Thread: Buying a kitten unseen

I think there is a big difference also between sight-unseen but planned in advance versus impulse buying. The parents buying their wailing kids a puppy in the pet shop etc. That's plain wrong.

For those in a situation where travel is an issue, perhaps even those who are largely housebound and want companions, it is an option.

I bought both my kittens after only seeing their pictures and talking to the breeder. There were very few Maincoon catteries in our state, and I wanted to have a kitten within 3 months. I could not take any time off my high intensity job to have 5 hours flight ,spend 30 minutes with breeder and head back. My husband and I liked the website and kittens' parents therefore we were happy to have the option of shipping kitties by airplane. The breeder told us that kittens tolerate the flights better than adults. Ever since I thought it was the best decision. Have I decided to wait for a litter in our state, I would still be on waiting list.

Just to expand on the issues many US buyers might face...the closest MC breeders that we have been able to find are two hours from us. I certainly would do four hours of driving to go see a kitten prior to purchase/decision. However, from what I have heard from various sources, from looking at their websites, and from talking with some of them at shows, I would not feel comfortable purchasing from most of these breeders. The next closest set of breeders are 4-6 hours away. So we could be talking about 12 hours of driving and a couple of hundred dollars on gas and hotel to go see a kitten.

Another issue is that the best breeders generally have the lowest availability of kittens. Were you to limit yourself to one or two reasonably close good quality breeders, it might be a year or even more before you could get a male or a cat with a particular color. This is often not acceptable. In fall of 2009 we decided we needed to get a male MC kitten for our male Remy because the girl that had played with him no longer would due to his size. This pretty much meant finding a male in a short period of time--no waiting 6mos or a year. I think it is great that we have so much more choice in breeders being able to search the entire country, and I feel it is worth giving up the ability to visit the breeder and kitten in person.

Debbie asks if it is worth getting a kitten sight unseen from a non-reputable breeder. I would say getting a kitten from a non-reputable breeder is always a big risk--whether you go see the kitten or not. There is really only so much you are going to find out by a brief visit and by seeing a very young kitten. In particular I don't feel you can judge their eventual look too well. What about personality? I would think that is probably the best reason to go visit, and yet I am skeptical that will tell you a lot. As kittens, ours have all been much more similar than different, but they all have very distinctive personalities as adults. Will you see the true personalities in an hour? What if some are sleepy while you are there? I think the breeders see differences being around them for weeks, so I would frankly rely more on their assessment than one I did quickly.

Originally Posted by NCarver

Debbie asks if it is worth getting a kitten sight unseen from a non-reputable breeder. I would say getting a kitten from a non-reputable breeder is always a big risk--whether you go see the kitten or not. There is really only so much you are going to find out by a brief visit and by seeing a very young kitten. In particular I don't feel you can judge their eventual look too well. What about personality? I would think that is probably the best reason to go visit, and yet I am skeptical that will tell you a lot. As kittens, ours have all been much more similar than different, but they all have very distinctive personalities as adults. Will you see the true personalities in an hour? What if some are sleepy while you are there? I think the breeders see differences being around them for weeks, so I would frankly rely more on their assessment than one I did quickly.

Good Points.. and I understand the travel involved in the states, I have only bought 4 kittens unseen from reputable breeders 3 are fabulous my 2 chocolate abyssinians, and My Somali my British girl was well a disappointment but she went on to breed some fabulous kittens..

The question was general also to breeders too, I also understand what you are saying regarding kittens sleeping, but most people who come to me stary for a couple of hours so usually the kittens are awake I send photos and video which can also help...

Thanks for you input x

We didn't buy Darcy, she was a retired breeder cat and her mommy wanted her to go to a good home. They shared photos and gave us a full medical history and talked to OUR references. They had very very good reviews. But we had never met her before trekking 4 hours to get her. We got very lucky with her

Our next kitten we are planning on is much much closer and the breeder will allow us to come meet and see their cattery and everything.

Im in the UK and the closest breeder that I felt happy and could trust is almost 2.5 hours away

So I made the trek and selected her, however, I wouldn't be happy getting a cat from a breeder who I did not know whatsoever delivered without seeing the actual cat in person

I think if you know the breeder or built a relationship with them its a completely diffrent kettle of fish

Originally Posted by Samantha

Im in the UK and the closest breeder that I felt happy and could trust is almost 2.5 hours away

So I made the trek and selected her, however, I wouldn't be happy getting a cat from a breeder who I did not know whatsoever delivered without seeing the actual cat in person

I think if you know the breeder or built a relationship with them its a completely diffrent kettle of fish

Think with the UK and some of the lets just say not so nice and dedicated breeders, then it is a bit of a mine field.. I also agree if you build up a relationship with a breeder its good..

When living in the UK I have traveled over 7 hours one way to look at a kitten, but then I am a breeder so it is kind of different as breeders are looking for different things to pet owners.

What you should be looking for? when you can not visit

Photos of your baby with DATES from the day it was born.

Kittens that look healthy, and look to be enjoying them selves as they grow.

Check contracts and information sheets ask for them to be sent to you by email if need be also look at what you get with you kitten when you take it home.


NEVER even if you have seen this baby grow and become attached to it, take a kitten when you see it that looks unwell because you feel sorry for it..

Buying kittens off bad breeders makes them continue in their practice, as good bad or indifferent so long as they can sell the kittens they will.

Horror stories have just come to light, of sick kittens being sold, masked with drugs to cover their illness, Kittens that are at least 6 week older that what they are supposed to be. Kittens with out vaccinations being sold, the list is endless.. Do your homework ask lots and lots of questions!!


I had a couple drive a long way to me at the weekend to look at an Abyssinian Kitten they were informed they could not touch her she was too young but they came, they wanted to see certificates of tests done on parents, parents pedigrees, the parents them selves, known diseases and how to be sure their kitten would not have them like PRA PKD PL.

2 hours, of questions, and pleasant conversion. they reserved the kitten and we will continue to send them photos until she is ready to go..

This to me is a new PET owner doing their homework.