How to surprise a child with a kitten exactly on their birthday?
May 14, 2015 11:22 AM Subscribe
Logistical masterminds and cat people: is it possible to give my son a specific breed kitten as a surprise for his birthday?
My 5-year old is lovesick for cats lately. Just last week, he brought home a poem that he wrote in school where he bemoans his tragic kitten-free life. My husband is a cat lover (and previously owner) and I am kind of lukewarm on the idea UNLESS it's the super awesome pixie bob in which case I am all on board.
We would love to give the kitten to my son on his birthday but pixie bobs are an uncommon breed which I presume precludes getting a rescue from a shelter right before the date. I've never bought an animal from a breeder but I suspect they don't just manufacture and ship'em exactly on the date that you want. It seems like an unrealistic idea altogether and yet we've all seen those videos of squealing 5-year olds opening mystery boxes with a furry surprise inside! I just cannot imagine how this could be done in real life with a real live kitten.
So: how can this be organized, logistically speaking and timing-wise? We do have a grandma nearby. The birthday in question is end of June.
My 5-year old is lovesick for cats lately. Just last week, he brought home a poem that he wrote in school where he bemoans his tragic kitten-free life. My husband is a cat lover (and previously owner) and I am kind of lukewarm on the idea UNLESS it's the super awesome pixie bob in which case I am all on board.
We would love to give the kitten to my son on his birthday but pixie bobs are an uncommon breed which I presume precludes getting a rescue from a shelter right before the date. I've never bought an animal from a breeder but I suspect they don't just manufacture and ship'em exactly on the date that you want. It seems like an unrealistic idea altogether and yet we've all seen those videos of squealing 5-year olds opening mystery boxes with a furry surprise inside! I just cannot imagine how this could be done in real life with a real live kitten.
So: how can this be organized, logistically speaking and timing-wise? We do have a grandma nearby. The birthday in question is end of June.
What exactly is it you like about pixie-bobs? If it's the personality, my found-her-under-an-elementary-school-portable Midwestern tuxedo ex-stray does all those things; you can clicker-train a cat to fetch. If what you like is the described personality, the folks working at the shelter–especially if you have a cat-specific shelter in your area–can help you find a cat with the right kind of temperament.
posted by The Bridge on the River Kai Ryssdal at 11:48 AM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by The Bridge on the River Kai Ryssdal at 11:48 AM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Breeders may have an older cat that they're looking to adopt out (retired brood mamas, retired show cats), or may know someone who is looking to rehome an adult cat.
A friend of mine adopted a "native-bred" kitten, and the process involved an evaluation and a waiting list for kittens. Also, be warned: fancy cat kittens can be expensive. Like, $500-$1000. A responsible breeder considers demand and won't produce a litter without at least a few kittens already spoken for, and then the kittens must stay with their mother and be socialized for a few months as well. When an agreement is reached, getting the cat to you is pretty easy - they put it in a flight crate, put it on a plane, and you pick it up at the airport cargo desk - but, there are tons of flight restrictions for shipping animals that will affect schedule. If you want a pixie-bob kitten by the end of June the number of available cats will be very low.
posted by muddgirl at 11:48 AM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine adopted a "native-bred" kitten, and the process involved an evaluation and a waiting list for kittens. Also, be warned: fancy cat kittens can be expensive. Like, $500-$1000. A responsible breeder considers demand and won't produce a litter without at least a few kittens already spoken for, and then the kittens must stay with their mother and be socialized for a few months as well. When an agreement is reached, getting the cat to you is pretty easy - they put it in a flight crate, put it on a plane, and you pick it up at the airport cargo desk - but, there are tons of flight restrictions for shipping animals that will affect schedule. If you want a pixie-bob kitten by the end of June the number of available cats will be very low.
posted by muddgirl at 11:48 AM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Email breeders directly and ask about kitten availability. You might strike out; rare breeds often have waiting lists for kittens. Some breeders will ship cats, but it can be stressful and sometimes dangerous, so if at all possible you should find one within driving distance. When I got a Turkish Van kitten years and years ago, I found a breeder who was going to a cat show near me, and we agreed to meet there, so something like that could be a possibility. Also, you'll want to do your research and make sure you're not buying from a kitten mill.
The temperament description you linked to also describes a lot of regular generic cats I've known. If your main motivation for getting a Pixie-bob is the playful personality, rest assured that it will be much easier to find a kitten with a similar disposition in the shelter population. Many shelters get to know their cats' personalities, especially no-kill shelters and ones with foster programs. Best of all, your son will get to pick!
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:55 AM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
The temperament description you linked to also describes a lot of regular generic cats I've known. If your main motivation for getting a Pixie-bob is the playful personality, rest assured that it will be much easier to find a kitten with a similar disposition in the shelter population. Many shelters get to know their cats' personalities, especially no-kill shelters and ones with foster programs. Best of all, your son will get to pick!
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:55 AM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Keep in mind that shelter/random-bred kittens are even more a crapshoot than kittens in general, when it comes to personality and temperament. If you want a guaranteed temperament, you should adopt an adult cat (which can be as young as 1 or 2 years old). Leash walking is a pretty hard to find characteristic though--even in breeds predispositioned towards it, not all of the cats can be successfully trained. That training definitely needs to start in kittenhood.
