Mass Breeder

There are many breeders for every breed of cat. But how can you distinguish between a reputable, mass, or a backyard breeder??

How can you find a breeder with compassion and good intent??? Not one that is calculating this hobby coldly when profit seeking, or harboring cruelty to animals? Oddly enough some breeders them selves are not even aware of their own misdirection in their cattery and have lost focus on the cats health and well being. This is one of the many questions you should research when choosing a breeder thus the kitten will become a valuable addition to your home and family.

My first and most important suggestion would to visit the cattery whenever possible. Secondly ask as many questions as possible write down some of the topics you wish to discuss with the breeder.
- Look for cleanliness
- The amount of cats kept in the cattery
- How many litters produced in a year
- How many litters from one queen in a year
- The health and behavior of Kitten/Cats
- Make sure any visible heath issues are treated prior to adoption
- Look at the pedigrees of kittens parents
- Do not make a deposit until you have seen and picked out a kitten/cat and all is agreeable with you
- Read all contracts thoroughly before you sign
- What is included with the kitten/cat - Keep in touch with the breeder by telephone, mail, or visit as often as possible
- Make sure you feel as though you could contact the breeder with any future question or concerns you may have

Look out for the following things!

A reproducer, mass, or a kitten mill isn’t only a cattery with many cats kept for breeding, or many breeds to choose from, but also those that "produce" six litter’s from the same queen within a 4 year time period.
A cattery should not be run as a department store.
Another thing to keep in mind is the amount of cats in a cattery. This would good question to ask, better yet check out in person. If a breeder has more than 10 cats avoid doing business with them. As this would be the most cat’s one person could care, keep clean and maintain a healthy environment for. This is important not only for the cats but also for the new born kittens. As every animal, including the kittens has different needs that must be meet. The result of having more than 10 cats in a cattery are kittens and cats that are quite shy, scared, untrained, poorly socialized, other behavioral problems, and uncontrollable health issues.
A reputable breeder will breed lines in the pedigrees, which are not too closely related and will use only the best bloodlines to breed from. Also a good breeder will not choose to try and impress you by any exhibition successes of only few animals. But by the cattery itself and how it is run with love, care and attention provided to each and every animal.
Never buy your new purebred kitten/cat from the nice people next door (Back Yard Breeders). Make sure you get registration papers, a pedigree, vaccination, booster, and a vet health check up just before adoption. Find out what exactly is included with your new kitten. Remember when it comes to price, yes a pure bred is an expensive addition, but in most cases you get what you pay for. So take the time and do some research on where your new kitten comes from.

I hope this information has helped make your experience a positive one and you were able to maintain a good relationship with your chosen breeder.

Thank you for your time.
For more information on a Birman Breed Standard visit: http://www.tica.org/bin/pdf/publications/standards/bistd.pdf