Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I apologize if this message is in the wrong forum or if it is inappropriate in any way but I'm at a loss with my dilemma and desperately need some advice from those with experience in this field.

I am in the process of purchasing a British Shorthair kitten from a breeder. I was second on the waiting list and the kittens were born in February so they're due to come home in May. I have visited the cattery and met with and was pleased with the breeder. That was until the time to pick the kittens occurred. The woman first on the waiting list decided, unexpectedly, she wanted two kittens (and the breeder explained to me that this was her "right"; I don't understand that practice, honestly, because I was second in line to choose from the litter but I digress). The breeder reserved the right, from the beginning, to keep any kitten she chose to continue her breeding program. She picked a girl (out of the 2 males and 4 females). So out of 6 kittens, as second on the waitlist, it turned out I had choice of 2: a boy and girl. Needless to say, I was disappointed by the lack of choice I had in what was once a seemingly advantageous list position but I picked nonetheless. I met both kittens and connected with the boy so I chose him.

A week later, the breeder contacts me and says that she has decided to keep the boy for herself instead - a month before they're due to go home and a mere week after I had picked that boy. She explained the girl she previously picked was not turning out as she had hoped and she has changed her mind. She asked that I come back and choose a different cat.

When I asked about the terms of the contract at our first meeting, she assured me it was basic care rules: no declawing, must be indoor cats, etc. And she did verbally tell us she would keep whichever she chose BUT there was also a verbal agreement when I told her I picked the boy. She did not ask me to sign any contract and I assumed I did not have to ask to do so myself; I thought it was what I would sign upon picking up the cat to bring home.

Is this an accepted practice by breeders? To be able to take a customer's pick to keep for themselves if they so choose? I have never bought from a breeder before and wanted to know if she is in the wrong or not.

Please help with any advice!

While I can't speak for your breeder, I can tell you it is often a difficult task to choose which kittens to keep and which to sell. In some breeds it is often difficult to tell which cats will develop traits you want to perpetuate in your breeding program until the kittens are 8-12 weeks old or more. On that basis, I can understand why she might have changed her mind on which kitten or kittens to keep in her cattery.

While many breeders have waiting lists for kittens, it would seem that your breeder may have jumped the gun in allowing the person ahead of you and yourself to select kittens before they had developed sufficiently for her to decide which she was keeping. Although I know breeders who are still trying to decide while the buyer is sitting in the other room waiting to meet the kittens.

I think your breeder may just have been a bit to anxious to get comittments for her kittens rather than being unethical. If you are very uncomfortable dealing with this breeder, don't buy a kitten from her, but do let her know that you feel she should have handled the kitten selections in a better manner; nicely, of course.

Thank you so much for your advice. I do know for a fact that this breeder is a very inexperienced one (she only just started breeding) and I assumed this was a result of that inexperience. She must not know when the best time to chose kittens is. I'm not sure if that excuses her actions but it may explain them.

Thank you again for your help!