r/britishshorthair • u/P0URIA • 16h ago
tips for purchasing kitten?
so I'm new to having a cat, i found an 3 month british boy and i was going to get him but the thing is i promised to my family to take care of him by myself, so i was thinking is there anything to consider? like things i need to ask the breeder before buying, or if is the gender of the cat matters (because one of my friend had troubles with her male cat) and also what things should i buy before buying the cat like food, litter, scratcher and etc.
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u/Dark_Angel14 15h ago
Firstly, is this a registered breeder who breeds healthy, happy kittens or is this a backyard breeder? The breeder needs to show you proof of registration with TICA or CFA. They also need to show pedigree of both parents. They also need to show health test results of both parents. This includes FIV FIP HCM and other common health screenings. If they cannot provide any of these they are a backyard breeder or a kitten mill.
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u/P0URIA 15h ago
as i know it's one of the most reputable breeders in my city so thank you for your help i ask them about this things
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u/Dark_Angel14 15h ago
That’s great! You’ll still want to double check with these criteria since reputation isn’t really reliable for breeders. It’s common for people to leave great reviews for their breeder simply because their kittens were cute and pretty. You may also need to consider health insurance. It’s something that you need to get your kitten on as soon as possible because they’re a purebred kitten and health care can get expensive. The sooner you get him insured, the cheaper it will be. Have you also considered what you will do if you moved out in the next ten years? Or even what you will do if your family goes on a two week long trip?
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u/P0URIA 15h ago
I'm not sure yet because i don't know how deep my bond with my cat will be but i think i would try to take care of him or give him to one of my little cousins because they really lile pets and for trips i know few boarding facilities around my home area but I'm not sure if that's an good idea or not
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u/Dark_Angel14 14h ago
This may be something you need to think ahead on before you get a cat. Ask your cousins about this. You can’t decide for someone else.
Before you get a cat, you also need to see if you can financially afford it. Look up what health insurance will cost. Do some research on vet bills in your area. Your cat will need to visit the vet once every year. How much will that cost? If your cat had a chronic disease like diabetes or FIV, would you be able to afford it? Pick a good quality cat food. How much would that cost every month? Add in the price of litter too.
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u/Proud-Log9948 14h ago
BHS are very calm cats, but they shed a lot, if your mom is grossed out or don’t like them that might be a problem. No matter how often I vacuum as soon as I finish there is a bunch of hair growing out of the carpets again. They are indoor cats or should be kept inside but again don’t keep him in your room only because of your mom he should be able to roam freely. Again I’m not sure of your whole situation but because of the shedding maybe a BSH is not the right option considering your mom. I agree with stainless steel bowls and litter box. Kittens are active and like to play but again BSH are the cutest and calmest cats you will come across. Make sure you have scratching posts and trees or he will start shredding your home. Keep his nails trimmed and brush him, start him off as soon as you get him so he will get used to it. I have a boy he is the best we fixed him at almost 7mo old and he never got a chance to spray which is very important because if they start and you have them neutered after they most likely will continue spraying.
Make sure you take him to the vet after getting him, to make sure he is healthy, keep up with whatever vaccines he needs if they are still needed. Don’t go buying a ton of toys or food, some kittens are picky and get bored fast, but also they should stay on the same food as the breeder is feeding them for a while until they get comfortable in your home same with the kitty litter for the litter box, ask the breeder what they are using and get that to start with. Once you get your kitten you will know what to do. I was so lost at first how much to feed him what to do or not to do but it all fell into place. I got beds and blankets and he hasn’t used them once, he sleeps on his scratching tree or in bed with me. So don’t worry just make sure a furball like BSH will be ok in your home around your mom. Also mine didn’t start shedding until he was like 6mo old.
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u/P0URIA 10h ago
our house has two units next to each other so i guess it would be okay to handle and also I'm curious if i need to look out for the scratcher's material and size?
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u/Proud-Log9948 10h ago
Get a couple of the cat trees, I have a large one that has multiple little scratchers on them and little beds he liked to sleep on the top, for some reason they like to sleep high up, I have a smaller one next to my couch and then the cardboard ones upstairs, so he can play and scratch on them wherever he goes. If he starts scratching something or jumping on counters take him down, you will repeat that a few times until he understands he can’t do it. Just put him down he will jump back up and you will just repeat, brags the easiest way to teach him what he can’t or can do. They love cat tunnels they love playing with them. You will be fine, check Amazon for cat trees and cardboard scratchers and get him fixed by 6 months unless the breeder did it already.
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u/Plastic-Draft-4709 16h ago
Soil? How old are you btw? Maybe do alot more research on purebreds.
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u/P0URIA 16h ago
lol sorry english isn't my first language and i didn't check the name of the litter so i just used the word from my native language, I'm m 16, so school isn't too demanding for me right now
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u/california_cactus 15h ago
I would think long and hard before geting a cat if you're 16 and your family refuses to help you with its care. Do you make enough to afford vet bills? At least in the US, vet bills can be thousands of dollars especially for emergency situations, though one can get pet health insurance. Do you have plans to go to college and if so, would you be able to keep the cat with you then? Keep in mind a cat can be a 15 year or so commitment. Will you be able to afford a place to live where a cat is allowed once you're out of the house? Finding a pet friendly rental can be challenging and expensive at least here in the US.
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u/P0URIA 15h ago
oh i think i didn't deliver it well, it's not like they don't help me for it's cost and things it's more because my mom gets grossed out by cats and cleaning them and also i agreed to pay for his daily expenses with my allowance, so i have to take care of the cleaning and some basic things which I'm okay with
but after all our house is big enough for my mom to not be bothered by an cat and i don't live in US so i don't think bills would be as high
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u/california_cactus 12h ago
Ok, so I would research how much vet bills are in your country. They may be "not high" but does that mean you can afford them? Can your family, and would your family agree to pay for things like vet emergencies, chronic medical conditions, etc? What if the cat needs to be on prescription food the rest of its life? Also, if your mom is grossed out by cats, and you move out when you're an adult, can you take the cat with you? These are all things you need to think about and discuss with your parents beforehand.
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u/CompleteDeniability 15h ago
What trouble does your friend have with male cats? Usually they are easier to take care of.
You need the basics 1. Stainless steel or porcelain water and food bowls 2. Stainless steel litter box 3. Cat tunnel 4. Cat tee