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Tonkinese Kittens
Mymystic Tanen - © Linda Vousden
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Photos & Text © Linda Vousden Part 1 (this page) Covers - From whom should I buy a pedigree kitten? Where can I find Tonkinese breeders? How much should I expect to pay? Will a deposit be required? What generation Tonkinese should I buy? What should I expect from the breeder? When can I collect my kitten from the breeder? Cautionary Note Part 2 Covers - Will I be able to see my kitten's parents? Is it better to have one or two Tonks? Is it best to have two boys, two girls or one of each? I have an old cat, would a kitten be suitable? What should I have ready at home for my new kitten? What should I do if my kitten falls ill soon after I bring it home? What should I do if I need to report a problem breeder? If a mature cat would be better for me, where can I find one? |
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When buying a pedigree kitten, of any breed, there are potential pitfalls so I hope this guide will help you to avoid them - and answer some frequently asked questions. The advice relates to the UK but is generally relevant.
There are always risks when buying an expensive 'item' from an individual rather than a shop. When buying animals, in this case kittens, it is preferable to buy from the breeder in order to see how the kittens behave in a home environment, how they are cared for by the breeder and ideally how the kittens mother looks and behaves. It is important to know that the kitten comes from a clean, healthy and caring environment. I strongly advise that you never buy kitten from a pet shop. In the case of pedigree cats, the GCCF rules prohibit breeders from selling their kittens through pet shops - so if you see one in a shop you know that it has not come from a reputable breeder. Bear in mind that this is not a commodity you are buying. This kitten is not a decoration for the house, a toy for the children or a comforter for you - it is a loving, highly intelligent potential family member, with a voice, an individual character and hopefully a long life. |
Mymystic Goldenshadow (Brown male) & Mymystic Snowshadow (Chocolate male) - five weeks old - © Linda Vousden
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From whom should I buy a pedigree Tonkinese kitten?
Be sure that you are buying a kitten from a breeder registered with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) or other recognised cat fancy authority, and that the kitten's breeding complies with the recommendations of the Tonkinese Breeding Policy. I strongly recommend that you buy your kitten from a breeder who is a member of a Tonkinese club, if in doubt, you can check with the club’s Chairman or Secretary whether the breeder is a member or not. There are good reasons for this: 1) A club member is kept informed of updates to the Tonkinese Breeding and Registration policies, so they should be breeding Tonkinese properly. 2) If you should have problems with the breeder you are able to ask for the support of the club, who may refer the matter to the GCCF if necessary. 3) Membership of a breed club is similar to membership of a specialist guild that supports both the breeder and the kitten owner. Although many breeders have their own prefix or cattery name (e.g. mine is Mymystic), it is not necessary to buy a kitten from a breeder with a prefix. Some breeders choose not to purchase their own prefix, when they register their kittens with the GCCF the kittens names will be preceded by a GCCF administration prefix beginning with 'Ad'. Be guided by your own impressions of the breeder, the way they relate to their cats and the condition of the kittens. Bear in mind that a breeder has the right to sell their kittens to whomsoever they choose and is not bound to keep a kitten for you unless you have made such an arrangement with them. When you go to see the kittens the queen may look quite scrawny, don't be put off by this as the kittens take a lot out of her no matter how well the breeder cares for her. If you are unhappy with the condition of the kittens or their environment don't commit yourself until you've had time to consider and perhaps view other breeders' kittens. Never be tempted to buy a kitten in order to 'rescue' it from what you see as an unhappy situation - if the kitten is really in poor condition it will not necessarily make a good pet. If you are concerned about the kittens' condition/environment you may want to advise the relevant breed club rather than encourage the breeder by buying a kitten. Tonkinese colouring may take many months to mature, so don't be surprised if a Tonkinese breeder says that they are not quite sure what coat-pattern or eye-colour their young kittens have. Ask as many questions as you wish, a good breeder will be happy to ensure that you have all the information you need to care for one of their kittens - and expect the breeder to ask you many questions too. The breeder has a duty to clearly advise you whether or not a kitten is suitable to be bred from or shown - then your choice of kitten is your responsibility. |
Tonkinese Breed Club
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Where can I find Tonkinese breeders? You can spend your time trawling the internet, but a more efficient way would be to visit the web sites of the two UK Tonkinese clubs - the Tonkinese Breed Club and the Tonkinese Cat Club. Both clubs maintain an on-line kitten list for members to advertise their kittens. The Tonkinese Breed Club also provides a list of all breeder members - so you can check whether a breeder is actually a member of the club, or contact a breeder to see whether they have kittens due in the future. |
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How much should I expect to pay?
