← All posts 
How to Choose a Reputable Persian Breeder: A Checklist
The single biggest factor in how healthy and happy your Persian will be isn’t the color — it’s the breeder you choose. Use this checklist before you put down a deposit.
Green flags: signs of a reputable breeder
- Health tests the parents. Both parents DNA-tested for PKD and HCM, with documentation you can actually see.
- Registered with CFA and/or TICA. Ask for the cattery number and verify it.
- Raises kittens in the home, socialized with people, children, and other pets.
- Asks you questions. Good breeders screen homes — they don’t sell to the first person with cash.
- Spays/neuters and vaccinates before the kitten goes home (12–14 weeks).
- Provides a written contract and a health guarantee.
- Stays available for questions long after pickup.
Red flags: walk away if you see these
- No health testing, or “vet checked” used as a substitute for DNA testing.
- Will ship a kitten as cargo sight-unseen with no video call.
- Pushes a deposit before any conversation about your home.
- Always has every color available right now (a sign of volume breeding).
- Advertises “teacup” or “miniature” Persians (here’s why that’s a warning sign).
- Prices that seem too good to be true (what kittens really cost).
Questions to ask before you commit
- Can I see the PKD and HCM test results for both parents?
- Is the kitten CFA/TICA registered?
- What’s included — vaccines, spay/neuter, health certificate, registration papers?
- What does your health guarantee cover?
- How do you decide which kitten goes to which family?
How we measure up
At Royal Persian Cats, every breeding cat is DNA-tested for PKD and HCM, kittens are CFA registered and home-raised, and an IAABC-certified behaviorist matches each one to your household. See our credentials and health guarantees.