A Kitten Is a Living Being, Not a Product With a Lifetime Warranty

The most important thing every prospective kitten owner should understand is this: no breeder can guarantee that a living animal will never become sick.

Even two completely healthy parents can produce a kitten that later develops a health problem. A kitten that is perfectly healthy when it leaves the breeder can also become ill later for reasons unrelated to its breeding.

This is not a failure of a breeding program. It is simply biology.

What a Responsible Breeder Can Do

Responsible breeding can reduce known risks, but it cannot eliminate them completely.

We perform appropriate genetic testing and health screenings on our breeding cats, carefully select breeding pairs, and provide proper nutrition, vaccinations, parasite prevention, socialization, and veterinary care.

However, every test has limitations.

A genetic test evaluates a specific condition or genetic factor. A health examination reflects the animal’s condition at a particular point in time. Neither can predict everything that may happen in the future.

Some health problems may be infectious, environmental, developmental, or related to factors that cannot currently be predicted.

A responsible breeder can stand behind the quality of their breeding and care, but cannot guarantee the lifelong health of a living animal.

Why a Kitten Can Become Sick After Going Home

Moving to a new home is a major change for a young kitten. New people, transportation, changes in routine, a different environment, vaccinations, and exposure to other animals can all affect a kitten during the adjustment period.

Sometimes a kitten can become sick even when everyone has done everything correctly.

Illness does not automatically mean that the breeder was negligent or that the kitten was unhealthy when it left the cattery.

The Responsibilities of the Breeder and the Owner

Before a kitten leaves our cattery, we are responsible for providing appropriate care, health screening, vaccinations, socialization, preventative care, and honest information about the kitten’s health.

Once the kitten goes to its new home, the new owner becomes responsible for its ongoing care and health.

This means being prepared not only for the joy of having a kitten, but also for unexpected medical expenses, illness, or the need for additional care.

Buying a kitten is not buying a product. It is accepting responsibility for a living being for many years.

Look Beyond Color, Pedigree, and Price

Color, type, pedigree, titled parents, and price may all be important when choosing a kitten. But there is another question every prospective owner should ask themselves:

Am I prepared to care for this animal if something does not go according to plan?

Responsible ownership means understanding that there are no absolute guarantees when it comes to a living organism.

We want our kittens to go to families who understand this and are prepared to care for them not only when everything is going well, but also when unexpected challenges arise.

Our Philosophy

We believe in responsible breeding, health testing, transparency, and high standards of care.

We can test, examine, vaccinate, reduce known risks, and carefully select our breeding cats.

But we cannot control biology, and we cannot promise that a living animal will never become sick.

What we can promise is that we will do everything reasonably possible before a kitten leaves our cattery and provide our families with all information we have regarding the kitten’s health and care.

Please remember: a kitten is not a product with a lifetime warranty. It is a living being that depends on you and needs your love, care, and commitment throughout its life.

— Shining Blue Cats