Hi guys

A friend of mine had been and paid for a pedigree cat on the active register. She's had a call from the breeder to say she needs a emergency operation next
Week and would she be able to collect her kitten tomorrow. It's eight weeks and hasn't had its injections yet and she hasn't sent her registration forms off.

I know nothing about cat breedig and wondered if someone could tell
Me what she should be asking for when she goes tomorrow to ensure
It will be registered? Do they have a registration for same as the kc in dogs which she could get a
Copy off or anything? Hope someon can help

http://www.gccfcats.org/registration.html

http://www.gccfcats.org/ethics.html

You don't say what breed or registration body the Breeder registers with, but if your friend were to go ahead and collect the kitten, then having a contract typed up to the effect that the kitten (whatever name (pedigree details including colour - check GCCF site for the breed), sex and breed, age) collected early and the reason for this, followed by registration with XXX body to follow and the date, signed by both parties (and possibly a third person) might cover the situation.  

Of course I could be completely wrong as I'm not a lawyer or legal person ;)

I'm surprised that this person has no-one who could help out in an emergency, membership of a breed club often means that in times of real need people rally round ;)   what is going to happen to the mother of this cat?  any other cats the breeder has?  someone will have to look after them, so I can't really see why the kittens need to leave this early?    I can't believe a caring breeder would EVER allow one of their kittens to leave unvaccinated, it's something I wouldn't risk personally :(

On the other hand it could just be a case of this person wanting rid of the kittens as they become really active and hard work, but are far too young to sell/vaccinate?  

Registered kittens should have at least an enteritis inoculation and a full course of cat flu inoculations and be at least 13 weeks old before leaving the breeder.

Having bred pedigree Burmese myself (long ago now) I know just how much hard work they are once they really get going - mine used to swing from the curtain tops LOL

Suggest you check whether this breeder is at least a member of a breed club (and check with the club ;) )

ETA.    I assume that if the full price has been paid for the kitten then vaccinations by 13 weeks should be included in the price.    Collecting the kitten at 8 weeks and unvaccinated means that the new owner will be responsible for the cost of vaccs.  Will there be any sort of refund to cover this?    

If the GCCF was informed of this happening, the breeder WOULD be fined -this goes against all rules. 8 weeks is far, far too early and GCCF registered kittens must be fully vaccinated before sold at a minimum age of 13 weeks. It usually takes about 4 weeks before registrations come back so the breeder should have sent them off sooner as well. All sounds very dodgy to me.Whether the breeder goes into hospital or not, the kittens still need their mother. An 8 week old kitten could be compared to a 5 week old puppy.

Marianne,

Seems we think alike ;)

I was trying to avoid the 'd' word, though that's what it is.

too young. aside from the registration issue kittens need plenty of time to grow up before going to new home. their temperaments are not the same when yanked away too young.

the breeder is surely going to have to have someone in to care for her other cats so why the great hurry to get shot? Its not in the kittens interests nor in new owners.

In agreement with Goldmali...this is way too young for a kitten to be leaving its mum.  My mum breeds and shows pedigree cats and currently has a litter, under no circumstances can or should they leave before they are 13 weeks and fully vaccinated.  The breeder can be fined by the GCCF if they are reported.  The breeder should really have someone on hand that can take over the care of mum and kittens.

Now before I get eaten alive, I would just like to point out that ALL my cats (including my pedigree cat) have all been older rescues but in all the ads the kittens are sold at 8 weeks.  I just assumed that they go to the new owners at the same sort of age as puppies?  What is the reason for them staying longer?

Kittens suckle MUCH longer than 8 weeks (some do not even eat solids at that age -I've had 3 in my time that refused solids until 10 weeks) and MUST be fully vaccinated (at 9 weeks and 12 weeks) with a full week left after the second vaccination before being sold, that is basic GCCF rules that anyone who breeds a litter must adhere to. If left to their own devices, most queens will allow their kittens to suckle for 16 weeks or thereabouts -unlike bitches. Like I said above an 8 week old kitten can be compared to a 5 week old puppy. They do not mature anywhere near at similar rates -just compare the fact puppies start on solid foods at 3 weeks to kittens who start at 6 normally.(I once had a kitten that tried his mum's food at just 4 weeks -he developed a kidney infection as his body wasn't mature enough to deal with it.) You can't compare apples and pears. :) Kittens sold at 8 weeks very often end up with behavioural problems as they've left their mum too soon -all rescues I've had have shown problems. It could be drooling when purring and kneading, it could be sucking on owner's hair or blankets, it could be being over friendly OR aggressive, for instance.

If it was a dog we were talking about and for the analogy it would be 5 weeks old leaving mum without paperwork we'd say run a mile! I suggest your friend does this

I didnt realise they needed to be at least 13weeks. My pedigree have always been just assumed the breeder felt that was best but my last mog was between 7+ 8 looks like I am very lucky apart from being a donut he is lovely no behaviour issues at all.

Spot on Louise. :)

I think with moggies, the 'breeders' want rid asap as they have to start feeding them regularly so just move them on at 8 weeks :(   they would have to start paying more for cat litter too ;)

I can't understand why anyone would want to sell kittens so young.   They are just getting really entertaining at that age and developing personalities.

My first thought was that the kittens will be moving around, climbing things and possibly scratching the furniture to bits, so the 'breeder' just wants rid of them as soon as possible. I hope I'm wrong. :-(

trouble is the op's friend has paid for the kitten that will complicate things :(

When we got our kitten i was saying to my OH theres no need for tele just sit and watch him being silly