How to Choose a Cat: Picking a Reputable Source

1 Registered Cattery

A proper cattery registers every cat with a recognized breed association, and in China that means CFA, WCF, or TICA. Kittens come with traceable pedigrees going back at least three generations, the cattery itself is registered and governed by the association’s rules, and each kitten carries a certificate. Most sales are pre-orders: you pick the breed and the parents, then wait for the litter.

Kittens are not sent home right away — they stay until they are weaned, confirmed healthy, and socially shaped, which is why cattery-raised cats tend to be gentle and affectionate, with real after-sales backing. They are usually already neutered (breeders rarely sell breeding stock, and only older retired cats if they do), and genetic-disease screening is strict: with both parents testing clear (n/n), the fault is not passed on. A cattery’s show record is also a quick way to judge whether it is genuine.

2 Backyard Breeder

Backyard breeders offer more variety, and the parents can sometimes be traced, but without certificates the purity is unverified. The kittens are typically unneutered two- or three-month-olds with no personality shaping to cattery standard, no genetic testing, and no guaranteed immunity — leaving a hidden risk of inherited disease. Most are sold at around two months old, timed to maximize the breeder’s profit.

3 Cat Trader or Pet Market

This is where most ‘week cats’ come from — kittens that do not survive a week. The animals are often bought cheap from households and resold below market price in poor conditions, luring owners on a tight budget. The bargain usually ends at the vet: a cheap cat is a sick cat, and the treatment bill dwarfs the savings. Traders do no genetic screening and often cannot even guarantee basic health; the breed is likely impure, with no traceable parents and no papers.

4 Once the Kitten Is Home

Book a full veterinary exam the moment you take the kitten, so any illness can be caught and the cat returned if needed. Have the litter box, litter, food, and bowls ready in advance. Don’t smother a new kitten with affection — it arrives wary of a strange place and may go into stress, so give it two or three days to settle before it comes to you. Where possible, choose a reputable cattery or a trusted friend’s registered breeder, and better still, consider adoption over purchase to give a homeless stray a warm home.