Frequently Asked Questions

• Deposit is $850 to reserve your kitten.
  
  
• All pet shorthairs regardless of gender or color are $3500 + 8.75% sales tax

• All pet longhairs regardless of gender or color are $4000 + 8.75% sales tax

• All retired adults regardless of gender or color are $2000 + 8.75% sales tax

***Sales Tax applies to California residents only. ***

If you're interested in a kitten check out my Reserve A Kitten page for details. 

We're have moved to Sacramento, California. We offer transportation nationwide for our kittens so location is never a barrier. For a flight nanny in cabin anywhere in the US is $500 sometimes $550-$650 total, depending on states.  I can also meet you at Sacramento International Airport. 

Visit my Amazon Supplies Recommendation page for a list of my top items I use for my cattery.

 To start our kittens off your purchase will include:

3 Year Health Warranty with a 10 day wellness including a FELV and FIV guarantee.

Your kitten's parents are fully tested for genetic diseases and infectious disease before breeding. Each kitten will go home with a binder complete of medical history including physical exam by licensed vet,

~1st , 2nd, & 3rd FVRCP series vaccines 

~Spay or Neuter procedure 

~Deworming 

~Microchip

~Rabies 

~Kitten's parent's TICA pedigree

~Kitten's parent's genetic testing

~Written care packet with helpful information for a smooth transition. 

~Go home bag with a variety of gifts

Kitten will be:

 ~well socialized to various house-hold life, handling, and guests.

 ~familiar with grooming (nail trims, combing and electric pet dryer box).

~adept litterbox skills before going home.

 ~in excellent health before going home and will not leave if displaying any signs of illness.

~bathed and nails trimmed before going home.

Lifetime support from breeder and a community of Cheddar Bears families.

*This list does not hold cash value. While we try our best to make sure your kitten goes home with everyone of these items, life gets in the way! Thank you for being understanding. Families that try to pick up their kitten early by not allowing spay procedure will be asked to patiently wait.*

British cats are very gentle and sweet natured. I take extra care to treat them gently. They also tend to be more vocal when picked up, so I especially work on holding them as much as possible. 

My British litters are born in either my bedroom or bathroom with a space heater. This allows my husband and I to have frequent access with a moderate amount of daily noises. 

During week 1: Kittens are just born and fragile. I make sure they have plenty of heat, clean linens and touch their paws and bellies for short periods of time. I also supplement their nursing with Breeder's edge and a miracle nipple. I make sure they are getting fed and monitor their health closely. This is round the clock checking!

During week 2: Kittens have doubled, sometimes tripled in size. Because the kittens start to meow a lot when holding them, I make sure to cup them tight. I make sure to keep sessions super short, but frequent to build a positive experience. I notice the kittens start to relax and go back to sleep even while I am holding them. I continue to gently touch their paws, belly and ears. And lots and lots of kisses...

For week 3: I start to hold kittens for longer periods time, even taking them to cuddle on the couch or bed. I also will take short walks around the house with a kitten in tow. At this time I also vacuum around the kittens as well as playing YouTube sound exposure videos on low volume. These activities help a kitten become unfazed by day to day life. I make sure kittens are comfortable during this process and not in distress in anyway as that could have a negative effect on a kitten's mental health. 

During week 4: I take a few minutes a day with a q-tip and practice "brushing teeth", the sound of the blow dryer, practice nail clipping and practice running a comb through their backside. I continue to touch paw pads, belly's and ears to get every kitten used to normal handling. I find much greater success in starting this handling process early.

During week 5-6: Kittens have been moved to a larger play area. They are now learning to litter box train. I play YouTube sound exposure videos a bit louder all throughout the day while my husband is at work and I have head phones on :D. These videos include children playing, pots & pans, car noises, even fireworks and blow drying sounds. I make a special point to carry kittens around while doing household chores. While this may take my normal cleaning 10x longer, the value of a young British kitten being so comfortable with being carried is very important to me! At this time I also make friends with my kittens. This means not always picking them up or petting them whenever, but asking 'permission'. My kittens instantly adore me that much more!

For week 6-8: Kittens are playing, exploring, climbing  and already fully eating raw solid food. They may nurse 1-2 times a day slowly tapering off. I never remove mother. She provides valuable lessons to her kittens up until the moment they leave. At this age I allow visitors such as friends and family to come hold and socialize my kittens. Kittens are being played with, photographed, held and cuddled everyday!