One good thing about adopting from a breeder, whether an available kitten or a retiree, is that as long as they're ready to go home on a particular date and you put down a deposit, you may be able to negotiate picking up the cat at a specific later date. But that depends on finding a cat available at or before your deadline, which won't be easy.
posted by serelliya at 12:07 PM on May 14, 2015
One good thing about adopting from a breeder, whether an available kitten or a retiree, is that as long as they're ready to go home on a particular date and you put down a deposit, you may be able to negotiate picking up the cat at a specific later date. But that depends on finding a cat available at or before your deadline, which won't be easy.
posted by serelliya at 12:07 PM on May 14, 2015
All of those requirements are common to all domestic cats, in my experience, and depend much more on the individual cat's native personality and intelligence than anything else. There are active cats and lazy cats, smart ones and, uh, slow ones. I've never noticed really strong correlations between coat markings or breeds and behvaiour. Siamese tend to be a bit louder, I suppose, but all cats can be annoying at the 4:30 dawn chorus.
These behaviours:
* Head butting
* Ball fetching and playing
* Leash walking (for the most part)
* Capable of understanding some human words and phrases
are all common to the smarter end of the spectrum. You can train a cat to do many of these (e.g. hiking with you and playing fetch) if you know what you're going for. Smarty cats can learn anywhere up to a dozen or so words/phrases, roughly half what a dog can manage, though some may never learn more than one or two.
I don't think any particular colouration or breed has any strong correlation with intelligence, at least not in my experience knowing several dozen felines.
posted by bonehead at 12:09 PM on May 14, 2015
These behaviours:
* Head butting
* Ball fetching and playing
* Leash walking (for the most part)
* Capable of understanding some human words and phrases
are all common to the smarter end of the spectrum. You can train a cat to do many of these (e.g. hiking with you and playing fetch) if you know what you're going for. Smarty cats can learn anywhere up to a dozen or so words/phrases, roughly half what a dog can manage, though some may never learn more than one or two.
I don't think any particular colouration or breed has any strong correlation with intelligence, at least not in my experience knowing several dozen felines.
posted by bonehead at 12:09 PM on May 14, 2015
Also, agreeing with others in this thread. That temperament description perfectly fits the feral-bred black-and-white kitten my family adopted from a cat rescue when I was a teenager. We called him our little puppy.
posted by muddgirl at 12:13 PM on May 14, 2015
posted by muddgirl at 12:13 PM on May 14, 2015
That article is rife with citations needed. I doubt these cats really behave very differently from your average cats. I also have a stray who can fetch, walk on a leash, give high fives, and come when called. Granted, my other stray is a total moron, which just goes to show that there's no way to guess at an animal's personality by lineage.
Get your adorable son an adorable mutt kitty, or two!
posted by chaiminda at 12:26 PM on May 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
Get your adorable son an adorable mutt kitty, or two!
posted by chaiminda at 12:26 PM on May 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
Whatever type of cat OP is getting, she was kind of asking about how to give a live animal to a child as a gift more than whether we think they should get a pixie-bob.
How to gift-wrap a kitten:
Buy kitten (and accessories, including a large cat carrier). Go to pick up the kitten the morning of the birthday (intermediate staging area at grandma's house if the kitty is arriving from far away sometime the week before the birthday.)
Put the kitten in the carrier in a non-child-frequented location, such as the garage, or maybe grandma arrives and the kitty carrier is in the back seat of her car, and make sure the kid doesn't wander in that direction. Kitty is likely to be talkative, so the farther away and more isolated the better, but of course that means less amount of time that kitty can wait.
Give the child a piece of cake to distract him for 10 minutes while you set the gifting up. Put a wrapping paper cover over the carrier (a large 5-sided box, for example) and tie one end of a spool of (yarn/thread/string) to it. walk around the house unreeling the thread as you go, wrapping around objects and zigzagging all over the house. Arrive at the child and hand him the remaining spool of thread. The spool of thread trick and scavenger hunts were the classic ways my parents gave us presents that were in the garage or that were too large to wrap.
posted by aimedwander at 12:36 PM on May 14, 2015 [13 favorites]
How to gift-wrap a kitten:
Buy kitten (and accessories, including a large cat carrier). Go to pick up the kitten the morning of the birthday (intermediate staging area at grandma's house if the kitty is arriving from far away sometime the week before the birthday.)
Put the kitten in the carrier in a non-child-frequented location, such as the garage, or maybe grandma arrives and the kitty carrier is in the back seat of her car, and make sure the kid doesn't wander in that direction. Kitty is likely to be talkative, so the farther away and more isolated the better, but of course that means less amount of time that kitty can wait.
Give the child a piece of cake to distract him for 10 minutes while you set the gifting up. Put a wrapping paper cover over the carrier (a large 5-sided box, for example) and tie one end of a spool of (yarn/thread/string) to it. walk around the house unreeling the thread as you go, wrapping around objects and zigzagging all over the house. Arrive at the child and hand him the remaining spool of thread. The spool of thread trick and scavenger hunts were the classic ways my parents gave us presents that were in the garage or that were too large to wrap.
posted by aimedwander at 12:36 PM on May 14, 2015 [13 favorites]
Temperaments vary within breeds of cats (and dogs, for that matter). I've been to cat shows, and as far as I can tell, cats are judged on appearance rather than temperament. You're not guaranteed to get a particular temperament by getting a particular breed.
