Arctic Cattery Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Arctic Cattery located?
Arctic Cattery is located in Brooklyn, New York. We specialize in British Shorthair and occasionally British Longhair Kittens, and we welcome families both in New York and in other states across the U.S.
You’re always welcome to pick up your kitten in person, and we also offer delivery by car or by plane. We normally handle transportation ourselves whenever possible. For families within a reasonable driving distance, we may be able to deliver the kitten directly to your home or arrange to meet halfway. For longer distances, we usually fly with our kittens in the cabin and meet you at your local airport. In the rare case that our schedule does not allow us to travel, we may recommend a professional pet nanny who can accompany the kitten in the cabin during the flight.
How do I receive my kitten if I live outside New York?
We mainly specialize in golden British Shorthairs, including black golden shaded, golden point, blue golden shaded, and lilac golden shaded. We may also occasionally have other colors or patterns, such as golden tabby, depending on the pairing. We also have British Longhair kittens in these colors from select pairings, depending on the genetics of each litter.
What colors and coat types do you breed?
Our breeding cats receive a comprehensive genetic panel covering 50+ inherited conditions, including Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). They are also tested for FIV/FeLV, receive regular HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) echocardiogram screening and routine veterinary checkups, and undergo periodic stool PCR testing when appropriate. We provide relevant health information and records to our kitten families.
What health testing do your breeding cats receive?
Our kittens receive age-appropriate veterinary care before going home, including a veterinary examination, up-to-date FVRCP vaccinations based on age, deworming, and stool PCR testing. Each kitten also receives an individual genetic health test. Additional testing may also be performed when appropriate.
What veterinary care do kittens receive before going home?
Yes. Before going home, each kitten receives a veterinary examination and is confirmed to be in good health. We provide a health guarantee for serious genetic conditions until 18 months of age, a 15-day guarantee for Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV) from the date of transfer, and a 30-day guarantee for Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) from the date of transfer. Full terms and conditions are outlined in our adoption contract.
Do your kittens come with a health guarantee?
Are your kittens registered?
Yes. Arctic Cattery is a TICA-registered cattery, and our kittens are registered with TICA as well.
Yes! Both in-person visits and video calls/FaceTime are available by appointment only. We usually arrange visits when the kittens are ready for selection, so families can meet them before making their final decision.
For the health and safety of our cats and kittens, we don’t offer general cattery tours. Visits are held in a designated area of our home, and nursing moms and newborn kittens are not available for in-person visits. We’re always happy to share pictures, videos, or arrange a FaceTime call instead!
Do You Offer In-Person Visits or Video Calls?Do British Shorthair and British Longhair kittens get along well with other pets?Yes! British Shorthairs generally get along very well with other cats and cat-friendly dogs when properly introduced. Many of our kittens go to homes with existing pets and become great companions. We recommend keeping your new kitten in a separate space at first and allowing the pets to gradually become familiar with each other’s scent by exchanging toys, blankets, or bedding. Once they are comfortable with each other’s scent, supervised introductions can begin gradually. With a little patience and a proper introduction, they usually adjust very well and can become wonderful companions.
What is the temperament of British Shorthairs and Longhairs, and how do you socialize your kittens?British Shorthairs and British Longhairs are known for their sweet, calm, gentle, and affectionate personalities. They are very easygoing and often form very close bonds with their families. Our kittens are raised right alongside us and receive plenty of human interaction from a young age. We regularly hold, pet, cuddle, and play with them to help them become comfortable with people and everyday household life. As they grow, we continue to socialize them through daily interaction, helping them develop into confident, friendly, and well-adjusted companions.
How often do you breed your queens?The health and well-being of our queens always come first. We generally aim for one litter per year for each queen. For queens who naturally have more frequent heat cycles, we may occasionally plan up to three litters over a two-year period, depending on their health, condition, and recovery after each litter. Our queens are never bred as kittens. We wait until they are fully mature and have completed the appropriate health testing before considering their first litter. Each breeding plan is based on the individual cat, and we make sure our queens have adequate time to recover and maintain a healthy body condition between litters.
Do you ever have retired adult British Shorthairs or British Longhairs available for adoption?Yes. Some of our retired cats stay with us permanently, while occasionally, a retired cat may become available to a carefully selected home. Our retired cats are very special to us, and when we do choose to find a new home for one of them, our goal is to give them the opportunity to receive even more individual attention, love, and companionship in their retirement. Each cat has their own personality and needs, so we take the time to find the right family and home where they can be happy, loved, and well cared for.
What do you feed your British Shorthair and British Longhair cats and kittens?We feed our cats and kittens a balanced diet with a variety of high-quality wet foods along with dry food. We highly recommend incorporating wet food into their daily diet, as its higher moisture content provides additional hydration and can help support urinary and kidney health. Our kittens are introduced to a variety of wet food flavors, textures, and brands from a young age to help them become comfortable with different foods as they grow. Before each kitten goes home, we provide their family with their current diet and feeding routine, and recommend keeping their diet consistent during the first few weeks while they adjust to their new home.
Do you participate in cat shows?Many of our cats have earned Champion titles at international cat shows or come from established champion bloodlines. However, once they join our cattery, we choose not to take them to shows. Whenever we welcome a new cat, we strictly quarantine them for 2–4 weeks and complete health testing before introducing them to the rest of our cats to minimize any health risks. We know reputable cat shows take health and safety seriously, but we’re simply extra cautious when it comes to exposing our cats to unfamiliar environments and large numbers of other cats. For that reason, we prefer to keep our cats safely at home rather than continue showing them.