Legitimate Savannah Cat Breeders - How to Tell

[The Kasbah]

I love the f2.5 gig, sounds like a Savannah revision because of some bugs and anomalies in version f2.

Exactly, John. F2.5 my ass! That is nothing more than an utterly ridiculous marketing ploy...but sadly, people fall victim to it!

 

[The Kasbah]

I tried to get family information on my kitty and proper names of parents. At the beginning of emailing with breeder, he sent One photo of parents. I don't know what happened to that email but I couldn't locate it and asked for another to be sent. Asked on many occasions, Breeders response was I already sent it. I never received the photos again.
I sent another email requesting again information on family tree for my kitty. Breeder requested document from my vet that kitty could not have kittens. I sent the document registered by snail mail. After quite sometime had passed and no word from breeder, I emailed requesting the information AGAIN. No response
Then I receive this message in an email.
I am quoting directly from his email...........
" I only provide registration papers and a pedigree to those who intend on breeding their cat and who pay an additional breeder price for their cat purchased from me. You purchased a pet, not a breeder. If you want her pedigree info so you can breed her your welcome to pay me for breeder rights. Let me know if this is what you would like to do. "Thank you Chris cutting edge cats
He had signed for the postal, so he had the document that the operation had taken place. Kitty could not produce kittens.
Contacted TICA to find that he is not registered.red flag to all of it! ...kittyDOB JUNE 9 2013

I can understand not providing a certified TICA pedigree on a kitten not sold with breeding rights, as there is additional cost involved in obtaining such. However, any good breeder worth his/her salt should know their lines and have pedigrees on the cats they are breeding and most of us keep a pedigree database so that when we receive requests like this we can print out an accurate pedigree on any kitten we produce with the flick of a button. Not sure why providing a pedigree was such a big deal in this case...it confuses me.

 

[The Kasbah]

Most of the things you mention are common sense, but i guess not everyone's radar detects evasive answers as a problem.

Our website DOES NOT include our exact location or our phone number. We are located in northern Indiana and prefer communication by email, so that we have a record of everything discussed and our answers. In the event there is any confusion in the future about who said what, those emails come in mighty handy for both parties, as opposed to a telephone conversation where something could be misunderstood and a breeding ground for ill will between buyer and seller.

Failing to include the actual names of the cats in one's breeding program isn't necessarily a scammer move, but more often a newbie mistake. Often a newer Breeder doesn't realize the importance of listing FULL registered names (including the cattery who bred the cat). Fact is, many potential buyers are searching for specific lines...and often won't bother to inquire because it seems like too much of a hassle. On the other hand, those that ARE seeking particular lines can respond in confidence when a bit of pedigree information has been provided. Nothing irks me more than to go to a breeder website and see their Queens and Kings referred to solely by first (or call) name. I have no idea whose lines have been used and therefore no idea whether or not the available kittens would or would not pair with my lines.

In most cases this isn't being done because the breeder is attempting to be evasive, but rather because they are new and don't understand the importance of pedigrees...and their impact on selling breeding animals. Sigh...

xoxoxo

I have become increasingly concerned about savannah kitten/savannah cat buyers being scammed and thought I would start a post about how to tell if a breeder is legitimate...

I have seen some websites of late that have no location, no legitimate names of queens/studs, cell phone number but not location, no real name, etc.

The more popular the breed, the more BYB and scammers there will be...so I will start the pointers for you to look for and I am sure others will add...

1. Website with NO location listed - only phone number, email and text...when you ask where the cattery is located, you get a vague answer. RED FLAG
2. Say they are a TICA registered cattery, but they are NOT listed here: http://www.tica.org/images/pdf/cattery.pdf - RED FLAG
3. NOT willing to have you pick up your kitten in person
4. NOT willing to list actual name of cats - such as...Agato Savannahs Siri


I can go on and on, but would like to hear others add their observations...

 

[MM3]

I can understand not providing a certified TICA pedigree on a kitten not sold with breeding rights, as there is additional cost involved in obtaining such. However, any good breeder worth his/her salt should know their lines and have pedigrees on the cats they are breeding and most of us keep a pedigree database so that when we receive requests like this we can print out an accurate pedigree on any kitten we produce with the flick of a button. Not sure why providing a pedigree was such a big deal in this case...it confuses me.