What is it that you like about the Pixie-bob so much more than other kinds of cat?
posted by Anne Neville at 12:42 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
What is it that you like about the Pixie-bob so much more than other kinds of cat?
posted by Anne Neville at 12:42 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
As for the "reveal," I would have a wrapped box all ready to go with airholes and a lid. Do the distraction thing that aimedwander suggests, pop the kitten in, bring out one more present, and have him open it right away. Bam, surprise kitten that spends no more than 2 minutes in a box.
posted by muddgirl at 12:47 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by muddgirl at 12:47 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Mod note: Hey folks, at this point the "get a cat from the humane society" suggestion is well-covered, so let's stick to answering the rest of the question at this point.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:52 PM on May 14, 2015
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:52 PM on May 14, 2015
That dotted coat pattern is often called a speckled or spotted tabby. As you can see from that link, it's been documented since the 1800s.
Don't fall for breeders making wild claims! It's a little unusual, but not that uncommon a pattern for Tabbies.
posted by bonehead at 12:54 PM on May 14, 2015
Don't fall for breeders making wild claims! It's a little unusual, but not that uncommon a pattern for Tabbies.
posted by bonehead at 12:54 PM on May 14, 2015
I think it's a great idea to get kid a kitten. But pets are not birthday gifts. They are members of the family that require a whole lot more attention than a few new batteries, and giving one as a gift may add a whole lot of baggage to the deal. It's not going to be your kid's cat in anything but name; no matter how much he loves it (and he will!), you're going to be feeding it, and taking it to the vet, and there's a good chance you'll be the ones to deal with end-of-life issues. So my recommendation is to not make it a birthday present. Make it a family present on some other occasion besides his birthday.
And of course you'll follow up with pictures, yes???
posted by disconnect at 12:56 PM on May 14, 2015 [10 favorites]
And of course you'll follow up with pictures, yes???
posted by disconnect at 12:56 PM on May 14, 2015 [10 favorites]
I got a kitten for my birthday when I was six. All I remember was that the big reveal happened at my nana's house. My nana also kept a kitten from the litter. The kittens were from a litter born on a farm and I think that my auntie might have picked them up a couple of days before my birthday.
As long as you're prepared for the possibility that you and your partner might end up doing the majority of the caretaking, then I don't think there's anything wrong with giving your son a kitten for his birthday. You just have to remember that he's a child, so he can't really be held responsible for an animal.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:10 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
As long as you're prepared for the possibility that you and your partner might end up doing the majority of the caretaking, then I don't think there's anything wrong with giving your son a kitten for his birthday. You just have to remember that he's a child, so he can't really be held responsible for an animal.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:10 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also, my experience with cats has been that the ones who grow up with siblings and spent more time with their mother are much more well-balanced. I don't think that breed is the most important factor when it comes to temperament.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:11 PM on May 14, 2015
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:11 PM on May 14, 2015
Just FYI: in my experience, "highly intelligent" is synonymous with "high maintenance." I have one cat who's super super smart -- understands phrases, object permanence, the whole works -- and she is impossible because she gets bored really easily and needs a lot of interactive play. If she doesn't get it, she wreaks havoc in various ways to show her displeasure. So if you're kinda lukewarm on the cat thing generally, that's something to keep in mind; as disconnect notes, you're going to be the one mostly caring for the little beast, not your son. Just another data point.
posted by holborne at 1:14 PM on May 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by holborne at 1:14 PM on May 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
My dog is a purebred border terrier. It's not a particularly popular breed in the US, so you can't just look up border terriers in the yellow pages and find a breeder.
So I googled. I found regional border terrier clubs, found (terribly outdated) lists of breeders and rescues (though for me it was like the line from Best in Show, how many purebredshih tzus border terrier puppies are there in rescues (none)), and I started sending emails and making calls. It took a few weeks of playing phone tag and waiting for people to return emails, but I finally found an active breeder near me (about two hours away).
And then that's where the long process started. I had a breeder, but she didn't know me. I made trips (two hours away) out to meet her and meet her dogs, I answered so many questions about myself I felt like I was taking an exam, she grilled me on my lifestyle and responsibility habits. And she didn't even have a puppy for me yet. After she approved me I still had to wait for her ladydog to be ready to go, and wait for my little puppy to gestate, and then wait the 9 weeks until he could be taken from mom. It was a long, long process. And expensive. Even my "pet quality" dog cost a nice chunk of change.
In the end I got a critter who's just as cute as he could possibly be but only has, oh, maybe a third of the typical breed qualities of most border terriers. Which I am totally ok with. They all happen to make him even better for my lifestyle. His mom and dad (both of whom I was able to meet) both had great calm, quiet personalities and so does my little dude. Would I do it again? Absolutely in a heartbeat. As soon as my life is able to take on another dog, I will probably, unless I run into a rescue dog who is just the perfectest dog, go to my breeder again. As a first time dog owner I really loved having someone I could call for every weird dog thing, and I liked the predictability of a known dog. It's great that some people are able to just go to a shelter and get a rescue pet with all of those unknowables (size, allergy-causing ability, grooming needs, etc, etc), but I am not a person who can do that. Anyone who sneers at me is welcome to kiss my ass.
