A lot of Persian kittens are sold at six weeks by people breeding for money and nothing else. The kitten is adorable, goes home, and is at the vet inside a fortnight.
What to check, in person, before any money moves:
- Age — eight to twelve weeks minimum, litter-trained, eating solid food. Six weeks is too young whatever the seller says.
- Eyes — some tearing is normal in a flat-faced cat. Thick discharge, crusting or a squint is not.
- Breathing — any rattle or sneezing, walk away.
- Ears — dark crumbly wax means mites.
- Skin — part the fur and look. Circular bald patches with crusty edges are ringworm, and it spreads to you.
- Belly — a pot belly on a thin kitten is worms.
- The mother — ask to see her.
What else do you check? And if you bought one that turned out to be sick, what did it cost to put right?