Some basic background info:
Our Siberian cats come from European and International Grand Champion bloodlines. They are part of our family who just happen to have awesome blood lines! Pricing our kittens vary; we are not the cheapest nor the most expensive cattery, but we feel our kittens are reasonably priced. They receive constant socialization, variety of interactions, lots of play and loving and petting, impecable care, and well-balanced and varied diet, for the very good health our kittens and cats.
Pet Quality can mean different things from different breeders. It can be a minor or major fault that the breeder does not want to reproduce in their breeding program. It can also mean they are show quality kittens, but the breeder chooses to place them in homes, cares to not show them at cat shows, or they do not want the buyer to have breeding rights. It can mean many things, so please be sure to ask. There are some kittens that can be shown as an "alter" at cat shows, unless there is a major fault that would and should be disclosed to the buyer prior to purchase. Also, unless the kitten is old enough to be spayed or nuetered, it will fall on the buyer to have their vet do this prior to receiving any paperwork on that kitten. This is usually covered in a contract.
Kittens can range from $750-$1500.
Show Quality means the cat or kitten conforms to the strict breeding standard for any of the major cat registration organizations and have the potential to champion and grand. These kittens or cats have very minor faults (not yet has anyone produced the "perfect" cat that we all strive for) and their genetics are for the betterment of the breed. Show quality kittens and cats also have breeding rights for the buyer.
Kittens can range from $1000 to $1500.
Breeder quality usually means the kitten or cat has the potential to champion, but may have a minor fault that will prevent it from being shown beyond that, or is so minor that genetically, it can be passed on to offspring. I personally have known pedigree breeders that didn't look as good as the "pet quality" kitten, yet they threw the most awesome kittens! Its genetics you are really buying when you buy a breeder!
Kittens can range from $900 to $1500.
Breeders will ask you many questions, but that is for many reasons. I ask about children because, unless the potential buyer teaches the child how to properly hold the kitten, and how to put one down correctly, the kitten's welfare is in question. I know many breeders than can tell you horror stories from kittens being dropped and abused by children. We love our cats and want only the best homes for them to live in! We get very attached to them and its hard to see them go, but if we screen our buyers well enough to match the personality of the kitty with that of the potential family, then we know things should work out. We take very good care of our cats and kittens, spoil them, feed them the best cat foods, keep them in excellent health, lots and lots of loving, interaction, toys and toy furniture...we want only the best for them.
So when we ask you questions, please don't feel offended!!
I also ask about other pets--there are some very possessive animals that can hurt or even kill a kitten in seconds. Cats not used to kittens can scratch their eyes and permanently blind them! Dogs can maul or worse, kill a kitten. I personally have a house full of cat, kittens, and 1 small dog and most get along very well. I also ask potential buyers if anyone is home during the day or are they away from home; leaving a kitten that is used to a housefull, all of a sudden put into a home where there is no one to play with, can be lonely and mischievious. Most adjust quite well, but again, there are stories of kittens and cats that have made quiet a mess of someone's house and then blamed severely for making the mess. We try to match the personalityof the kitten with the prospective household--active kitten should go to an active family--a quiet, reserved kitten may do well in a more serene home.
Common sense issue!
Most breeders are reputable and are breeding to enhance the breed, not to have a "kitten mill"--but there are plenty of kitten mills there also. Then there are the "questionable" breeders who buy great cats with great blood lines and then never show at a cat show, but continue to breed and sell the kittens. How do they know if the kittens are even in show standards anymore? Show standards can change every year, and from cat club to another. It should raise a big flag to the buyer if the breeder advertising grand and champion this and that, yet does not personally show.
Buyer Beware!!
You want an honest breeder! Be honest with your breeder!
Additional Costs for the Buyer
Shipping by air is added to the cost of the kitten. I use Continental Airlines stateside as they have the best pet air cargo business out there. Luftansa is a high second for overseas. Continentals prices are usually around $160 ($149 plus taxes). The basic price if under 9 pounds, then goes 10 lbs up to 55 pound per animal and cage, $225. Of course, personally picking up kitten is preferred, but for long distances, this can be a very long drive and just as stressful on your kitten. If there is a delay of over 4 hrs on connecting flights, Houston has a $75 kenneling charge.
Health Certificate from a vet is required and valid for shipping within a window of 10 days only. This cost is $50 including the cost of the vet-check prior to shipping.
Kennel must be an approved airline kennel with all the required stickers, water, food, absorbing materials, and large enough for the kitten or cat to stand up in and turn around in. A good shipping kennel can run $25-$55 depending on size and quality. There are some cheaper, but are flimsy and I fell like they would "some apart" during carrying. The heftier carriers will be bought for overseas travel, up to $55.
Microchipping can be done or is already done by the breeder. If not done and is requested from buyer, add an additional $30 for this life-saving device! As a breeder, I highly recommend this to be done as it enables your kitten or cat to be located in times of disaster or if somone steals your cat (even at cat shows this happens!!) Any vet or animal shelter can scan this and find you in a nationwide data base.