If you have your heart set on this particular breed of cat, I get it. Start googling pixie bob breeders in your part of the country and just go for it. You might get lucky and find someone with a litter about ready to go (in which case, you ask the breeder to keep the cat until your kid's birthday). You might not. If you're able to find a breeder but have to wait for a kitten, my recommendation would be to give the kid a present with a stuffed kitty who looks as much like futurekitty as possible, a pack of kitty stickers, and a kitty wall calendar with the futurekitty date circled on it. Let the expectation and preparing for the kitten be as much of a gift as the kitten itself. (I had a whole puppy hope chest going in the weeks leading up to getting my dog. It was fun to plan.)
posted by phunniemee at 1:18 PM on May 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
So I googled. I found regional border terrier clubs, found (terribly outdated) lists of breeders and rescues (though for me it was like the line from Best in Show, how many purebred
And then that's where the long process started. I had a breeder, but she didn't know me. I made trips (two hours away) out to meet her and meet her dogs, I answered so many questions about myself I felt like I was taking an exam, she grilled me on my lifestyle and responsibility habits. And she didn't even have a puppy for me yet. After she approved me I still had to wait for her ladydog to be ready to go, and wait for my little puppy to gestate, and then wait the 9 weeks until he could be taken from mom. It was a long, long process. And expensive. Even my "pet quality" dog cost a nice chunk of change.
In the end I got a critter who's just as cute as he could possibly be but only has, oh, maybe a third of the typical breed qualities of most border terriers. Which I am totally ok with. They all happen to make him even better for my lifestyle. His mom and dad (both of whom I was able to meet) both had great calm, quiet personalities and so does my little dude. Would I do it again? Absolutely in a heartbeat. As soon as my life is able to take on another dog, I will probably, unless I run into a rescue dog who is just the perfectest dog, go to my breeder again. As a first time dog owner I really loved having someone I could call for every weird dog thing, and I liked the predictability of a known dog. It's great that some people are able to just go to a shelter and get a rescue pet with all of those unknowables (size, allergy-causing ability, grooming needs, etc, etc), but I am not a person who can do that. Anyone who sneers at me is welcome to kiss my ass.
If you have your heart set on this particular breed of cat, I get it. Start googling pixie bob breeders in your part of the country and just go for it. You might get lucky and find someone with a litter about ready to go (in which case, you ask the breeder to keep the cat until your kid's birthday). You might not. If you're able to find a breeder but have to wait for a kitten, my recommendation would be to give the kid a present with a stuffed kitty who looks as much like futurekitty as possible, a pack of kitty stickers, and a kitty wall calendar with the futurekitty date circled on it. Let the expectation and preparing for the kitten be as much of a gift as the kitten itself. (I had a whole puppy hope chest going in the weeks leading up to getting my dog. It was fun to plan.)
posted by phunniemee at 1:18 PM on May 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
Just FYI: in my experience, "highly intelligent" is synonymous with "high maintenance."
Oh my god seconded. My smart cat is a pain in the ass because she can get into anything and knows what behavior annoys me the most. My dumb cat is a lovely schnuggly sweetheart.
posted by good day merlock at 1:52 PM on May 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
Oh my god seconded. My smart cat is a pain in the ass because she can get into anything and knows what behavior annoys me the most. My dumb cat is a lovely schnuggly sweetheart.
posted by good day merlock at 1:52 PM on May 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
No advice on finding a specific breed. My cats have all been from shelters. I do recommend if possible having a visit with the potential kittens to play with and hold. That will help find one with the type of temperament you are looking for.
For the reveal, agree with previous posters to have a box with airholes ready to go and pop the kitten in right before.
If having a birthday party consider waiting and giving the kitten the next day. It will need a period of adjustment and lots of people and kids may scare it and lead to bad first experiences. I really like the idea of it being a family event rather than a gift for this reason.
posted by MandaSayGrr at 2:59 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
For the reveal, agree with previous posters to have a box with airholes ready to go and pop the kitten in right before.
If having a birthday party consider waiting and giving the kitten the next day. It will need a period of adjustment and lots of people and kids may scare it and lead to bad first experiences. I really like the idea of it being a family event rather than a gift for this reason.
posted by MandaSayGrr at 2:59 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Just FYI: in my experience, "highly intelligent" is synonymous with "high maintenance."
Eh... not seconded. I have three cats, one's brilliant and the other two are pretty smart (problem solvers) and each one has a different way of being a huge pain in the ass, with no exceptional problematic behaviour for the brilliant one. Who is also the most prey-driven and murderous one. Not that that's an issue with people, but I can't own any more hamsters. :/
With regards to your question, most people who do this surprise kitten thing have the kitten delivered in advance and sent to a friend/relative's house for a month. Foster kitten parents do it all the time - take care of beebee kittens for a month, let them go back to the shelter. Aside from that, it is possible that the breeder would hold a kitten for you, if you wanted to pay boarding fees.
But, like, seriously with the purebred cat thing... you're looking at a thousand bucks from a good breeder (i.e. not a backyard nasty kitten mill breeder, and you will know the difference if their breeder animals are titled at actual shows and not just "CKC registered" or whatever the cat equivalent is), plus spay/neuter, plus vaccinations, plus microchip, plus registration if that's a thing for your city. I'm just saying, your little guy would be just as pleased with a shelter moggie, and most shelters these days will offer all that stuff along with the kitten.
posted by Nyx at 2:59 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Eh... not seconded. I have three cats, one's brilliant and the other two are pretty smart (problem solvers) and each one has a different way of being a huge pain in the ass, with no exceptional problematic behaviour for the brilliant one. Who is also the most prey-driven and murderous one. Not that that's an issue with people, but I can't own any more hamsters. :/
With regards to your question, most people who do this surprise kitten thing have the kitten delivered in advance and sent to a friend/relative's house for a month. Foster kitten parents do it all the time - take care of beebee kittens for a month, let them go back to the shelter. Aside from that, it is possible that the breeder would hold a kitten for you, if you wanted to pay boarding fees.
