Working with Kitten Buyers: The Key to a Thriving Breeding Program

Let’s face it—breeding cats is the easy part. It’s the humans that can be tricky.

If you’ve been doing this for more than five minutes, then you already know how much energy goes into managing relationships with buyers. Some of them are amazing and become lifelong friends. Others… well, let’s just say you learn something from every experience.

Working with buyers is more than just handing over a kitten and waving goodbye. It’s a whole process—from the first inquiry to the day they take their kitten home, and even beyond that. This is where your business can either shine like a diamond or crash and burn from poor communication, unclear policies, or mismatched expectations.

In this section, we’re diving into the real-world stuff you face as a breeder:

• Should buyers come to your house?
• How do you explain your deposit policy without sounding defensive?
• Is it worth the hassle to sell breeding rights?
• Do you really need a cattery contract?
• What should you talk about before they leave with their new kitten?

These are the conversations that separate hobby breeders from professionals. If you want your cattery to run like a business, protect your kittens, and keep your sanity intact, then this silo is your playbook.

Here are the must-read posts that will help you create smoother, smarter, and more successful interactions with your buyers:

Refundable vs Non-Refundable Deposits: Which is Right for You?

We collect deposits on our kittens for one simple reason: commitment. A deposit means the buyer is serious. It allows us to confidently reserve that kitten just for them. It takes the tire-kickers out of the equation and lets us focus on the real buyers.

Making deposits non-refundable is not about being harsh—it’s about protecting our time, our kittens, and our program. When someone backs out last minute, we’re left scrambling to find another qualified home, sometimes after the kitten is already at an awkward age for marketing. A non-refundable deposit sets expectations up front and filters out anyone who’s not 100% sure they’re ready to bring home a purebred kitten.

At what point should a deposit become refundable? What are the scenarios that you’ve experienced in which you happily gave the money back? This podcast will explore some real-life scenarios where deposits were refunded, and also where they were not. All of the ideas in the podcast are opinion and based on the personal experiences of the show host. Please use your own discretion when deciding how to do business in your cattery. It’s all your choice.

This is one of the most misunderstood policies breeders deal with. Let’s talk pros and cons—and how to explain your deposit rules like a pro so buyers respect your time and your process.

Should You Let Buyers Visit Your Home Cattery?

Letting buyers visit your home cattery can be a double-edged sword. On the plus side, it gives them a chance to see how well your cats are raised, which builds trust and credibility. It can also be a great way to connect and answer questions face-to-face. But the downside? You’re inviting strangers into your private space, which raises security, health, and liability concerns. Germs, stress on your queens, and even theft are real risks. Some breeders choose to skip home visits altogether and use photos, videos, or virtual tours instead. The key is setting boundaries that make you feel safe while still offering a professional, polished experience.

The last generation of cat breeders “required” buyers to come to meet the kittens before they could reserve them. That’s a little bit of an old-school way of thinking. Buyers shop all over the country, even the world, to find their perfect kitten. It’s not typically viable for someone to visit a cattery to look at kittens. Buyers are pleased with finding their kittens online via photos and videos. As long as they feel comfortable with the breeder, they’re okay with buying a kitten without meeting it first.

This podcast episode explores the pros and cons of allowing people to come to your home to “see the cats”. If you’re not a big fan of allowing strangers in your home, then there are also some solutions offered in this podcast about how to overcome this obstacle without being unprofessional.

Selling Breeding Rights: When, Why, and How to Protect Yourself

Deciding to sell breeding rights for your kittens is a decision you’ll have to make. You’ll most certainly be approached by your peers with requests to add one of your offspring to their program.

Most breeders, especially those in the United States, always say no to that request. It’s like an undocumented rule that we’re not allowed to sell breeding rights to people. The reasoning is a mystery, but it’s assumed the reason is to keep competition low. Another reason is that “they don’t know what they’re doing”.

You can certainly be one to join the forces of the absolute “no” club, or you can consider offering breeding rights on your kittens. The choice is yours and only yours. Breeding rights aren’t just a checkbox—they’re a huge responsibility. Learn how to price them, screen potential breeders, and protect your lines while still making it worth your while.

The Cat Breeder Contract

Cat breeders use contracts to protect their cats, their business, and their sanity. A well-written contract lays out the expectations for both the breeder and the buyer—so there’s no “he said, she said” later. It can cover everything from health guarantees to rehoming policies.

But here’s the truth: the more complicated your contract, the more problems you’ll have enforcing it. Keep it clear, keep it simple, and stick to the stuff that actually matters. You’re not trying to scare people—you’re setting boundaries and offering resolution in advance. A clean, easy-to-read contract will save you time, stress, and legal headaches down the road.

–> Learn how to Prepare Your Own Cattery Contract That You Feel Good About

5 Things to Talk to Your New Kitten Owner About

Part of being a good breeder is educating your buyers. There are tons of topics that you could potentially cover, but let’s stick to the most important. Here are some essential topics to cover with all new buyers of your kittens.

Don’t send your kitten out the door with just a wave and a goodbye. These are the must-cover topics to ensure your buyers are confident, informed, and prepared for life with their new pet.

Saying Goodbye on Gotcha Day

Gotcha Day is a special day for everyone!! The breeder, the kitten, and the new owner. It should be a day that is both exciting and memorable. It can also be a little overwhelming and chaotic if you don’t have a system that you follow for each kitten that goes home.

By creating systems for your cattery, things become more smooth and more seamless. You gain confidence each time these events are played out, making the next buyer even more satisfied with their decision to adopt their kitten from you.

This episode of Cat Breder Sensei Says podcast details a simple and effective process that you can follow on Gotcha Day. When your kittens go home, bring a powerful delivery with the tender care that is expected with the kitten.

Everyone always says “How do you do this, I would keep them all”? What they don’t understand is that sending the babies home to their new parents is a very rewarding experience. Yes, you’ll fall in love with those special kitties that have big personalities, the velcro kitties, and the ones that require extra attention. But you get to love them for the time that they’re with you. Then you see them off into their new lives with their new owners! That is a job well done!

For every kitten that you raise and send home, you’re filling someone’s life with plenty of laughter, snuggies, and fun. Memories that will last them a lifetime. And those special kids will be in your memories forever, as well.

Bottom line: When you treat your buyers like clients—not just fans on social media—you elevate your brand, reduce the drama, and create a community of happy owners who brag about you. That’s how you build a business that lasts.

Selling Kittens Outside of Your Local Area

Don’t box yourself in by only marketing kittens to your local area. When you expand your reach—through your website, SEO, social media, or even partnerships—you tap into a much larger pool of potential buyers.

That wider audience creates demand, and demand gives you options. Suddenly, you’re not stuck waiting for someone nearby to show interest—you have people across the country (or even internationally) lining up for your kittens. The more eyes you get on your program, the more selective you get to be. And let’s be real—that’s the kind of power every serious breeder should have.

But how will your kittens make it to their new homes safely? There are plenty of options on how to transport and delivr your Pedigree ktitens. Both locally, nationally, and internationally – there’s a solution for kitten transportation.