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I am purchasing a male MC kitten. We picked him out from pictures that were sent to us. The pictures were taken when the kittens were 7wks old. We just met our kitten at 9wks old and his pattern is different from his picture. The pictures shows a white leg with 3 stripes. The kitten we met has strips all the way to his wrist on the same leg. The veins/stripes of color around his eyes have changed direction too. Is it possible for a kitten's pattern to change?
I don't think so and certainly not it 2 weeks.
I dealt with my breeder in 1995 before the internet was so big and we communicated by phone, she interviewed me and informed me she had 4 older kittens 3 girls and a boy, there was a blue torbie and 3 red and white.
I didn't decide which kitty to get until I went to her house and meant the father and the kittens, there was a picture of a Torbie in my book so I was intrigued and when I meant Blue Girl it was love at 1st site on my part, she was rather indifferent to me but soon warmed up to her new Papa and I spoiled her rotten.
So the question is do you like kitten and what did the breeder say about the picture?
Did you get to see the rest of the litter or was you just presented with the single kitten?
Two of our kittens looked slightly different to their pictures when we picked them up, but we were sent weekly picture updates so we could see the slight changes in their colouration.
As cooncatbob mentioned, did the breeder comment?
No way can amount of white change or pattern to go a different way,I would take photo along & show it to the breeder & if you don't get shown the same babe think twice about buying from there,in fact I think I would pull out right now,I had a friend who had the same thing with another breed,she was sent a photo of a super kitten & when she went down to look the litter was nothing like it,she is very upfront & demanded to know why & it turned out is was a photo from another breeder who had lot better kittens & they were using that to get people to go & visit relying on the fact that people would fall for the others & buy,well friend didn't I am pleased to say,a very backhand way about doing things & unless breeder can come up with a very good reason as I say forget it & go somewhere else....x
Thank you for your responses. The breeder only showed us one kitten and insisted it was out boy. The breeder said the markings on the tail meant it was our guy. I'm afraid of falling in love with this guy, only to come to get him and find he belongs to someone else, and be handed a different kitten to take home. I wouldn't mind either kitten, but I'd like to know which kitten belongs to me. These kittens are not cheap and I would like to make sure I get the correct kitten with the correct set of papers. We well be contacting the breeder again and take the original pictures with us to compare and ask them to explain the change in markings.
I would assume an unethical and/or greedy breeder will either use fake photos or decide that they can get more for a "better" kitten from someone else. Unless the breeder can explain or apologise then just walk away. Regardless of how lovely the kitten you are offered is there is a reason for potential deception and it is never in your favour. Encouraging breeders who have shady practises like this just makes it worse for the future.
Best of luck getting to kitten who is best of you and visa versa!
I'd be wary of the fact you only got to see one kitten as well TBH. Did you get to meet Mum and Dad? My experience is more with dogs than cats, but any breeder that didn't show the full litter, and Mum, (pref Dad as well, at the very least lots of info about them) than I would have to walk away. Having had our first experience when buying a pup from a breeder we later found out was very questionable and all the trauma caused by it, I would be extra fussy now. I've even know some breeders to refuse to sell to some buyers as they feel its not in the animals best interests.
Yes, alarm bells ringing here as well. Proceed with caution. If you are in doubt, then do walk away. Do not fall in love with the kitten (hard, I know). Dodgy breeders should not be encouraged. There are so many reputable breeders out there doing a good job.
If your paying big money for a pure breed kitten you want to get it from a reputable breeder.
Top breeders screen their breeding cats for the medical problems that can occur with Maine Coons.
Tabby patterns are like finger prints, no too are exactly alike.
Your going to have this cat for a long time so you want to start out on the right foot.
Thank you to everyone for the great advice. I just met with the breeder this morning and was able to interact with the other kittens. The pictures they provided were of another kitten which led to the confusion. After meeting the kittens I was able to make a choice and decided on the one we had met.
Depends on how old you are and how many years of disappointment in people you've been able to accumulate. :-PQuote:
Originally Posted by elismom
I am also very pleased that every thing has turned out the right way,perhaps we can look forward to seeing photo of new babe now...
I am also alongside Peter on this too, been there,seen it & faced the disappointments.
It is just such a shame that over the last decade or so our breed of cat has become so much popular & along with that the breeders who are in it for a fast buck,when we first started showing Merl there was hardly a MC in sight & now they very often provide the biggest classes,in size as well as numbers !
Funny that MC's are so popular. In my over 40yrs of being a cat person, the only purebred MC's that I've met have been at cat shows. LOL Once I learn the ropes of this forum, I'd love to post pictures.
Love the look of your boy. Once I get him, I'll post pictures of my guy.
Update: We got our kitty. Everything went smoothly with no problems. We got all the papers, toys, care books, and food to start out with. We named him Whiskey. He is learning our habits and we're getting used to his. All I can say is we are happy parents :smile:
You can also post some pictures!!! :PQuote:
Originally Posted by CatsMom
Edit: Sorry, just saw the ones you added to your Gallery =)
Awwww!
Can see why you are such happy parents he looks one relaxed handsome kitty,so pleased everything turned out positive for you,luv & cuddles to Whiskey & looking forward to seeing a lot more pictures of him growing up,did bring a tear to my eye because he looks so much like our Merlyn as a babe & now 10kg & a few years under his belt later.....xQuote:
Originally Posted by CatsMom