But, like, seriously with the purebred cat thing... you're looking at a thousand bucks from a good breeder (i.e. not a backyard nasty kitten mill breeder, and you will know the difference if their breeder animals are titled at actual shows and not just "CKC registered" or whatever the cat equivalent is), plus spay/neuter, plus vaccinations, plus microchip, plus registration if that's a thing for your city. I'm just saying, your little guy would be just as pleased with a shelter moggie, and most shelters these days will offer all that stuff along with the kitten.
posted by Nyx at 2:59 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Oh yeah, and I agree with the poster who said not to do it on the birthday. Oh my god, no. $2,600 of surgery later after my young cat ate a balloon string? No, no, no. Have the kitten on a quiet day without ten thousand children and confetti and balloons and cake and so forth. And maybe practice with a stuffed kitten so your little lad understands that kitty sometimes needs kitty sleeping time and kitty alone time and can't always be available for human time.
posted by Nyx at 3:01 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Nyx at 3:01 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I grew up going to (and working at) dog, cat and rabbit shows. I've met tons of breeders as a result -- some good, some not. In my experience, it is very unlikely that you will find a reputable* cat breeder to help you with this endeavor. This is because, like reputable dog breeders, most reputable cat breeders breed to standard and breed for show, and so have a waiting list for kittens prior to doing a breeding (therefore having no kittens to sell on a whim), most require all the family to be on board (and you admit being lukewarm on the idea), and most are pretty against the idea of giving a living, breathing animal to someone (especially a child) as a 'gift'. That's not to say you can't or won't find a breeder who will sell you what you want -- plenty of unscrupulous breeders are happy to play up their knowledge about cats and help you part with your money.
But I also can't help but notice that you seem to be romanticizing the Pixie Bob quite a bit -- especially by deciding, based on a personality description, it's the only cat you'd welcome into your home. The Pixie Bob is simply a bob-tailed domestic tabby cat -- originating from stray bob-tailed domestic tabby cats in the state of Washington. Their popularity derives from the original claim by the breeder, that the "Legend Cats" (yes, the original breeder claims trademark for the term 'Legend Cats') used to develop the breed came from the crossing of bobcats and domestic cats. This has been proven to be distinctly false -- the Pixie Bob was found, through DNA testing required by the TICA, to possess NO wild genes of any kind. Even the original breeder acknowledges she never had proof of her claims. It is not a breed recognized by the CFA -- the oldest and most reputable cat registry. Additionally, this is a fairly new breed -- accepted for full championship titling in 1998 (TICA) and whose standard was written by its original breeder -- including temperament description. This means the description you gave is for the ideal temperament for the breed -- it does not mean that all Pixie Bobs will display it. In fact, given it's relative newness in the cat world, I'd say it's more likely NOT to.
Naturally, if you have your heart set on a Pixie Bob nothing I say will change your mind about that. And I get it. But you certainly can find a kitten or adult cat, who likely looks/behaves the same way -- and for much less money -- at your local shelter or via rescues. Of course this means revealing to the shelter that you intend the cat/kitten to be a present for a 5 year old, which is generally looked down upon by reputable breeders and rescuers alike. But again, that's not to say you still couldn't adopt, just that you need to be prepared to demonstrate that you ARE onboard for a cat joining the family, that you recognize you (and your husband) will be the absolute primary caregivers for the cat, and that you understand -- regardless of it being a gift -- that even if the child grows to dislike/lose interest in the cat, you'll maintain responsibility for it.
As to the actual logistics of what you want to do -- IMO, choosing a kitten should be a process your child gets to participate in. Get a small cat carrier, put a stuffed (plushie) kitten inside with a supercute voucher for the shelter/breeder (ie: 1 Free Kitten Just for Rada Jr to Choose) and wrap it up with a bow on top. You'll still get to surprise your child with the excitement of getting a kitten, but your child also gets to actively participate and play a part in deciding which particular kitten (whether it's from a breeder or shelter) will be joining your home (after the chaos of a birthday is over) --- which, IMO, is kind of important if the cat will be theirs for the next 15-20 years.
* I understand reputable is a somewhat loaded word. I use it here to refer to breeders who breed for health and soundness in their animals -- often times by doing things like genetically testing animals before breeding (and not breeding those with diseases), ensuring they have homes lined up before breeding takes place, properly socializing the animals they breed (and doing personality assessments for proper matching), spaying/neutering any animals they breed that go to pet-only homes and offering lifetime support to the families who purchase the animals they breed.
posted by stubbehtail at 3:16 PM on May 14, 2015 [15 favorites]
But I also can't help but notice that you seem to be romanticizing the Pixie Bob quite a bit -- especially by deciding, based on a personality description, it's the only cat you'd welcome into your home. The Pixie Bob is simply a bob-tailed domestic tabby cat -- originating from stray bob-tailed domestic tabby cats in the state of Washington. Their popularity derives from the original claim by the breeder, that the "Legend Cats" (yes, the original breeder claims trademark for the term 'Legend Cats') used to develop the breed came from the crossing of bobcats and domestic cats. This has been proven to be distinctly false -- the Pixie Bob was found, through DNA testing required by the TICA, to possess NO wild genes of any kind. Even the original breeder acknowledges she never had proof of her claims. It is not a breed recognized by the CFA -- the oldest and most reputable cat registry. Additionally, this is a fairly new breed -- accepted for full championship titling in 1998 (TICA) and whose standard was written by its original breeder -- including temperament description. This means the description you gave is for the ideal temperament for the breed -- it does not mean that all Pixie Bobs will display it. In fact, given it's relative newness in the cat world, I'd say it's more likely NOT to.
