FAQ — Inara’s Prettiest Persians & British Kittens | Eureka, CA

✦   Real Questions. Real Answers.   ✦

The FAQ Nobody
Else Will Write

The stuff people wonder at 2am. The things other breeders are too scared to say out loud. The truth about Persians, British kittens, spay/neuter, breathing, tearing, and everything in between — from someone who has seen it all.

✦   Round 1

Pricing, Deposits & How This Works

How much do your kittens cost? +
Persian Kitten (pet home)$3,500
British Kitten (pet home)$2,500
Breeding Rights Cat$6,000
Breeder-quality, sold spayed/neutered$4,500
Retired Breeder — under 3 years old$1,000
Retired Breeder — over 3 years old$500

All pet kittens are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, FELV/FIV tested, and come with 30 days of complimentary TruCompanion pet insurance and a lifetime health guarantee. We do not sell to brokers. We would rather place a kitten with a devoted pet home at a lower price than sell to a breeder who won’t worship them.

How does the waitlist and deposit work? +

A $500 deposit secures first pick of the litter. You must choose your kitten by the time the litter reaches 4 weeks old — this is when personalities begin to emerge and LynnC can make the best match for your family and lifestyle.

If you can’t decide by 4 weeks, you have two options: wait for the next litter, or receive a full refund. No hard feelings — we want the right match, not a rushed one.

Once you’ve chosen your kitten, the deposit is non-refundable — unless something happens to your specific kitten before they go home, in which case you receive a full refund immediately. We take reservations because the alternative is chaos — and more importantly, because LynnC personally matches every kitten to their family. If you change your mind after choosing, she has to start the entire matching process over. That time, care, and effort matters.

When do kittens go home? +

Spayed and neutered kittens go home after surgery and full recovery. Our veterinarian requires kittens to be at least 12 weeks old AND weigh a minimum of 3 lbs before surgery — so timing varies by kitten.

  • Boys typically recover in 3–5 days
  • Girls typically recover in 5–10 days
  • Some kittens are ready to go home a little earlier — every kitten is individual

If you are purchasing an intact breeding cat, contact LynnC directly — timing is discussed case by case. Every kitten is an individual and we treat them that way.

What payment methods do you accept? Do you offer payment plans? +

Yes — we offer payment plans, and we are one of the only catteries that does this directly without a broker. No middleman, no inflated prices. Work directly with LynnC.

  • Zelle
  • Venmo
  • Direct bank transfer
  • Credit card via Square
  • Scratchpay financing — up to $2,500, soft credit check, apply in minutes
  • Direct payment plans — ask LynnC

Contracts and deposits are handled through HoneyBook — sign your agreement and pay your deposit in one secure step. No printing, no scanning, no stress.

✦   Round 2

The Real Talk — What Nobody Tells You

What actually happens if I don’t spay or neuter my cat? +

Unspayed females in heat are a force of nature. They can howl and call for 2–3 weeks straight. They will often stop eating entirely because their only biological focus is finding a mate. They can squat and urinate or defecate in places they normally wouldn’t — because the hormones are completely in charge and their body is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

Intact males spray. Indiscriminately. Your furniture, your walls, and yes — you, given the opportunity. They howl through the night. They cannot peacefully coexist with other intact males. This is not misbehavior. It is courtship. It is completely normal intact cat biology.

We hear from families who waited. At eight or nine months their boy peed on the bed. They called us upset, wondering what went wrong. Nothing went wrong. He is a healthy intact male doing exactly what healthy intact males do. It is completely preventable — and far easier to prevent than reverse once the habit is set. Do you get rid of the husband because he snores? You adapt. But with this — you can prevent it entirely.

For the full breakdown of the science, read our complete Spay & Neuter page →

What is your spay/neuter timing and why? +

Our veterinarian will not perform surgery until a kitten is 12 weeks old and weighs at least 3 lbs. This is her standard, and we trust it completely. She is exceptional at pediatric anesthesia — not too little, not too much — and our recovery rates reflect that.

When LynnC handles the surgery, your kitten recovers in the home it knows, eating familiar food, with someone watching it around the clock. By the time your kitten arrives at your door, surgery is completely behind them. It is done, healed, and over — one less thing you ever have to manage.

If you prefer to arrange surgery yourself, please don’t wait past five months. Kittens can reach sexual maturity as early as four months.

Can I change my kitten’s food when they arrive home? +

Please don’t. Not for at least three months.

Think about what your kitten has just been through: vaccines that temporarily lower their immune system, a major surgery, a completely new home, new smells, no littermates, no mom. Their immune system is working overtime just to adjust.

Suddenly changing their food on top of all of that is a recipe for vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially permanent IBD — Inflammatory Bowel Disease — that can follow them for life.

Important: Our lifetime health guarantee does not cover illness caused by food changes. Your pet is not a machine. It is a best friend with a heart, a soul, and an immune system. Give it three months before you introduce anything new — then start slow with treats.

We will tell you exactly what to feed. Follow that for the first three months and your kitten will thrive.

