Buying a kitten overseas...Need advice please!

[dusty's mom]

This is actually more about international business than it is about cats. My husband is an international business consultant. Because of my colateral knowledge of how to import without getting screwed, I would recommend one of these methods of payment:

1. Go to your bank (one that deals with international transactions) and ask about providing a Letter of Credit, or

2. Pay for your transaction via credit card (Visa or Mastercard only), and make sure it is a credit card and not a debit card, or

3. Use a service such as PayPal

You want to be sure that the money is held for the transaction, but does not actually change hands until you receive the healthy kitten.

 

[missymotus]

Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom

You want to be sure that the money is held for the transaction, but does not actually change hands until you receive the healthy kitten.

No breeder will work like that, they require all money cleared from the bank before the kitten leaves. They will not wait until the kitten has arrived at destination.

 

[ferriscat]

Originally Posted by NorthernGlow

Well, in the picture she/he sent me, the cat is black silver shaded, has colorpoints in pedigree though. And this cat is going to be a pet, not a breeding cat.

This wasn't information that the OP originally gave us. I presumed that the OP was talking about a breeding cat as I've never heard of someone importing a cat from such a distance as a pet--only breeding cats. I'd strongly consider the amount of stress such a long international flight would have on a kitten. I would also be rather wary of any breeder who is willing to send a kitten unescorted on such a long flight. I would not send any of my cats or kittens overseas unescorted.

 

[dusty's mom]

Originally Posted by missymotus

No breeder will work like that, they require all money cleared from the bank before the kitten leaves. They will not wait until the kitten has arrived at destination.

The beauty of working with a credit card is that you can always dispute the transaction. Can't do that with a wire transfer or a debit card.

 

[goldenkitty45]

I was under the impression the SF was being bought as a breeding cat - not as a pet. If the SF is a colorpoint and the color is not accepted in most associations, it makes no sense at all to be buying the cat for your breeding program.

If it was being bought as a pet, it still makes no sense to import a cat just as a pet.

Maybe the OP can clarify as to exactly why they want to buy a colorpoint SF?

 

[northernglow]

^
This is what the OP wrote on the first page about the color.

Originally Posted by enamored

I looked everywhere for months before, but did not find a breeder that had this color. It is a silver shaded green eyed.

IMO pet comes always before breeding, i.e. if you imported a cat of your dreams with breeding rights but the cat would turn out to be unable to breed, would you get rid of it?

 

[goldenkitty45]

I wouldn't - it would just become a loved pet. But I'd be doing a heck of a lot of research into everything before investing.

 

[ferriscat]

As breeders, we always have to be conscious of the number of cats we have in our programs as opposed to the number of cats we are able to care for effectively. Everybody has their own magic number and there is no right answer to that very loaded question. However, the cats that are not in my breeding program are the first in line to leave my home. It's a harsh reality. New kittens are always on the horizon, and I have to keep that in mind at all times. I've cried for days after letting my precious alters leave, but I knew that they would be much happier as pets compared to being one of several cats in my home.

So in short, it is very likely that I would pet out a costly imported cat for the price of a spay/neuter if the cat were unable to contribute to my program. I have a responsibility to my cats to keep my numbers low to minimize stress and maximize care. It's a difficult balancing act, and it doesn't always leave me feeling too good. But I know that I am making their lives better, and I am also making a new pet owner very, very happy.

 

[enamored]

Thanks for your comments. I was really only concerned about the process of purchasing an import and how to be sure I'm safe. That's why I said in the first post that the various reasons why I decided on a Russian kitten is not important - I didn't want to get into all this. Was simply concerned about the import and transportation issue. Regardless of a pet or breeder, cats still get shipped overseas all the time. For me personally, I don't place more value on a show/breeder vs pet, so the time and effort is worth it to me.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

If it was being bought as a pet, it still makes no sense to import a cat just as a pet.

I appreciate your input and concern, but why not? Is it because of the cost for me or the stress for the kitten? What if the cost is not an issue? Do you mean to say that the stress is more worth it if the cat were being used as a breeder because he would be serving a better purpose than "just a pet"? But a pet to me is equally as important....this is a being that I'm going to spend the next 10+ years with. In my mind, it makes sense.

 

[missymotus]

I also thought it was a breeding cat, that explains why you don't know other breeders or judges.

I know several breeders who've exported "just pets", to Hong Kong and Hawaii. Not something I would do, a colour point Brit would be much the same

Hope it all works out, if you go ahead.

 

[goldenkitty45]

As an ex - breeder it makes no sense to me to import (or export) a pet cat. Granted you don't have 100% guarantee on a breeding cat, and my breeding cats were also my pet cats.

Just because you want a certain color cat, doesn't make sense to import that color only for a pet. For example, I love the peach colored Australian Mist cats (a color not found in any other purebred cat). But I would not want to bring one over here just for a pet. It would have to be to start a breeding program.