I totally understand what you are sharing. And agree that if I was requesting a certified TICA pedigree it would require payment. But all I was asking was a photo of parents and parents F_? But at least Chris was consistent in the absence of information and truthfulness. As my kitten was not socialized as he had stated. We're still working with her, she's come a long way. But still have a long way to go, and I'm with her everyday.
It's all water under the bridge .....I love my kitty and cherish everyday with her. We go for walks and play all day. She's beautiful and smart.

 

[Trish Allearz]

I totally understand what you are sharing. And agree that if I was requesting a certified TICA pedigree it would require payment. But all I was asking was a photo of parents and parents F_? But at least Chris was consistent in the absence of information and truthfulness. As my kitten was not socialized as he had stated. We're still working with her, she's come a long way. But still have a long way to go, and I'm with her everyday.
It's all water under the bridge .....I love my kitty and cherish everyday with her. We go for walks and play all day. She's beautiful and smart.

Well, that's not asking for her pedigree as much as her history.

I'd never ever buy from someone who was reticent about relaying basic basic info :/


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[MM3]

Well, that's not asking for her pedigree as much as her history.

I'd never ever buy from someone who was reticent about relaying basic basic info :/


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Our agreement was that Chris was to include family history in the paper work that was attached to her carrier when my kitty was sent to me by plane. When I looked at the paper work and found that it was not included I sent him an email. Chris's response was he did not include it because it was too much paper work to attach to her crate. Would send it and that never happened. I never asked for pedigree information. Just family info and a photo of her parents would of been nice. had I known the facts I know now, it would all be different. I agree I would not have purchased from him.
So what happened is I PAID to rescue my kitty. I say rescue because she arrive extremely ill with parasites 5 in total, bad case of ear mites. With Compound medications it took months and hundreds of dollars ( Chris denies that she was sick, and said I must of given her tap water)to get her well and again I say rescue because I don't have any history on her. And because of the state of her health, and she wasn't socialized. So I rescued her ........now she is healthy, happy and is the queen of the house!

 

[Trish Allearz]

Our agreement was that Chris was to include family history in the paper work that was attached to her carrier when my kitty was sent to me by plane. When I looked at the paper work and found that it was not included I sent him an email. Chris's response was he did not include it because it was too much paper work to attach to her crate. Would send it and that never happened. I never asked for pedigree information. Just family info and a photo of her parents would of been nice. had I known the facts I know now, it would all be different. I agree I would not have purchased from him.
So what happened is I PAID to rescue my kitty. I say rescue because she arrive extremely ill with parasites 5 in total, bad case of ear mites. With Compound medications it took months and hundreds of dollars ( Chris denies that she was sick, and said I must of given her tap water)to get her well and again I say rescue because I don't have any history on her. And because of the state of her health, and she wasn't socialized. So I rescued her ........now she is healthy, happy and is the queen of the house!

Yeah that's a bit ridiculous.

Asking the parents of a cat is isn't a hardship. Should be an easy question to answer.

And cats should be able to drink tap water with no issues for the most part. How crazy


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[MM3]

Yeah that's a bit ridiculous.

Asking the parents of a cat is isn't a hardship. Should be an easy question to answer.

And cats should be able to drink tap water with no issues for the most part. How crazy
YES, and ourselves as well.......even though we all prefer bottled water we've all had tap water at sometime, then we would all have parasites.

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Here is a photo of our " head of the household" Kitty healthy and happy. That's the main issue!!! I KNOW THIS FORUM WILL WORK BEAUTIFULLY TO INFORM OTHERS, SO THEY DONT MAKE THE SAME ERROR. I've saved all correspondence (via emails with Chris/ cutting edge cats) & printed them. All the info I have shared is true fact and can be proven by way of emails. What's done is done.........over and out on this topic!

 

[Patti]

She is a beautiful girl, I'm glad you were able to work through all her health issues.

 

[MM3]

She is a beautiful girl, I'm glad you were able to work through all her health issues.

Thank you. Yes, me too!