• How to Find a Birman Kitten
• How Much Does a Birman Kitten Cost?
• Visiting a Cattery
• Questions to Ask a Breeder
• Questions the Breeder Should Ask You

Kitten or Adult?

While most choose to adopt a kitten, there are many good reasons for welcoming a retired adult into your home. Breeders often retire their show or breeding cats between the ages of 2-5 years and usually offer these older cats at a very reasonable cost. An adult can be a better choice for an older person who is concerned that a young kitten will be too active for them and pose a danger underfoot. Retired adults are usually extremely well socialized due to being exhibited at cat shows.

Where can I find a quality Birman kitten or adult cat?

Pet Shop - no, no, no! Pet shops are anathema to reputable breeders. The kitten sure looks cute, but the buyer has no way to know the conditions in which it was raised, nor the personality and health of the parents and other cats in the cattery. A kitten purchased from a pet shop will most likely cost the same or more than one acquired from a reputable breeder. Don’t be reassured because the pet shop kitten has a pedigree, this in itself does not mean that the lines are healthy and the kitten “well-bred”. Reputable breeders DO NOT sell kittens through pet shops or other 3rd parties, so save the visit to the pet shop for kitty supplies.

Cat Shows - this is the best place to initially meet breeders and learn more about the breed. Bear in mind that the breeders may not have a lot of time to spend with you as they will be busy preparing their cats for judging and may even be showing in more than one class. For a calendar of upcoming cat shows in your area, visit this link for upcoming CFA Cat Shows.

Advertisements - local newspapers are one source, your local pet supermarket may also carry the following cat publications: Cat Fancy and Cats USA. Be aware that both reputable and BYB’s (backyard breeders) may advertise, you will need to ask questions and it is highly recommended that you visit the cattery if possible, or get recommendations.

Breed Clubs/Associations - these have online referrals, classifieds and/or newsletters. The following links also have a lot of information on the history of the breed and standards.

National Birman Fanciers (NBF)
Sacred Cat of Burma Fanciers (SCBF)
Birman Breed Council - CFA associated; photos, history, links

Price of a Birman Kitten

Nation wide, in the U.S., prices range on average from $600 in the Midwest to $800 in the East for a companion kitten and from $800 - $1500 for a show/breeder.

These prices are generally based on the investment the breeder has made in developing his/her cattery, but don't even begin to cover the actual expenses invested during the average cat's 5 year breeding career. Some of these costs include the initial cost of obtaining quality breeding cats, providing proper facilities, food, litter and supplies, showing cats to the title of Grand Champion  or Regional/National Winner, paying fees for stud service, and providing routine and emergency veterinary care for the show cats, breeding cats and their offspring.

Visiting the Cattery

Don’t limit yourself to visiting just one. Like the song says, “you better shop around”. Never buy a kitten if you have not fallen totally, irrevocably in love with it. It is a lifetime commitment for the cat and if there is any doubt in your mind, you should pass. Don’t buy a kitten to “rescue” it from a bad situation. As tempting as it is to take the kitten from a “kitten mill” type home, you are only encouraging the breeder to keep breeding. You also may be bringing home a kitten with health problems.

First, don’t drop in without an appointment, this will not endear you to the breeder and you probably will not be given adequate time to see the facilities and interact with the kittens. Set up an appointment that will allow you at least half an hour to an hour of visiting. You will want to pay attention to the conditions of the cattery as well as the general health and attitude of the cats. Look for the following:

• Is the place clean? A slight litter box odor is ok, but do the boxes look like they
are being scooped regularly? If a stud male is kept on the premises, there may
be an intense male odor, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming. Are food and water
dishes clean?

• It is expected that male studs are caged, and sometimes a female in heat or
mom with kittens need to be caged for periods of time. Are cages clean and
do they provide enough room for the cats/kittens to move about and play freely?

• The cats should look healthy. Warning signs are red, watery eyes (although if
a kitten has recently had its kitten shots the eyes sometimes get a little inflamed
in reaction) Gunky eyes and sneezing are a sign of upper respiratory infection. URI’s are not uncommon in cats and can occur in the best kept catteries. The important thing is to ask the breeder what is going on and how they are treating it. If they act like they didn’t realize there was a problem, take that as a warning that they are not keeping close tabs on the health of their cats. Bald patches can indicate ringworm or other type of fungus. Is the kitten bright-eyed and active? Even kittens just woken from sleep should immediately show interest in playing. If the kitten is lethargic or unresponsive, ask questions. It could be a sign of illness or maybe the kitten just received kitten shots. If this is the case, make another appointment to see the kittens again when they have recovered from their inoculations.

• The adult cats should be friendly and willing to interact with you, although its
acceptable that one might be having a bad day and want to be left alone. Depending on the age of the kittens, they should be curious, playful and
affectionate. Most breeders will not allow you to visit until the kittens are at least
12 weeks old. At 12 weeks, they will likely have had 2 sets of inoculations and it will be safer to allow outsiders to handle them without the risk of the kitten contracting an illness. The personality of a 12 week old is also significantly more developed than that of a younger kitten and the breeder will have identified different traits among the litter mates and be better able to recommend which kitten he/she feels would be a good match for your family’s lifestyle. Ideally, the recommended kitten will be the one who chooses you, too!

Important questions to ask the breeder

Reputable breeders encourage questions. This tells them that you are conscientious
and concerned about the welfare of your pets. They will also ask YOU questions.
Whether you meet the breeder at a cat show, or call on the phone, give a little introduction on who you are and what you are looking for in a Birman. If the breeder doesn’t have what you are looking for, he/she may be able to recommend you to someone who does. Ask the breeder if he/she has time to answer some questions and if not, is there a better  time to call. Breeders often live very busy lives, sometimes holding down full-time jobs in addition to caring for their cats. Weekends are often spent at cat shows, so Thursdays-Sundays are tied up with show preparations and not a good time for chatting.

