Before purchasing a purebred Turkish Van kitten, a breeder will want to know all about its potential new home. Information can include whether there are children, other pets, dogs, active or laid back lifestyle, etc. This helps the breeder determine which of their kittens is the best match for your home. Every reputable breeder has the best interests, health and well-being of their kitten foremost in their mind. It is hard to part with those babies you spent so much time, energy, and love raising. A breeder may decide that they do not have a kitten at the time that would be a good match for you. Don't be discouraged if that happens to you. The breeder wants to ensure a happy experience for all and is the only one that really knows the personalities of their kittens. Without knowing much about you, it is unlikely a breeder would be willing to part with one of their kittens.

Is there a contract involved? A breeder will require a sales contract be executed. This varies from person to person but will generally outline both the purchaser and the buyer responsibilities. For example, a kitten may be sold with the requirement that it be an indoor only cat, that it be spayed/neutered, not declawed, etc. It will also specify a required isolation period and whatever health guarantees may be in place. It is good to have this all laid out and understood in advance.

How much do Turkish Van kittens cost? Breeders often price each kitten individually based on how well it conforms with the written standard for the breed and other criteria. We have found that the prices vary widely by breeder and geography and can range between $350 and 600 for a kitten as a pet. Uniquely exceptional specimens may be more. We tell potential new owners to generally expect to pay around $400-500 for a kitten.

Why do kittens cost so much? This is an excellent question. Serious breeders spend a lot of money to establish and maintain a breeding program. It is definitely (!) not profitable and people do this for the love of the breed and not to make money. There is a substantial investment in good breeding cats; grooming, travel, and housing supplies; registration expenses; health and veterinary care; good quality cat food; cat shows; breed promotion; and toys etc. I found a site that broke down the average expenditures and investment required and it sheds light on why the costs of kittens are what they are ($400 appears to be an average starting price for many breeds). Click here to read more.

How do you actually get your kitten? It is usually preferred that purchaser and breeder meet. That helps establish a bond and good relationship. The breeder is your friend and will be there to provide advice during the life of your cat. However, since there are so few Turkish Van breeders, this is not always practicable. Other alternatives could include meeting at a cat show or other locale or shipping of the kitten by air.

Shipping by Air - When we ship, we always use Delta Dash (now called Delta Pet Logistics) - mainly because that is the only airlines that has jet service out of our local 2-gate airport :-) but also because of the special care that is provided using this service. I have only had one problem with Delta in over 17 years. If a kitten is to be shipped to you, be prepared to pay ~$220 or more in addition to the cost of the kitten. This covers the cost of the carrier, shipping (~$185), parking fees, veterinary certificates, etc.. International shipping costs may be a bit higher.

Payment Options - When it is impossible to pick up your kitten and they must be shipped to you, payment must be received and the contract completed before the kitten will be sent. If remitting a check, we will wait until it clears the bank. Since we are not a business and don't have that many kittens to place each year, accepting credit cards has not been possible. However, we have learned that you can use PayPal as a way to use your credit card (or certified bank account). Since so many people have inquired about using a credit card, we have provided a link below for you to sign up. You will get $5 just for signing up. Fees are steep if using the credit card. So, you will need to add ~3% to cover PayPal's fees. Click the button to sign up.

Introducing a kitten to its new home - Once you get your new kitten home, you are required by our contract to isolate it for at least 10 days. This serves several purposes. It allows your kitten to adjust to its new home and to start to bond with you. They can become frightened if turned lose in a new home (especially if it is large) and unfamiliar surroundings. While isolated, they will learn to accept you as their new owner and develop the trust needed before their foray into the house proper. This allows them the time to get acquainted with their new litter box, food, water, and water dish. We recommend the bedroom with you, if this is possible. When they come to you, we send them with some of their favorite toys as well as enough food for several days. This helps provide some continuity for them. In homes with other pets, isolation for the full ten day period is an absolute necessity. You do not want to immediately expose them to each other for health purposes and this allows sufficient time to ensure that your new kitten has made it through the stress of travel with no ill effects. Any introductions prior to that time may void the guarantees in your contract. Do make sure to follow our advice :-) specific to your new kitten.

my own lounge chair :-)

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