Cheers for all the info and contacts guys, i really appreciate it!
I couldn't believe it when i first started looking into them, how many people have had problems with breeders. It really frightened me.

Saynamore -
I really didn't mean it like that, i'm sorry. I had just read that there were breeders around showing off really low level wins and trying to make them sound like big ones, so as to try and make people think their cats were top quality, when really they were only in it for the money.
Like i say, i'm just trying to make sure i don't make a terrible mistake and end up handing my money over to someone who doesn't put their cats before money, and then possibly end up with a sick kitten too.

Personally I would steer clear of any breeder that puts too much emphasis on show wins big or small - its the cats that are important and how they have been bred and raised. Especially if you don't want to show you just want a pet then you want a kitten that has been bred properly and raised in a loving environment so you know you have a well socialised and healthy baby who has every chance of living well into their teens. Shows are just a good way of meeting several breeders/owners with their cats in one place

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www.saikousiameseandorientals.com

"Love a lot, trust just a few and always paddle your own canoe"
"Who is the greater fool - the fool themself or those that follow them"

Ok that's understandable but I think whoever gave you that information that big show winners are more trustworthy must have their head up their bottom. The only sure way to tell if you are getting a healthy kitten is when at the breeder's home ask to see both parents if they have the sire and dam, and also go get a look at all their other cats. After all they are only going to enter their best into shows you dont know what the quality is of the other cats that they leave at home. Also most breeders get health checks when kits are vaccinated but on top of this as soon as you bring your new pet home you want to get your own vet to check the kit over as well for a second opinion

Yes but........

You forget the average ped buyer really does not have much to go on about choosing a 'good' breeder.

Where is the advice on cat breed club websites? Loads of advice on buying a kitten and what to do and how to look after it.

However the advice about seeing the parents is impractical as a lot of breeders send their queen away to stud.

You can read between the lines - sure. You can look at breeders' websites. And what is there to go on?

All will say they bring up kittens to be sociable/healthy. Most will give parents names (I mean ped names) and maybe some will give a 3 generation pedigree.

So punter looks at:

1. If the type of cat is what they want (body shots are helpful here)

2. Cat show success - don't care if there are breeders out there that concentrate on improving the breed or an unfashionable look - I am talking about how a punter may decide.

3. How successful that breeder is at selling kittens.

This forum has educated me but not all punters will look or know about a forum.

If the breeder is not into showing you need to persuade the punter to consider you by for instance explaining why or telling on the website what look you like and why.

I would love to find a Maine Coon kitten who was more like my original Maine Coon (old American lines I think). How am I to find a breeder who would suit if I was just searching websites?

I did say Janee, IF they have the sire and dam.............they will obviously have at least one of the parents that the prospective new owner can look at and 99% of breeders would have other cats as well to show them. Also with regard to 'punters' wanting full body photos, if I was buying a cat in from another breeder because of the nature of my particular breed, I would be more interested in a full facial shot rather than a photo of the cat's body, because I would want to look at the nose level, eye size, eye colour and ear shape cool:

Why would you put most importance on the show successes of the breeder if you are looking to purchase as pet only? Every criteria you have mentioned is what a breeder or someone interested in showing would go by.

For someone wanting pet only, health and temperament would be the main thing to focus on.

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I don't really know what answer you are looking for? What makes a good breeder or not is in the eye of the beholder.

If you are looking for a pet, what does their pedigree or show wins of their relatives matter ? I have never had a pet buyer interested in looking at a kittens pedigree At most someone would be interested in whether the kitten is inbred or not, but as to what the lines are in that pedigree or what they may or may not carry how would they know? I am willing to be there is a fair number of breeders that don't know to that level of detail.

People bought pedigree kittens without the help of the internet in the past Websites are just peoples sales patter - some bad breeders are excellent at it along with schmoosing a prospective kitten owner with all sorts of lies, like a used car salesman, and some fantastic breeders are rubbish at that bit. The onus is on the buyer to work that bit out for themselves. Only you as a kitten buyer know what is important to you, and the only way you are going to really find that out is to talk to as many breeders as you can and find someone that matches your requirements.

The only way you are going to know for sure whether you like the look of a kitten is to see it the fur. Body shots/head shots mean nothing and both can be misleading. No breeder is going to put a bad picture of their kitten up. With siamese and orientals, you catch a cat or kitten at the right angle and you can turn a bunny into a showstopper. Pictures don't tell you the temperament of the kitten either surely that is more important that looks too.

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www.saikousiameseandorientals.com

"Love a lot, trust just a few and always paddle your own canoe"
"Who is the greater fool - the fool themself or those that follow them"

That's what I was trying to say Saikou, you need to see them in the flesh/fur to be sure, but you probably phrased it better, pmsl If I was someone wanting to start out breeding though, I would have done my homework thoroughly and know what I should be looking for according to the breed standard, and depending on the breed would want some very particular shots before I travelled a long way in order to see them.

Sorry, you are a quicker typist than me. I think you, me and Angeli all had the same thoughts at the same time

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www.saikousiameseandorientals.com

"Love a lot, trust just a few and always paddle your own canoe"
"Who is the greater fool - the fool themself or those that follow them"

I am looking at Maine Coons so a body shot tells me a lot

I agree that every breed has its 'points' that the breeder wants to emphasize


However, i think most of you are missing the point. How do your kitten buyers 'find' you? Ever done any market research on this?

There have been a few posts about the over-supply of Bengals. If there is over-supply how do you, as a breeder, make your kittens the most must-have?

I think what I am saying about show success is that it is a pointer. Have you ever considered that? Not saying it is right.