Want to buy a kitten?

Here is what you need to know prior to purchase.
You have to decide what kind of kitten or cat you would like to acquire. Every pet owner makes this decision based on his or her own preferences. There are several categories of pet owners. Some don't care about anything but the price, some care only about color, some by behavior and some make their decisions based on their medical conditions (like people who have allergy, like to get Siberian cats because they are considered to be HYPOALLERGIC). Never the less, now is time for you to make your own decision. So here are few things that you have to decide for yourself.

1. What breed would you like to be your kitten?
2. What color coat would you prefer?
3. Do you like long, semi long or short coat cats?
4. Would you like to breed your kitten when it grows up or not?
5. Sex of your kitten.
6. Most important you have to choose a breeder who you are going to buy your kitten from. This is the most important decision in a whole process.
Don't be scared, all of this is not so hard, in a fact it is unbelievably simple, all you have to do is read our tips on this subject.

Ok, let's take it from the top:

1. What breed would you like to be your kitten?
This decision is usually based on preferences of your pats behavior. We, breeders of Siberian cats, obviously like Siberian kittens, and here is why: Siberian kittens and adult cats act almost as dogs. Meaning they are incredibly smart, excellent hunters, healthy and most important they truly become a member of your family and very loyal to their owners. The list of cause is way longer than this, but these are most obvious points.
2. What color coat would you prefer?
Well, this is something we cannot help you with. This is truly a matter of your preference and nothing else. To us, breeders of Siberian cats, all and every color is amazing and beautiful.
3. Do you like long, semi long or short coat cats?
I guess this decision is made almost automatically after you decide on a breed. I can tell you that Siberians are considered to be semi long coat cats. Some people try to avoid getting long or semi long hair cats because of their allergy, but what they fail to realize is that most of allergic people are not really allergic to cats hair, but to their saliva that contains fiber. Another huge plus goes to Siberian cats right here. The thing is that Siberian cats are considered to be HYPOALLERGIC, and a reason for that is very very simple. Siberian cat's saliva contains almost NO fiber. So when they groom themselves, saliva that stays on their coat doesn't really cause an allergy to most allergic people. Exceptions are people that really are allergic to something else. In very rare cases people really are allergic to cat's hair. We, breeders of Siberians cats, allow our customers to spend some time with kittens or their parents, on premises of a cattery or even sometimes send our customers cat's hair (left from grooming) in an envelope, so they can test them self for allergy of this particular cat.

4. Would you like to breed your kitten when it grows up or not?
This decision is only important to help on decision with sex of a kitten.
5. Sex of your kitten.
Like I have stated above, deciding on a sex of a kitten prior to purchase is very important if you decide to breed your cat when it becomes an adult. You have to keep in mind that if you will get a male and decide not to neuter him, there is a possibility that he will be marking his territory. This is a nature of all animals as you are probably aware of. On the other hand, if you get a female and decide to breed her, you have to prepare yourself to her crying every 3-4weeks for about a week once she becomes an adult.

6. Most important you have to choose a breeder who you are going to buy your kitten from.
Now this is THE MOST important point. Unfortunately, there are some breeders that do not take appropriate care of their cats and kittens. Not all of them will allow you to take a test for allergy and not all of them will tell you that there is still possibility of you being allergic even to Siberian kittens. If it would be me trying to buy a kitten, I would never buy one on a cat show. I would and have had gone to a cattery and see for myself how are those cats being treated, what are they being fed, how is their fecal and so on. I would never want my kitten to be shipped, instead I always go and pickup my kittens personally, regardless of location, even if I have to fly to Russia.
Now that you have made your decision on what kind and from whom to buy your kitten, I will help you prepare your home for you new member of your family.
Let me tell you, there some happy moments ahead of you.
Here is what you have to buy before you bring your kitten home:

1. Litter box - if your kitten is less than 6 month old, get a low box. It is also important to set this litter box in a quiet place; I will explain why a little later.
2. Litter for the litter box - at first I would recommend to use the same litter as breeder used for your kitten.
3. Dry and or can food - ask your breeder what kind of food your pet was fed at their place and get EXACT same food.
4. Plates for food and water - I would recommend glass see through kitchenware.
5. Toys, grooming tools and some furniture, especially for your kitten's claws.

