Deposits

[Kristine]

Does anyone know what the protocol is on prebirth deposits? I have my deposit down on a kitten, but was unable to pick one out immediately due to a breeder getting first choice.
My kitten is 8 1/2 weeks old, but I still haven't heard anything. I am getting anxious as I am trying to prepare and was hoping to visit the kittens before pick up, but find it pointless if I don't know which one is mine. Does anyone know how long these things usually take?

I would NEVER give a pre-brith deposit. I believe that it is not ethical for a breeder to ask for the same. What are the contingencies for the return of the deposit? For me after breeding several years and practicing law for several more, the bottom line is that if I trust you enough to have one of my kittens you need to trust me enough to notify you of a litter that you want a kitten in being born. I have a few pairings of cats that I have waiting lists for right now and I will not take a deposit. I think giving a pre-brith deposit is akin to letting someone else use your money for a few months or even years. I hope that your situation works out okay. If possible though I would attempt to get the deposit back.

 

[Wyldthingz]

I don't take prebirth deposits either... I've become so superstitious about my litters I don't want to jinx them! LOL! I do always have first choice so that part of it is not that bizarre to me, there's no reason for me to produce a litter if I don't have the option to keep a kitten I really like from it...

I agree with Brigitte here. Now sometimes there are prebirth deposits for F1s since they don't happen very often but not F4s. Honestly, as a rule, I won't buy anything until at least 6 weeks as a breeder because I want to know temperament and type which can't be discerned from a little spotted blob with their eyes closed. I prefer 12 to 16 weeks any more but that is just me.

 

[Wyldthingz]

I would NEVER give a pre-brith deposit. I believe that it is not ethical for a breeder to ask for the same. What are the contingencies for the return of the deposit? For me after breeding several years and practicing law for several more, the bottom line is that if I trust you enough to have one of my kittens you need to trust me enough to notify you of a litter that you want a kitten in being born. I have a few pairings of cats that I have waiting lists for right now and I will not take a deposit. I think giving a pre-brith deposit is akin to letting someone else use your money for a few months or even years. I hope that your situation works out okay. If possible though I would attempt to get the deposit back.

To me it is just greedy in my opinion- don't sling flaming arrows! It is just my opinion. Why can't they just wait a few weeks for the deposit unless they are afraid that you will find something else.

 

[Kristine]

To me it is just greedy in my opinion- don't sling flaming arrows! It is just my opinion. Why can't they just wait a few weeks for the deposit unless they are afraid that you will find something else.

I do not mean to be grumpy about it, but if I had a dollar for every time I had to advise someone on getting back a pre birth deposit, I could at least afford a nice outing at Nordstrom. I just cannot mince words, I think it is wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

[Nitro]

Unless it was for a F1 waiting list (because I hear those kitties are quite fragile and unpredictable), I don't understand the idea of putting down a deposit on an unknown kitty. While I did send my deposit before I got a contract, I knew exactly what I was getting, the contract quickly followed, and I got the kitten ten days later...for an F2.

 

[Pam Flachs]

I also do not do pre-birth deposits. Too much at stake there, even with lower gens like I have....

 

[shelby]

As I said before...I don't take deposits on kittens before they are born. I have to also say...I have had prospective buyers try to give me a deposit on a kitten before it is born. Kristin never said whether it was her idea or the breeders for the deposit;>)

 

[Patti]

I haven't signed any contract, and they haven't mentioned if there was one. They said the prebirth deposit was transferable to different litters. I think a deposit on a certain kitten is more, but I'm not really sure. I am sure I am just overexcited and they will let me know when things die down a bit. Thanks for your help

I find this rather bothersome - I don't understand how a breeder can ask someone to put a deposit down on something that doesn't exist in the first place. The purpose of a deposit is to reserve a specific thing, in this case a kitten. Certainly a deposit should never change hands without a signed contract in place. What if the breeder doesn't produce a kitten to your liking? What if the litter doesn't survive? Without a specific kitten in mind and without a contract to back up your deposit you don't have much to stand on if the breeder doesn't come through for you. I hope everything works out in the long run, but if I were you I would at the least be demanding updated pics of the kittens so that you can see the choices available.

 

[Wyldthingz]

Correction- I HAVE done one pre-birth deposit. This was a singular incident where the buyer begged me to repeat the cross. The buyer had a tendency to be wishy-washy so I wanted her to commit before I did it. It was a very small deposit however.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

As I said before...I don't take deposits on kittens before they are born. I have to also say...I have had prospective buyers try to give me a deposit on a kitten before it is born. Kristin never said whether it was her idea or the breeders for the deposit;>)

Agreed! I once allowed a buyer to give me a deposit... for a boy kitten. Her idea was to pay it off before it was born as she was terrible at saving money. I was new to breeding and said yes... Katie then had three litters of girls and then Savannahs were made illegal in that buyer's state. I sent her a check immediately and felt horribly guilty as she could have bought another Savannah and had it grandfathered in...although I did offer her a refund so many times she really did want a kitten from me.

I have had others try since to give me money (in fact just this week) and have refused over and over. Buyers often feel sending the money guarantees them the kitten and obviously worry you might sell kittens elsewhere without letting them know first...

I've also had ones so impatient as I insist they receive a contract and read it before they send a check as deposit (or holding fee). I often feel like I am forcing them to think about what they are paying money for...