Questions & Answers / Adoption Info
Your ultimate resource to familiarize yourself with our cattery, the breed, and what to generally expect during the adoption process.
Q: What is the best way to contact us? A: FILL OUT OUR appliaction. oor - Email us: minuetkittens@gmail.com.
Q: Why do you love British Shorthair kittens?
A: There are so many reasons. We adore their thick velvety coat, their sweet, loving and regal personality, their look and their loyalty. They tend to also be amongst the least allergenic breeds and are growing in popularity. My breeders are imported from the best international lines.
Q: What is the health of British Shorthair like?
A: I breed for health. BSH are a healthy breed. They do not have diseases related to breed. We tested all our adult breeders for PKD - Polycystic Kidney Diseases at UC Davis and they are all negative. When parents are negative, kittens cannot inherit PKD. Some health problems can be triggered or aggravated by inbreeding, and some cats in the US were or are in-bred. As a Healthcare professional I vaccinate all our kittens myself and I use MLV Nobivac - triple vaccine that protects against feline rhinotracheitis, feline panleukopenia (FPV), and feline calicivirus (FCV), plus protects against feline Chlamydophila. My kittens are vaccinated at the age of about 6-7 weeks and again when 9-10 weeks old. They are wormed twice at the same age. I use Revolution as a flea prevention.
Q: What are English Muffins kittens?
A: These are cross between British short hair cats and STANDARD Minuet cats. They look just like shorthair Minuets, but genetically they are British with short legs. They are new breed, still being developed but already very popular, specially in Califotnia. They have all the qualities of British cats with a cuteness of Munchkins. And they are significantly smaller than British. Their parents are registered with TICA. English Muffin is a British kitten with jumps around like a little bunny , loves to climb but does not jump on your table or kitchen counter to taste your food before you can eat it. :)
Q: Why do you recommend adopting two kittens?
A: I personally never had just one kitten. Getting two kittens at the same time is best for both your family and the kittens. You will have 10 times more fun with two kittens than with just one. It is a whole new world! The kitten will have his buddy with him when leaving his mother and our cattery, and the travel and transition will be so much smoother. All the crying (and meowing) of the first days will be eliminated, and stress from new environment will be cut in half.
Two kittens will keep each other company when you are not home. Each kitten needs at least one feline and one human companion. We also discount the second kitten and we charge only one shipping fee for both. Unfortunately, your elderly cat is not a suitable companion for a young kitten. He can watch the kitten play, but will not interact much with him, so even if you do have a cat at home, you still need to consider two young kittens.
Based on many years of experience of breeding, I know they miss feline to feline interaction, and suggest they get adopted together. A boy and a girl make the best combination. Two boys are still a better combination than two girls, unless raised together. Before you decide, listen please on U tube “Jackson Gallaxy : Why you should get another cat?” And many other his videos.)
Q: What if you do not have a kitten I want at this time?
A: I encourage you to fill out our brief application anyway, to let me know what kind of kitten you are interested in and to start communication. It also lets me know more about you and the potential home our kitten would be going into. No deposit is needed at this time unless you would like to inquire about our paid waiting list.
Q: What is a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit?
A: When a kitten is reserved for you, it is taken off the market, so to speak. It is your kitten now, you are just waiting for him to finish nursing and learning all necessary life skills from his mommy, and get ready for his or her new home. The kitten is now not available to others, who may also be interested.
(Canceling suddenly triggers a large amount of new bathing, new grooming for photographing, cropping, publishing, advertising, new communication with a new possible families. There is a lot of time involved with it and all that makes the kitten more expensive.) The DEPOSIT is $400, but please be sure about your kitten before you pay, since as with all other catteries, the deposit is not refundable.
Q: What is the adoption fee of your kittens?
A: Our adoption fee is determined by the quality of the kitten, how much they meet the breed requirement, and other factors. Adoption fees of our kittens may change and are entirely our discretion. The look, shape, quality of their coat or eye color and personality and disposition all influences their price. Our BSH kittens range between $1,800 - $2,500. Because we believe in 2 kittens being adopted together, we give preference to families who adopt two kittens. Lastly, sometimes our older kittens, or teen kittens, are discounted.
Q: Are you able to ship your kittens?
A: We had over 15 years of a good experiqnce with cargo shipping all over USA. With Covid-19 airlines policies have changed so please inquire with me first about shipping.
1/We prefer and recommend to all adoptive families to pick up their kitten in person and take it in cabin. ( Check the policy of the airline you choose, please.) It is the safest and most comfortable way for the kitten. I will take your kitten to the San Diego airport to meet you there.
2/ We can use a PET NANNY service - again - I will take the lkitten to the airport and you will get it from her at your airport.
3/ We do use several airlines pet cargo programs, and even though they have temperature controlled and air pressurized pet cabins - they are imperfect. There is a weather restriction - only between 45 - 80-F airports temperature, some smaller airports have day and time pet program limitation or are closed over weekends. California Rabies vaccination is the last complication
Kittens are vaccinated in CA after 4 monnths old and than 4 weeks of vaccine waiting. Our average shipping cost is $ 550.
It coveres all the veterinary visits, health certificate and other veterinary documents required by the airlines, stating the kitten is healthy & able to fly, approved pet carrier, the cost of the airfare itself + taxes, and trip to the airport.
