FAQs
So, you’re thinking about getting a ChubbyBuddy. That’s great! Being a feline-owned human is a wonderful experience. Listed below are answers to some frequently asked questions that we receive. Due to the large volume of queries which we receive, we may not be able to respond to each individual query if the answer can be found below.
Why do you insist on desexing all your kittens before they leave the cattery?
We have put a huge amount of work into the history, health and temperaments of our ChubbyBuddies. It is therefore important for us to protect the integrity of our lines and we cannot risk the possibility of our ChubbyBuddies being used for backyard breeding. We do this so that we can keep our lines clean and free of health issues, and to ensure that our ChubbyBuddies are placed in homes where they will be treated like the kings and queens which they truly are.
In order to guarantee the success of the breed, it is crucial that only the best adult cats be bred, resulting in exceptional kittens that will carry on the breed standards and temperament. We all know there are good and bad breeders out there so having the option to only allow breeders who share our values to obtain breeding rights is a privilege that all breeders have. It is our responsibility to ensure only the best and fully health-tested cats go on to breeding programmes.
Do you keep a waiting list?
Yes. You may get on the waiting list by filling out our questionnaire, and we will reach out to you to schedule an in-person visit.
If you remain keen after your visit, you will be invited to view the kittens when they are old enough and be given the chance to observe the kittens up close. You can then place a non-refundable deposit to hold a kitten. This deposit will count towards the final purchase price.
As it is important for us to match our kittens to the correct homes, we unfortunately do not accept deposits until we have personally met with the potential new owners.
How long do I have to wait for a ChubbyBuddy?
It really depends! As cat fancy enthusiasts, we breed for ourselves and therefore don’t always have kittens available. Our objective is to breed British Shorthairs that conform to type and have excellent temperament – in other words, breeding better British Shorthairs. We will never produce enough ChubbyBuddies to meet the requirements of people who want kittens immediately. Instead, we prefer taking our time to know the homes our kittens are going to, ensure that the new owners are educated about pedigrees, breed standards and health issues, and would love to stay in touch and know how our cats are doing in their new homes.
How much does a ChubbyBuddy kitten cost?
Pet quality kittens are priced upwards of S$8,000. Prices are non-negotiable.
…but someone on Facebook/Gumtree/Locanto/online advert is selling British Shorthair kittens for less than S$500!
The price of a ChubbyBuddy represents not the amount used in food and litter, but the financial, moral, emotional and physical expenses of the cattery for producing an excellent cat. The main sense is paying for good quality – the serious collector of paintings wouldn’t hang in a house the cheap reproduction from a magazine! With its compact but powerful appearance and forecasting character, a ChubbyBuddy is truly a cat worthy of adornment and gloat.
What you also get from a responsible cattery is also predictability and support – you can expect your kitten to look and act like a true British Shorthair as an adult, and if you have questions about the breed, you always have someone to ask. You will probably be getting neither of these things from a S$500 kitten, plus you’ll be on the hook for vet bills arising from unforeseen issues caused by irresponsible breeding.
What is included in the purchase price?
This purchase price includes the first two sets of immunisations, compulsory desexing and a robust contract that includes an extensive health warranty.
Why do you insist on meeting in person? If I am willing to pay good money for a cat, shouldn’t I be allowed to choose and get what I want based on pictures?
Not entirely. A kitten’s appearance is the least of the attributes considered when selecting the correct ChubbyBuddy for each home.
A good breeder does not take this decision lightly, as it is paramount to place the correct temperament and energy level with each approved family. If your criteria is a cute face, it tells us that you are not looking thoroughly enough at the overall picture and might not be a great candidate for one of these babies. Just because somebody has a preference for a gender or colour, does not mean that the kitten is the correct pet for the person.
What vaccinations do you give?
We give the first two sets of 3-in-1 immunisations, which includes Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus at 8 and 12 weeks respectively.
We do not give and do not encourage the giving of the Feline Leukaemia (FeLv) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) vaccinations as we do not believe in their efficacy. Please consult with your veterinarian about their recommendations on these immunisations. The adult cats in our cattery have been tested negative for FeLV, FIV and dirofilaria immitis (heartworm). There is no conclusive test for FIP.
What health guarantees do you give?
