Where to Buy Exotic Shorthair Kittens for Sale: Reputable Breeder Checklist

You can buy an Exotic Shorthair kitten directly from a specialty cattery that registers with a major feline association, and the strongest signal of a reputable seller is verifiable registration plus health testing. Purfurvid Cattery, for example, is a CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association) cattery that exclusively registers and shows in CFA, states that all its cats are DNA PKD negative, and holds the CFA "Cattery of Distinction" designation. Those three facts—registry, health testing, and association recognition—are the core of what you should confirm before paying a deposit anywhere.

What Makes a Breeder Reputable

A reputable Exotic Shorthair breeder is one whose claims can be checked against a registry and whose cats have documented health clearances. Use this as your checklist:

• Registry membership. The cattery registers and shows in a recognized association such as CFA. Purfurvid states it "exclusively registers and shows in CFA."
• Health testing. Ask specifically about DNA PKD (polycystic kidney disease) status. Purfurvid states all cats are DNA PKD negative—this is the kind of concrete, testable claim you want, not a vague "healthy lines."
• Titles and lineage. Show titles (Grand Champion, Grand Premier, Distinguished Merit, National/Regional Winner) indicate the breeder actively participates in the cat fancy and can document pedigrees.
• Association honors. Designations like "CFA Cattery of Distinction" are awarded by the registry, so they're harder to fake than self-written website copy.
• Specialization. Purfurvid specializes in bicolor/calico division Exotic Shorthair and Persian cats, and combines Exotic Shorthair and Persian lines. A breeder who focuses on specific colors or divisions usually knows those lines well.

Why Exotic Shorthair and Persian Lines Overlap

Exotic Shorthairs are closely related to Persians—often described as the shorthaired version of the Persian. Purfurvid's own description notes it combines "quality Exotic Shorthair and Persian lines," and it registers and shows both. If a breeder works with both, ask how they manage the relationship between the two breeds and what that means for the kitten's coat and face type.

What to Look For in a Kitten Listing

Listings differ in ways that affect both price and suitability. Before you inquire, sort the listing into these categories:

Purfurvid's site separates "Available Kittens & Cats" from a "Kitten Photo Gallery" and offers an email alert when the Available pages update. If you want a specific color or division, subscribing to updates is a practical way to hear about new litters before they're gone.

Pet Quality vs Show/Breeding Quality

Purfurvid's signup form asks whether you are "interested in only show/breeding kittens," which tells you the cattery distinguishes between the two. Show/breeding kittens typically carry stricter contracts and higher prices; pet kittens are placed with different terms. Decide which you want before you contact the breeder, because it changes the questions you'll ask and the contract you'll sign.

Questions to Ask Before Buying

Ask these in writing so you have a record:

1. Health clearances: "Are both parents DNA PKD negative, and can you share the test results?"
2. Registration: "Will the kitten come with CFA registration papers, and what registration class?"
3. Contract terms: "What does the pet contract include—spay/neuter requirement, return policy, health guarantee?"
4. Socialization: "How are the kittens raised and handled before placement?"
5. Timing: "When is the kitten ready to leave, and what's the deposit and payment process?"
6. Logistics: "Do you ship, and what are the pickup options?"

Purfurvid's site notes it ships "to cat hobbiests Worldwide," so shipping is part of the conversation for this cattery—confirm the specifics directly, since the site excerpt doesn't detail shipping costs or methods.

Red Flags of Kitten Scams

• No registry name or a registry you can't verify.
• No health testing mentioned, or refusal to share PKD results.
• Pressure to pay a deposit before you see the kitten or its parents.
• Prices far below the market for a pedigreed kitten.
• No contract, or a contract that only protects the seller.
• Photos that appear on multiple unrelated websites.

The safest pattern is to verify the cattery through its registry first, then ask for health documentation, then discuss the contract—in that order.

Price and What Affects Cost

The source material for Purfurvid does not list prices, so treat any specific number you see elsewhere as unverified. In general, cost for a pedigreed Exotic Shorthair is influenced by:

• Quality class: show/breeding vs pet.
• Color and pattern: bicolor and calico divisions can be in higher demand.
• Lineage: titled parents and champions in the pedigree.
• Health testing: documented clearances add value.

Ask the breeder directly for current pricing rather than assuming a range.

Shipping and Pickup

Purfurvid states it ships worldwide, so if you're outside California—where the cattery is based—shipping is likely available. Confirm:

• Whether shipping is by air cargo or in-cabin, and who books it.
• The cost and who pays.
• What paperwork travels with the kitten (registration, health certificate).
• Whether pickup at the cattery is an option.

A Practical Next Step

Start by identifying a cattery that registers with a recognized association and states its health testing. Purfurvid is one example: CFA-registered, DNA PKD negative, a CFA Cattery of Distinction, specializing in bicolor/calico Exotic Shorthair and Persian lines, and shipping worldwide. Use its "Available Kittens & Cats" page and email alert to track new litters, then run every breeder—including this one—through the checklist and questions above before placing a deposit.