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Copyright © 2017 Devon Rex Breed Club
You want to buy a Devon Rex, but do not know where
to start. Please let us help.
When searching for a RESPONSIBLE BREEDER of Devon Rex, it is
important for you to understand the differences between a responsible
breeder and someone who breeds for profit or those who breed "just for the
fun of it."
RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS commit themselves first to the well being of
their cats and kittens. They only breed Devon Rex to preserve, sustain, and
improve the best qualities of the breed
THE RESPONSIBLE BREEDER WILL:
Only place a cat or kitten with you when they have taken the time to
thoroughly interview and feel comfortable with you on a more
personal level.
This means they are willing to turn down a buyer's request for a cat or
kitten, if they are not confident that the placement is the best possible
home. Every cat and kitten needs to be placed in a home where its
unique personality, and the new owner's personality, lifestyle, and
temperament are ideally suited for one another.
Create a healthy environment by only breeding cats that are in good
health and fit, without any known or suspected genetic defects, or
personality disorders.
A responsible breeder will limit the number of cats and
kittens they keep to ensure they receive regular, loving,
human interaction to be well socialized; have sufficient clean
and safe space in which to play and rest; receive scheduled,
as well as emergency, veterinary care; and the highest
quality food.
Sell only a healthy cat or kitten to you and give an
assurance of current good health.
A responsible breeder will provide you with documentation
of the cat or kitten's medical history, including vaccine
records and any medicines previously prescribed for a
treated illness. While no breeder can guarantee the future
health and life span of a cat or kitten, a responsible breeder
will document what will happen should the cat or kitten
become ill. You may also be provided with contact
information for the breeder's veterinarian should you and
your veterinarian have any questions.
Sell a kitten or cat with a contract that everyone
understands.
It will clearly spell out for you the breeder's obligations and
your rights and obligations in a fair manner that respects
and protects all the parties signing it. It will include a
spay/neuter agreement clause if the cat or kitten is intact
when sold, in order to preserve the health and well-being of
the individual cat or kitten - and the Devon Rex breed.
Sell and place a kitten with you that is at least 14 - 16
weeks of age.
Kittens will have had sufficient time with its mother and
litter-mates to be well socialized and old enough to have
been fully vaccinated against Calici, Panleukopenia, and
Rhinotracheitis Virus. A responsible breeder will never
take a deposit on an unborn kitten nor risk breaking your
heart by permitting you to reserve a kitten too young to
have a reasonable certainty of survival (i.e., before the
age of six weeks).
Participate in The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) sponsored cat
shows.
This is to receive objective feedback from judges, and compare
their cats to those of other Devon Rex breeders. (Note: The reader
is reminded that you are viewing this buyers' guide on the official
website of the CFA, Devon Rex Breed Club, where all Devon Rex
Standards of Perfection, shows and titles mentioned will be
exclusively those of CFA.)
Will work with pedigrees containing multiple titled cats
beyond the preliminary show title of Champion (CH)
This typically requires only presentation at one cat show without
requiring the cat to actively compete for points. The goal is to
produce cats capable of earning the highest title-of-
merit awarded by CFA, Grand Champion (GC).
Exemplary breeding programs are slowly built from
such pedigrees. Often newer breeders will not yet
have achieved advanced titles, but will be actively
involved in showing their cats and working to earn
them. (A complete listing and explanation of CFA
titles and rankings can be found elsewhere on the
Education page.)
It is important for you to understand that breeding
Devon Rex is an expensive hobby and not a
business for profit. The cost of producing a well-bred
Devon Rex kitten or cat is high because the responsible
breeder makes the necessary time and financial commitments
to produce quality cats and kittens with good health and
temperament that are suitable for the show ring and will, if
bred, sustain the overall high quality of the breed. Should they
produce a kitten that, by 16 weeks of age, is not of show
quality, have a cat aging out of their breeding program, or
determine that a cat or kitten is more suited to a pet home, the
responsible breeder will find a buyer, perhaps you, that is the
best possible match.
You are now a more informed buyer as you look for a Devon
Rex. If you interview a breeder who does not reflect the
philosophy or practices of breeding we have listed for you, this
should concern you and raise a "buyer beware" flag. We suggest
you take the time to interview other breeders and ask more questions. Take the time to properly interview and get to
know a breeder, as this will be to your advantage when looking for a Devon Rex to join your family.