We provide a comprehensive health guarantee which covers both genetic and congenital issues, amongst others. We also provide a health guarantee for FIP.
For this reason, we require all ChubbyBuddies cats to be kept indoors to ensure their continued health and safety. Allowing your cat to roam freely outdoors exposes it to a host of potential diseases and will void all existing health guarantees.
Can I see a sample contract?
Of course! You will be shown a copy of the contract when visiting us.
What age do you sell your kittens?
Kittens are made available for booking after receiving the appropriate vaccinations. Your new kitten can go home with you between 15-16 weeks once it has recovered from its desexing surgery.
What is your cat return policy?
If for any reason you no longer wish to own or maintain a ChubbyBuddy, we have the first option to take the cat back into ownership accompanied by appropriate registration papers without monetary exchange and without judicial intervention. We may also assist you to find a new home for the cat. This is to ensure that no ChubbyBuddy ends up in a shelter or rescue situation.
What is a pet kitten/cat?
Sold as a pet means your kitten will be sold without breeding capabilities and rights. All our kittens are desexed before rehoming.
What is colour pattern?
British Shorthairs come in a variety of colours! Colour pattern is what their colouring looks like.
The most famous colour variant is the “British Blue”, a solid blue-grey with gold or copper eyes. All kittens from our cattery are blue. It is easy to see why this is such a popular colour. With its wonderful muted grey tones, the British Blue is an instantly recognisable beauty. All blue cats are actually genetically black cats with an additional dilution gene, which reduces the amount of pigment in the fur, creating the blue-grey appearance.
Will a ChubbyBuddy get along with my existing pets?
It depends. Any new kitten will be able to adjust to the conditions and other creatures in the new environment providing you introduce them properly and the existing animals are tolerant of others. Temperament is an important factor in deciding on a new pet, and this should be a deciding factor on which kitten you actually buy. The age, sex and temperament of your existing pet is even more important.
Our kittens are calm, good-tempered, easygoing cats that are excellent and well-balanced companions. They are lively, playful and very affectionate, but not to the point of being bothersome. They are expected to adapt to any household and are particularly good with children and other pets.
How much does it actually cost to raise a cat?
We estimate the annual cost of raising a ChubbyBuddy to be around S$2,200-S$2,500, assuming a good quality diet, regular vet check-ups and up-to-date flea and tick prevention.
This figure does not include exigencies such as medical emergencies, or the cost of diet supplements.
Does my ChubbyBuddy need to have a special diet?
Cats are obligate carnivores which means it is an absolute biological necessity that they eat meat in order to grow strong and healthy. They have a high requirement for taurine, which is found almost exclusively in animal flesh. British Shorthairs in particular are very muscular cats and their food must be high in protein and very moderate when it comes to fat.
All our ChubbyBuddies are fed on a wide variety of good and diet supplements. To the greatest extent permitted by your budget, their food should be as low in carbohydrates as possible and it is also recommended to avoid potato or grain-based meals altogether.
How big do British Shorthairs get?
At maturity, a typical British Shorthair male will be about 6-8kg, with females being slightly smaller.
This does vary at times — some families run smaller, some larger, but bearing in mind this is also a slow maturing breed and both sexes will continue to fill out and thicken up until about 4 years of age.
British Shorthairs can be prone to weight gain. To ensure that their weight comes from muscle rather than fat, they must be fed a high quality diet and should be encouraged to exercise.
How often does my cat need to be bathed / groomed?
Your cat should be brushed at least once a week while baths are more climate-specific. If your cat is living in Singapore, a monthly bath really helps with the degreasing and keeping its coat crisp and luxurious!
Do males or females make better pets?
Choosing between a male and female is not an easy task as both make wonderful companions. Differences in personality, however, are mostly attributable to the fact that each cat (whether male or female) has its own unique set of characteristics, rather than males vs. females differences. Some are more happy-go-lucky, and are less picky about who they receive attention from, while others are very loyal to a smaller number of people and are a bit more serious.
Each ChubbyBuddy, whether male or female, has its own distinct personality. We have had an equal number of loving male and female cats and early socialisation probably plays a greater role than gender does. We would recommend that you spend some time with the ChubbyBuddy you are interested in and find out if you have any rapport with its personality.
