Breeding American Shorthairs and

American Wirehairs

Selecting Mericat

Now that you have decided on an American Shorthair you need to choose a breeder with whom to work.  If you choose Mericat Cattery you can expect certain things about your new kitten and the breeder. There will also be things that are expected of you.

Home environment: Cats at Mericat Cattery are raised in the home.  Kittens are born in the bedroom where they can receive special attention for the first weeks of their lives. Then they are moved to the kitten room where they live with other kittens and their mothers until old enough to leave home. They are handled from the time they are born by a number of people so that they will be well socialized.  Children are frequent visitors to the cattery and are encouraged to handle the kittens as much as possible.  The kittens are also exposed on a daily basis to the sound of the vacuum cleaner and the nearby passing train. Because of the handling and exposure to noise, most kittens that go to new homes adjust easily and quickly.

Kittens are generally ready to be adopted by the age of 12 weeks. (If you purchase a kitten at a cat show, you can expect that the kitten will be at least 4 months of age.) By 12 weeks the kitten will have had all the required shots, will be well socialized, and will be old enough to easily adjust to new owners and a new environment.

Mericat Cattery has been inspected by a veterinarian and is a CFA approved Cattery of Excellence.

Health:  Mericat kittens are guaranteed healthy and free of infectious disease at the time of purchase.  By the time they are ready to leave the cattery, they will have received the shots needed in their first year of life for feline rhinotracheitis, calici, panleukopenia, and chlamydia. They are guaranteed to be feline leukemia negative, FIV negative and ringworm free. We are dealing with live animals and unforeseen things do happen that cannot be predicted. If a kitten should die within the first 2 years from any reason except for accident or neglect, the kitten will be replace. Shipping cost are additional. 

All cats entering the cattery are tested for feline leukemia, FIV, and ringworm. Cats are kept isolated from the others until they are documented healthy.  All cats are vaccinated regularly as well.

Kittens are also guaranteed to be free of congenital defects. If the kitten should die of a congenital defect within the several years of life, the kitten will be replaced with a kitten as similar as possible.  I ask that buyers keep me informed of the health of their cats for as long as the cat lives, so that records can be kept about the health of the breeding lines.

When a kitten goes to a new home, I ask that it be kept separate from other cats until checked within 5 days  by your veterinarian. Since you are being guaranteed a healthy kitten, you need to ensure that you have what you were promised.  Make sure the kitten is checked completely including tests for feline leukemia, FIV and intestinal parasites.  Check for anything else your vet may recommend. You may also choose to get additional vaccinations if recommended.  This is also a good time to plan with you vet the spaying/neutering of the kitten.

All  pet kittens are sold with a spay/neuter agreement.  Kittens are expected to be spayed/neutered by the time they are 8 months old. Discuss with your vet the best time to do this.  When you provide proof that your kitten has been spayed/neutered, your registration papers will be provided to you.  Registration papers are withheld until this time to encourage spaying and neutering of all pets.

Additionally, all kittens are expected to be strictly indoor pets.  They must not be allowed outside to roam free for any reason.