Congratulations!!!
You are ready to bring your cat home. Let me give you few tips now on how to help your new kitten adjust at its new home.
As soon as you will bring a kitten home, before you let him walk around the house, put him into a litter box and keep him or her there for few seconds. Let him realize that this is the place for him to "go". After you did that, I would advise to pet your kitten, showing him that he is a good cat. It would be best of you would limit his place to walk around, let him settle down first. Right after you do that, take him to his food and also keep him there for few seconds. Now it is time to leave your kitten alone bur keep a close eye on him for an about 30-60 minutes. As soon as you see that he or she calmed down a bit, try to play with him. You may use any toys that you can control on distance, i.e. a stick, a remote controlled mouse, a laser point and so on. This is really time for your imagination, but please use toys that will help your pet evolve. At last but not least, it is time to show a kitten a place to sharpen its claws. Every time you will see him sharpening his claws in a wrong place, or going to a toilet not in a litter box, please, don't punish him, don't yell, instead simply gently take him into your hand and put him to a right place. Then pet him and tell him that is the place to do his needs.
For you to be able to be proud of your cat, you have to train him from a very first second of bringing him or her home. You have to teach him which places are off limits for him (for an example a dinner table), regardless of his persistence.

Now that you have learned the basics, allow me to go a little more into details.

Litter box.
Litter box may be with a litter, granules or a special plastic or metallic net. This will allow cats not to wet their paws. I f you are sure that your cat is thought to use a litter box, than there should not be any problems. But in case you notice your kitten pees or poops in a wrong place, don't jump to gun to punish or yell at him. There may be some serious reasons for this kind of behavior. For example:

a) He does not like the litter.
b) Litter box is a wrong size; it may be too small or too big.
c) The place for litter box is not private enough.
d) Litter box may not be clean enough.
e) Unfortunately it may also be medical problems, for example sand in bladder. Please, do not try to diagnose your pet by yourself. Take him to a local vet. You may find them on an internet, but I would recommend asking your friend who has pets for recommendations.

So, what is an ideal toilet for your kitty?
From my own experience, I can tell you that this is very important to choose a right location for your kittens litter box location. It has to be a private place, but not to dark or too private. Most of the cats are not shy, but there are some (like one of my cats), that actually are shy, and would never use a litter box if you are there and can see her do her needs. So I chose a place in a bathroom, next to a sink, it is private enough and yet not hidden. I f you will chose the same location, please keep in mind that your toilet has to be covered at all times!!!
When it comes to litter, like I said earlier, you have to ask a breeder what kind of litter your cat is used to. Later on you may switch to the one that you like, but not at once, you have to do it by adding new litter to old one little by little.
Back to litter box.

a) There are many kinds of boxes in pet stores. It has to be plastic, 7-20 cm or 3"-8" height box, depending on size of your cat or kitten.
b) It has to smell naturally without any chemicals, yet it has to be clean. You may want to wash it regularly with hot soup water and a brush. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT use any chemicals like Windex or anything like that on any cats boxes or places.
c) Litter box has to be leveled, than it would not turn over making a mess in your house.
d) I would recommend having as many boxes as cats plus one extra. For example if you have two cats, you have to have 3 litter boxes with litter in them.

