More info for people interested in adopting Scottish folds (or any breed, for that matter) from shelters. Both PetHarbor.com and PetFinder.com have the option to search by breed. PetHarbor will also allow you to be notified if a specific breed comes up in a shelter in your area.
So a lot of people have been asking "where did you get Katamari?" and "How can I get a Scottish Fold, too?" So I wanted to do a post giving people the rundown. As I think I said in my first post, I spent about a year and a half after I decided I wanted a Fold researching and looking. This doesn't necessarily mean that it will take everyone that long. Basically, the more particular you are (about sex, coat length, coloring), the longer it will take.
Before I get into things, I should say that I have experienced varying degrees of disapproval from my peers for getting a purebred cat instead of adopting from a shelter. So I feel like I'm obliged to give the disclaimer: You should adopt a cat from a shelter, but if you REALLY want a Scottish Fold, here is the information I can give you:
First of all, Scottish Folds are generally great cats with great personalities. They are very people-oriented, so they're good companion animals (the flip side is that they need lots of attention...if you're away from home a lot, they might not be the best choice) There is a really good run-down of the characteristics of the breed at the Cat Fanciers Association website. The other interesting thing about Scottish Folds is that not all Scottish Folds have folded ears. Since two folded-ear cats can't be bred together without risking genetic problems, responsible breeders will always do straight-to-fold breeding and most litters will be about half straight-ear and half-folded ear. This makes the folded-ear cats a little more rare and harder to get.
So how do you find a good breeder? A good place to start looking is Breedlist.com. Most of the breeders listed are registered with cat organizations like CFA or TICA and many have websites where you can get more information or see available kittens. They are listed by region if you want to "buy local", but many breeders will ship cats by plane. Don't hesitate to contact breeders to introduce yourself or ask questions! You can also look and see if there are any cat shows going on in your area. Most breeders show cats, so this is a good chance to meet breeders and cats in person.
The price range on a Folded-ear Scottish Fold, (from the breeders I inquired with, anyway) is anywhere from $600 to $1500 (Katamari was about smack dab in the middle of that range). The price can vary depending on the quality of the kitten (breed factors like how closely the ears lay down on the head) and depending on the reputation of the breeder. The more champion show cats a breeder has, the more they will generally charge. If you are buying a cat for a pet, it will typically be spayed or neutered before it is sold to you and most breeders have a contract for you to sign which will cover issues like declawing and if the breeder reserves the right to buy back the cat if you can no longer give it a suitable home. Most breeders want a deposit to hold a kitten with the remainder of the balance paid when the kitten is old enough to be separated from it's mother and sent to you (usually 10-12 weeks). If you're having a cat shipped, the cost is usually about $250.
If you are looking for a lower price on a Fold, you can check out The Scottish Fold Rescue Network to see if there are any homeless Folds for adoption in your area. You can also check with breeders to see if they have adult cats or retired breeding cats up for adoption. You can also get straight-eared scottish fold kittens for much lower prices than their fold-eared siblings. (I was actually waffling for awhile many months ago about getting a retired breeding cat who was a little over a year old and very cute, but I waffled too long and someone else swooped in.)
There were a handful of breeders I was "watching" for awhile, waiting for my perfect kitten, and the breeder I ended up getting Katamari from is Katareece Cattery. From my own experience, I can vouch for them. Katamari is a great cat and very well socialized...and the mix-up with the cats being shipped to the wrong locations was ENTIRELY the airline's fault!
Obviously, we love Katamari to death and I think she was well worth the time and money I spent getting her. Everyone who meets her is charmed. Even poeple who claim that they aren't "cat people" are crazy about her...although I've heard that Scottish Folds often have that effect.
I hope this answers most of the questions!
