How to go About Buying Your Breeders

Like anything else in life, buying your breeding stock is a matter of knowing what you are looking for, recognizing a good cat, and also the old saying "you get what you pay for" applies.

Some of your best breeders are smaller breeders who take the time to show their cats, and weed out the genetic problems, and cats that do not fit the standard. These same breeders may be reluctant to sell to a new breeder. You can hardly blame them. They have put a lot of time and effort into their work, and want to make sure the person buying their animals will keep up with their standards, and most of all, give the cats a good home. These kittens are our babies and mean a lot to us. We have raised and played with each and every one of them, and they each have a piece of our hearts, whether they go as breeders or pets. Being a BREEDING CAT is not the best life for our furry friends, so we are very careful to whom they go to. We want to know they will have good clean quarters, the best food, plenty of attention, and not be over bred. I personally pet out every breeding cat I have by 3 or 4 years old, so they can live the rest of their lives as a cherished, loved and spoiled PET. I would expect the same from anyone I sell a breeder too.

You can probably pick up a few kittens for breeding at a lower price in some catteries. Some breeders don’t care whom they sell their cats too, as long as they get the money for the kitten. Many new breeders are "taken" by these people every year, especially now, since the Ragdoll is a popular breed. Beware of these people. They will sell a new breeder ANYTHING and call it a good breeder. A breeding cat doesn’t have to be perfect, but as close to the standard as possible. An experienced breeder knows the kind of things that get passed on from generation to generation and will not sell breeders with these faults. They may make wonderful pets, but for the price of a breeding cat, you should get excellent quality.

Be prepared to wait awhile for good breeding stock. It pays to be fussy and get a good start. It is up to YOU to convince the breeders who have the best cats, and care the most for them, that you will be the best breeder you can possibly be, and that you have thought long and hard about breeding. It’s up to you to learn as much as you can about the Ragdoll and breeding. Most breeders are willing to help new people, but only after they know the new breeder is committed to doing a good job.

The very best way to start in the Ragdoll world, is to buy a show neuter, and show him for while. This way you will learn about type, the standard, and living with a Ragdoll. You will see other Ragdolls at the shows, know who is producing good cats, and get to know the breeders. It’ll make it easier for you to find someone you feel comfortable working with, and they will then feel comfortable with you. When you start breeding your own cats, you will want to show something of your own breeding, but a neutered show cat can be valuable to you now and later. Later, when your cats are breeding, and not in the best condition, you will have the show alter to let people know what their cat will look like when it is grown.

Also, before you buy your first cat, you should go visit a cattery or two, to see what a cattery is all about. It will also give you a chance to see the way the cats are raised, and if you approve of the cattery and the cats. What people tell you over the phone, or even in person at a show, may not be how they really run their cattery.

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