I. General
1. Do you have "Applehead" Siamese?
2. What colors of Siamese are there?
3. Do you breed extreme-looking cats?
4. Do you show your cats?
5. Can I show a cat I buy from you?
II. Kittens
1. How much do your kittens cost?
2. Do you have different prices for "pet quality" and "show quality" kittens?
3. Do you ship?
4. How much does it cost to ship a kitten?
5. What kinds of payment do you accept?
6. Do you require a deposit on kittens?
7. Do you sell cats for breeding?
8. Do you guarantee your kittens?
9. Do you sell your kittens already spayed/neutered?
10. How old must a kitten be before you'll sell/ship it?
11. Can I come and visit your kittens in order to choose which one I want?
12. Can I come to your home and pick my kitten up in person?
III. Care
1. What kind of food do you feed your cats?
2. Do you declaw your cats? Should I?
3. What kind of litter do you use?
4. Should I let my cat go outdoors?
I. General
1. No. Ravenpaw Siamese are "modern" or "wedge-type" Siamese, not the "applehead" or "traditional" Siamese. Wedge-type Siamese have a triangular face (rather than a round one like traditional Siamese), and a slender body.
2. The colored ears, tails, faces, and legs of Siamese are known as "points." The CFA recognizes four point colors: Seal, Chocolate, Blue, and Lilac.
Seal point Siamese have very dark brown--almost black--points, and their bodies are fawn-colored. Seals tend to get darker as they get older. This is the color most people are familiar with; the "traditional" Siamese color.
Chocolate point Siamese have lighter brown points, and their bodies are cream colored. Their bodies tend to stay lighter as they get older.
Blue point Siamese have silver/blue points, and their bodies are a cool white or pale grey rather than warm fawn or cream color.
Lilac point Siamese are the palest Siamese. Their bodies are a very pale whitish cream, and their points are fawn colored. (I've noticed also in my cats that Lilac point cats' eyes tend to have a violet cast, unlike the true sapphire blue of the other point colors.)
3. I do not "breed for" extreme traits, nor do I attempt to "improve" upon the Siamese breed. I breed for health and temperament first, not looks. My goal is to give people who want a "Siamese kid" a healthy, happy baby. And as long as Ravenpaw kittens come close to or meet the CFA breed standard, I'm content.
That is not to say that I don't ever have extreme-looking kittens, however! While I think all of my kittens are beautiful, some do have bigger ears, straighter profiles, and more extreme "wedgey" faces than others. If you are looking for an extreme-looking kitten (or want a more moderate-looking one), just let me know, and I'll do my best to find the right kitten for you.
4. I'm not currently showing any of my cats. Though I'm quite certain most of them could do well, the truth is that, as a working writer and someone with a houseful of Siamese, I'm busy! Also, I live in a rural area, several hours away from the nearest cat shows. Showing just isn't a high priority for me, nor do I believe that it has to be in order for someone to be a good, reputable breeder.
5. Certainly! And if you do, please let me know so I can tell my Siamese about their kittens' accomplishments.
II. Kittens
1. My prices for pet kittens, sold with a firm spay/neuter agreement, are as follows:
Seal point (male or female): $500
Blue point (male or female): $500
Chocolate point (male or female): $500
Lilac point (male or female): $500
For kittens that are not shipped via air: There is an additional fee of $100 that covers the cost of the kitten's travel carrier, health certificate, vet exam, and rabies vaccination.
For kittens that are shipped via air: There is an additional fee of $250 that covers the cost of the kitten's travel carrier, health certificate, vet exam, rabies vaccination, and airfare. [Note that in the extremely rare instance that a kitten's travel schedule has a long layover and the kitten requires a day-kennel service, an additional shipping charge will be added.]
This pricing goes into effect on January 1, 2008.
I offer a $50 discount off the combined total price if you choose to purchase two kittens at the same time. In addition, if the kittens are shipped/delivered in the same carrier, the shipping/delivery fee for the second kitten will be discounted accordingly.
2. No. At this time, all Ravenpaw kittens are sold as pets, regardless of their appearance.
I also do not have different prices for "pet quality" kittens and kittens the buyer intends to show in premiership.
Whether you want an extreme kitten or a more moderate-looking one, I will do my best to meet your preferences on appearance and temperament.
3. Yes. I ship my kittens out of the Omaha, Nebraska airport.
I prefer to use Continental Airlines exclusively, but if Continental is not an option, I will use Northwest Airlines.
Note: Due to temperature restrictions, in the winter, I will only ship Continental, unless the buyer is willing to pay the additional costs for shipping their kitten counter-to-counter or is willing to fly into Omaha to meet me at the airport and travel back home with the kitten in the cabin of the plane with them.
4. As stated above, airfare is included in my shipping fee. My shipping/delivery fees are as follows:
For a kitten that is not shipped via air: $100
For a kitten that is shipped via air: $250 (includes airfare)
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5. I will accept a personal check, cashier's check/money order, or PayPal.
