Meow Mews

Pedigreed cats are nothing like the "barn cat" you may have grown up with. They are fragile and require special attention and care or it may develop a severe case of "separation anxiety" or worse. They are the perfect pet/companion but their care is not to be taken lightly.

A new kitten is loads of fun but it is a baby and needs some time with its new owner in it's new home before being introduced to people outside the home, i.e. visitors and going on trips.   They love to go out in the car but after they are secure at home with their new owners.
If it is stressed out too much, it will become lethargic, may exhibit cold symptoms such as a runny nose, mild fever, etc. This is called "Separation Anxiety" and normal. This is quickly and easily remedied by a visit to the vet within the first 5 days, according to our contract. When the kitten is older and has become used to it's new home, automobile trips (confine your cat before opening car doors) will quickly be a treat your kitten will look forward to. They love to travel like dogs do when they are used to it. Burmese cats, especially the males, are really laid back but need lots of cuddling and attention. They are like children in a way.

If you do not respect the kitten's need to have some quiet time with it's new owner and home, and it becomes sick, you can't expect it to be happy, healthy and be the pet you want it to be. This could result in large vet bills and you should not expect Casa Del Gatos to pay them for you. We send your kitten home to you healthy but your job is to keep it that way. Its not hard work but is a labor of love. Just some common sense is all it takes.

We don't mean to be "bossy" and tell you what to do but adhering to our advice and policy about new kittens, which are just babies when you get them, will result in a much faster, healthier and happier time for you and your new kitten. We've had 10 plus years of experience, including research, hands on care, observation, wellness care and some heartbreak so we like to think we know what we are talking about. This benefits you and your kitten.

We are very concerned about our kittens after they leave here and want to have a good relationship with you in the future. The sale does not end with pickup and final payment of your kitten(s).   We always want to hear from our clients and discuss any concerns or problems. Photos are very welcome.

We do not have any diseases in our cattery your kitten will not be harboring any virus, etc. when it leaves here. We do not knowingly send sick kittens home with anyone. What you expose your kitten to once it leaves us, is something you about which you need to be careful, especially taking it "visiting" to see friends and family and especially those with children. When the kitten is older, it can meet these folks.

We frequently check our cats for leukemia and other diseases. None have had this disease and they get shots every two years. There is no reason for you or your vet to think they could have it unless you have exposed your kitten to other cats or let it outside before it has been inoculated. Other animals can be carriers of viruses and while they may not have symptoms or be sick, could infect your kitten. Please do not let outside pets or let visitors bring pets into your home until a few weeks after it arrives and has time to get accustomed to its new home and owner and all shots have had time to take effect. Stress weakens it's immune system. If you have pets in your home when you bring home your new kitten, make sure they have been immunized and/or tested if you haven't already done so.   Introduce them slowly and give the kitten a chance to adjust. They have never even seen a dog before leaving here but make friends very quickly if the dog is friendly.

It is inevitable that rarely something goes wrong. We are just FHB's you know (fallible human beings) but we do try to make things go well for everyone. Remember, we don't care as much as your needs as we care about the needs and welfare of the kittens and cats. When they are in your care, you must remember they depend upon you for everything and they don't deserve to be treated badly or neglected.

Most veterinarians are not knowledgeable about Burmese cats and often try to equate their behavior, size, etc. to that of other cats. This is wrong. Burmese cats are more intelligent, very trusting, trainable, and people oriented. Our kittens are not trained to be show cats and will not respond as a show cat would to "tests." They are spoiled rotten lap cats and expect life to go on that way for them. They just think you must be crazy and are probably confused about what you want or expect of them. Burmese cats are so intelligent and will often give you a look that seems to ask "what do you want me to do?" When afraid or stressed, they just sort of curl up and do not respond to tests very well. As they get older and more comfortable with their new surroundings, they will be more responsive. Your kitten won't know your vet and has not been handled by a lot of strangers when you get it. Some veterinarians are too quick to diagnose a kitten with serious viruses or diseases. Depending on where they come from, they may be right. Kitty mills are a disgrace but little seems to be done about them. We are not a kitty mill and you can assure your veterinarian we have a healthy environment for our cats and kittens. Ours is supposed to be a labor of love and some fun so sick cats are not conducive to this scheme of things.

They love to play and play all their lives under less stressful conditions. They invent games, will play hide and seek, open doors, play with toys and teach you ways to work on the computer you never knew possible, and want to sleep with you. Just don't expect your kitten to bounce right in a strange home with strangers (though many do seem to do just that) and be your purrrrrrrfect pet immediately. They are trusting you and with TLC will bond quickly. Some kittens are more outgoing and some are a bit more shy. Socialization is not the problem. They are like us. Everyone is different and respond to things in different ways.

This kitten will be your friend and companion for many years......a lifetime for it....so be aware of it's needs and desires and consider how your actions will affect it. They are very sensitive and get their feelings hurt easily. Just watch your kitten closely and you will see all of this is true. You have to be unselfish about time and love and consideration about your kitten's needs.