Naturally, if you have your heart set on a Pixie Bob nothing I say will change your mind about that. And I get it. But you certainly can find a kitten or adult cat, who likely looks/behaves the same way -- and for much less money -- at your local shelter or via rescues. Of course this means revealing to the shelter that you intend the cat/kitten to be a present for a 5 year old, which is generally looked down upon by reputable breeders and rescuers alike. But again, that's not to say you still couldn't adopt, just that you need to be prepared to demonstrate that you ARE onboard for a cat joining the family, that you recognize you (and your husband) will be the absolute primary caregivers for the cat, and that you understand -- regardless of it being a gift -- that even if the child grows to dislike/lose interest in the cat, you'll maintain responsibility for it.
As to the actual logistics of what you want to do -- IMO, choosing a kitten should be a process your child gets to participate in. Get a small cat carrier, put a stuffed (plushie) kitten inside with a supercute voucher for the shelter/breeder (ie: 1 Free Kitten Just for Rada Jr to Choose) and wrap it up with a bow on top. You'll still get to surprise your child with the excitement of getting a kitten, but your child also gets to actively participate and play a part in deciding which particular kitten (whether it's from a breeder or shelter) will be joining your home (after the chaos of a birthday is over) --- which, IMO, is kind of important if the cat will be theirs for the next 15-20 years.
* I understand reputable is a somewhat loaded word. I use it here to refer to breeders who breed for health and soundness in their animals -- often times by doing things like genetically testing animals before breeding (and not breeding those with diseases), ensuring they have homes lined up before breeding takes place, properly socializing the animals they breed (and doing personality assessments for proper matching), spaying/neutering any animals they breed that go to pet-only homes and offering lifetime support to the families who purchase the animals they breed.
posted by stubbehtail at 3:16 PM on May 14, 2015 [15 favorites]
Nthing the "get the kid a kitty certificate", not an actual kitty, no matter how cute the video is likely to be. Then your little one can go with you to the shelter/rescue/kitty cam people and meet all the kittens (in itself, a bundle of fun), pick out the one he wants, and be told by these nice rescue people how to hold the kitty, play with the kitty, and tell when the kitty needs some downtime. :)
And you can video your son sitting in a litter of kittens to your hearts content.
posted by jrochest at 3:29 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
And you can video your son sitting in a litter of kittens to your hearts content.
posted by jrochest at 3:29 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Almost my oldest memory is of being taken to pick out a kitten for my third birthday. We went ahead of the day and I can still remember where we went to pick it out from a litter. Consider taking him ahead of the day and letting him pick, it will give him more ownership as well as avoiding the over excited big surprise thing. You can always do an official reveal on the day.
posted by biffa at 3:36 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by biffa at 3:36 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
I used to volunteer at a shelter, and it was great to see families bring in young kids to interact with the cats in order to pick one out, in large part because it was good to see which cats and kids interacted in ways that would keep both the cat and the kid safe. Some cats are much better with little kids than others.
posted by jaguar at 5:40 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by jaguar at 5:40 PM on May 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
I love that stubbehtail is giving such a detailed response about, yes, stubby tailed cats.
posted by maryrussell at 6:33 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by maryrussell at 6:33 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
First: I am going to assume you are aware of the issues with gifting pets, especially to children, and you and your husband are fully on board with providing up to 15-20 years of care for this kitty. You know that you cannot guarantee your child will still love kittens by next year, but the cat is going to stay yours. You are prepared to incorporate having a pet into your life plans--if you move you find a place that takes pets, if you go on vacation you get a sitter, if the cat sheds everywhere or yowls at the door or doesn't like being picked up you learn to cope or engage in behavioral training because this is what you signed up for.
That said, I second stubbehtail. I do cat rescue and they covered pretty much everything, especially the issues with breed-specificity. Cats are a hot mess when it comes to establishing "breed standards" and "breed personalities". In general, you end up paying for what the cat looks like, not its personality.
I really think you'd find involving your kid in the process of picking out a kitty from a rescue would be way more rewarding for both of you than a surprise kitten at home. Getting a pet is so much more special when you're able to choose it yourself--whether finding it on the side of the road or bonding in a shelter. Your son will also get the good feeling that he rescued that kitty and will now be able to give it a wonderful life. You may also find that your son ends up preferring a adult cat--or even a senior--over a kitten!
It has practical benefits too: you, your kid, and your husband get a chance to interact with the cat and ensure you're getting a kitty who's right for your family rather than a crapshoot purchase. Not all cats like kids. Not all cats like to be roughly handled, and no matter how gentle and sweet your kid is he doesn't have the manual dexterity to not roughly handle a kitty.
Let me tell you: there is nothing more adorable then seeing a kid and a pet choose one another in a shelter situation. It is really a great way to establish a life-long bond. And seriously, did I mention it's adorable?
Before his birthday, I'd reach out to rescue groups and explain you want to do a meet-and-greet for your son to pick out a cat. Larger rescue organizations may have a cat room where your son can play and interact with the kitties in there. This is best. Explain to them the kind of personality you're looking for so they have those cats available when you come and look.
You could buy all the necessary cat stuff, hide it, and then do a cute little set-up with a carrier or something. Like set the carrier out with a toy mousie inside. He gets home and you ask him what kind of animal goes in there. He can go in and look, and you can ask him what kind of animal would want to play with that. When he answers "a cat", you can say something like "Well, I guess we better go get one!" And then you guys go, and hopefully he's so excited he's about to pop.