✦   Round 3

The 2am Questions — New Home Reality

My kitten is hiding and won’t come out. Is something wrong? +

This is completely normal — and it won’t last. Your kitten just lost its littermates, its mother, its familiar smells, and everything it has ever known. Give it grace.

Start with a small space — a playpen, a bathroom, or a single room. As they get more confident over the next few days, gradually expand their world. Don’t force it. Let them lead.

  • Entice them out with wet food or a toy — never force
  • Sit on the floor near them so you’re at their level
  • YouTube has incredible “cat TV” channels — our families rave about them
  • Keep the space consistent for a few days before introducing new rooms

Most kittens are completely themselves within 3 days to 3 weeks. Patience now pays off in a lifetime of confidence.

My kitten isn’t eating. Should I panic? +

Don’t panic — but do watch. Most kittens eat within 24 hours of arriving home, especially wet food. The smell and richness of wet food is hard to resist even for a stressed kitten.

  • Offer wet food first — it’s the most enticing
  • Raw food is also a wonderful option as a healthy treat or meal
  • Leave dry food out 24 hours a day so they can nibble when they feel safe
  • Warm the wet food slightly — the smell becomes even more inviting

If your kitten hasn’t eaten anything in 48 hours, call your vet. Better to check and be reassured than to wait and wonder.

My kitten is sneezing. Normal or not? +

Light sneezing in a newly arrived kitten is almost always normal. Stress triggers sneezing. Your kitten has recently been vaccinated, possibly spayed or neutered, and moved into a completely new climate and environment.

Our Eureka climate is cool, damp, and relatively pollen-free year round. If your kitten moved to Southern California, Arizona, or anywhere warm and dry — their sinuses will notice. Give them a week to adjust.

Remember: your kitten arrives with 30 days of complimentary TruCompanion pet insurance. If sneezing continues or worsens, use it — that’s exactly what it’s there for.

My kitten sounds congested. Is that serious? +

Yes — congestion is different from sneezing and should be taken seriously. Take your kitten to the vet and use your 30-day complimentary TruCompanion insurance.

Congestion usually indicates an upper respiratory infection — caused by a common cold, stress, or occasionally something more serious. Your vet will know within minutes.

Note: Kittens occasionally sound slightly congested immediately after anesthesia — this is a normal short-term reaction. Since LynnC monitors all post-surgical kittens personally, this should never be something you experience at home.

My kitten is acting weird. Did I get a defective kitten? +

Almost certainly not. A kitten making the transition from breeder to forever home is in a state of gentle shock. It has lost its siblings, its parents, and all familiar reference points. It is looking for new identities to belong to — and that identity is you.

This is actually one of the most beautiful bonding opportunities you will ever have with your cat. Play with them constantly. Pick them up. Comb them. Get on the floor and be with them. The more intentionally you show up in those first weeks, the deeper the bond you will build for the next 15–20 years.

If something feels genuinely wrong — not just “different” but truly concerning — call LynnC first, then your vet. We are always here, and your vet is always the right call when you’re unsure. It is always better to overcall than to wait.

My kitten threw up. Emergency or not? +

Kittens throw up. One episode is almost never an emergency. The causes are many and mostly benign:

  • Stress from the new home
  • Eating too fast
  • An unfamiliar food introduced too soon
  • Eating a plant, a piece of a toy, or something they shouldn’t have
  • A hairball — especially in Persians

Watch for pattern. One vomit — note it and observe. Repeated vomiting, lethargy, or vomiting combined with not eating — call your vet. You know your kitten. Trust your instincts, and when in doubt, pick up the phone.

My kitten’s eyes look goopy. What do I do? +

Pick up Genteal eye lubricant — available over the counter at Walgreens, CVS, or any pharmacy. Find it in the eye care aisle next to the eye drops. It is a gentle eye lubricant that has done wonders for kittens with minor eye irritation.

A small amount applied gently to the eye area can provide significant relief for general goopiness and irritation.

If the discharge is green — that is an eye infection and requires antibiotic drops from your veterinarian. Green discharge does not resolve on its own. Call your vet.

When do I actually call the vet vs. just wait it out? +

When in doubt — call. Vets are used to first-time pet owners calling with questions that turn out to be nothing. They would rather you call. So would we.

  • Call the vet: congestion, green eye discharge, not eating for 48+ hours, repeated vomiting, lethargy, labored breathing
  • Watch and wait: single sneeze, one vomit, hiding for first 1–3 days, light eye boogers
  • Call LynnC first: anything you’re unsure about — if she doesn’t answer, go straight to your vet

Finding a veterinarian you trust before your kitten arrives is one of the best things you can do. Look into low-cost clinics — many offer discounted vaccines, spay/neuter, and dental cleanings for established clients. Get on their list early.

✦   Round 4

The Myth Busters — Persian & British Truth

Do Persians have breathing problems? +

This is one of the most legitimate questions anyone can ask — and it deserves a real answer.

