First: the kitten has to be ready
For the record, I don’t reserve kittens until they’re weaned and have at least one vaccine shot. I don’t care that other breeders will. I won’t. Let’s see who breaks first.
Do not put a deposit down on an unweaned Oriental Shorthair kitten. Experience has demonstrated the fragility of unweaned Oriental Shorthair kittens often enough.
Waiting is not an artificial scarcity device. It allows the kitten to survive the most fragile developmental period, begin vaccination, wean, and develop enough personality to make matching something more than color shopping with a crystal ball.
If I’m your breeder
Stay in contact with me
You can’t express interest, vanish for two months, and then pop up with “where’s my kitten?” These aren’t products. They’re living, thinking personalities and I care more about their welfare than your happiness.
For you, I want a socialized, healthy cat that fits your household.
Convince me this is the best home possible
Convince me this is not only the best home possible for the next 13–16 years, but that I’ll wake up to new pictures of the cat every so often.
I’m in touch with every single kitten family. If that cat goes to the vet at 3 a.m., you better make sure I’m your second call. You cannot bother me by over-informing me. I need to know how the cats age to make intelligent decisions about lines to use or not use.
You should have a vet, by the way.
Understand that this is an audition
This isn’t a fair process. It’s an audition and, as such, it’s subjective. I don’t care what race you are, who you voted for, who you sleep with, or anything else. I only care about what you’re going to provide my kitten. Period.
What matters is the household: its pace, noise, other animals, people, absences, routines, and the kind of relationship it wants with a cat.
Tell me about the household you actually have
I want to know your experience with cats and purebreds; how prior cats lived and aged; whether there are children, dogs, birds, or other cats; how long the humans are away; and what you expect from the relationship. I also want to know the plan for keeping the cat indoors or in a secure catio, whether you have a veterinarian, and whether the ongoing expense of a purebred cat is something you are comfortable carrying.
The transport has to work too. Geography is not a character flaw, but it is a logistical fact.
Matching is judgment
Your application should describe the household you actually have and the relationship you actually want. I evaluate that information against the individual kitten I have watched develop.
Sex, color, and order of inquiry do not control the result. Preferences matter; compatibility matters more.
Deposits and transport
I don’t ask for a nickel until I schedule the alter. I personally require a good-faith deposit before alteration and the balance before delivery to you or your courier.
I don’t do non-refundable deposits and I don’t agree with breeders who do. If you change your mind, take your money back. I’d rather the kitten go where it’s wanted.
No amount of money will convince me to ship cargo. Kittens go by courier or buyer pickup.
Breeding rights
No. You can’t have breeding rights. Period. The end.
The people who get intact cats from me have my cell number and can point to the countless hours we’ve spent showing cats over the years. They have earned my trust and respect.
After placement
The relationship does not end at the airport or front door.
I stay in contact because I care about the cat, because families sometimes need help, and because knowing how the cats age is part of responsible breeding judgment. The family gets support. I get photographs, questions, good news, bad news, and evidence about the line that no genetic panel can provide.
If the placement ever fails, call me. Do not sell or give the cat to someone else and notify me after the fact. A family’s circumstances can change. The cat still needs a controlled path back to me or into a home I know is appropriate.