When you contact a British Shorthair breeder, the questions you ask tell them you are a serious, careful buyer — and the answers tell you whether they are a careful breeder. As a judge I can usually tell within a few minutes of conversation whether someone breeds for the love of the cats or for something else. Here are the questions that get you to the same place.
On this page
- Questions about the parents
- Questions about how the kittens are raised
- Questions about what comes with the kitten
- Questions a good breeder will ask YOU
- Questions about temperament and the kitten’s future
- How to read the answers
- What I’ve learned after 20+ years answering these questions
- Trust the relationship, not just the answers
- Should you put down a deposit?
- Frequently asked questions
Questions about the parents
- Are both parents GCCF registered, and may I see the pedigrees?
- What health tests have the parents had? (You want to hear PKD, HCM and blood type.)
- May I see the health test certificates?
- Can I meet the mother? A genuine breeder will always say yes.
- How many litters does the mother have, and how often? Responsible breeders do not over-breed their queens.
If any of the health terms are unfamiliar, the British Shorthair health guide explains what each test is for.
Questions about how the kittens are raised
- Where are the kittens raised? Underfoot in the home is what you want to hear, not in a shed or cattery block.
- How are they socialised? With everyday noise, handling and people.
- What are they fed, and what should I continue with?
- At what age do they leave? The answer should be no earlier than 13 weeks.
Questions about what comes with the kitten
- Is the kitten vaccinated and microchipped before it leaves?
- Is there a contract, and what does it cover?
- Is any insurance included?
- What is in the kitten pack?
- What support do you offer after I take the kitten home?
Questions a good breeder will ask YOU
Be ready for the conversation to run both ways. A responsible breeder will want to know about your home, whether anyone is home during the day, whether the cat will go outside, whether you have children or other pets, and what you understand about the breed. If a breeder asks you nothing at all, that tells you how much they care where the kitten ends up.
Questions about temperament and the kitten’s future
- How would you describe this kitten’s personality? A breeder who knows each kitten individually has been hands-on with them.
- Is this kitten better suited to a quiet home or a busy family? Good breeders match kittens to homes.
- What is your neutering policy, and is the kitten sold as a pet or for breeding?
- What happens if my circumstances change? A responsible breeder will always take a cat back rather than see it go to a shelter.
How to read the answers
The words matter less than the shape of the reply. A careful breeder answers specifically — they name the kitten, mention its quirks, talk about the parents by name, and happily go off on a tangent about the breed. An evasive seller deals in generalities, deflects the health questions, and tries to move you towards a deposit. You are not looking for perfect answers; you are looking for someone who clearly knows and loves their cats and is in no hurry. Trust the texture of the conversation as much as the facts.
What I’ve learned after 20+ years answering these questions
I am on the receiving end of these questions every time we have a litter, and I judge other people’s cats besides. A few things stand out.
- The best buyers interview me harder than I interview them. Those are invariably the homes the kittens thrive in.
- Good breeders love being asked about health testing. It is the part we are proudest of. Reluctance there is the single biggest red flag.
- Ask to see the kitten more than once if you can. A kitten that is confident on a second visit, in normal household chaos, is a kitten that has been properly socialised.
- Listen for the questions coming back at you. A breeder who does not ask about your home, your hours and your other pets is not placing kittens carefully.
Trust the relationship, not just the answers
One last thought from the breeder’s side of the table. The questions and answers matter, but what you are really trying to work out is whether this is a person you can trust with the next fifteen years of a cat’s life — and who will still pick up the phone when you ring in a panic at week three because your kitten has not eaten since lunchtime. A good breeder is, in effect, signing up to be your back-up for the life of the cat. Listen for warmth as well as competence: do they light up talking about the kittens, do they remember small details about each one, do they seem to actually like the people who have had kittens from them before? The breeders worth buying from treat every kitten as one they are lending to you, not selling. That is the relationship you want, and the conversation is where you find it.
Should you put down a deposit?
A deposit is normal and reasonable — it is how a breeder holds a kitten for you and how you show you are serious. But protect yourself. Never pay a deposit before you have at least seen the kitten with its mother on a live video call in the breeder’s home, and ideally not before a visit. Ask what the deposit covers and whether it is refundable if the kitten turns out to be unwell at the vet check. Pay by a method with some buyer protection rather than a bank transfer to someone you have never met. A genuine breeder will happily put the terms in writing; anyone who pressures you to send money fast, today, before you have seen anything, is showing you exactly why you should walk away.
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Print it out and take it with you. Print our Kitten Buyer’s Checklist and tick the questions off as you go.
More free guides: Diet & Feeding Sheet · Weight & Growth Tracker
Frequently asked questions
What is the single most important question to ask a breeder?
“Can I see the kitten with its mother, in your home?” Everything else flows from being able to visit and verify.
What health tests should I ask about for a British Shorthair?
PKD (a DNA test), HCM (heart screening) and blood typing. A careful breeder shares the results without being pushed.
Is it rude to ask a breeder lots of questions?
Not at all. A responsible breeder is pleased to meet a careful buyer and will answer gladly. Reluctance to answer is itself an answer.
Should the breeder ask me questions too?
Yes. A breeder who asks nothing about your home is a warning sign. Good breeders place kittens carefully.
When should a kitten be ready to leave?
No earlier than 13 weeks, fully vaccinated, weaned and well socialised — the GCCF standard.
Thinking of welcoming a British Shorthair into your family? See our available kittens and how our reserving process works, or get in touch — I am always happy to talk things through, whether or not you end up with one of ours.
