So, a few of you have been pinging me, asking how I managed to find a good Siamese cattery right here in Indiana. Almost like I stumbled upon some hidden treasure map. Well, it wasn’t quite like that, but it sure felt like an expedition at times!
Honestly, finding a truly good breeder, for any kind of cat, not just Siamese, and not just in Indiana, can be a bit of a minefield. It’s not as simple as a quick online search and then picking up a cute furball the next day. If only it were that easy, right? I learned that the hard way.
My deep dive into the world of Indiana Siamese catteries? Yeah, that wasn’t exactly something I had on my bingo card. Life throws you curveballs, you know? I ended up in Indiana a few years back, not really by choice, more like by… well, let’s just say my previous gig in the big city went up in smoke. One minute I was riding high, thinking I was some indispensable marketing guru, and the next, bam, the whole department was “restructured.” That’s a fancy word for “you’re out.” So, I had to pack up my life and landed in a small town here, feeling pretty down in the dumps, staying with family until I figured things out.
It was a rough patch. Really rough. I was at loose ends, feeling a bit lost. My aunt, bless her cotton socks, kept saying, “You need a companion, something to focus on.” I’d always adored Siamese cats – their chatty nature, those striking blue eyes. So, I thought, why not? It’ll give me something to do. And boy, did it ever.
Because I had way too much time on my hands, and frankly, because I needed a project to stop myself from moping 24/7, I went all-in on this cattery search. It became my mission. My obsession, almost. My aunt probably thought I’d lost it, with all my notes and incessant muttering about “breeder ethics.”
So, What Was My Grand Strategy?
It wasn’t rocket science, but it did take a ton of legwork. Here’s basically what I did:
- I became an internet detective. Seriously. I spent hours, days, maybe even weeks, glued to my laptop. I searched everything I could think of: “Siamese kittens Indiana,” “reputable Siamese breeders Indiana,” “Siamese cat clubs Indiana.” I made a massive list of any cattery name that popped up.
- Then, the real digging started. Just having a name wasn’t enough. I scrutinized websites. Did they look professional, or like something thrown together in five minutes? Were they registered with any major cat associations, like the CFA or TICA? That was a biggie for me. If they weren’t, I got a bit suspicious.
- I developed a hawk-eye for red flags. Oh yeah, I had a whole mental checklist. No physical address listed? Big nope. Only wanted to communicate via some weird app or only text? Seemed fishy. If they pushed for a deposit before I’d even had a proper conversation or asked any questions about me, I was out. Any place that looked like they were just churning out kittens constantly, with no real care for the moms or the breed standard, got a hard pass.
- I actually picked up the phone and talked to people. I know, old school, right? I called local vet clinics and asked if they had any recommendations for Siamese breeders. Sometimes they have good insights. I also poked around some online cat enthusiast groups, but you gotta be careful there – lots of opinions, not all of them reliable.
- Patience became my superpower. Good, ethical breeders often have waiting lists. It’s a good sign, usually. If someone had kittens available immediately, all the time, it made me wonder why. Quality over quantity, always.
It felt like I was applying for a top-secret clearance sometimes, the amount of vetting I was doing. I had spreadsheets, I tell you! With notes, contact dates, pros and cons. My aunt just shook her head but let me get on with it.
After what felt like an eternity, I narrowed it down to a couple of places that seemed genuinely dedicated to their cats. I sent them long emails, asking about health testing for the parents, how the kittens were socialized, if I could see where the cats lived (even if just virtually at first, given the distance for some). The really good ones were super transparent, happy to answer all my crazy questions, and you could just feel their passion for the breed. One cattery, a bit of a drive from where I was, really clicked. They were so open, shared everything, and their cats were clearly part of their family.
And that’s how I eventually found my little troublemaker, Jasper. It was a journey, for sure, and there were moments I wanted to give up, especially when I was already feeling low about everything else. But finding a breeder who genuinely cares, who raises healthy, happy, well-socialized kittens? Absolutely worth all the effort. So, if you’re in Indiana and on the hunt for a Siamese, just know it takes time and a bit of grit. Do your homework, trust your instincts, and you’ll find your perfect pointy-eared pal.