If you are looking for a particular characteristic, feel free to let us know and we’ll let you know when a kitten matching your requirement becomes available.
How active are British Shorthairs?
British Shorthairs have an expected kitten activity level up until they are about a year old. They start to slow down after a year. By the age of 4-6 years, they become very sedentary, which makes it easy for them to put on excess weight.
For this reason, we recommend that all ChubbyBuddies be fed a balanced diet without extra carbohydrates and for their guardians to encourage playtime so that they will get important exercise that allows them to age gracefully.
Do I have to mesh my windows and secure my doors?
We require that you keep your cat strictly indoors and not allow it to roam freely outdoors except in a completely enclosed run. Roaming pets are the biggest source of complaints and neighbourly disputes in high-rise flats.
Although as a breed the British Shorthair does not like its feet off the ground too much, they are known to be extremely klutzy and it only takes a moment of distraction for a cat to fall out of a window. While the saying that “a cat has nine lives” has been playfully revered for centuries, being deemed invincible is not always a positive for the feline species!
Do British Shorthairs like to sit on your lap or be hugged and carried like a baby?
From our experience, it really depends. Some of this may be a breed personality, some may be that with their dense coat — we imagine they get over-heated sitting on us warm humans in this crazy tropical climate!
What we know for sure is that British Shorthairs will like to be around you and by you. They will follow you, watch you and basically be the boss of you.
Do British Shorthairs meow a lot?
Although British Shorthairs are known to be independent and are not usually very vocal, they may use their voice to communicate with their owners when they feel it is necessary or appropriate. However, they will not hesitate to reward you with their famous train-engine purr when they are feeling content!
Will the cat destroy my furniture / the house?
Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats: cats scratch to remove the dead outer layer of their claws, to mark their territory by leaving both a visual mark and a scent, and to stretch their bodies and flex their feet and claws. Whether your furniture or house will be damaged depends on a variety of factors, such as the extent to which these have been cat-proofed, or your ability to re-direct your cat’s desire to scratch onto an appropriate object.
If you’re starting with a ChubbyBuddy, consider yourself fortunate! It is much easier to initiate good habits than to correct undesirable ones, and there are many resources available to guide you along.
Since British Shorthairs are so big and sturdy, this must mean they are safe outside?
No. There is no domestic cat big enough that can fight off a clowder of community cats, automobiles or a disease like feline leukaemia. Keeping your ChubbyBuddy indoors will also limit its exposure to fleas and intestinal parasites.
If you would like to bring your cat out, do make sure that it is up-to-date on its vaccination and purchase a suitable leash and harness to prevent it from escaping. Your ChubbyBuddy is dangerously cute and someone else might pick it up and not return it.
I may have allergies. Is there such a thing as a hypoallergenic cat?
No! There are no hypoallergenic cat breeds. All cats produce some amount of dander (although some less than the others), so you won’t find a dander or allergy-free cat.
The primary cause of allergic reactions to cats is caused by allergens found int the cat sebaceous glands in the cat’s skin, such as the allergenic glycoprotein called Fel D1, and also secreted via saliva in lesser quantities. When cats lick themselves, they spread this protein, which is rather sticky, and glues itself onto dust particles, the home, your clothing and their fur (whether it is long, short, straight, curly or “absent” fur). As all cats have sebaceous glands, all cat breeds can potentially cause allergies. Allergens are also found in the faeces, serum, urine, mucous, dander and hair roots of the cat.
Why are we telling you this? The reason is simple – we do not want our poor kitten to be re-homed for this reason. Don't let your new family member become another statistic at a shelter. We try our best to prevent this by inviting all potential owners to visit us where you have a chance to interact with our resident cats. Please never put our cats in a shelter – we will always take our babies back.
Do you have Munchkins?
No, we don’t. There is simply no ethical way to specifically breed for genetic mutations, and we cannot condone breeding such cats only because they are “cute”, when pain and suffering will afflict a substantial proportion of these cats for much of their life.
Advocates for such breeds say that combining these breeds with an American or British Shorthair leads to less congenital health problems, but this is simply not the case. The rate at which they get the disease and the severity of the disease can be different but they will all to some degree have an incurable, painful and lifelong disease. We will never intentionally breed cats that can have these problems.