HAVE QUESTIONS? WE HAVE ANSWERS
We want to answer all of your questions. Below you will find some of the more common questions we are asked. We categorized them into 8 sections for you – payment, shipping, feeding, vaccinations, grooming, go home day, gender specific and miscellaneous questions. If you have a question beyond this scope please reach out to us and we’ll answer promptly.
Payments
Zelle, Venmo, Cash & Wire Transfer.
If you are picking up locally you may pay during pickup. If your kitten requires transport the balance must be paid in full 2 weeks prior to shipping. Payments made via zelle and venmo often need to be paid over 2-3 days due to daily spending limits imposed by banks. To avoid hiccups (especially during local pickup) we recommend that you pay the balance electronically a few days before their due date.
Generally, no. However, we have on occasion offered payment plans to repeat owners whom we have a longstanding relationship with and trust.
We offer a loyalty discount to repeat owners and occasional discounts on available kittens over 12 weeks of age.
If you purchase multiple kittens, we will offer you a $500 discount for every kitten purchased within 6 months of your last kittens purchase date. After 3 months we will offer you a $250 discount.
Kittens who remain available after 12 weeks of age are generally discounted and the price on our website will change to reflect the discount. We discount by $500 every 4 weeks starting around 12 – 14 weeks of age until the kitten is placed or the kitten reaches 3k. We rarely price kittens below 3k.
Shipping
Shipping is a safe and relatively quick process. We have a trusted pet nanny that we’ve been using without incident for the last 8 years. Transport by air and ground is accomplished within a day; generally 5-8 hours. We guarantee your kitten will be handled with care and will arrive healthy.
- Flight transport starts at $750. Most owners spend around $800.
- Ground transport starts at $300. Most owners spend around $400.
- Note: Price directly reflects the rate quoted by our pet nanny. We charge no additional fees for setting up transport.
We ship to all international airports within the continental United States.
Yes, but only if you are within the state of Florida and you pay the pet nanny fee. If you reside outside of Florida, we offer flight transport to your nearest international airport.
Yes, a carrier. Most kittens will not potty during travel but to be extra safe you can bring a travel size litter box for the car and fill it with pine pellets.
Feeding
A balanced, minimally processed, species appropriate, homemade and commercially produced raw food diet. Proteins we commonly feed include pork, rabbit, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, sardine and whitefish. Please view our Diet page for more info.
We highly recommend that you continue feeding your kitten a balanced raw diet that is human grade, species appropriate and minimally processed. You can make it at home or purchase it commercially. We offer guidance to our pet parents if requested.
You may purchase it online and have it shipped frozen to your door. Viva Raw is a company we regularly use.
You may also purchase it locally from a holistic pet store. Some holistic vets also sell commercial brands of balanced raw diets in their clinic.
We recommend you use the search engine provided by Small Batch to find local holistic pet stores near you. Often times, pet stores that carry Small Batch will carry other brands of raw food. Call those stores before travel to find out.
It costs between $1.50 – $4.50 a day to feed a 10 lb cat of low to moderate energy level. Cost depends on brand and protein purchased. Average cost to feed Viva Raw to a 10 lb cat of moderate energy level a day is $2-$3.
Buying in bulk and feeding a homemade raw diet can significantly reduce cost.
Commercial raw food diets typically range between $7 – $15 a lb, depending on protein source.
To avoid and manage existing health problems.
Benefits:
- Delayed kidney and heart disease
- Prevents diabetes
- Significantly reduces the risk of obesity
- Significantly reduces the occurrence of UTIs, crystal and stones.
- Results in the strongest immune system
- Cures IBD – inflammatory bowel disease
Please view Feeding Philosophy Page for more info.
Only if you’re negligent. Cat’s have a short digestive track capable of handling large pathogen loads (compared to humans) without developing infections. Nevertheless, feeding food that is obviously spoiled may lead to an infection and may require a course of antibiotics. This can be easily avoided by using common sense. The sniff test tends to be very reliable.
Vaccinations
Your kitten will receive age appropriate vaccines. All EP kittens receive the Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccine by our vet around 11 weeks of age. Older kittens may receive additional vaccines such as the rabies vaccine.
Around 16 weeks, we recommend you give them their last FVRCP vaccine. After spay/neuter we recommend you allow the rabies vaccine. We are minimalistic regarding vaccinations, as per the recommendations of pet immunologist, Dr. Ronald Schultz.
YES! We recommend that you do not allow the Feline Leukemia Vaccine to be administered to your cat. Indoor cats have no exposure to the virus unless they live with a FIV positive cat. Also, it triggers false positives on FIV tests which can be alarming. Furthermore, it unnecessarily challenges the immune system by adding heavy metals (vaccine adjuvant).
Rarely. We recommend acquiring 2 rounds of the FVRCP vaccine as a kitten, then no more for life. Newer studies indicate that the rabies vaccine is only necessary 1 – 2 times per lifetime. We follow the recommendations of immunologist Dr. Ronald Schultz.
Unfortunately, the law requires the rabies vaccine be given more than is biologically healthy for our pets. Pet laws are slow to change to reflect current research on immunology. We are not advocates of breaking the law, but we also aren’t advocates of knowingly compromising our pets health. You choose.