During 8-12 weeks: Kittens visit 1-2 daycares of children ages 3-5 owned by a close friend. Here they are exposed to lots of smells, sounds and a variety of supervised children holding them. Once kittens are 12 weeks they are also taken to LCWW cat show to be held by 50-100 guests. This is one of the most important stages! All handling is supervised and done with care. Kittens get plenty of breaks and are on pause if they seem overwhelmed. Kittens also get many experiences in a carrier! 

From 12-14 weeks: Kittens have now been spayed/neutered and are ready to go to their new homes. They may have been bathed 1-2 times already, but I also practice calm baths by using a lickable cat treat. This way kittens associate baths with a positive experience. Kittens are also used to the blow dryer and a pet dryer box. Kittens are also used to having their nails clipped, their bodies brushed and faux teeth brushing.

Just after making a deposit on your kitten, there will still be several weeks before your kitten can go home. They will visit the office 1-2 times and kittens usually go home around 13-14 weeks. This length of time allows the kitten to become strong and develop adequate social and grooming skills. You’ll want to set up a designated kitten room for the first few weeks when your kitten goes home. 

We are a 100% raw fed cattery. While you are not required to feed raw, I highly recommend it!  If you'd like to learn how to raw feed visit my Raw Diet 101 page for step by step. 

All of our kittens grow up to learn how to use a litter box with practice using a litter robot as well as being in a carrier, nails clipped and using a pet dryer box. You must have your own vet appointment scheduled within no less than 3 days and no more than 10 days of your kitten going home. Visit my amazon Supplies Recommendations page. 

You are also required to have pet insurance for a minimum of 1 year beginning 1 week before pick up. I recommend PetsBest Pet Insurance.

 All our cats are genetically tested through Wisdom Panel & Base Paws which include HCM, PKD1, MSPV1 and 100+ other genetic conditions. You can find links to testing under each king & Queen on the Parents page. 

Each cat additionally is tested for FELV/FIV and fecal & Upper respiratory PCR screened before integrating into my cattery.

We believe in doing the absolute most to provide families with healthy kittens! 

 FaceTime is available to those who have reserved a kitten. ♥️

If you'd like to meet me and help socialize my kittens & play with adults you can book a kitten cuddle session.

Kitten Cuddle Corner

While Kitten Cuddle Corner is not included with my kitten adoptions, those who have left a deposit can invite up to 2 guests for free. Keep in mind that the purpose of kitten cuddles is not for a meet and greet of all my cats. Some cats may not be viewable during your visit.

Can't wait to see you!

 Yes, British cats shed. The shorthair tends to shed more than the longhair, but the longhair has texture similar to Persians and needs frequent combing. This is not a hypoallergenic breed. If you think you may have allergies to this breed I offer a unique option called the T-Shirt test. You can request a T-Shirt shipped to you for $15 which several of my adult cats will lay in. You wear the T-shirt and see your reaction. This has been very helpful for several of my families who were unsure about adopting.  

While the Golden British are a lazier breed, they do love their humans. They want to be cuddled next to you or sitting on your laptop while you are working. They do best with their human close by. It is okay to have a regular work day. However if you travel a lot and do not intend on bringing your kitten with you, a British is not ideal. They will become sad if left alone for days at a time. Most cats sleep during the day though and will not miss you for a typical work day. 

 It is stated in our sales contract that your kitten/cat cannot be walked outside or allowed to roam freely. This is a protection for your cat as there are numerous diseases your kitten/cat can be exposed to that are not curable or difficult to treat. For this reason your health guarantee will be voided if you decide to take your cat on public walks. However, strollers, backpacks and visits inside other people’s homes are acceptable. Supervised outings in anyone’s backyards are prohibited as stray cats can carry these diseases through bodily functions. We appreciate your understanding and compliance with this protection!  

Early spay/neuter is essential for preventing unwanted pregnancies and has a quicker recovery time. Rescues and breeders alike have been practicing early/spay neuters with great success and will continue to do so. We love our kittens deeply and would not allow anything to hurt them. In general, kittens are easier to alter due to less body fat, anesthetic and emotional recovery time. Click the link below to learn more about the benefits of altering your cat.

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/spaying-in-cats  

• misconception that boy cats will mark. If a cat is neutered they shouldn't mark. Improper bathroom habits can happen to either gender.
• People think girls are sweeter more docile. This is very inaccurate especially for ragdolls. Both genders are docile & loving. Temperment is based on individual kitten's & qualities of the parents.
• girl cats tend to be smaller
• misconception that girl cats are lazier/ more mellow. Again totally dependent on individual kittens and temperaments from past litters. There have been some wild girls kitties and super mellow boys!