What would be really cool is if the shelter is close to a pet store. Then you don't need to buy anything but the carrier beforehand. After you pick the cat out you can involve him in picking out food bowls, toys, a cat bed, stuff like that. Then he can help set it up when you all get home. That way he really feels like the kitty is his kitty and he's the kitty-Dad. Remember: the more invested he is in the cat, the more likely he's going to be willing to scoop the box in a few years when he's old enough to do so. :P
Just re-emphasizing, all this interaction, all this set-up, all this investment doesn't happen when you just get a pet plopped down in front of you. In that situation you've got what you've got. It's not the same at all.
posted by Anonymous at 7:20 PM on May 14, 2015
That said, I second stubbehtail. I do cat rescue and they covered pretty much everything, especially the issues with breed-specificity. Cats are a hot mess when it comes to establishing "breed standards" and "breed personalities". In general, you end up paying for what the cat looks like, not its personality.
I really think you'd find involving your kid in the process of picking out a kitty from a rescue would be way more rewarding for both of you than a surprise kitten at home. Getting a pet is so much more special when you're able to choose it yourself--whether finding it on the side of the road or bonding in a shelter. Your son will also get the good feeling that he rescued that kitty and will now be able to give it a wonderful life. You may also find that your son ends up preferring a adult cat--or even a senior--over a kitten!
It has practical benefits too: you, your kid, and your husband get a chance to interact with the cat and ensure you're getting a kitty who's right for your family rather than a crapshoot purchase. Not all cats like kids. Not all cats like to be roughly handled, and no matter how gentle and sweet your kid is he doesn't have the manual dexterity to not roughly handle a kitty.
Let me tell you: there is nothing more adorable then seeing a kid and a pet choose one another in a shelter situation. It is really a great way to establish a life-long bond. And seriously, did I mention it's adorable?
Before his birthday, I'd reach out to rescue groups and explain you want to do a meet-and-greet for your son to pick out a cat. Larger rescue organizations may have a cat room where your son can play and interact with the kitties in there. This is best. Explain to them the kind of personality you're looking for so they have those cats available when you come and look.
You could buy all the necessary cat stuff, hide it, and then do a cute little set-up with a carrier or something. Like set the carrier out with a toy mousie inside. He gets home and you ask him what kind of animal goes in there. He can go in and look, and you can ask him what kind of animal would want to play with that. When he answers "a cat", you can say something like "Well, I guess we better go get one!" And then you guys go, and hopefully he's so excited he's about to pop.
What would be really cool is if the shelter is close to a pet store. Then you don't need to buy anything but the carrier beforehand. After you pick the cat out you can involve him in picking out food bowls, toys, a cat bed, stuff like that. Then he can help set it up when you all get home. That way he really feels like the kitty is his kitty and he's the kitty-Dad. Remember: the more invested he is in the cat, the more likely he's going to be willing to scoop the box in a few years when he's old enough to do so. :P
Just re-emphasizing, all this interaction, all this set-up, all this investment doesn't happen when you just get a pet plopped down in front of you. In that situation you've got what you've got. It's not the same at all.
posted by Anonymous at 7:20 PM on May 14, 2015
Best answer: Listen, I'm on board with purebred cats, and I think they are generally more predictable, temperament wise, than others have portrayed them to be in this thread. I love my purebred kitties! But, as stubbehtail has pointed out, the Pixie Bob is really too new and uncommon a breed for you to reasonably expect a kitten to conform to type. It's probably just as likely a common shorthair from a shelter would display the same behaviors, because they are, indeed, very common for any cat to have. And, keep in mind, it will cost you at least $1000, and likely more, for what is essentially a crap-shoot.. And figuring out which breeders are honest and reputable and which are charlatans, (who might sell you a sickly cat) can be a total headache.
Nevertheless, if you were asking the same question, but had an Abyssinian or a Siamese cat in mind (much more established and realiable breeds), I still would advise against your plan. The reason is, my parents surprised me with a kitten I had picked out on my fifth birthday, and it was without a doubt the single happiest moment of my entire childhood.
My uncle lived on a farm, and one of his barn cats had a litter. My parents took me on a visit to let me play with the kitties. On the way back, they told me that my uncle was going to keep one for my cousin, and which did I think he should pick? I replyed, the little black and white one with the heart shaped spot on her foot, of course!
Imagine my surprise when I unwapped a cat carrier containing the very same kitten a few weeks later! Like your boy, I loved cats (still do!) and was desperate for one of my own. I would have loved any kitten. But the fact that I had chosen her made her special beyond words. I'm totally in tears right now, remembering my beloved kitty. She was so, so special to me.
If you wanted to pull the same move, which still I think was totally brilliant, you might take your son to a shelter to play with the cats (ostensibly just for fun!), and casually ask who his favorite was. Then you'd be able to have him participate in the surprise! I'm so so thankful for my parents for giving me that experience. Children don't always get that much autonomy in their lives. It's easy for adults to overlook how poignant these moments can be. Good luck!
posted by lemerle at 8:48 PM on May 14, 2015 [10 favorites]
Nevertheless, if you were asking the same question, but had an Abyssinian or a Siamese cat in mind (much more established and realiable breeds), I still would advise against your plan. The reason is, my parents surprised me with a kitten I had picked out on my fifth birthday, and it was without a doubt the single happiest moment of my entire childhood.