1. Do you have a registered cattery? Do you show your cats?

Having a registered cattery is very important. It indicates that the breeder has pride in the cats that he/she breeds. The registered name of the breeder’s cattery becomes a part of the cat’s name and is on the cat’s pedigree forever. The cat’s registered name consists of the breeder’s cattery name, the cat’s name and may be followed by the owner’s registered cattery name. For example: “9 Bells Zibit of Mask Rider” 9 Bells is the breeder’s registered cattery name. The cat’s name is “Zibit” and the owner’s registered cattery name is “Mask Rider”. If the breeder is the owner of the cat, there will be no “of” designation.

Showing cats is how breeders improve their breeding programs. By having the cats
evaluated by judges, they gain insight on how to maintain or improve their breeding
programs. It is also a way to get together with other breeders and trade ideas, discuss feline health issues and otherwise form a support group with people who share our love of the breed. Since kittens cannot be evaluated for show potential until they are 3-4 months of age, all are raised as if they will be show cats. This involves getting them used to bathing, nail clipping, being combed, riding in cars, and being handled by strangers. The benefit for the pet buyer is that all kittens develop a wonderful disposition.

2. Ask to see the pedigree

Reputable breeders will be happy to show you the pedigree. While the names may not mean anything to you, you will be able to recognize a mother to son or brother to sister breeding or notice if many of the cats do not have cattery prefixes. You will also recognize titles such as CH, GC, DM, etc. If titles are few or non-existent, ask for an explanation. In CFA, the title CH indicates that the cat has been evaluated by at least 6 judges who felt the cat met the established breed standards. At least one of the kitten’s parents should have this title.
 

3. What health problems are associated with this breed?

All pedigree cats have some potential for inherited problems, and while the Birman breed is considered an overall healthy breed, the breeder should be willing to tell you of any known problems in their line and what they are doing to prevent health problems within their breeding program.

4. At what age can the kitten come to its new home?

Birman kittens are usually not placed until they are between 14-16 weeks of
age. It is often difficult for the breeder to properly evaluate a kitten until it has
reached 4 months of age. Waiting until the kitten is 16 weeks has the advantage
of allowing it more time with its mom and siblings and this helps ensure a well-
adjusted pet. On the rare occasion, a breeder may allow a kitten to go as young
as three months, but a reputable breeder will NEVER let a kitten go earlier than
that.

5. Will the kitten be registered?

The breeder should provide you with a “blue slip” or official registration when you
have provided proof of the kitten being altered.

6. What about a health warranty?

The breeder should present you with a contract that includes a guarantee of health.
Check with your state on what period of time must be covered. The contract will also describe any conditions of sale that the buyer must abide by, such as forbidding de-clawing, stating that the cat must be an indoor only cat, that permission must be granted by the breeder before showing, transferring ownership, or breeding, etc.. Be sure to ask the breeder if you have any questions about the conditions.

7. What if I want to show the cat?

The contract will advise if you may show the cat or if permission is required. Generally, a show quality cat is priced higher than one sold for companionship only. If you think you may be interested in showing, mention this to the breeder and see if he/she would be willing to mentor you through the show process. The best way to get started in showing is to purchase a show quality cat, alter it, and show it in Premiership (the equivalent of Championship for altered cats).
 

8. What if I want to start breeding?

Are you crazy? Just kidding, but seriously, it takes a lot of dedication and commitment to get started as a breeder. Take your time making that decision by thoroughly researching what it takes to be successful. Breeding is something that most of us do for love of the breed. We spend a lot of time and money ensuring that our breeding programs are based on what is best for the health and betterment of the breed. Reputable breeders are not in it for the money, and count themselves lucky if they break even. They are cautious in selling breeding stock outside the established Birman breeder community, and generally require novices to start out with a show cat in Premiership and will mentor the novice for a period of time. This serves to demonstrate the sincerity and dedication of the novice as well as gains the novice an inside look at the money, time and sheer hard work it takes to be a responsible breeder. It would be a huge mistake to buy a breeding cat from a BYB (backyard breeder), first the cat will likely not have the quality that you would find within the show halls and you would have trouble finding a reputable breeder who would provide stud service. You also would not get the mentorship that is so important. We rely on each other for support in health issues, showing, and so much more. A BYB is unlikely to have the experience nor be willing to take the time to answer questions regarding breeding, delivering kittens, showing, health
issues, etc.

9. Do you give your own shots?

Some breeders do give their own shots, but it is important that the kitten be examined by a veterinarian at least once before it goes to its new home. Many states require that a Health Certificate be issued before the kitten can be sold.

What the Breeder should be asking you.

A responsible breeder will make sure that the kitten gets wonderful parents who will provide an environment where the kitten will thrive. They should be concerned about how the kitten will fit in your lifestyle. In addition to inquiring what you expect out of your new kitten in terms of personality, as well as color and sex preference, they will want to know things like if you have other pets or children, the amount of time the kitten will be alone, whether any of the cats in your home are indoor/outdoor, what you currently feed your pets, do you have a regular veterinarian, and similar questions that can seem downright personal. We, as breeders have invested a lot of love and care over the three-four months the kittens are with us and we want to ensure that the home they go to will be a permanent one with both the family’s and the kitten’s best interests at heart because they will always retain a place in ours.