I understand it can be a tough decision to take a new furbaby into your home, so it's important to make sure you have done your research and are happy with the breed and breeder you choose, especially for rarer and long hair breeds like the Australian Tiffanie. It's always great to know what you are getting yourself into.
I’m glad you have chosen an Australian Tiffanie for your next furbaby; I believe they are not only very beautiful, but they are very easy going whilst having huge personalities. They are a gentle easy going breed that love their hoomans and are perfect for families and those that will treat them like the royalty they think they are.
My Tiffanies do everything in their own time (aka slowly) this includes when at play, eating, waking up from sleep and even when responding to something strange or new, it's all in slow mo. When they do move fast, it's like a fluffy white cloud streaking past, very cartoon like. While they are fully capable, they tend not to jump up high, so they are not likely to get onto your table or cupboards unless encouraged to do so. They react gently (or should I say they don't react) to most new things given the right introduction. They also have an "if in doubt, flatten out" mentality rather than flight or fight response, for example, they just lay flat when the tractor goes past the cat run and I have never had to have my Tiffs sedated for veterinary procedures such as blood tests, x-rays and ultrasounds as they are happy to just lay flat out, especially for pats and attention. They are generally happy to be cuddled and carried around but you will have to hold them as they will not hold onto you, it's part of their royalty mindset. Although the extent of these "features" will depend largely on the kitten that is matched to you and how they are introduced to their new family and environment.
Tiffanie's have a long and luxurious cottonlike coat which will require regular (and I mean regular) combing to maintain them tangle free. They can quickly go from being super soft and beautiful to matted in the blink of an eye. I recommend you can expect to be combing out your Tiffanie's coat every day or engage the services of a regular and speciality cat groomer to maintain their long locks. Getting a regular tummy and sanitary clip can help mitigate some of the issues, especially over summer. Partly due to their coats and partly as these cats are just not at all street smart, it will be a requirement and condition that they will go to indoor, or indoor with access to a fully secure cat run homes only.
My cats are not just pets, they are my babies, so all are raised indoors and in a large, attached cat run as a part of the family. All my kittens are well socialised with kittens/cats of all breeds and ages and are respectful of older cats. If you don't have another furbaby at home or have an elderly furbaby already, I recommend considering two kittens as these babies are not comfortable being an only child. Two also give each other confidence in their new home and keep themselves occupied when the family isn't at home with them.
My breeding cats have been tested negative in combination for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and DNA tested for most common illnesses and diseases including PDK and hypokalaemia.
To help keep my babies safe, visits are restricted to those that are approved waiting for a kitten. Kittens will be at least eight weeks and had their first vaccinations before visits can occur. All visits to my cattery are by appointment only and all visitors are required to wear shoe covers before entering and must use sanitiser on their hands and arms before handling any cats or kittens.
Kittens come with a kitten pack and do not leave home until they are:
- Minimum of 12 weeks of age and/or over 1.5kg (especially for kittens travelling interstate)
- Litter trained
- Wormed and flea treated
- Veterinary checked
- Have had at least their 1st F3 vaccination
- De-sexed (unless going to another Registered Breeder)
- Microchipped and registered with Dogs & Cats Online (DACO) in South Australia
- ANCATS Registration
- Petcover 6 weeks free pet insurance
- Grooming comb