A show quality British or kitten meets all standards of the British breed by The International Cat Association guidelines. When we mark a kitten as ‘show quality’ it means it has the potential to show with no disqualify marks. There is no guarantee on how a kitten will fare or its ability to show. Some cats do not like the show ring or travel associated with it! Some kittens may fare better than others in the ring or favored more so by particular judges. A show kitten is other wise ‘perfect’. 

 A breeding quality British kitten in my opinion, meets all the qualifications of a show quality rBritish + plus extra ordinary traits that will bless the future of the line. This kitten is usually the biggest, prettiest and most outgoing kitten in the group. These traits all help ensure quality bred kittens. A breeding quality kitten does not carry any known disease, affected by any disease, aliments or singular uterine horn in their lines or any other faults that would not improve and maintain the British breed. A kitten sold as breeding quality may not always end up being used for breeding due to changed temperament traits or physical description. Basically, a breeding quality kitten needs to be the best of the best! 

Yes! Before bringing your new kitten home, we have a kitten contract to be agreed upon and signed. The contract describes the rights and responsibilities of both the cattery and the new owner. 

We encourage you to compare our contract to those from other breeders. We believe our contract has one of the best health guarantees you will find. 

Cheddar Bears is a couple owned British cat breeder located in Concord California. All our British kittens come with a 3 year health guarantee. We breed for personality & health above all else. Each purebred British kitten from Cheddar Bears carries a 3 year genetic health guarantee and stand behind our extended health guarantee 100%.

What's in your Health Guarantee?

First of all, the term “health guarantee” isn’t quite proper. Nobody can guarantee that anything living won’t get sick, whether cats, dogs, or even humans. So think of it as a health warranty. You’re spending time locating a beautiful pedigree British cat, and you’ll invest time, care, money, and love in your new companion. You deserve a reasonable degree of protection!

At Cheddar Bears Cattery, our health guarantee consists of two parts:

Part 1 protects you from receiving a sick kitten. You must have your kitten examined by a licensed veterinarian within 7 business days of leaving our care. If your veterinarian determines that the kitten is ill and/or unfit for sale, you may return the kitten and we’ll replace with one of similar quality. No refunds. 

A few important details: First, we require an original written statement from your veterinarian. Second, we won’t reimburse for veterinary fees. Third, kitten shipping fees are not refundable.

Part 2 protects you over the long term from genetic defects and congenital diseases. If your kitten or cat is diagnosed with a serious genetic defect or congenital disease before 3 years of age, we will provide you with a replacement kitten. 

Examples of conditions that would entitle you to a replacement kitten include life-threatening heart conditions and degenerative nerve disorders. In other words, conditions that effect longevity or quality of life. 

Examples of conditions that wouldn’t qualify for replacement are innocent heart murmurs, allergies or treatable parasites. In other words, conditions that an otherwise healthy cat can live with and be happy. 

In general, we would accept a veterinarian’s opinion of what constitutes a serious defect, but we may require a second opinion.

Follow these steps when looking for a kitten! My husband always ask me how can you trust this person?! Because I mentally follow this checklist:

1. Cat needs to be appropriate price for the market, not super low, and not super high (unless they show proof they show.) That is the only reason you should be paying 4-5k for a cat. Not for its colors. Facebook & Craigslist are full of pet quality cats. You need to see proof of showing on their profile if priced above market price. They are not asking very much do not expect pedigree, testing or quality health guarantee.
2. Breeder's response needs to be continuous. They should be forth coming and WILLING to answer a multitude of questions. Before I buy I always ask a bunch of questions. It’s okay to be **annoying**. A true, honest breeder will be more than happy to provide you with answers. If language is broken, or doesn’t provide you with your requests, move on. Even if it’s a real breeder, ask yourself; what happens when there’s a problem & you already don’t have solid communication? 
3. A breeder might be offended by your multiple questions, showing your mistrust in them as a breeder. However, remember it’s ‘buyers beware’. There are kittens with breeders you can have a continuous connection with. Go with your gut. If it feels off, then that’s because it is! Anyways, be careful. BE PATIENT. Ask lots of questions. 
4. You need to ask for updated photos or videos & if possible-FaceTime 
5. I have had a higher experiences with breeders who VET CHECK before going home as well as ones who have some sort of Sales Contract & Health Guarantee. 
6. If your breeder promises you papers because they have not arrived, you need ONE OR ALL OF THESE THINGS. Picture of parents pedigree, registration of parents (with numbers blurred for privacy), OR litter registration certificate. Does breeder's name on registration match? If they cannot provide you with these essential details that identify your cat & its asking price, then how can you be sure they will have everything else for the cat in order? Some may not allow registration, that is fine for pet homes! Ask for pedigree instead. 

Please share this page if you think this could someone.