A reputable breeder only sells registered kittens with a sales contract and a written health guarantee. When inquiring about a kitten make sure to find out as much as possible about the age and health history of ancestors of the kitten you are buying. Ask for HCM (by ultrasound) and HD (and preferably PKD) testing of parents and stay away from litters where only some kittens in the litter survived or where kittens seem weak or sickly. Make sure that the breeder has a responsible outcross program in place and is not breeding just for show wins. A good breeder will want to get to know you first and will ask you questions about your family and living circumstances. He will be willing to answer all your questions. Make sure the breeder you purchase from does have some show and breeding experience, in order for you to get proper advice and experienced after- care. Try to visit the cattery if at all possible because web pages don’t always reflect the true circumstances at the cattery, especially when it comes to hygiene. Make sure you are allowed access to all living quarters. If you can’t visit make sure to get references of people who have purchased kittens from the breeder and who have been to his home. Stay away from cheap backyard breeders who sometimes offer kittens at a very low price and sometimes without papers. Costs have to be cut somewhere. Most times it’s the food, health care and quality of breeding stock. You will most likely have to pay more in the long run for high vet bills or even loss of the animal.