We would like to recommend whenever possible that the new owner flies to pickup their kitten in person, and we would meet them at the airport for a nominal fee - $120. Or you may choose to Uber to our home from the airport (average cost $59-$87 each way, an hour plus each way). This is to ensure the highest safety of our kittens and the least amount of stress on them due to airline issues, layovers, etc. You will need your airlines approved carrier and we provide our own Health certificate with proof of vaccination. No other paper work needed.
Q: What if I live close to San Diego/ Los Angeles and do not need shipping?
A: If you live in So CA - San Diego, Los Angeles, etc and you already RESERVED a kitten on our website, then you can pick up your kitten in our home, after they have been weaned, vaccinated, and prepared for a new home. All the other rules are the same as for the customers who need shipping. During Covid-19 we follow all safety guidelines.
Q: How do I RESERVE a kitten?
A: When our new kittens are about 3-4 weeks old, we place their first picrutres on our websites. With the Application, you can place $ 400 deposit on the kitten via your bank Zelle, using our e-mail) and it will be reserved for you. Once the kitten is reserved, the deposit is not refundable and generally not transferable to another kitten. The deposit does apply toward the kitten adoption fee. Please note kittens are reserved on a first come, first serve basis in terms of receiving your deposit (not your application). Some Applicant like to facetime the kitten before the deposit paid. It is possible.
Q: Can I come to choose a kitten?
A: After some past unpleasant /disrespectful experiences we are not open to the public anymore. You cannot come into my home and see the little babies, because it disturbs the mothers, the nursing process, and our privacy. The rules are nearly the same as for any Internet purchasing. I used to welcome prospective families in my private home in the past, in spite of them coming sometimes in big groups, with kids, relatives and kids friends. It is not safe to invite into our home someone we met on the Internet and I believe most of you would be hesitant to do that as well. So thank you in advance for understanding.
Note: But the customers/families who have reserved a kitten, can visit/see THEIR RESERVED kitten after the first set of vaccinations are done at about 6-7 weeks old with mutual agreement.
Q: When is payment for the adoption fee for my kitten due? A: Full payment can be split in two. When the reserved kitten is 5-6 weeks old, the first half payment plus transport fee $550 (if needed), are due. For the first payment only, I can accept personal checks, or a Money Order / Cashier's Check. At this time I am not accepting Paypal or Venmo payments. Another option is Zelle.
The second half payment (less the deposit) is due shortly before shipping or at personal pickup time (same as above applies). If you are local and are picking up your kitten in person, I accept cash as well. The final contract is signed by us after you have completed full payment. You will also receive a Health Certificate with your kitten and their vaccination records.
Q: At what age can the kittens go to their new home?
A: The Cats Associations' answer is : at 12 - 16 weeks old. There is the earliest possible age, and then there is the optimal age. There are really many factors involved in this: size and maturity of the kitten, whether or not the kitten will need to be shipped, whether or not one kitten is traveling, or if two are going together, customer cat experienced or new cat owner etc. Most of our kittens go home on the early side of this spectrum.
1. If the family lives locally, no shipping is involved, older children, adult at home (or working from home), taking two kittens at the same time, the kittens are average size, if experienced cat owners in the past: In this case the answer is - at the age of 10 - 12 weeks.
2. If a single person, working long hrs, shipping across country, one really tiny kitten, if a first time cat owner: the time frame is closer to 13 - 16 weeks. Our veterinarians do not want kittens weighing less than 2 - 2.5 lbs prior to shipping.
So - it all depends on the size and weight of the kitten, his independence from mother, life skills he already learned (newborn kitten for instance does not know how to retract his claws, and his mother and siblings have to teach him. Same with biting. You do not have the ability to teach them).
An important fact is - that a kitten starts bonding with people when about 11 - 12 weeks old. ( Before that age they prefer the mother and siblings.) So it does not make too much sense to really push to get him younger than that. When to ship the kitten is strictly my decision, together with my vet.
Q: How about the kitten's pedigree?
A: All my breeding cats are pedigree cats, they are all registered with TICA.
Your kitten comes with a Contract and a Health Certificate and with a one year guarantee against a hereditary disease. You are not allowed to breed our kittens without breeding rights, which have to be agreed and paid for ahead of time. Part of the Contract is, that the kitten has to be neutered at the age of 6-8 months. After you provide us with a veterinary proof that the kitten was spayed, and when arranged ahead of time, then we can forward you kittens registration documents and a small TICA fee will be due. This has to be arranged prior the adoption, because it is quite time consuming and 90% of families do not request registration. We randomly neuter some kittens.
Q: Are your kittens spayed or neutered before leaving the cattery?
A: Sometimes. Our decisions are made together with our veterinarian, who is very experienced and specializes in cats only. Yes, in some catteries the kittens are fixed very young and since it is a major surgery for females, sometimes they die. Some breeders do it -since they want to be sure the buyer will not breed the cat illegally. We have the statement in our CONTRACT and we trust our adoptive families, that they will abide by the contract and will not breed the cat illegally, without breeding rights. :)
Q: Which coat colors do you breed?
A: We first started with golden and silver kittens, choosing the smallest golden and silver adults available. Then we added chocolate and lilac. And finally I have added those very beautiful and unusual colors - cinnamon and fawn.
Q: How do I prepare for my kitten?
A: I have two sections to read under More Resources (on my website): Preparing for your Kitten, and Kitten Nutrition. Please look at those, and it will give you a great starting point and answer nearly all of your questions.