At Sunfox we screen our pet buyers to make sure there is a good match of kitten to new owner. When you contact us, be prepared to answer questions about your housing, family members, and past and current pet ownership, and please fill out our Inquiry Form. We require a veterinarian's reference. If you are new to pet ownership, now is a good time to start your search for a veterinarian you feel comfortable with. Also feel free to ask any questions you may have, we will do our best to answer.
If price is the most important issue for you, we suggest you look elsewhere - you can surely find a pet for less money if that is your main goal - our goal is to raise healthy, well-adjusted Somali kittens, and it's an expensive undertaking. Alternatively, just because you are willing to pay our asking price doesn't necessarily mean you will get a kitten from us - it's important that both the new owner and the kitten be happy, and that the kitten get proper health care and love and affection during its lifetime. Our pet buyers make a lifetime commitment to the health and happiness of the kitten.
Spay/Neuter
All pet kittens are spayed and neutered before delivery to the new owner. This is an advantage to you as the future owner, as I take the risk of any problems, and is good for the kitten, as he or she recovers at home in familiar surroundings. Kittens are sold at 16 weeks of age at the earliest. At this age they have had all their kitten vaccinations and have been fully socialized. Sometimes we may keep kittens longer - Somalis are notoriously slow to mature, and sometimes it takes a few extra months to determine whether a kitten will be suitable for showing.
Sometimes buyers want to get their kitten at a younger age, feeling that a younger kitten will "bond" better with the new owner. This theory may apply to puppies, but does not apply to kittens. Kittens need to be properly trained and socialized by the adult cats and humans before they are ready to go to new homes. And since we give their final kitten vaccinations at 16 weeks, the new owner doesn't have to worry about vaccinations again until the cat is a year old. For more information, see the article entitled "How Young is Too Young."
Contracts
Pet buyers sign a contract agreeing not to allow the kitten to roam outside, and not to declaw the kitten. The contract spells out the duties of both buyer and seller so that there are no questions about what was agreed to.
Health
Sunfox kittens are guaranteed negative for FELV and FIV and free of fleas and fungus. They are fully vaccinated, and require no further vaccination until they are 16 months old.
Shipping
We do not ship our cats. We live in Culver City, California, near Los Angeles International Airport. If you live in a surrounding area, such as Northern California or Arizona, it is possible we can make arrangements meet you half way to deliver a kitten. Things may work out for someone to carry the kitten on board a flight for you, at a cost roughly close to the shipping cost. Keep in mind, however, that you would not be able to see the kitten before you get it, and this may not be the best idea - the best thing is of course, to come out here and meet the cat or kitten yourself. If none of these options are workable, we suggest you look for a breeder who is closer to you.
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If you think you may be interested in a cat or kitten, see our Sales Policies section below, and fill out our Inquiry Form. If you have contacted us before, please contact us frequently to let us know you if you are still interested, as we don't keep a traditional waiting list. But please don't wait long! We don't take deposits until after the kittens are born, but once we do they are usually spoken for quickly.
We currently have no adults cats available. To understand why breeders sometimes place adult cats, see this article.
Kittens
All material copyright Lee Dowding 2007, 2008. Photographs are also copyrighted by the photographer. All rights reserved. No material can be copied or used without express permission
Available Rescued Cats
We currently have no rescued cats available. For rescued Abys and Somalis in Southern California, go to SCAR. There is a sweet 5 year old red Somali spay available in Vancouver, WA. Inquiries to Tammy.
New babies! Our May 2008 litter has arrived, 1 ruddy, 2 blues. Momma is Minuet. Look for more photos as the babies grow.
