Before You Buy Your Cat
~ HOW TO LOCATE BREEDERS the carder sent to the kitten s breeder. C~uTiers that
meet airline specifications can be purch~L~ed at cal
People seeking a pedigreed kitten cml find the names
shows， wholesale pet-supply stores， pet shops， or at
of breeders in the yearbooks published by cat
some airline cargo offices. A sturdy， durable carrier
associations， the breeders ads in Cats or Cat Fancy
magazines， and the classmed section ofthe newspaper， costs about $25 to $ 35， depending on it~ size， Shipping
Yearbooks， whichcontainthemostpicturesofdifferent costs， which vary with the length of the flight， the
breeds， can be ordered from the executive ol~ces of cat method of shipping， and the airline doing the shippin g，
registries (See page 218). Cats and Cat Fancy are can range from $30 to $40 for a short flight to more
than $100 for a transcontinental journey.
available at newsstands or at cat shows， Newspapers
are available everywhere. Prospective buyers can meet
breedexs in person by visiling cat shows， which are BASIC CONCERNS
advertised in newspapers and cat magazines. Contrary to their reputation for being aloof， cats are
charming and devoted companions who provide us
with affection and amuse us with their antics. What s
HOW MUCH IS THAT KITTEN IN ...?
more， they are meticulously clean and supremely
The -price of a pet kitten is a function of breed， serf-sufficient--perfectly content to spend the day at
geography， supply， demand， and occasionally the home when we are away at work and delighted to see
number of surplus kittens a breeder has to feed. us when we return. Just as their ancestors have
Between $300 and $400 is a reasonable range for adapted to meet the earth s changing conditions over
most breeds in most parts of the country. Prices on the last three million years， modem-day cats adapt
either coast are somelX， nes higher， and breeders with well to the restrictions of urban living and the busy
new or exotic breeds often equate novelty with schedulesoftwo-car~rfamiliesorsmgle-parenthomes.
int~mas~xl value， but there is little reason to pay more Like people， kittens comein a variety of personalities.
than $500 for a companion cat that is not going to be from shy to scinlillating， and people who go to look at
Used for breeding， a kitten should observe careffflly. Watch as a kitten
Show kittens are another matter. Price will vary plays with litter mates. If a kitten is right in the middle
With breed， demand， and potential， but prices will start of the rolling and tumbling that kittens love， chances
:high and ttnish higher. Persian kittens are usually the are he s in good health mad developing normally. A
most expensive. It is difficult to find one that will be wallflower that sits quietly while the others play might
eOmlmtitive for less than $1，500. Of course， the more not be feeling well or might be the kind of kitten that
comp~titive a kitten is likely to be， the more a breeder requires a little more patience and attention than the
is likely to ask for it. average.
The ptu chase price is not the only cost associated Two simple personality tests hwolve wiggling a few
with buying a kitten. Anyone obtaining a kitten from fingers along the floor about six inches in front of a
a breeder who lives beyond drivhag distance must pay kitten， or dangling a sm ，dl toy back mid forth. Does the
:to have it shipped by plane. The buyer must also pay kitten scmnper over to uwestigate， or back away as
for the carrier in which the kitten is shipped--if the though libeling threatened? A well-adjusted kitten will
buyer does not have a carrier already--and for having be curious to llnd out what this htunml is about. A
|
内容加载中，请稍后...
商品评论（0条）