Buying & Selling Kittens

Tips on how to find that great home for your kittens
or find that special kitten of your own

Titles marked with a red asterisk * are for ShowCatsOnline.com members only.

• * Advertising a Kitten For Sale at the Show
  Learn simple techniques to attract more buyers for your kitten at the show by preparing an eye-catching sign, plus some simple sales techniques, and knowing what to say to prospective buyers. Includes a complete resource list of suppliers.
  
  April 2001


• * At What Age Should Kittens Go To a New Home?
  Sometimes buyers want to take a kitten far too early. There are some simple things you can explain to them in order for them to understand why they need to wait until the kitten is the best age to go to its new home.
  
  February 2001


• Bless The Pet Owners
  Bless the special people who knowingly welcome the less than ideal cat or kitten into their family... and into their hearts.
  
  June 2004


• * Boomerang Babies
  My motto is `A Mockingbird Kitten is a Mockingbird Kitten Forever`.
  
  June 2004


• * Buyer Beware
  Learn how to be a smart shopper when looking for a new kitten...
  
  September 2006


• Cattery Listing Services
  A look at some of the sites online that have cattery listings
  
  August 2005


• * Choosing A Cattery To Buy From
  You have decided you want to buy a special show kitten. Which cattery should you be purchasing from?
  
  July 2003


• * Co-Ownership of a Cat
  Of course there may be many reasons why two or more people decide to co-own a kitty, however there are 5 main reasons for co-ownership of a cat. It is a smart move to understand the pros and cons in any co-ownership situation.
  
  January 2001


• * Cost of a Show Cat
  What is a reasonable price for a show cat?
  
  January 2003


• * Deal-Breakers
  Every breeder needs to decide what might be a `deal-breaker` in their breeding program - the line they are not willing to cross: the things in a cat that are unacceptable or the things in a deal that are non-negotiable.
  
  August 2005


• * Early Neuter Spay
  Neutering or Spaying Kittens before the age of 4 months is safe and comes with great advantages for the responsible cat breeder.
  
  July 2004


• * Evaluating A Cat And Its Pedigree
  Whether searching for a new cat to bring into your breeding program, or wondering which kitten to keep from the season`s `crop`, the decision-making process begins with evaluating the individual cat and its pedigree...
  
  June 2007


• * Evaluating A Cat From Photos
  Whether you are buying or selling, knowing how to evaluate a cat`s structure from its photo is a valuable skill to develop.
  
  November 2005


• * Finding Your First Show Cat
  When getting started in the cat fancy, the first steps will involve purchasing foundation stock for one`s breeding and showing program. This is the best advice a newcomer to the cat fancy will ever receive concerning how to buy a first show cat!
  
  August 2007


• First Goodbye
  Adia bids goodbye to the first kitten from her first litter...
  
  August 2004


• * How To Place a Retired Adult Cat
  There are great homes out there for older, retired breeders (cats not humans). You just need to know where to find them.
  
  November 2002


• * How To Say No
  For most breeders, it is not an easy thing to have to tell a kitten inquirer that you don't want to sell a kitten to them. It is uncomfortable. Awkward. It can become combative and contentious. However, it is something that has to be dealt with - hopefully with as much grace as possible. This article provides you with useful tips on how to say no ...
  
  September 2009


• * How To Write A Kitten Inquiry Email
  Learn how can you write a better inquiry letter and improve your odds of getting a reply when looking for that special kitten!
  
  January 2006


• * Kitten Buyer Visits 101
  Do you know how to take charge of the visit when buyers come to look at your kittens? Here are tips to have a happy and safe visit.
  
  June 2004


• * Kitten Deposits
  The pros and cons of taking deposits on your kittens
  
  June 2004


• Kitten For Christmas
  Giving a kitten as a Christmas present can be an appealing idea, but most breeders hesitate to let one of their kittens go to a new home during the busy holiday season. Learn the best way to let a kitten be a gift.
  
  December 2008


• * Kitten For Sale` Photos
  How you take and present the photos of your kitten for sale can make the difference between a potential buyer deciding they must have YOUR kitten... or going elsewhere.
  
  June 2004


• * Kitten Handbook
  A smart breeder should create a `Kitten Handbook` - a manual that answers most of the questions a new owner will have.
  
  June 2004


• * Kitten Inquiry
  Kitten inquiries can be some of the most frustrating contacts made - especially when that initial contact comes via e-mail, rather than at a show or in person.
  
  June 2004


• * Kitten Prices
  One of the most frequently asked questions of a cat breeder is how do you decide how much to ask for your pet kittens?
  
  June 2004


• * Kitten Shopping List
  Whether a person reserves a kitten, one of the first things they should receive is a shopping list for their new baby.
  
  June 2004


• * Kitten`s Paperwork
  Having the kitten`s paperwork well organized and beautifully presented is just one of the hallmarks of a good breede
  
  June 2004


• Labels on Your Shipping Carrier
  When shipping your cat, there are a few tips about labeling your carrier that may help your cat arrive quickly and safely to its destination.
  
  February 2004


• * Making Your Cat Photos Better
  There are several things you can do to make your photos look better before publishing them on your website.
  
  October 2002


• * Non-Refundable Kitten Deposit
  In order to reserve a kitten for a buyer, many breeders accept a deposit. The kitten deposit may or may not be refundable. If your kitten deposit is non-refundable, there are certain precautions you may wish to take to protect those funds...
  
  February 2009


• Perfect Kitten
  Everyone wants a perfect kitten... but it helps to be reasonable :-)
  
  October 2003


• * Photographing Your Cat
  Are you frustrated because the photographs of your kitten just don`t do it justice? Learn the secrets to taking better photos of your cat!
  
  January 2002


• * Picking Up the Kitten
  Learn the best ways of making the process of picking up their new kitten easy for both the new owner and the breeder.
  
  June 2004


• * Protect Yourself
  Exercise some common-sense precautions to protect yourself and your kitties from the possible dangers that some prospective `buyers` may present
  
  March 2006


• * Rating Your Kittens
  Every breeder wants to do an excellent job of rating the quality of the kittens they produce... but how?
  
  January 2007


• * Red Flags or Buyer Beware
  Caveats every buyer should know about - the red flags when purchasing or selling a new kitten.
  
  November 2005


• Scam - Beware!
  Kitten sellers need to be aware of a scam that has been around a long time, but still catches breeders in their pocket books.
  
  October 2005


• * Shipping Your Cat By Air
  Learn how to prepare the carrier, choose the best airline, and ensure that your kitty arrives safely.
  
  March 2002


• * Show? Breeder? Pet?
  Have you ever wondered exactly what `show quality` means? What`s the difference between a `show` kitten and a `top show` kitten? How is a show kitten different from a breeder/show kitten?
  
  April 2001


• Special Needs Kittens
  Not every kitten is perfect. A `special needs` kitten may have a health problem, a behavior concern or even a disfigurement from an accident. Finding the right owner to love and care for such a kitten is a great responsibility
  
  March 2004


• Special One
  Adia says goodbye to her last kitten - the special one...
  
  August 2004


• United Airlines` New Pet Shipping Policy
  
  
  November 2001


• What Not To Give For Christmas
  Giving a kitten as a Christmas gift is an appealing idea... but it is also a bad idea
  
  December 2002


• * What To Check For When Picking Up Your New Kitten
  A simple check list can help you evaluate your new kitten purchase
  
  September 2002