Although this is not the first priority when buying a kitten it is a question that everyone must eventually ask. There is no fixed price for a Tonkinese kitten. At present the price is upward of £700, this must include all of the paperwork and the full course of vaccinations against Feline Enteritis and Cat 'Flu. Some breeders may charge a little more if they also vaccinate their kittens against Feline Leukaemia or DNA test and microchip their kittens particularly when selling a kitten for breeding. If you are asked to pay much more than this then you should ask "Why?". Will a deposit be required? Some breeder's take a deposit, some don't - this is entirely up to the breeder and there is no standard amount. However, once you have confirmed with the breeder that you want one of their kittens it is reasonable for the breeder to request a proportion of the kitten price in order to hold the kitten for you (the deposit should be deducted from the overall kitten price). A breeder whose primary concern is the correct home for their kitten (rather than the kitten price) will normally refund your deposit if either you, or they, decide that the kitten is not suitable for you. Bear in mind that if you change your mind about having the kitten after some time, then it is reasonable for the breeder to retain part of the deposit to help with the re-advertising of the kitten - all of this should be discussed before you leave any deposit. What generation Tonkinese should I buy? This only matters if you intend to breed from, or show, your Tonkinese - any breeder who tells you otherwise is not a proper Tonkinese breeder! 1) If your kitten has only one Tonkinese parent then it is not a Tonkinese. 2) If your kitten has a Burmese and a Siamese parent it is a Tonkinese, but cannot be shown. 3) If any of your Tonkinese kitten's parents, grandparents or great-grand parents are not Tonkinese then it cannot be shown. 4) If you wish to breed from, or show, your Tonkinese then before buying your kitten it is important to understand the Tonkinese Registration Policy (see also my own guide to Understanding the Tonkinese Registration Policy). What should I expect from the breeder? If you wish to show or breed, the breeder should advise you on the good and bad points of each kitten - and help you to choose a suitable kitten. The breeder should also advise you about Tonkinese coat-patterns. If you do not intend to show or breed the breeder should still let you know about the kitten's character, any health problems it may have had etc. Remember, you have a responsibility to understand what you are paying for. At the time of collecting your kitten a GCCF registered breeder must provide :- 1) A fully completed pedigree showing full details of breed & registration numbers of at least the first 3 generations of ancestors. 2) The correct registration transfer documents signed by the breeder (a GCCF document showing the kitten’s registered pedigree name, parents, breed number, registration number, whether the kitten is on the ‘active’ register and whether it may be shown). The breeder does not have a right to withhold this document, but they may choose not to register the kitten - in which case they must provide a copy of the certificate of mating. 3) A copy of the GCCF leaflet for kitten owners. 4) A properly completed vaccination certificate showing the kitten's breed, date of birth and pedigree name and showing that the kitten has had the full course at least seven days before you collect the kitten (i.e. two injections, usually at the age of 9 and 12 weeks) for Feline Panleucopaenia (enteritis) and Feline viral infectious respiratory diseases (commonly known as 'flu) . 5) Written details of all dietary requirements for the kitten/s (as per the GCCF Code of Ethics) Many breeders will require the new owner to sign a purchase contract. A reputable breeder, and one who cares about their kittens, will send the kitten on its way with not only its required documentation but probably also some food, a favourite toy and free insurance for a period of up to 6 weeks. When can I collect my kitten from the breeder? You may collect your kitten after 13 weeks of age, and at least seven days after it has had a full set of inoculations against Feline Infectious Enteritis and Feline ‘Flu. Arrangements will be made with the breeder for a mutually convenient date/time for collection. You should bring a clean, warm carrier for your kitten; and if you are traveling quite a distance you'll also need to bring a couple of bowls, a bottle of water, a little food and a litter tray that may be lined with kitchen roll. Cautionary Note: No reputable breeder will allow a pedigree kitten to go to a new owner without a full course of vaccinations. If a GCCF registered breeder allows a kitten to go to its new owner before 12/13 weeks, or without the full course of vaccinations, or fails to supply any of the above mentioned documentation they are in breach of the GCCF welfare rules and Code of Ethics - and liable to be reported to, and disciplined by, the GCCF. It is your choice as to whether you report them, but you should seriously consider purchasing your kitten elsewhere. |
You should expect your kitten to be fit, well grown, healthy and well socialised - © Linda Vousden