At Sunfox we screen our pet buyers to make sure there is a good match of kitten to new owner. When you contact us, be prepared to answer questions about your housing, family members, and past and current pet ownership, and please fill out our Inquiry Form. We require a veterinarian's reference. If you are new to pet ownership, now is a good time to start your search for a veterinarian you feel comfortable with. Also feel free to ask any questions you may have, we will do our best to answer.
If price is the most important issue for you, we suggest you look elsewhere - you can surely find a pet for less money if that is your main goal - our goal is to raise healthy, well-adjusted Somali kittens, and it's an expensive undertaking. Alternatively, just because you are willing to pay our asking price doesn't necessarily mean you will get a kitten from us - it's important that both the new owner and the kitten be happy, and that the kitten get proper health care and love and affection during its lifetime. Our pet buyers make a lifetime commitment to the health and happiness of the kitten.
Spay/Neuter
All pet kittens are spayed and neutered before delivery to the new owner. This is an advantage to you as the future owner, as I take the risk of any problems, and is good for the kitten, as he or she recovers at home in familiar surroundings. Kittens are sold at 16 weeks of age at the earliest. At this age they have had all their kitten vaccinations and have been fully socialized. Sometimes we may keep kittens longer - Somalis are notoriously slow to mature, and sometimes it takes a few extra months to determine whether a kitten will be suitable for showing.
Sometimes buyers want to get their kitten at a younger age, feeling that a younger kitten will "bond" better with the new owner. This theory may apply to puppies, but does not apply to kittens. Kittens need to be properly trained and socialized by the adult cats and humans before they are ready to go to new homes. And since we give their final kitten vaccinations at 16 weeks, the new owner doesn't have to worry about vaccinations again until the cat is a year old. For more information, see the article entitled "How Young is Too Young."
Contracts
Pet buyers sign a contract agreeing not to allow the kitten to roam outside, and not to declaw the kitten. The contract spells out the duties of both buyer and seller so that there are no questions about what was agreed to.
Health
Sunfox kittens are guaranteed negative for FELV and FIV and free of fleas and fungus. They are fully vaccinated, and require no further vaccination until they are 16 months old.
Shipping
We do not ship our cats. We live in Culver City, California, near Los Angeles International Airport. If you live in a surrounding area, such as Northern California or Arizona, it is possible we can make arrangements meet you half way to deliver a kitten. Things may work out for someone to carry the kitten on board a flight for you, at a cost roughly close to the shipping cost. Keep in mind, however, that you would not be able to see the kitten before you get it, and this may not be the best idea - the best thing is of course, to come out here and meet the cat or kitten yourself. If none of these options are workable, we suggest you look for a breeder who is closer to you.
If you think you may be interested in a cat or kitten, see our Sales Policies section below, and fill out our Inquiry Form. If you have contacted us before, please contact us frequently to let us know you if you are still interested, as we don't keep a traditional waiting list. But please don't wait long! We don't take deposits until after the kittens are born, but once we do they are usually spoken for quickly.
Thinking about an adult cat? Check out this video of Amelia, red Somali spay. Amelia was born in 2002, and this video was taken at Christmas 2008 when she was 6 years old. She was placed in the home at 4 with her daughter, Kismet, who was 3. Take a peek at this YouTube video of Amelia playing with her new bird toy.
Mankato, a 1 year old blue Somali neuter. Click on his name to see Mankato's page.
Sunshine, a 2 year old fawn Somali neuter. Sunshine also has his own page, and is looking for a show home if possible (but not necessary). He is already a grand champion, but he loves showing so much we took him out as a neuter, and he's just earned his grand premier title as well. In addition to being a really handsome boy, Sunshine has a great purrsonality and would enjoy a home where he would get lots of attention.
Jazz, a 5 year old ruddy Somali spay. Jazz has a genetic pre-disposition to a disease that causes anemia, however, she's never been anemic. Jazz gets picked on by some of the other cats, and that causes her to pee inappropriately about the house. Separated from the aggressive cats, she uses her litter box faithfully with no problem. Jazz is a very sweet, affectionate cat who loves attention and needs home with no more than 1 non-dominant cat. Jazz is in excellent health, recently had her teeth cleaned and shows no signs of anemia. Since this anemia can be brought on by stress, she needs a quiet home. Please email me for more questions about Jazz and her health issue.
To understand why breeders sometimes place adult cats, see this article.
Kittens
All material copyright Lee Dowding 2007, 2008, 2009. Photographs are also copyrighted by the photographer. All rights reserved. No material can be copied or used without express permission
Available Rescued Cats
We currently have no rescued cats available. For rescued Abys and Somalis in Southern California, go to SCAR. There is a sweet 7 year old red Somali spay available in Vancouver, WA. Inquiries to Tammy.
Click on the globe to see our Holiday card for 2008
This is Dancer, blue Somali female kitten, born in October 2008. Dancer has the prettiest face and sweetest expression. Her facial markings make a beautiful mask. She's not as brave as Vixen with people, but when I get her off by herself she shows how sweet she is. She's got a really soft coat. Dancer has a furry mouse with feathers for a tail - she loves to carry that mouse around with her and play with it. I have been showing her and she just became a grand premier! She has become quite brave. Dancy loves being brushed or getting a "kitty massage". We are hoping someone will see her at a show and fall in love with her as she's such a sweet girl.
New babies! Here is our June litter. 2 shorthairs (Abys) - 1 red boy, 1 ruddy girl. 3 Somalis - 1 ruddy girl and 1 boy, and 1 red boy. Minuet is an excellent mom, and the kittens are eating well and growing fast. We will wait and see how they grow before we decide which kittens are available to new homes in October.
UPDATE! New photos added 9/27/09. All kittens spoken for.
We also have 2 fawn kittens available, from our boy Mankato and our fawn girl Peanut, born in July 2009. Peanut didn't have any milk when the kittens were born, so we had to raise them by hand. They are small for their age, but we expect them to catch up and soon we should have some photos. Because they are hand raised and have traveled quite a bit with me, they are very well socialized and more interested in human interaction than most kittens their age.