The CFA breed standard for Persians is built around the structure of the face, head, and sinuses. The more extreme the face for show purposes, the more prone a cat can be to breathing differences. Early in LynnC’s breeding career, some of her cats would snort — honestly, she found it kind of adorable, like a Frenchie or a pug. But she wanted to do better.

Over 11 years she specifically studied and selected bloodlines that maintained beautiful Persian structure without the snoring and mouth breathing. In over a decade of breeding, not a single client has ever had a cat require nasal surgery.

That said — some cats snore. Just like some humans do. Does your husband snore? Did a past partner? Do you? Think of your cat as a small person with a whole lot of fur. As a breeder, LynnC can do everything in her power to minimize it — and she has. But she won’t promise it can never happen, because that wouldn’t be honest.

In general: her cats do not have breathing problems. She breeds for health over show extreme, and the results speak for themselves.

Do Persians tear stain badly? +

LynnC’s cats get eye boogers. They do not tear stain.

Tearing was a significant issue in her early show years — a constant frustration at the show table. She made a personal decision: she simply wouldn’t breed cats that produced heavy tearing. After 11 years of intentional selection, she has largely bred it out of her lines.

Tearing is primarily genetic — just like allergies in humans often run in families. But it can also be triggered by:

  • A cold or upper respiratory infection
  • Stress — especially in a new home
  • Food sensitivities
  • Environmental irritants — air fresheners, plug-ins, perfumes, candles
  • Seasonal allergens and climate changes

If your Persian develops tearing, start by looking at the environment first. Eliminate plug-ins and heavy fragrances near where they sleep. If it persists, consult your vet.

Do Persians bite? +

Every animal is capable of biting in self-defense — that’s just biology. But in general, our kittens do not bite. They are picked up, handled, loved, and socialized every single day from birth. They know that biting is not the way things work here.

The one exception: teething. Like human babies, kittens go through a teething phase where they want to chew on everything constantly to relieve the discomfort. This is normal, temporary, and completely different from aggressive biting. Keep chew toys available and redirect gently.

Are Persians and British kittens good with dogs? +

Absolutely. LynnC has a 12-pound Poodle who interacts with every cat in the cattery. All of her Persians and British kittens grow up knowing dogs as a normal part of life.

That said — every situation is different. If you have an existing dog, introduce slowly. Keep your kitten in a confined space for the first few days and let them get used to each other’s scent before any face-to-face introduction. Reward both animals with wet food during introductions to create a positive association.

Are they good with children? +

Yes — both breeds are wonderful with children, in different ways.

Persians have a calm, gentle personality that pairs beautifully with children. They are the couch potatoes of the cat world — affectionate, patient, and easygoing. They tend to match the energy of their home rather than create chaos in it.

British cats have more energy and are wonderfully outgoing. They are the class clowns — playful, curious, and endlessly entertaining. A British kitten and an active child are a natural match.

Are they good with other cats? +

All of LynnC’s cats live together and are wonderful with both older and younger cats. But the introduction matters enormously.

If you have a resident cat, go slowly. Confine your new kitten to one room for several days. Let them get used to each other’s scent under the door. Use a pet tent or baby gate for first visual contact. Feed both cats wet food at the same time on opposite sides of the barrier — food releases endorphins, and repeated positive associations during introductions work powerfully over time.

Patience during introductions is the single biggest predictor of long-term harmony.

Are Persians really high maintenance? +

Yes — honestly, yes. Persians are one of the highest-maintenance coat breeds in the cat world and LynnC will never pretend otherwise. That gorgeous coat requires regular grooming, detangling, and attention.

British cats are significantly easier — their coats are shorter and denser, requiring far less maintenance — though every cat is an individual.

Options our clients love:

  • Regular at-home brushing with a good slicker brush
  • Professional groomer visits — many clients use a mobile groomer
  • The Lion Cut — a popular choice that dramatically reduces maintenance while keeping your Persian comfortable and adorable
  • LynnC’s Everyday Groomer channel on YouTube — free grooming tutorials for exactly this

About bathing: roughly half of LynnC’s clients bathe their cats regularly and half don’t. There’s no single right answer. LynnC personally baths her cats every couple of months because she loves making them fluffy. Do what works for you and your cat.

Can they go outside? +

No. Persians and British cats are indoor-only cats — always.

These breeds have virtually no self-preservation instinct when it comes to the outdoors. They are trusting, curious, and completely unequipped for the realities of the outside world.

  • Predators — coyotes, birds of prey, dogs, and other cats
  • Theft — yes, this happens with beautiful purebred cats
  • Exposure to disease, parasites, and toxins
  • Getting lost — they do not have strong homing instincts

Keep them inside. Give them window perches, cat trees, toys, and enrichment. A happy indoor Persian or British cat lives a long, safe, deeply loved life. That is exactly what they deserve.

I control the neuter. You control the bowl. And I will tell you exactly what to put in it.

— LynnC Caisse  ·  Inara’s Prettiest Persians & British Kittens

Still have a question that isn’t here? Contact LynnC directly →
No bots, no automated replies. Just a real person who has heard every question and loves answering them.

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