Personal checks must be received at least a week before I ship or deliver a kitten.
If you choose to pay the balance due for your kitten in person, I will only accept a cashier's check/money order or cash.
If you choose to pay with PayPal, there will be an additional fee of $5 per PayPal transaction.
6. Yes. If I've come to a verbal/written agreement with a potential buyer, that will serve to hold the kitten for ten days. After that, a deposit of at least $100 is required to hold the kitten.
Should the kitten become unavailable due to injury, illness, or death, the buyer will be given the choice of having the deposit returned or having it put towards a different kitten if one is available. Should the buyer choose not to purchase the kitten, the deposit will not be refunded.
I will not take deposits on unborn litters or on kittens under four weeks of age. If you want a kitten from me and I do not have any kittens currently available, I will put your name on a waiting list and contact you as soon as kittens do become available.
7. At this time, I do not sell cats for breeding. All kittens are sold as pets with a spay/neuter agreement.
8. Yes, I guarantee my kittens for health and temperament. All kittens will be current on vaccinations (including a rabies vaccination) when they are shipped/delivered, and they will have received a veterinary examination and a health certificate before they leave. Kittens will also be de-wormed before they are shipped/delivered.
Purchasers will be required to take the kitten to a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours for the guarantee to be valid.
If the kitten is declawed, this guarantee is no longer applicable.
9. No, I believe it is the purchaser's responsibility to spay or neuter the kitten. I also think it's better to wait until the kitten is older (and has adjusted to its permanent home) before subjecting it to the stress of surgery. The spay/neuter contract will be enforced, however; registration papers will be held until I've received confirmation in writing, signed by your veterinarian, that the kitten has been altered.
10. Kittens mature at different rates, and I evaluate their readiness to go to their new homes on a case-by-case basis.
If a kitten is driven to his/her new home: The minimum age he or she must be is fourteen weeks old.
If a kitten is shipped via air to his/her new home: The minimum age he or she must be is sixteen weeks old.
11. No. I'm sorry, but Ravenpaw Siamese is a closed cattery and not open to the public. Also, and more importantly, it's not usually a good idea to pick out a kitten in person. I have been around my kittens every single day for months, and as a result, I know their personalities very, very well. In a short visit, it would be impossible to get to know them as well, and as a result, you might pick a kitten who is feeling friendly (or mischievous, or snuggly) at that particular moment but does not have the overall personality you're looking for and wouldn't be the best match for you.
That said, I am always happy to take pictures of kittens and write you long emails telling you all about my kittens' personalities to help you find the perfect new Siamese baby for you.
12. No. As stated above, I'm sorry, but Ravenpaw Siamese is a closed cattery, not open to the public.
If you live within driving distance, we would be happy to drive and meet you partway.
III. Care
1. I feed my adult cats a custom blend of Royal Canin Persian food (I prefer its ingredients to their Siamese food), Royal Canin BabyCat (with immune system boosters), Diamond Professional, and Diamond Professional Kitten.
I feed my pregnant and nursing queens and kittens a custom blend of Royal Canin BabyCat and Diamond Professional Kitten.
In addition to the dry food, my kittens are fed canned food at least twice a day. I use Friskies loaf style. I also feed homemade cooked food consisting of beef or chicken, rice, and vegetables. My adult cats get canned and cooked food as a treat.
2. NO, I do not declaw my cats, and NO, you should not declaw yours.
Declawing a cat is like removing the first joint of your fingers, and it is an extreme (and inhumane) "solution" to the "problem" of your cat sharpening its claws on your furniture (or on you). You can discourage your cat from scratching on your furniture if you provide it with a quality cat tree. And you can trim your cat's nails so that it won't hurt if your cat "knits" on you. There are many solutions that don't involve maiming your cat.
Declawing can lead to many health and behavioral problems, as well.
3. I use wood litter for my cats. Specifically, I use plain wood stove pellets, which are comparable to Feline Pine at a fraction of the cost. You can purchase wood stove pellets at hardware/home improvement stores. I would also recommend plain clay litter, such as Tidy Cats or Target's store brand.
I do not use clumping (scoopable) litter. It produces a very fine dust that can cause respiratory problems. Also, it is designed to form a hard mass when wet. If cats or kittens ingest it, it can cause intestinal blockage.
4. I certainly can't stop you from letting your cat go outside, but I highly recommend that you don't allow your cat outdoors, and my health guarantee will become invalid if you do.
Outside, cats can get hit by cars. They can be attacked by dogs, people, or other cats. They can ingest poison. They can be exposed to diseases (such as feline leukemia) and parasites. They can be picked up as strays and end up at an animal shelter or as someone else's pet.
If you keep your cat inside, you control its environment. You can keep your cat safe...and prolong its life.
If you have any questions that weren't answered on this page, please email Meg ( meg@ravenpaw.com ).
