Originally Posted by ScamperFarms

I do not agree with caged catteries At ALL. a stud encloser is diffrent. but not a cage. that being said our boy is not going to be caged and hopefully will not have to be enclosed. he enjoys his little "diaper band" that i altered and made just right for him hehehe

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Should I ask ?? little diaper band??

Originally Posted by sharky

Should I ask ?? little diaper band??

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I would assume stud pants. However, boys cannot live in stud pants. Unless one wants a male pissing all over the house, breeding any girl in heat that he finds and fighting with other cats, a newbie will soon learn to enclose the male cat.

Barb Amalfi

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

The poster him/herself states the cats were all in cages and somebody is trying to get rid of them because an elderly lady can't care for them anymore, offering 2 for 1 deals.
Sounds like these cats don't have much human contact, and definetly a situation to avoid.

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Yes, she did say that. But she also said that the person was a broker - NOT the breeder. The person who had the cats was the elderly lady. Where would you put a bunch of cats you didn't own that you were trying to place for someone?

What it really boils down to is that someone who knew that an elderly lady unable to care for cats was breeding them should have come to the aid of the old lady BEFORE the kittens were born instead of criticizing the person trying to help place them, don't you think?

Barb A.

Originally Posted by tailsoluv

Yes, she did say that. But she also said that the person was a broker - NOT the breeder. The person who had the cats was the elderly lady. Where would you put a bunch of cats you didn't own that you were trying to place for someone?

What it really boils down to is that someone who knew that an elderly lady unable to care for cats was breeding them should have come to the aid of the old lady BEFORE the kittens were born instead of criticizing the person trying to help place them, don't you think?

Barb A.

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I think that whoever bred them and whoever is selling them-that is not a good situation to buy from. They are caged, they are not socialized, and it's definelty a place to stay away from.

I've read through these posts and I'll add my 2 cents.

Our Himalayan/Siamese cross came from a breeder that kept her cats in cages (I was too ignorant at the time to understand the significance). I had initially gone to look at Himalayan kittens and she had 2 of the cross cats (brothers) that were 6 months old and was trying to find a home for them. I picked up one (our Simba) and he was terrified and trying to get away from me but purring. I told my husband I wanted him and my husband tried to talk me out of it. I was adamant though and I now look back and wonder why but I was.

We brought him home and he was one scared kitty. We let him loose (first mistake) in our 5 level sidesplit. He hid in the basement but would come for food and water in the kitchen if nobody was too close to him. I came on this forum for the first time to get information and help. The good folks here came to my rescue and told me to isolate him in one room with food, water and litter (keeping the food and water on one side of the room and the litter as far away as possible). The next time he came to eat we cornered him and my husband tried to grab him and he bit him very deeply so my husband let go of him and our daughter grabbed him and he also bit her so deep she ended up with blood poisoning so she dropped him and I grabbed him and held on. I went up to our bedroom with him and when he finally managed to jump out of my arms, he scratched my whole chest (right across my nipple) with his hind feet and ran behind the headboard. Simba hid behind our head board whenever anyone came into the room. We spent every night and most weekends in there talking to him, dropping treats down for him and just being in the room watching TV. After 3 weeks of this my husband wanted to take him back to the breeder (heaven only knows how we would have gotten him out from his hiding place since it was a water bed and not moveable). I took the advice of the folks here and said let's give him some more time. On the fourth Saturday exactly 4 weeks to the day we brought him home, he was running past me and I stretched out my hand and touched his head. He froze. I kept talking and gently touching his head and then he started to relax and after about 5 minutes allowed me to pick him up. I talked quietly and gently to him. After that he would come out for me but nobody else. After a day or two of this I would hold him firmly but gently and he would let the other family members touch him as long as I was holding him.

One week later we opened the bedroom door and let him wander in his own time. Within one more week he would come to the family room in the lower level. One week after that he was the proverbial lap cat and neither our daughter nor I could sit without him jumping up on us, even in the bathroom. He loved to be held upside down like a baby in our arms and be carried around. He was a wonderful cat. We lost him to liver failure just over 1 1/2 years ago and we still miss him.

So, I think there is hope and maybe getting 2 would be great - they would have each other when you are not at home.

Sorry this is so long but I wanted you to know all the details of how long it took to socialize him. I'm glad we gave him a happy, loving home and often wished we had taken his brother as well.

My opinion is, if you are paying $$$ for the cat from a breeder, then you should get a socialized cat that is not going to scratch and bite you, of the temperament you want, and with a health guarantee. That's why you are getting one from a breeder in a first place. If you can spend a lot of time socilaizing a cat, you might as well contact a shelter/rescue group and get a feral or abused cat to socialize.

If these poor cats are caged, then you would be "rescuing" them in a sense. And, you would be getting the type of cat you wanted. That's how we felt about Simba anyway. No regrets ever for having taken him from that environment and spending the time to allow his natural loving personality to emerge.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

If these poor cats are caged, then you would be "rescuing" them in a sense. And, you would be getting the type of cat you wanted. That's how we felt about Simba anyway. No regrets ever for having taken him from that environment and spending the time to allow his natural loving personality to emerge.

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You will be rescuing them from a shelter as well, and not paying the money. That person placing the kittens will profit from you. What about health of the kittens? Have they been seen by a vet? Have they been vaccinated? Have the cat parents been tested for diseases such as Felv and Fiv? If you get a cat from a responcible breeder, at least you will get a health guarantee, and kittens that have been checked by a vet. The responcible breeder has a contract, and if ktten dies from a congenital defect within a certain time, you can either get him replaced, or get your money back. In the situation described, good luck to get anything out of that person, whover he is, who is supposedly selling these cats on behalf of some elderly lady.
There are many people posted here, who bought kittens from those irresponcible breeders, only to have those kittens to get sick and die.