Questions To Ask When Buying Kittens – The Complete List!

In this article, we will consider a list of questions to ask when buying kittens. We will also examine some things to have in mind before spending your hard-earned cash on kittens! However, when purchasing a kitten you have to be careful enough to ask all the right questions. Asking the wrong ones could lead to more problems down the line, and you don’t want that.

The following discusses some of the most important questions to ask when buying kittens.

1. Are The Parents In Good Health

You need to ask this question before buying a kitten. A kitten’s parents would tell you a lot about the kitten you are about to adopt.

A healthy cat is a healthy kitten. For example, if a kitten’s mother is alive and healthy, there is a high chance the kitten would also grow up to be healthy.

If the parents of a kitten have good traits, there is also the likelihood of the kitten being well behaved.

There is still no way to measure the personality traits of a kitten scientifically. All you can do is to study the mother’s personality.

The parents’ personality would give you a clue about what the kitten would turn out to be.

Furthermore, a good breeder would also provide you with the illnesses that are present in the bloodline.

2. Can I Hold The Kittens

Asking to hold the kittens is a great way to gauge the extent of their socialization. A well-socialized kitten would be comfortable being held by a potential buyer.

On the other hand, well-socialized kittens are often comfortable letting strangers hold them. Initially, they may become wary of you; they should warm up to you as times go by.

If you decide to buy kittens that are not well-socialized, that means you have much work on your hands to train them.

Never buy a kitten without asking to hold them. It gives you a clue about the kittens.

3. What’s The Personality Like

Ask the breeder about the personality of the kittens. As little as kittens are, they provide glimpses of their personalities from an early age.

A personality you might be able to detect early on is the level of socialization the kittens have been exposed to.

It’s a bad idea to buy kittens without seeing the parents. Apart from the inherited traits, kittens also form their unique personality.

The parents’ personality is not always the perfect yardstick to gauge the personality of the kitten.

You should consider the age of the kittens before concluding their personality.

If you have kids around the home, it is best to look for a playful kitten to keep the children entertained.

4. How Old Is The Kitten

When shopping for a kitten, the best time to take your kitten home is around 12-13 weeks. They need adequate time to learn good valuable skills from their mother.

They need valuable skills such as how to use the litter tray and also how to eat independently.

If a kitten is not well socialized from a tender age, they find it too difficult to adapt to a new environment.

If kittens are not well socialized, they become skittish, fearful, or even aggressive.

If a kitten does not spend enough time with his mother, you will have to spend more time with the kitten to properly socialize him.

5. How Old Are The Parents

Knowing the age of the kitten’s parents gives you a hint about the breeder. A responsible breeder should allow a cat to fully mature before breeding them.

A cat attains sexual maturity around four months old. A female cat should be allowed to attain full sexual maturity before she starts breeding.

If a female cat gets pregnant at a tender age, she channels all her energy into feeding newborn kittens instead of directing this energy for full growth.

A female cat should be between 18 to 24 months old before she starts to breed. This would help her in giving birth to healthy kittens.

A male cat should be 18 months of age before being allowed to breed. At this age, you can determine if your male feline would be suitable for breeding.

6. What Breed Are The Kittens

The breed of the kittens tells you a lot. It is arguably the most critical question you should ask before buying kittens.

Knowing the breed of a cat gives you insight into the personality, temperament, and diseases they are prone to.

Knowing the breed of kittens could also influence the budget you have. Some breeds of kittens have needs and requirements that are peculiar to them.

If you want to ascertain your cat’s breed, there are mobile apps that can be of help. Within a few seconds, the app would reveal the breed of your cat.

Do your research to ascertain the type of cat breed that would suit your lifestyle and your kind of personality.

7. What Food Are The Kittens Eating

Before buying kittens, try to ascertain the type of food the kittens are feeding on. Knowing the food, your kittens are feeding on would assist you in settling them down in a new environment.

An abrupt change in diet can have some adverse effects on them or even make them sick.

Kittens need a lot of protein while growing up. They need a lot of protein to grow and remain healthy.

If the breeder is not feeding the kittens with appropriate foods, slowly introduce the right kind of food for the kittens.

If you finally buy the kittens, make sure you feed them up to 6 times per day. Kittens benefit when they eat at regular intervals.

8. Have Any of The Kittens In The Litter Been Sick

Ask your breeder if any of the kittens in the litter have been sick. This would give you a clue on how healthy the kittens are.

A responsible breeder will not hide any vital information about their kittens. They would rather provide you with all the necessary information you seek.

All kittens are born with worms. Routine deworming is necessary. Ask your breeder if the kittens have been dewormed.

If they have not been dewormed, deworm them by yourself after you take them home.

9. What Boosters and Vaccinations Are Needed

Vaccinations are needed to keep your kittens in good health. It is highly likely for your breeder to have vaccinated the kittens up to that point.

You must ask your breeder for the vaccinations that have not yet been given. Even if some vaccines have been administered, booster doses may be needed.

Vaccination starts for kittens between 6-8 weeks old; it is repeated every 3-4 weeks until the cat is four months.

Under normal conditions, a kitten should have been vaccinated against rabies and upper respiratory infections at eight weeks old.

It’s also a good idea to involve your vet in the process of buying kittens. A vet would give you all the correct information in making the right decisions.

10. Do You Have Any Advice

When buying a kitten, you must ask the breeder any questions you might have regarding the kitten.

A professional breeder would be ready to share his wealth of knowledge with you regarding their litter.

It is not uncommon for breeders to provide customers with written information on what to expect and how to raise kittens successfully.

From experience, adding some new sets of cute kittens to the family can be a wonderful experience. Who doesn’t like a new set of cute kittens? Kittens are pleasurable to observe. But are kittens worth buying?