Choose Your Breeder First, Your Kitten Second. When You Choose the Right Breeder You Find the Perfect Kitten…
The Importance of Choosing the Right Breeder First
Often, people fall in love with a kitten from a photo without knowing much about the breeder. While it’s possible to find a wonderful kitten this way, I believe the best approach is to find a reputable breeder first—your perfect kitten will naturally follow. Reputable breeders carefully select their cats based on breed standards, temperament, and health, ensuring that every kitten has the potential to become a well-adjusted, loving companion. For me, color and pattern come last; I love them all. The choices breeders make directly impact the future kitten's personality and temperament.
Understanding Emotional Resilience in Kittens
One of the most crucial factors in a kitten’s development is their emotional resilience, which is heavily influenced by both parents. Emotional resilience refers to a kitten’s ability to handle stress and adapt to new environments. Dr. Sarah Heath compares this to the size of a sink—kittens inherit their “sink size,” or emotional capacity, from their parents. A kitten with a large sink can manage more stress and become a well-adjusted house cat. Conversely, a kitten with a smaller sink may struggle with stress, making it difficult for them to adapt to domestic life.
The Role of the Sire and Queen in Kitten Development
Both parents play a critical role in determining a kitten's emotional capacity. The sire (father) predominantly influences personality, especially where the kittens fall on the shy-to-bold spectrum. The queen (mother) has the most significant impact on behavior. During pregnancy, the queen’s stress levels directly affect the kittens’ hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which influences their ability to manage stress throughout life. If a mother cat feels safe, she produces appeasing pheromones both in utero and after birth, contributing to the kitten’s emotional resilience.
Socializing Kittens for a Well-Adjusted Life
Socialization is a key part of raising a well-adjusted exotic shorthair kitten. Kittens should be introduced to new experiences gradually, with careful handling, especially during the critical period of 2 to 7 weeks of age. Breeders must maintain high standards of cleanliness and ensure that only trusted individuals handle the kittens. At Exotic Shorthair Kittens of Cape Cod, I invite close friends and family to help socialize the kittens, providing them with a safe, nurturing environment. This early socialization is crucial for their emotional development, helping them grow into confident, well-behaved adult cats.
Essential Questions to Ask Your Exotic Shorthair Breeder
Before choosing a kitten, it's essential to ask the breeder the right questions to ensure you're getting a well-bred, well-socialized kitten. Here are some key questions to ask:
Who are the parents of the kittens, and what are they like?
Where are the cats and kittens raised?
What experiences have the kittens had, and at what age?
Are the kittens handled regularly? By whom and when?
By asking these questions, you can gain insight into the breeder's practices and ensure you're bringing home a kitten with a strong foundation for a happy, healthy life.
References
Heath, Sarah. Preparing Kittens for the Domestic Setting. Online Breeder Conference. Crazy Cat Vet, 16 December 2023.
Herron, Meghan E, DMV, DACVB, Horwitz, Deborah F, DMV, DACVB, Siracusa, Carlo, DMV, PhD, DACVB. Decoding Your Cat, 2021.
Smith, Sean, and Wylie Vale. “The Role of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Neuroendocrine Responses to Stress.” National Library of Medicine, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 8 Dec 2006, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181830/.