Should you find yourself in a position where you can't keep your kitten or cat, we will gladly take it back and re-home it, giving the same care in finding the right home for it that we give all of our kittens. It never stops being "our" kitten/cat in our hearts, you know. We do require a clean bill of health from your veterinarian in this event. We have to protect the cats and kitten here at all times.

Being responsible for a life...cat or people or other....is something to give a lot of thought and consideration to and never taken lightly. How would you want to be treated if you were a cat or dog or someone else?

Due to more in depth research, vaccinating your cat or dog has taken on different meaning. Many vaccinations for dogs and cats are just a waste of money, and some can even be deadly. The general consciences is, we don’t need to revaccinate animals as frequently as we once did.

I’ve been reading quite a bit about vaccinations for dogs and cats, and it is scary. Some vaccinations are thought to cause sarcoma (form of cancer), therefore putting your pet at risk while you are trying to protect it.

It is now thought that some vaccines can last as long as seven years and many can last a lifetime. Others can be harmful and can even kill your pet. The key is finding out what vaccinations are right for your pet and not over-vaccinating. In the past, we have believed it was necessary to vaccinate pets every year, but vaccines have improved and recent studies have shown that many of them last much longer than previously believed.

Many veterinarians still insist on yearly vaccinations even though the cost for the unnecessary shots is staggering. Unfortunately, too many vets like to make the extra money and your pet suffers the consequences. Shop around to find the purrrrrfect veterinarian for your cat (or dog).

Cats can develop fibro sarcoma, a cancer that forms around the injection site from rabies and leukemia shots.

Dogs can develop Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia, an autoimmune disease where the body rejects its own blood.

Because some vaccines can prove fatal, owners should make sure their pets receive only those shots that are necessary and safe. You should ask your veterinarian to give shots in the leg, not behind the neck. You can amputate a leg, but….

Some states require yearly revaccinations while others don’t. It can even vary from country to country. The types and frequency of shots your pet needs depend on the breed of the animal, its lifestyle * and even the region o the county you live in.

Ø Feline leukemia virus – after initial vaccination, may not be necessary again

Ø A good veterinarian will not recommend shots for or FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). It will sometimes cause your cat to exhibit symptoms of FIP. Chlamydia is another vaccination most vets are not recommending.

(Kim recently had a prospective client tell her one of his cats had FIP but his vet said it would recover and also said it was not contagious. It is always fatal and contagious. We don't know who this vet was, but he is definitely out of touch with modern procedures. If your vet tells you this, please find another vet to treat your pet.)

Ø Canine distemper - five to seven years, depending on the particular strain or vaccine.

Ø Cat shows (or any time your cat is exposed to strange cats, you take the risk of your cat contacting "kitty cold" or worse. I've seen sick cats at the shows and no one in charge does anything about it. Kitty cold is not fatal unless you have a young litter of kittens. They don't usually survive it. It does wreck havoc in a cattery among the adults, however. There is no vaccine to prevent this, but it seems the upper respiratory vaccinations for Rhinotracheitis, Calici, Panleukopenia (distemper) help protect the young kittens 8 weeks and older from getting sick.

Ø Most good veterinarians do not recommend shots for giardia, Leptospirosia or Lyme, unless it is common in your area. Bordetalla shots should be given only to dogs exposed to other dogs such as in kennels or at dog shows.

It is strongly recommended you talk to your veterinarian about vaccinations and maybe get a second opinion. There is a lot of good information on the internet as well.

I get asked all the time which makes the better pet. Since our contract requires kitten owners to neuter/spay their kittens, it really doesn't matter which sex you have.

The males are a little more "laid back," when neutered, than the females...not to say the females aren't good pets too. Males tend to be more relaxed and will put up with more.

A lot of people are leery of purchasing a male because they think they will spray. The secret is not to neuter too early, but for goodness sake, please neuter before they are 7 months old. In rare cases a kitten might start marking his territory a little sooner, so we strongly advise a client to neuter their kitten between 5 and 6 months of age. If you neuter a male cat before he starts spraying, he will not, in all probability, start it. It is a territorial thing with an intact cat wanting to breed, so "nip it in the bud" so-to-speak.

Neutering too early (some vets will alter a kitten at 6 weeks of age) could lead to lifelong urinary tract problems or early death.

The kitten is too young to be put under anesthesia anyway. Very risky business. My vet won't do this, unless it is an emergency, until the kitten is at least 12 weeks old. The vet is snipping and cutting in an area that is very small at 6 weeks of age and a slip could be very detrimental to a kitten. The vet might never know it and then the breeder gets a bad rap for not having healthy kittens.

This is not always the case, but why take a chance? 5 or 6 months is plenty early, so don't shy away from getting a wonderful male because he might spray. Chances are the person who has had a bad experience with males spraying has waited too long to neuter their male cat. When questioned, I usually am told the cat was a year old or so.

Stress and overcrowding could lead to spraying but a pet would not necessarily have these conditions.

Unaltered females will also spray and mark their territory when in heat, so altering your pet at 5 to 6 months will resolve this problem and keep down the unwanted pet population.