Kitten Buyers Guide | Shalnavazz Lykoi UK

What to look for when buying a Lykoi kitten

There are many things to consider before giving a home to any animal. Getting a new kitten is a lifelong commitment and with that comes financial and emotional implications. Considering the fact that your prospective feline family member could be with you for over 15 years, it makes sense that you should put a lot of time and thought into your choice.

Finding a Lykoi Breeder

Sometimes it is hard to find a good breeder close to where you live, so you must be prepared to travel. Looking on pet selling sites such as Pets4Homes or Preloved is not the best idea unless you are planning to visit the home of the breeder and visit the cats in the cattery. Breed clubs will hold records of registered, ethical breeders. If a breeder is registered with breed clubs such as the GCCF or TICA, you are more likely to get a healthy kitten with pure bloodlines.

Visiting a cat show is another good way to see the breed hands on and meet with owners and breeders. Joining online breed groups will also help you connect with owners and enable you to ask lots of questions about the breed. A good breeder will be happy to chat to you about the personality and character traits of their cats and kittens. Many breeders also have their own websites for their cattery.

Choosing a Kitten

Once you feel comfortable with a breeder, and it is time to visit your kitten, there are several things that you should look out for.

A good breeder will always invite you to visit their kittens in their home. Some breeders don't allow visits before the kitten has its fist vaccination (usually at around 9 weeks old), others will allow you to visit slightly earlier. This is down to the breeders discretion and what they feel is best for their kittens.
A breeder will often ask you to remove your shoes when entering their home, ask you to wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer. This is purely to protect the kittens and prevent spreading germs. Please also make sure you don't visit more than one breeder on the same day. This is for the safety of your kitten.
Ask to see both parents of the kittens, or at least mum if dad is an outside stud. Notice if they appear to be in good health and evaluate their overall temperament.
Ask to see the pedigree certificates and any health screening certificates of the kittens parents.
Make sure the kittens have been well socialised. Have they been around other animals or children? Have they been around normal domestic noises such as a TV, washing machine and vacuum cleaner?
The kittens should look clean and healthy. They should have clear eyes, and noses and clean bottoms. No runny or red eyes or sneezing. Check litter trays have no runny or smelly faeces in them.
You should be able to see and handle all of the kittens in the litter, not just the one being offered to you.
Ask lots of questions about the kittens diet and kind of litter they are used to. This will allow you to prepare for your new arrival.
Be prepared to answer lots of questions about you, your home, what other animals you have and how the kitten will be looked after. A reputable breeder will want to make sure their kitten is going to the right home.
Some breeders ask for a deposit to secure your kitten, with the remainder to be paid on collection. This is entirely down to the breeders discretion.

Collecting your Kitten

When you collect your kitten make sure of the following:

They should be fully vaccinated, wormed, microchipped, neutered and vet checked at least once. They should leave the breeder no earlier than 13 weeks old, more likely at 15/16 weeks.
The breeder should provide registration papers with the kitten, a pedigree certificate, a written contract with a health guarantee and 4 or 5 weeks insurance cover.
A sales agreement or contract should be signed by both you and the breeder. This details what is expected of you, as the buyer, and what you should expect from the breeder.

A good breeder would encourage you to stay in touch and keep them updated on your kittens progress. They should offer you help and advice throughout your kittens life.