My uncle lived on a farm, and one of his barn cats had a litter. My parents took me on a visit to let me play with the kitties. On the way back, they told me that my uncle was going to keep one for my cousin, and which did I think he should pick? I replyed, the little black and white one with the heart shaped spot on her foot, of course!
Imagine my surprise when I unwapped a cat carrier containing the very same kitten a few weeks later! Like your boy, I loved cats (still do!) and was desperate for one of my own. I would have loved any kitten. But the fact that I had chosen her made her special beyond words. I'm totally in tears right now, remembering my beloved kitty. She was so, so special to me.
If you wanted to pull the same move, which still I think was totally brilliant, you might take your son to a shelter to play with the cats (ostensibly just for fun!), and casually ask who his favorite was. Then you'd be able to have him participate in the surprise! I'm so so thankful for my parents for giving me that experience. Children don't always get that much autonomy in their lives. It's easy for adults to overlook how poignant these moments can be. Good luck!
posted by lemerle at 8:48 PM on May 14, 2015 [10 favorites]
Oh man, what Schroedinger said! I (personally) think a kitten is a great idea, because (a) I love cats and (b) cats are so much less maintenance than a dog. Yes, kittens are pouncy little maniacs, but they also (generally) poop in litter boxes and can be left on their own sooner than, say a dog, and also pets are just so good for kids.
So, imagine: it's Little Rada's birthday. You turn to Little Rada and say 'we're going for a drive, kiddo!' You drive to a shelter/breeder. You tell Little Rada that he gets to choose his VERY. OWN. CAT. I also think the pet store suggestion is genius, too, so Little Rada gets to pick bowls, toys, collars etc for his VERY. OWN. CAT. Oh, man, not a dry eye in the house.
posted by nerdfish at 2:15 AM on May 15, 2015
So, imagine: it's Little Rada's birthday. You turn to Little Rada and say 'we're going for a drive, kiddo!' You drive to a shelter/breeder. You tell Little Rada that he gets to choose his VERY. OWN. CAT. I also think the pet store suggestion is genius, too, so Little Rada gets to pick bowls, toys, collars etc for his VERY. OWN. CAT. Oh, man, not a dry eye in the house.
posted by nerdfish at 2:15 AM on May 15, 2015
I did say that the "high intelligence = high maintenance" was "in my experience," okay. I've had dumb cats and I've had smart ones, and my smart ones were waaaaaay more difficult to care for.
I'll throw in another data point, too, re wanting a certain breed because of supposed traits of that breed. I got a Ragdoll from a very reputable breeder mostly because I wanted a cat who would be highly intelligent, docile, and non-aggressive with a soft voice, and act kinda like a dog, which supposedly the Ragdolls did. I also loved the idea that they supposedly went limp in your arms when you held them.
Well, do you think my Ragdoll is docile and gentle? (Hint: nope.) She regularly scares the shit out of her brother, who's about five or six pounds heavier than she is and muscular. And this cat has never been limp in her life; when you pick her up, she stays upright and stares at you like, "Who the fuck told you to touch me?" She does occasionally have a soft voice, the way Ragdolls are supposed to, but that's measured in comparison with, say, a Siamese's voice -- at 5 AM when she wants her wet food, believe me, there's nothing soft about her voice. She does follow you from room to room, the way they say Ragdolls do, and she's the really smart one I mentioned above, but those are the only ways in which she conforms to the breed description. (Quaintly enough, her brother, whom I got from my hair stylist after she found him on the street, *does* act like a dog.)
So yeah, the "my purebred cat will be such and such" thing is a real crapshoot (also in my experience).
posted by holborne at 10:14 AM on May 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'll throw in another data point, too, re wanting a certain breed because of supposed traits of that breed. I got a Ragdoll from a very reputable breeder mostly because I wanted a cat who would be highly intelligent, docile, and non-aggressive with a soft voice, and act kinda like a dog, which supposedly the Ragdolls did. I also loved the idea that they supposedly went limp in your arms when you held them.
Well, do you think my Ragdoll is docile and gentle? (Hint: nope.) She regularly scares the shit out of her brother, who's about five or six pounds heavier than she is and muscular. And this cat has never been limp in her life; when you pick her up, she stays upright and stares at you like, "Who the fuck told you to touch me?" She does occasionally have a soft voice, the way Ragdolls are supposed to, but that's measured in comparison with, say, a Siamese's voice -- at 5 AM when she wants her wet food, believe me, there's nothing soft about her voice. She does follow you from room to room, the way they say Ragdolls do, and she's the really smart one I mentioned above, but those are the only ways in which she conforms to the breed description. (Quaintly enough, her brother, whom I got from my hair stylist after she found him on the street, *does* act like a dog.)
So yeah, the "my purebred cat will be such and such" thing is a real crapshoot (also in my experience).
posted by holborne at 10:14 AM on May 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
There are 20 pixie-bob and pixie-bob mixes listed on petfinder right now. Several are kittens. Some are not quite kittens but very young. Might be worth a look. Also it looks like there are some pixie-bob rescue organizations, just Google pixie-bob rescue.
posted by BoscosMom at 12:42 AM on May 16, 2015
posted by BoscosMom at 12:42 AM on May 16, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
So if you just want a regular kitten, go to local shelters or rescues a month or so ahead of time and ask to see whatever litters of kittens they have. The kittens stay with their moms for about 9-12 weeks, so you'll have time to pick one that should be adoptable on the right date.
posted by MsMolly at 11:42 AM on May 14, 2015 [43 favorites]