I’m due to meet some Birman cross Siamese kittens for a potential adoption, but I’m wondering about the risks of this mix: are they more prone to developing health problems? Do breeders actually practise this kind of crossbreeding? Or should these 'matings' be avoided at all costs, in which case I’ll back out.
Thanks for your help.
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😁 Good evening @Miaou, why do you want a pedigree cat? Is it for shows or breeding?
Chartreux are very beautiful too, and you can find them in both short and long-haired varieties.
Around £470 for mixed breeds? This "breeder" is having a laugh. They are very cute but that doesn't justify a price like that. Try looking at more adverts; with a bit of patience, it will be all the more rewarding when you finally bring them home. It’s a serious commitment as they’ll be with you for a long time. Hang in there and come back to show us the lucky one when you’ve found them. Good luck miaou 👍
Thanks for all the advice! The person told me they don't do a contract... isn't that meant to be mandatory?
I think I’m going to focus on the GCCF-registered kittens I’m seeing just before (I’d booked two viewings for tomorrow, so I’ll probably cancel the second one). Here’s the ad I found:
"Birman kittens for reservation. Purebred, born 14/06/20 (blue, chocolate, and seal point). They will be registered with the GCCF (paperwork pending) just like both parents. They all have lovely gloves and gauntlets and will come with their pedigree papers.
Parents are FIV/FeLV negative.
They are starting to eat grain-free dry and wet food like their mum (Orijen, Wellness Core, and Almo Nature).
Viewings available now."
It seemed quite professional to me. The price is around £1,000. Does the person have to have a licensed breeder number? They didn't mention if they had one. In any case, they seem serious; for example, regarding the adoption date, they told me it would depend on the kitten's behaviour. I think they’re genuinely concerned about making sure they're properly weaned and ready to be separated from their mum.
I found the ad on Gumtree... I would have preferred a more reassuring site, but on the specialist breeder sites you recommended, there isn't much choice in my area. I've been checking for a week and there are very few kittens; the prices never seem to drop below £850-£900 anyway. I’ve looked at loads of ads across the country and some of the prices people are asking are just unbelievable.
Here are two (seemingly) reputable Birman breeder sites:
- gccfcats.org
- birman-cat-club.co.uk
The average price for a GCCF-registered Birman is around £750. Unless, as mentioned before, you go to a breeder who does shows and pays a premium for their breeding cats.
Reading your posts, I really think you should look for a registered pedigree Birman kitten, just for that extra peace of mind.
Yes, it’s expensive because their actual market value is £0...
That said, if you’ve got your heart set on these kittens in particular and the 'seller' seems to have done everything by the book regarding paperwork and vet checks, then you can certainly go ahead and buy them...
But I’d urge you to take a good look at the person selling them: do you suspect they might be running a kitten farm? Putting the queens at risk? Or are they just an exceptional hobby breeder?
You have to realise that with 3 to 6 kittens per litter, per queen, and 3 litters a year... that’s a proper income. It’s a job that needs to be registered and declared for tax. If not, it’s basically just back-street breeding...
Around £470 is what you’d pay for some pedigree breeds registered with the GCCF, so it’s not exactly pocket change!
I don't think a 'tortie Siamese' exists as a pure breed... I assume it’s a moggy mum and a pedigree dad. Allowing a crossbreed female to mate like that doesn't give me the best impression of the seller, but that’s just my take. If you meet them in person and they seem honest, then trust your gut—the kittens look perfectly healthy.
Thanks for your replies. I’m really looking for a semi-longhair cat, and these kittens look like they have quite short coats to me, no matter what the owner claims. I’m looking for either a Birman or a Birman/Siamese cross, but it’s so hard to tell what they’ll actually look like as adults, and I’m worried I’ll end up with a cat that looks more like a Siamese than a Birman... if I’m going to have to shell out that kind of money, maybe I’m better off looking for a pedigree Birman. I’ve just been looking through loads of ads around my way, and prices are between £850 and £1,100! Some of the parents have coats as long as Persians, and I’m scared of ending up with a cat whose fur is just way too long! Basically, it’s not exactly straightforward!
When it comes to rescue centres, I’d rather not risk it as I lived with a poorly weaned cat for 19 years. She hardly let me stroke her, and grooming her (especially with semi-long hair!) was a real nightmare. She’d sit on my lap and cling to me like I was her mum, but she never learned how to retract her claws. I loved her to bits, but she wasn’t easy to cuddle and I regularly ended up with some nasty scratches! That’s why—as well as them being so beautiful—I’m looking at Birmans.
They’re very handsome but way too expensive. Who knows if this person isn’t just churning out litters from their cat to make some extra cash on the side... You can find rescue cats just as lovely for around £170 max, all microchipped, vaccinated, and neutered. Or you could spend a bit more for a cat from a breeder, provided you check they’re actually reputable.
Hi there,
I’ve owned a GCCF-registered Birman and I currently have pedigree Siamese. Paying around £470 for a crossbreed—essentially a moggy that's just a 'breed-lookalike'—is unacceptable. I can only advise you not to line the pockets of these greedy, backyard breeders.
There’s no shortage of reputable Birman breeders as the breed has been very popular for quite a while now. Good Siamese breeders are a bit thinner on the ground, as the breed isn’t really "in fashion" anymore.
That said, you can definitely find a lovely pedigree kitten for under £850, that's for sure. The really expensive kittens often come from breeding cats imported from abroad that cost the breeders a fortune. If you just want a well-adjusted pedigree pet, there’s no need to go to breeders who specialise in showing. A serious, small-scale family breeder who is happy to answer all your questions about the kittens AND their parents will do just fine.
You do regularly see Siamese-type kittens in rescue centres, but they get snapped up fast. Birman-type kittens are much harder to find in rescues. Of course, with a rescue, you won’t have the same guarantees regarding health and temperament that you’d get from a breeder. Even so, you can still find the occasional absolute gem—stunning and perfectly behaved—in a shelter.
I have to admit they are both absolutely adorable; they definitely look more Siamese than Birman.
At the end of the day it’s up to you, but honestly, it would turn my stomach to give nearly £470 to a private seller for a little crossbreed with no guarantees at all, especially when for about £170 you could get a kitten from a rescue with tests, vaccinations, microchipping, and neutering all included.
And believe me, it’s not because I’m being stingy—I’ve actually bought ten pedigree cats in my time. But if I’m going to spend that kind of money on a moggy, I’d much rather keep the cash to spoil them and pay for any vet bills. Still, everyone’s free to make their own mind up, luckily. That seller, though—they’re certainly not shy about charging a fortune!
