How to choose a kitten?
As a buyer, you should introduce yourself in detail to the breeder. You should explain your home and family situation, your job, your free time, your experience with cats, what is the motivation for you to have a kitten, etc. An experienced breeder will consider your situation and preferences and choose a suitable kitten for you accordingly.
First to think about is the motivation for you to have a kitten. Will the kitten live as a pet? Or you plan to go to shows with the kitten? Or do you plan to breed with the kitten? Normally the requirements for a kitten to show and/or breed are higher than as a pet, and the price is also higher. It’s possible that there are no kittens match the requirements and that you need to wait for the next litter.
If you want a kitten as a pet, would you prefer a calm quiet kitten or a playful energetic kitten? A breeder normally knows the characters of the kittens in a litter and you can also get some ideas by interacting with the kittens yourself. Normally a calm relaxed kitten is suitable for people who have children, or who have relatively less free time, while an active kitten will need to spend more time with the new owner. But it also depends each individual situation, for example an energetic active kitten who is not afraid of children will likely to be perfect playmate for children. Therefore, the interaction between the buyer and kitten during the visit is very important to see if there is a click between the two.
Another important thing to consider is if the buyer already has another cat home. If so, then a kitten who gets along with every cat/animal is more likely what the buyer needs.
Importantly, as a buyer you should do a lot of research in advance and trust your gut feelings afterwards. If you feel something is not right about the breeder, cattery or kitten, walk away. You should feel confident and comfortable in your decision.
When visiting a cattery/kitten, it’s a good opportunity to observe the environment the cats are living in, the cats’ condition and behaviors, how the breeder interacts with the cats, how the breeder communicates with you.
The first thing to check is the cleanliness and hygiene of the cattery/living environment. It should be clean overall and not be too smelly. The food and water bowls, litter boxes should be clean and properly placed. It should be bright with enough windows and sufficient light. It should be well ventilated and there should be warming for cold winter. There should be enough space for cats to run around and play. Always try to avoid overcrowded or too many cats in limited space because there is risk that the cats/kittens do not receive enough attention, care and affection. There should also be dedicated space, facilities and furniture to meet each individual cat’s needs.
It's also very important to observe cats’ behavior in the environment. They should not be stressed and fearful of visitors. They should appear alter, curious and comfortable with the environment and your visit. The cats should appear healthy with clean eyes, ears and hair, no strange behaviors. You should try to meet and interact with the kittens and their parents to see their socialization and temper towards new people.
It’s also a nice chance to observe how the breeder interacts with the cats. The breeder should take good care of them. Try to avoid breeders who seem to treat cats as a commercial rather than loving pets. Ask about how the breeder socialize kittens and take care of cats.
Finally, think in advance what kind of questions to ask the breeder: health, care, socialization, documentation, etc. A good breeder should be honest and transparent and be willing to answer all your questions. Your impression of the meeting and communication with the breeder is very important. Only an honest, responsible and professional breeder can ensure high quality kittens.