Thread: How to Choose???

I would be very concerned about spending a lot of money to purchase from a breeder that does no health testing. There are a number of tests that can be done and many MC breeders in the US do carry out such tests regularly. The HCM gene testing is one, but best breeders also have echocardiograms done on their breeding cats. Other genetic tests are for SMA and PKD, and evaluation of hips for hip dysplasia. Here is an example page that one of our breeders has for one of her breeding girls, with pedigree and health info:
Pedigree of RW, SGC Witchcraft Flash Fire of Chemicoons

Here is a link to the program that CFA established for a cheap gene testing panel:
catDNAtest.org: DNA Testing for Cats

Prices in the US for breeders that are conscientious about health testing are probably typically in the $800 to $1200 range, depending on how well known the breeder is and how in-demand their cats are. I would certainly not pay in this range for a cat that had no health testing info, unless there is something really special about its background.

As for showing and sex, what I always hear from breeders that show is that generally the females are at a disadvantage because they end up so much smaller than most males, and so are just inherently less impressive. Obviously if you have a very unusual color, you can easily end up with best of color at shows. We were at a local show last year with no silvers, and we thought that our boy could have easily won something just by showing up. Brown tabbies are generally the most numerous. Of course a large brown tabby MC is also one of the most impressive looking MCs, as they have that feral look.