 

[ferriscat]

I agree with GK.

As someone who HAS travelled with cats internationally (Turkey to USA) I can think of several things that can go wrong with the importation process.

1) Cat is denied boarding onto flight by Russian customs or the airline itself.
2) Cat is transferred onto wrong flight and winds up in another location. This has happend to pet buyers on this board with domestic flights.
3) Cargo is not climate controlled/pressurized.
4) Cat becomes dehydrated during flight. One of the cats I brought back from Turkey suffered this, and needed emergency treatment upon arrival.
5) Other animals are present, causing stress on the cat. How do you think your new pet will feel if trapped in a carrier with a barking dog next to it for 15+ hours. This could traumatize your pet.
6) Cat is denied entrance into the US for showing visible signs of illness. Stress can cause symptoms of URI, but customs officials are probably unaware of this.

I could go on, but I hope you see my point. This is an awful lot to put a kitten through for the vanity of a new pet in a special color. We're not talking about a piece of furniture, we're talking about a living and breathing creature.

And yes, if a cat is brought in as a breeding cat from such a distance, it is generally to expand a breed's gene pool or extablish a breed in an area where it did not previously exist. This is considered much more acceptable practice.

 

[seiko7]

I have been waiting for someone to help me with questions about cross border breeding as well.If I don't have a registered cat, am I unable to ask questions in this forum?
if I can't...
could you be so kind as to tell me where I can go to have soneone answer my questions...
I have a Himalayan 3 yrs (CAN)...and I have a Persian kitten 8 weeks(of a friend USA) male, we want to be related.
Respectfully.....could you advise?

 

[missymotus]

Originally Posted by seiko7

If I don't have a registered cat, am I unable to ask questions in this forum?

You can of course ask questions but if you don't have registered cats of breeding quality you shouldn't breed from them.

Did you buy the cat with breeding rights? If not, then you don't also shouldn't breed from them. Most breeders sell their kittens already desexed for this reason.

 

[goldenkitty45]

If you have show quality cats and they are not registered in the same association, you still can get them registered (extra paperwork) as long as its from a recognized association.

Are you wanting to breed the two of them but the Canadian one is not registered in CFA (in the USA?) - you will need to first register him/her in CFA in order to have a litter registered. Or vice versa.

If the cats are not of top breeding quality and been tested for genetic probems and don't have at least a champion title, then they should not be bred together.

I agree with the above - you also need to have breeding rights from the breeders. What did you buy them for - pet or show?

If your one kitten is only 8 weeks old now and the other is 3 yrs old, you might have a problem breeding them because of the age difference. Persians usually are not bred till around a year old (slow to mature) and if the female is the older one, she will be past breeding age by the time the male is mature. Persian males may not even breed till 2 yrs old!

 

[sol]

Have you compared the cost of bringing the cat to the US yourself with sending it as cargo? Sometimes there isn't much different in price and then you can go and pick the cat up yourself. And pay the breeder at place.

That would be what I'd to if I'd import.

If you don't pick it up yourself, take tons of references on this breeder.

 

[seiko7]

this is not a breeder...

this is my friend.She has a kitten (perisan) that we want to mate with my Himyalan ...keeping it in the family.
I would NEVER send either as cargo.
She wants only to have one girlfriend for her young(10 week old) boy and then neuter him,I want only one litter for my precious 3 year old lady and then she will be spayed.
I just would love for her to have one litter.I volunteer at our local animal shelter shelter two days a week and understand all the ins and outs ...however I have room in my life for all of her litter just in case ...the prospective papa's parents want one and the rest I want to keep.This not really a sale, but I don't know who else to ask about this stuff.
I hope you are still willing to advise me.
respectfully,

 

[missymotus]

Have both cats been tested for PKD? And whatever else is needed for Persians? (I don't have Persians so don't know what they test for) Do you know the background of both cats involved?

Those are all things you need to know before breeding, so you aren't passing on genetics that shouldn't be.

You cannot let your girl keep going in and out of heat while she waits (up to 2 more years) for the boy to mature. She will be 5 years old by then, and could develop Pyometra from cycling in season which can kill them.
Most breeding girls are retired at 3-5 years, not just starting out having a litter.

 

[goldenkitty45]

Also keep in mind that many Persians need an expensive c-section to deliver the kittens and can have problems. Are you really willing to risk the health and life of your cat?

IMO if they are not show quality cats, they should be neutered and spayed. Pets don't need to breed just cause you want a cute little kitten.

 

[karshe]

Has anyone thought about the quarintine rules and regulations that might just come into play with this imported kitten? Cost of quarintine? How long it could be in quarintine before it will be released to new owner? What vaccinations it might need before it can be imported into your country?

I know importing into OZ is a very long, and vaccination driven proceedure. I'm just beginning to wonder is it worth it? Especially if this kitten is not abled to be shown with the registered body concerned.