WHY REPUTABLE BREEDER'S CHARGE MORE FOR THEIR KITTENS
Past Kitten
I think it's safe to say that most of us are not rich, and we all appreciate a good deal. Why not? Blowing money unnecessarily is just a waste, and most of us enjoy finding a bargain even if we can afford to spend more. When shopping for cars, electronics or furniture; frugal living is the way of the wise these days. So, why the big deal about shopping around when looking for a kitten/puppy? The price that you pay for a healthy well-bred kitten/puppy is minimal compared to the cost of raising, owning and the veterinarian costs for the life of a cat/dog that's ill-bred and sickly.
Ever heard the saying, "You get what you pay for"? Yeah, well, the pet industry is one place you won't find a better example of the prudence of that advice. Quality in the breeding world can range anywhere from absolute crap to jaw-dropping fantastic and everywhere in between. And although it may not always be this way, in most cases you're going to get exactly what you pay for.
What expenses are involved in responsibly breeding?
Quality has never been cheap and buying a quality kitten definitely is not! You are going to have to expect to pay more than just a few hundred dollars to buy from a responsible breeder. It is important to remember though that just because you are paying a large price for a kitten, it does not always mean it is quality (testimonies from happy families is very important). There are several factors that go into the price of buying a kitten from a good breeder and make sure the breeder is doing all of these things or more.
The ever-increasing price of top-notch veterinary care and paying state and federal taxes take up a significant percentage of my overall pricing (all my adults and kittens receive regular vet care and I do pay state and federal taxes which is high when you are self-employed). I invest in quality Maine Coons to bring into my program, high quality diets, pre-natal exams, pregnancy x-rays if needed, supplements, emergency veterinary care, c-sections, assisted deliveries when complications arise, vaccinations for adults and the kittens, health testing for adults, routine blood-work, dental cleanings, veterinary exams/health checks for each kitten, food, flea preventative, worming, kitten food, cat food, toys for my adults, cleaning supplies, bedding, dishes, crates, grooming supplies, my kitten care package, TICA registration of my adults and kittens and more! If you can imagine this is just the short list of my costs but it gives you the idea! My time is also not free... do not forget the time invested in working with families, caring for kittens and adults, cleaning, etc.
Well-bred cats are expensive to breed. Even poorly bred cats are not cheap to breed. The queen may need a c-section for the birth that can cost $1,500 or more. Plus, there is care for the queen during pregnancy and after birth. If they, do it right there is health/genetic testing before breeding. The average litter can cost $2,500+ or so to breed by the time all is said and done. If there is only a few kittens in the litter, even at $1,500, the breeder is often taking a big loss. Any purebred cat is going to be expensive if the breeder is investing in their program. When you purchase a kitten through a reputable breeder, you have to remember that the breeder has already spent a good amount of money on veterinary care for the mother and the kittens and that is reflected in the price too. Pre-breeding health checks for both parents, stud fees if needed, prenatal care, initial vet visits, shots, worming's, food, and all the other things that the breeder takes care of long before you ever get to bring your kitten home--these things cost a lot of money.
So, what is a breeder's time worth?
It is estimated that the average breeder spends 180 hours or more per month caring for their cats and kittens. And 180 hours cannot be scheduled around other obligations; other obligations must be scheduled around your kittens and adults. Have you considered what a breeder needs to do for a weekend away, a vacation, or even the day? Being gone for longer than six to eight hours would require that I hire someone reliable to be at my home. So, having a litter of kittens for any breeder pretty much takes a considerable chunk of time and independence from your life. A good breeder will carefully screen and interview all potential buyers to ensure that their kittens get placed in only the best homes. They will also offer support to the kitten new family to make sure that they are properly prepared, and they will stay available to help out any family in need, even if it means accepting the kitten back into their home if problems arise. Look at your well-bred Maine Coon as an investment in your emotional health, you couldn't get any mental health professional to treat you daily for the next 12 to 15 years for $2000 to $4000.
My hope is that people who are willing to pay for one of my kittens will provide a very good home. That they have thought long and hard, researched and read about Maine Coons and other cats before deciding on a Maine Coon and the kitten they purchase will be worth every single penny. Not just anyone can walk up, pick up a kitten and take it home.
Good kittens start long before their parents are bred. Both the king and queen need constant care and conditioning to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding health tests, regular exercise, family environment and good nutrition.
It also means maintaining your cat's mental health. Stressed animals can experience fertility problems. Many breeders swear by the belief that the queen's temperament affects the kittens - good kittens come from good mothers.
I personally feel NO BREEDER SHOULD EVER have to explain or justify their prices. Quality cats are expensive to buy, expensive to maintain, and expensive to breed. Much goes into breeding of cats and the price a breeder is asking for their kittens is up to their discretion. Whether it's $1500 or $4000, every breeder knows what they've invested into their cats/kittens, how much they've paid, and the quality they are producing, registration, and their actual litter expenses. When looking at purchasing a kitten, you can't just consider the cost of the kitten but a breeder's overall expenses and time to just obtain that litter.
