By London Based Cat Behaviour Practitioner Anita Kelsey
When I was looking for my kittens the first line of call was a local rescue centre as all of my previous cats have been from them. However, and rightly so, rescue centres are particularly vigilant in placing healthy cats and kittens in homes with gardens only and, like a lot of people in London, I do not have the luxury of a garden.
At this point I started surfing for cats and kittens who were unable to go out due to poor health. First of all I surfed for blind kittens but very few were needing homes at that time and the only one I did find, in a Liverpool rescue centre, died before I had to chance to collect it. So, my attention turned to pedigree cats as most are bred as indoor cats with no knowledge of the outside world * (see below) Even if they are lucky to have outside access, then it’s usually by way of a secure run or garden where they were protected from roads, foxes, other cats and diseases. The world of the pedigree is fascinating and learning about each breed, their personalities, needs and history was such an eye-opening experience and a real joy. I settled on the Norwegian Forest breed as I loved the look of them, the fact they are a natural breed, and that they are very affectionate, playful and clever. My kittens have been trained on a harness so they get regular outdoor playtime and they also love being at home with my husband and I. So I like to think I have achieved a nice balance. If you are thinking of getting a pedigree chose wisely and study each one’s personality traits and their needs. A great site with lots of information can be found on the Cat Fanciers Association web site.
Click HERE to go straight to the breed section. Use common sense too. Indoor cats need SPACE , not only to run around in but for their climbing frames, toys, and getting space away from one another, so thinking of getting one whilst you live in a tiny bed sit on the top floor is selfish and would be a miserable existence for your pet.
Choose your breed wisely. Read up on the behaviour of particular breeds to make sure it’s the right one for your living situation. Don’t get a Bengal cat if you work long hours and do not have the space for lots of climbing frames and the time to give loads of attention as these cats are highly intelligent, have bags of energy and hate being alone. They also do not bode well being in a multi cat household.
A word of warning about pedigree kittens and cats
- Be careful when finding a breeder. Make sure they are registered and known in the breeders tight knit circle. Believe me, I travelled to Durham to get my kittens and all the breeders in London knew about her and the fact I bought them from her (!!) so word does get around if there is a bad egg out there! Check how the kitten has been bred, whether they have had a socially interactive upbringing IE with children and other pets, whether they appear healthy and well looked after, from a good clean home.
A further word of warning on pedigree kittens and cats
- If a pedigree kitten is being offered cheap on Gumtree or similar, don’t buy! A good breed of kitten (no matter which one) generally starts from £250 – £300 upwards (Some Russian Blues start at £400) so anyone offering a kitten for £100 saying it’s of a particular breed is not to be trusted. Each breed generally has an association connected to it which should be your first port of call in seeing who has kittens available. Pedigree cats also need re-homing too and many can be found on that particular breeds association web site.
* I am not an advocate of keeping cats in-doors and encourage any cat guardian to investigate in cat window boxes, cat proof fencing, runs, fun outdoor climbers, anything to enable your cat to get some fresh air and a view of birds etc. After I got my Norwegian Forest cats I had an 180 degree change of mind about keeping these cats in an urban flat. They are too stunning to be let out where I live and would be stolen in minutes. My next cats will be rescue cats that have free access to the outdoors. I believe even a shorter free natural life is better than a longer life in captivity where most of the day CAN BE boring and un-stimulating. I know many would disagree with me.
I hope this has been helpful.
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To enquire about a cat behaviour consultation or if you require further advice about pedigree kittens and cats please email: info@catbehaviour.com
INFO ON CAT BEHAVIOUR CONSULTATION
If you have found yourself on this page and are a cat guardian, with a few cat issues to iron out, it’s more than likely that you will be seeking a cat behaviourist to visit your home as part of a cat behaviour consultation.
Why book a cat behaviour consultation with Anita Kelsey:
- Anita Kelsey has been studying cats for years and is fully accredited
- Currently in her second year at university reading for a BA in Cat Psychology
- Vet recommended and referred
- Full member of the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association
- Friendly and approachable
- Impeccable client references
- Support always given.
- Easy to talk to and contact
- Based in Notting Hill, London but will travel anywhere in the UK
- International clients welcome
- Full public liability insurance
- Emails answered within 24 hours and cat behaviour consultations always treated as an emergency and appointments given straight away
- Day, evening or week-end appointments available
- Anita is a natural animal communicator
- Specialised cat groomer. Behaviour consultations connected to grooming available
- Anita’s living and breathing passion is cats and she understands their behaviours and patterns more than anyone. Anita can give expert advice if this is the time time you are thinking about buying a pedigree cat or kittens.