Ragdoll Cat Forums

Stormi, it is not a matter of a show prospect kitten not being placed as a pet. Of course, show and breeder quality kittens are placed as pets all the time - most of them in fact. One charges a higher price for a show prospect kitten for the same reason one charges more for a breeding kitten.

In 1978, we put a deposit for our first Ragdoll as a show quality seal mitted male from Blossom Time. He was more expensive than pets. However, we wanted a kitten with good type although we had no plans to show him - and it took about a year for him to be born. Paying the show prospect price meant that the Daytons carefully selected our kitten based on his meeting the breed characteristics - and we got him rather than others who also were interested in kittens with the best breed type. I cannot imagine how long it would have taken for us to get a show prospect kitten if we were just in line with and competing with folks wanting a pet kitten only. There is nothing wrong with breeders charging more for the "better" kittens and one should look at a pet kitten price as discounted rather than a show quality kitten costing "more."

I can assure you that he was a loved - and pampered - pet his entire life - 16 years.

We only charge more for the show and breeder quality kittens because they stay with us longer to ensure that they are indeed show or breeder quality. We then sell them for a little less than pets if they turn out to be less "flashy".

Hi Jan,

I do understand what you are saying. I am not at all against any breeder charging more for a show quality kitten. I understand why this is done. I have a woman who is interested in showing and wants a specific color and pattern and gender, and so I have placed her name on our waiting list for that, but it has been a year and so far that color and pattern has not came out in any of our litters. I have only been breeding for a short time, so placing (what may be) show quality kittens as pets isn't a big deal to us. However, I do hold aside a place for someone who is wanting nice type along with nice pattern, I just haven't placed a higher cost on the kittens.
I also feel like I am still learning, so I am also not as comfortable saying this is a probable show quality kitten. I am feeling better about it, as we have been showing, but not 100% there. I am not against placing breeders, there are wonderful breeders out there. It just isn't something we have done yet.
I loved hearing about your boy from the Dayton's. I can imagine he was very loved and pampered his entire life, and missed incredibly when it was his time to go.
I hope it doesn't seem like I am being negative on breeders who do charge more for a show kitten, that isn't the case at all.

Purrs,
Stormi

JanH Wrote:Stormi, it is not a matter of a show prospect kitten not being placed as a pet. Of course, show and breeder quality kittens are placed as pets all the time - most of them in fact. One charges a higher price for a show prospect kitten for the same reason one charges more for a breeding kitten.

In 1978, we put a deposit for our first Ragdoll as a show quality seal mitted male from Blossom Time. He was more expensive than pets. However, we wanted a kitten with good type although we had no plans to show him - and it took about a year for him to be born. Paying the show prospect price meant that the Daytons carefully selected our kitten based on his meeting the breed characteristics - and we got him rather than others who also were interested in kittens with the best breed type. I cannot imagine how long it would have taken for us to get a show prospect kitten if we were just in line with and competing with folks wanting a pet kitten only. There is nothing wrong with breeders charging more for the "better" kittens and one should look at a pet kitten price as discounted rather than a show quality kitten costing "more."

I can assure you that he was a loved - and pampered - pet his entire life - 16 years.

I just did not want to leave the impression that placing show prospect kittens at higher prices is price gouging or a sign of the importance of money over placement in the best possible, most loving pet home. Some of the best and most experienced breeders price individual kittens based on their quality. You are right that one has to be confident in the quality judgement of the breeder (including oneself) making the classification. And we also must understand that a pet quality kitten may be the best pet in the litter, for example having a DQ mismark and being the most people oriented kitten.

I do understand, and I am glad that you did say something. I wouldn't want anyone to think that charging a higher price for a show quality kitten is wrong. I do feel like I am still learning and do want to feel more confident when I do place a possible show kitten.

Purrs,
Stormi

We were going to keep Little Man from our last litter, but decided that even though he was absolutely stunning to LOOK at... his personality was NOT the best for showing. He was just too hyper, even for a kitten. Here is his picture. We decided to let him go as a pet. He's much happier now too HOPEFULLY we get a nice show kitten out of Shylo... I want a seal girl.. seal, or seal tortie. Anywho, some breeders dont keep their show or breeder kittens any longer than they do their pet kittens. They dont guarantee that they'll do well in the shows at all. What they DO guarantee is that they believe that this kitten is as close to the breed standard as the breeder believes possible. They also dont know why they charge more.



I charge more because I keep the kitten longer, give them their last set of shots, and I socialize them a lot more with things like "crowd noise" (yay recordings!), strangers touching and handling them like a judge would, and being put into a mock-show cage at a friend's house (somewhere new to them). To me, it only seems fair.

Milo's Mum, Im not sure what breeder is charging over $1000 for a desexed kitten here in Aust, (well maybe one) but that is what is the starting price for breeding undesex cat generally, most breeders dont charge extra for a show kitten as it put their prefix on the show bench which is good publicity

I also wanted to add that most breeder do not gurantee that a kitten will do well on the bench, just they have the potential, the sad part is to many people want a show quality pet and then never show them so often the breeder has desexed something they may have kept because the person so wants to show and then doesnt