Exceptional Quality Is Not Expensive, It's Priceless!
Written by T. Breton but modified by Daphne Riggs to fit my program.
Ever heard the saying, "You get what you pay for"? Yeah, well, the pet industry is one place you won't find a better example of the prudence of that advice. Quality in the breeding world can range anywhere from absolute crap to jaw-dropping fantastic and everywhere in between. And although it may not always be this way, in most cases you're going to get exactly what you pay for.
What expenses are involved in responsibly breeding?
Quality has never been cheap and buying a quality kitten definitely is not! You are going to have to expect to pay more than just a few hundred dollars to buy from a responsible breeder. It is important to remember though that just because you are paying a large price for a kitten, it does not always mean it is quality (testimonies from happy families is very important). There are several factors that go into the price of buying a kitten from a good breeder and make sure the breeder is doing all of these things or more.
The ever-increasing price of top-notch veterinary care and paying state and federal taxes take up a significant percentage of my overall pricing (all my adults and kittens receive regular vet care and I do pay state and federal taxes which is high when you are self-employed). I invest in quality Maine Coons to bring into my program, high quality diets, pre-natal exams, pregnancy x-rays if needed, supplements, emergency veterinary care, c-sections, assisted deliveries when complications arise, vaccinations for adults and the kittens, health testing for adults, routine blood-work, dental cleanings, veterinary exams/health checks for each kitten, food, flea preventative, worming, kitten food, cat food, toys for my adults, cleaning supplies, bedding, dishes, crates, grooming supplies, my kitten care package, TICA registration of my adults and kittens and more! If you can imagine this is just the short list of my costs but it gives you the idea! My time is also not free... do not forget the time invested in working with families, caring for kittens and adults, cleaning, etc.
Well-bred cats are expensive to breed. Even poorly bred cats are not cheap to breed. The queen may need a c-section for the birth that can cost $1,500 or more. Plus, there is care for the queen during pregnancy and after birth. If they, do it right there is health/genetic testing before breeding. The average litter can cost $2,500+ or so to breed by the time all is said and done. If there is only a few kittens in the litter, even at $1,500, the breeder is often taking a big loss. Any purebred cat is going to be expensive if the breeder is investing in their program. When you purchase a kitten through a reputable breeder, you have to remember that the breeder has already spent a good amount of money on veterinary care for the mother and the kittens and that is reflected in the price too. Pre-breeding health checks for both parents, stud fees if needed, prenatal care, initial vet visits, shots, worming's, food, and all the other things that the breeder takes care of long before you ever get to bring your kitten home--these things cost a lot of money.
So, what is a breeder's time worth?
It is estimated that the average breeder spends 180 hours or more per month caring for their cats and kittens. And 180 hours cannot be scheduled around other obligations; other obligations must be scheduled around your kittens and adults. Have you considered what a breeder needs to do for a weekend away, a vacation, or even the day? Being gone for longer than six to eight hours would require that I hire someone reliable to be at my home. So, having a litter of kittens for any breeder pretty much takes a considerable chunk of time and independence from your life. A good breeder will carefully screen and interview all potential buyers to ensure that their kittens get placed in only the best homes. They will also offer support to the kitten new family to make sure that they are properly prepared, and they will stay available to help out any family in need, even if it means accepting the kitten back into their home if problems arise. Look at your well-bred Maine Coon as an investment in your emotional health, you couldn't get any mental health professional to treat you daily for the next 12 to 15 years for $2000 to $4000.
My hope is that people who are willing to pay for one of my kittens will provide a very good home. That they have thought long and hard, researched and read about Maine Coons and other cats before deciding on a Maine Coon and the kitten they purchase will be worth every single penny. Not just anyone can walk up, pick up a kitten and take it home.
Good kittens start long before their parents are bred. Both the king and queen need constant care and conditioning to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding health tests, regular exercise, family environment and good nutrition.
It also means maintaining your cat's mental health. Stressed animals can experience fertility problems. Many breeders swear by the belief that the queen's temperament affects the kittens - good kittens come from good mothers.
I personally feel NO BREEDER SHOULD EVER have to explain or justify their prices. Quality cats are expensive to buy, expensive to maintain, and expensive to breed. Much goes into breeding of cats and the price a breeder is asking for their kittens is up to their discretion. Whether it's $1500 or $4000, every breeder knows what they've invested into their cats/kittens, how much they've paid, and the quality they are producing, registration, and their actual litter expenses. When looking at purchasing a kitten, you can't just consider the cost of the kitten but a breeder's overall expenses and time to just obtain that litter.
Exceptional Quality Is Not Expensive, It's Priceless!
Written by T. Breton but modified by Daphne Riggs to fit my program.