Our Basic Terms & Conditions

Busykitty places only a very small number of kittens and retired young adults each year.  As each cat is unique, each of them may come with their own additional requirements, but the following are absolute rules for all cats placed by Busykitty:

We reserve the right to refuse to place cats with anyone, for any reason.  In a nutshell, we do not make money on cats, we place very few, and there are a lot of people who want cats. Our cats are members of our family, loved and cherished from the day they arrive.  For more information on purchasing a pedigreed cat, please see the article "Why buy a pedigreed cat?" on The Devon Rex Home Page.

Health Guarantee

Unless otherwise noted, the following is Busykitty's basic health guarantee, along with some related information.

To the best of our knowledge, you are receiving a healthy cat or kitten, free of internal and external parasites,   infectious disease or life-threatening congenital defects, and up-to-date on required vaccinations.

To validate this Guarantee, you must have your own veterinarian inspect the cat within three (3) working days of purchase and if any illness is found, you must contact Busykitty immediately, and may at your option, either 1) return the cat to Busykitty for full refund; or 2) return the cat  to Busykitty for a replacement cat or kitten if available; or 3) take cat to Busykitty's choice of veterinarian for a second opinion, in which case Busykitty will pay all reasonable costs up to the purchase price if authorized by Busykitty in advance of such treatment.

During this three day period,if a veterinarian other than Busykitty's choice institutes any treatment or administers any further vaccinations, this guarantee is null and void.

Frequently Asked Questions

Health Care

What vaccinations has my cat had?

Your cat or kitten will come to you current on vaccinations for Feline Rhinotrachiitis, Panleukopenia, and Calici virus.  Since Texas is a Rabies Epizootic state, all of our adults are vaccinated for Rabies, as required by law.  Your cat may also be vaccinated against Chlamydia (a common upper respiratory infection) and Bordatella (an upper respiratory infection typically seen in dogs, but which occasionally makes the rounds at cat shows). 

What about other vaccinations?

Your vet may recommend that you pursue several other vaccinations.  WE STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST THIS!

Recently, the American Association of Feline Practitioners has revised their vaccination guidelines to remove the following vaccinations from their "core" vaccination recommendations:

We strongly believe that the use of these vaccinations is not only unnecessary, but can risk the health of not only the cat vaccinated, along with that of other cats in the household with them.  Avoid tragedies, and do not allow your cat to be vaccinated with these vaccines!  If your current veterinarian insists, then please suggest that they become more up-to-date on current specialty practices, or search for another vet.

The use of these vaccines will immediately render our health guarantee null and void.

How often should my cat be vaccinated?

For basic vaccinations, the AAFP suggests that every 3 years is often enough.  You may be required by law to have Rabies vaccinations more often then this, and your vet may prefer to give basic vaccinations annually.  Remember that each unnecessary vaccination increases the chances of a vaccination site sarcoma (a type of cancer, typically fatal, that can arise on vaccination sites in cats), and use your best judgement.

Should my new cat be re-vaccinated?

If you have purchased a kitten, you will receive a vaccination log which indicates when all of the basic vaccinations have been performed.  THERE IS NO NEED TO RE-DO THESE VACCINATIONS FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR.  You may need to have a Rabies vaccination.  Unnecessary re-vaccination is NOT safe (see above on Vaccine-site sarcomas) in general, and in the case of a kitten, with a still immature immune system, can often stress them into breaking with a disease.

In the case of an adult, you will receive a vaccination log indicating when re-vaccination is appropriate.  There is no need to vaccinate before this time.

What about worming?

Your new cat will be tapeworm and roundworm free, and your initial visit to your veterinarian should confirm this.  Over time, your cat may acquire infestations of these; follow your veterinarian's advice for treatment.

What about fleas?

Your new pet will be flea-free.  Since Texas, like many other warm climates has seasonal problems with fleas, even your indoor cat may occasionally find a flea.  We suggest you see your vet and look into a topical once-a-month flea product such as Advantage or Top Spot.  It is important to see your vet if you find fleas, as fleas carry tapeworms.

What do I feed my cat?

Your new cat will be ready to eat a diet of dry adult premium cat food, supplemented with occasional treats of canned food.  We recommend IAMS, Eukanuba, and Nutro.   We do not feed Science Diet, but many do.  We strongly recommend a premium food, however -- it's higher protein content means they eat less and leave less litterbox mess for the same price, and have a more nutritionally complete diet.  We advise against a diet of only canned food.  Do not ever feed your cat dog food (no matter how much they want it!) -- it is deficient in several necessary dietary elements for cats, and a prolonged diet can often lead to illness or death.

Litter and Litter Boxes

Your cat is used to using a clumping litter in a hooded box, which should result in the best odor control and least mess for you.  Be sure you keep the box sanitary!   Place several litterboxes strategically around the house, to minimize the possibility of accidents.

Cat Accessories and Furniture and Clawing

Your new cat has been trained to confine his or her clawing to cat furniture and scratchers.  Keep these around where they can be used as necessary, and your furniture should remain intact (ours has!).  Clip your cats claws every few weeks (your cat is used to it, no matter what he might tell you!)

Grooming

Along with their enormous "airscoop" ears, Devons typically produce a lot of wax in their ears.  This means Devons need their ears cleaned frequently, lest vegetables begin growing in the debris!  Clean the accessible surface of the ears with a cottonball moistened in saline (contact lens saline is fine), and clean the ear canal with a clean, dry cotton swab.  Cats have "L" shaped ear canals, so you cannot injure your cat by going "too deep" (but still be gentle).

Cats with white or light-colored faces will need their eyes cleaned regularly.  If this is not done, occasional tearing will stain their coat.  Use a cottonball moistened in saline for this.

A regular (monthly, or bimonthly) bath will keep your Devon's coat clean, and minimize shedding (yes, Devons shed, but only in little bitty pieces).  Use of an anti-allergy shampoo (such as Allerpet) will minimize allergy problems if anyone in your family has pet dander allergies.