How to Find and Buy Exotic Shorthair Kittens from a Reputable Breeder

Buying an Exotic Shorthair kitten starts with choosing a breeder whose records you can verify: registration body, health testing, and show results. Purfurvid Cattery, a CFA-registered cattery in California, is one example of the type of breeder to look for — it registers and shows exclusively in CFA, states that all cats are DNA PKD negative, and holds CFA Cattery of Distinction status. Use the criteria below to evaluate any cattery, including this one, before you commit.

What a Responsible Exotic Shorthair Breeder Looks Like

A breeder's own website should let you check claims rather than just read them. Concrete signals to look for:

• Registration with a major registry. Purfurvid registers and shows in CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association) only. Registration means pedigrees and cattery names can be traced.
• Health testing stated plainly. The site states all cats at Purfurvid are DNA PKD negative. PKD (polycystic kidney disease) is a known inherited concern in Persian-family cats, so a breeder who tests and reports results is doing the baseline work.
• Show participation and titles. Purfurvid's cats include CFA Grand Champions, Distinguished Merits (DM), National Winners, and Regional Winners. Titles are not a guarantee of a good pet, but they show the breeder is active in the breed community and breeding to a standard.
• Breed-club involvement. The owner, Jeanne Scholz-Snyder, is a member of the CFA Exotic Breed Council and CFA Persian Breed Council — a sign of engagement beyond selling kittens.
• Recognition programs. CFA Cattery of Distinction status is an external marker, not a self-awarded one.

If a cattery you're considering can't show you registration papers, health test results, or verifiable show records, treat that as a reason to keep looking.

Exotic Shorthairs, Persians, and "Shorthair Persians"

These terms overlap, and knowing how they relate helps you pick the right cat:

Purfurvid breeds Exotic Shorthairs and occasionally Persians, and specializes in the bicolor/calico division. If you want the Persian look with less coat maintenance, an Exotic Shorthair is the practical choice; if you want the long coat and are ready for the grooming, a Persian from the same lines is the alternative. Ask the breeder which division and colors are available, since specialization affects what you'll be offered.

How to Start the Process

1. Read the cattery's available page and news updates. Purfurvid maintains an "Available Kittens & Cats" page and posts news (recent show wins, new titles). Availability changes, so check before assuming a kitten is ready.
2. Subscribe to availability alerts. The site offers an email alert when the Available pages are updated, with fields for name and email and a question about whether you want only show/breeding kittens. This is how you learn about litters without emailing repeatedly.
3. Contact the breeder with specific questions. Ask about pedigree, PKD status of the parents, socialization, and what division the kitten comes from.
4. Discuss logistics early. Purfurvid states it ships to cat hobbyists worldwide, so ask about delivery versus pickup and what the timeline looks like from deposit to arrival.

Questions to Ask Before You Commit

• Are the parents DNA PKD negative, and can you see the results?
• What registry are the kittens registered with, and will you receive papers?
• Is this kitten placed as a pet, breeder, or show cat — and does that change the contract?
• How have the kittens been socialized, and what have they been exposed to?
• What is the pickup or shipping process, and what does the breeder need from you first?

Costs and Logistics

The source material does not list prices, deposit amounts, or payment methods, so ask the breeder directly rather than assuming. What the site does confirm: kittens ship worldwide, and there is a waitlist/alert system for availability. Plan for the kitten's purchase price, any shipping or delivery cost, and initial vet care separately, and get the total in writing before paying a deposit.

Bottom Line

Use verifiable signals — CFA registration, DNA PKD negative status, show titles, and breed-club membership — to judge any Exotic Shorthair breeder, including Purfurvid. Then subscribe to availability updates, ask the health and pedigree questions above, and confirm shipping and payment details in writing before committing.