Absolutely. Vaccinosis is an often overlooked condition that results in a vast array of immune problems and may require treatment. Pharmaceutical companies and conventional veterinary medicine favor over vaccinating; holistic medicine does not. Less is more.
Grooming
Yes. Your kitten will be bathed every 2 weeks starting at 3-4 weeks of age and brushed regularly.
We recommend you brush your kitten daily so he/she becomes tolerant of the process. To prevent matts in persians with large coats you must thoroughly brush at least 3-4 times a week; maybe less if you bathe them often.
We recommend you bathe and blow your kitten once every 2 weeks, especially if they behave unruly. We recommend you bath your adult persian once a month; more if they are intolerant.
The more you bathe the less you will have to brush to prevent matting.
The list is comprehensive. Soon, we will create a grooming blog and link it here for you to review.
Groom them more often. Exposure to the process will slowly desensitize them. Scruff if needed. If you have an EP kitten and can travel to me for a grooming lesson you are welcome to come.
Clean as often as necessary to prevent facial dermatitis, brown buildup and staining from occurring. Some persians require a thorough cleaning twice a day with a blot a few times throughout the day while others require a blot once every few days. The amount of tearing is determined by the combination of different facial characteristics, possible upper respiratory infection, and allergens in the home and food. Degree of tearing will be disclosed to you about your particular kitten at time of purchase and throughout their stay with us.
Go Home Day
- At 12 weeks of age if your kitten receives a clean bill of health from our vet and we feel he/she is socially ready to go.
From:
- Local Pickup: At our home – where your kitten is raised.
- From airport: Via our trusted pet nanny.
Note: All kittens must be at least 2 lbs before leaving us. If any health concerns arise pickup will be delayed until all concerns are cleared.
Yes, for a small fee. The first week is complimentary; we charge nothing. After a week, we charge $10 a day.
A carrier and a travel size litter box for the car.
- Folder with your kittens veterinary records and health certificate
- Microchip registration form
- USB with your kittens photo album and a digital copy of all paperwork
- Toys
- Eye rinse
- Grooming brush
- Litter – Pine pellets
- Raw food for 2 weeks
Absolutely. I am here for you and encourage you to reach out to me with any questions or concerns after purchase; whether a day later or a year later.
Gender Specific Questions
Stereotypically, male cats are friendlier, cuddlier and more aloof than females; females tend to be more active, sassy and vocal. When recommending gender to a first time pet or cat parent we almost always recommend a male. Some females are exceptionally friendly, but we find most males are friendlier than most females.
Females cats are like lionesses of a pride. Purrsonality plus and sassy are two adjectives I associate with most of my girls. Aloof and lazy are two adjectives I associate with most my boys. Nevertheless, stereotypes are not true i in all instances and both genders are charming in their own way.
Ask us about the kitten you’re eyeing and we will describe their personality to you.
I generally recommend a male and a female – the best of both worlds! I personally like the dramatic personality differences between genders. All kittens will grow to love their playmate regardless of gender. The thing that matters when taking pairs is to ensure you schedule spay and neuter before either begins to develop pesky mating behaviors such as mounting for dominance or spraying. If left intact, males tend to become territorial with other males and both males and females will spray prolifically. Intact females will mount each other and spray to signal they are ready to mate. When reproductive hormones rump rampant both sexes become insufferable.
If you neuter him by 8 months of age, highly unlikely. If the habit develops, it is due to stress and/or poor socialization, not of hormonal nature.
Around 8 months of age. To avoid pesky mating behaviors, I recommend you spay/neuter your kitten before they reach sexual maturity. Intact cats who display strong mating behaviors make lousy pets. We do not want you to dislike your cat.
Miscellaneous
42 cats
You’ve achieved the meaning of life.
To prevent Single Kitten Syndrome. Kittens are social creatures that use the feedback from other friendly felines to foster healthy habits. When that feedback loop is broken, single kittens are likely to become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like excessive chewing/scratching and inappropriate litter box usage. The reasons why 2+ is better than one are immeasurable. Here are a few:
- Your kitten with a friend:
- Avoids single kitten syndrome
- Develops greater social skills
- Is more tolerant of change and strangers
- Is more likely to cuddle than wrestle with you
- Will cuddle and groom their fluffy friend
- Will make you feel less guilty when you leave for long vacations
- Is less likely to become obese
- Is less likely to develop compulsive personality disorders
- Is less likely to develop idiopathic cystitis and colitis from stress
- Is no more work than one.
I would love that! We are told our males turn into lap cats more often than our females. Some kittens are innately calmer and cuddlier than others. The outcome largely depends on the level of socialization and care you offer your kitten after pickup. Therefore, we cannot guarantee adult temperament.
Yes. We sell breeders for 6k. There is a pre-approval process. To start, fill out a kitten application.
- Absent or minimal tearing
- A large nose with broad nose leather and open nares
- Small to medium eyes set wide apart
- Small ears
- A smooth skull
- A cobby body
- An extreme coat
We retire queens when it is not in their best interest to continue producing and kings when they don’t offer satisfactory genetic diversity when bred to our existing queens. Because many factors are involved, the timeframe is sporadic. We retire about 3 adults a year.
Returns are always accepted but refunds are not offered.