Training
Very first training and life lessons kittens are being thought by their mommy. This cat is kind, tender, warm mother. Sometimes, when she plays with kittens, they bite her so hard, that she has to take extreme measures. Usually she bites them right back to show that biting is wrong, but when she wants to encourage them –she licks her kittens. In their new families training has to continue, but this time you are the one who has to train them. Let me tell you, that no matter what they do, it is wrong to physically punish them. You should not even think about being tough or rough with your kittens, especially in a beginning. Now it is you who have to be that kind, tender and warm mother to your kittens, a mother that will always come to a rescue and will help and love them regardless of their behavior. Just like your own human children. After you bring him home and after he gets his first food, a kitten starts to realize that this place is not so bad, and starts to study new world around him. The first night in a new house is very important and toughest of all for your new family member. Scared of new smells, new things, new people - he will probably looking for his mother and will call for her. This is THE moment when you will and have to gain his trust towards you and new relationship will be formed. (it is like putting a foundation for a house.) This is the night when you have to decide if you do or do not want your kitten to sleep in your bed or in your room. If you will allow her or him to sleep with you that night, it will be very hard not to allow it later on and I would not recommend doing that.
All attempts of your kitty to bite or scratch you during a playtime should be stopped by giving him or her a command in a firm tone of voice and a light punishment afterwards, but once again no rough punishments. If he continues to play aggressively, you should stop playing with him and leave him alone for a short while. Whatever he does, do not hit him, instead look angry into his eyes and say "DON'T" once again in a firm tone of voice. Every time he plays nice or does something right, you have to pet him and tell him that he or she is a good kitty and also you may give him a treat at this time.

Taking care of your kitten
Taking care of your kitten is also a part of training. When you pick him up, please use both hands. Place one hand under and in between front paws and other hand under a belly. In this position he will safe and will not try to fight you off. If you have children, please show this trick to them, so they would that you kitten right as well, this way they will escape a chance of being scratched. Always make sure that your kitten feels safe and feels something under his rear paws so this way it would not try to jump off and hurt itself or you.
You should teach your kitten his name. For this I would recommend choosing short and flashy nickname, so it would hear it from far away and always responded to it. Once you have chosen a name you have to repeatedly call it and make sure that all your family members call your pet the same. Otherwise your cat may not be able to learn its name properly. When you will call it's name, you have to do it in a tone of voice like you are trying to tell him something very important, but not in a same way as if you are punishing him. It usually takes 30-40 days for your kitty to learn its name and separate it from other sounds or words.
A kitten has to learn to come to you when you call him. Like I said before, this will take time and patience. You have to practice with your kitten by saying "Come to me, "Name"" It is important not to change your tone of voice from time to time; it has to be the same. Do not get angry if he does not obey at first, but if he does you have to treat him by petting him or by playing with him. It is also a good idea to give him treats when he obeys. This process usually takes about 3 month.
In order to raise your cat calm and friendly you have to teach him as a kitten to sit still and actually enjoying sitting on your lap without forcing him to sit. A kitten and an adult cat has to be sure that nobody will harm her or take away her freedom. Then and only then she will trust and obey you.

If you plan to raise a "show star" you have to teach her to act like she would have to on the cat show.
All of kittens and cats make noises and body movements that we can translate, and I will explain some of them right now.

1. Bent back like arch - scares off an opponent.
2. Bent back and hard standing tail - scares off an opponent by letting him know she is about to attack
3. Rubbing her head at your legs - want to be petted, shows love and loyalty to you
4. Touching you with a paw - showing her affection towards you
5. Loud claws scratching - wants you to pay attention to her
6. Shaking her tail - cat maybe angry or upset
7. Tail to a floor - cat is tired or not in the mood
8. Tail sown and bent at the end - she is really upset with you
9. Tail straight back - about to attack
10. Tail straight up - full satisfaction and happiness
11. Tail strait up with relaxed end - extremely happy
12. Ears straight up - interested in something
13. Ears slightly looking back - not happy
14. Ears fully back - ready to attack
15. Pupils fully dilated - scared
16. Slightly closed eyes - complete relaxation
17. Looking around and then grooming itself - calm
18. Purring - pleasure
19. Growl - discomfort
20. Meow - trying to tell you something
21. Purring with growling - she is about to lose patience
22. Short scream - scared
23. Growling during breast feeding of kittens - warns them of danger
24. Loud growling during breast feeding of kittens - warns human not to bother them
These are only few of signals you may look for in your cat.



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