Breeding Ragdolls & Raising Good Clients

Having been a Ragdoll breeder for the past 6 years, and a Lhasa Apso breeder for ten years previous, the all important features of raising well socialized healthy kittens walks hand in hand with raising good clients.  Full pun intended of course.  I have built my business and reputation not only on breeding well socialized lap kittens, but in being fully accessible to clients. 
I would say that I average approximately 70 -90 emails a day for my cattery alone.  I begin in the morning on the Internet, joined by my coffee and answer letters from all over the world.  Not only those that may be interested in a kitten or retired breeder, but generalized questions from other breeders and those that are just curious.  Making time to answer all the mail, has me starting my day at 5:30 am and then back to the computer after ten pm or so.

First, I do not allow visitations to my cattery to pick out a kitten, they never make it past 3 weeks old before being reserved anyway.  I explain this to those inquiring, as I do not subject my newborns or pregnant queens to possible infections.  I handle my kittens from birth, but am the only one to do so.  After numerous requests, I finally put an announcement of such on my website.  I am not a pet store, nor a kennel, I am a home based, purebred breeder.  I  I run another  corporation, have obligations and a social life.  I do not open my doors at all hours for drop ins, "just looks" etc... But, the foremost reason, is protection for the health of my ragdolls. 

That being said, most who are interested in purchasing a Ragdoll from me fully understand my reasoning.  On the other hand, I have to be accessible to questions, letters, calls, and be prompt in responses, not matter how minute or trivial they may seem.  One of the things that I pride myself on, is the fact that customers appreciate that I have taken the time to do so.  Letters may be something as simple as what type of litter to use, or how to train a kitten.  But, more often then not, it is just a simple request for photos of their reserved kitten, Easier said then done, when one may have 20+ kittens on the ground, time to download photos, edit and send each out individually,  an update as to their well being, their personality and recommendations for toys, beds, food etc...

Then of course, their is updating my website, which I do weekly, sometimes daily, especially during "kitten" season.  Why? People respond to me that they love to see their new babies on the website, they show family, coworkers, and friends, anywhere a computer is accessible.  In  return for my constant updating, and correspondence,  I have received tons of photos in return, via email and snail mail of their kittens all grown up.  I started my "look at me now" page just for this purpose.  Those that didn't have a scanner or digital were mailed back their photos and also sent an edited downloaded photo for their computer, so they may share it with others.

When scheduling a pick up time, I give my clients at least an hour or two between appointments.  Yes, I have had entire families here to pick up the kitten including aunts, uncles and cousins. Children will run through my home, little girls have had temper tantrums on my living room floor, and I can generally count on the fact that client will be an hour early or two hours late, it is almost a given. I have driven an hour away to drop off a kitten to those that couldn't make it to my home, met other buyers half way off the highway as the drive may be too long in it's entirety, and given away numerous cat carriers, for those that forgot to bring theirs.

I make sure that I reiterate all the instructions, and speak to the children as well as the adults, as I have found that the word coming form the breeder sometimes takes a little precedence over what mommy has to say, that and the parents will use "remember what Kimberly said now", and find that it helps.

I have had literally hundreds of letters over the years from people who thanked me for responding, even when I have not had kittens for sale, sent them off to other breeders who I knew had available kittens, or just took the time to follow up with them after their purchase, even if it was not from my cattery.

One letter sticks in my mind as a man had written two days before Christmas that he wanted a kitten for his new wife.  Obviously all holiday kittens are reserved well in advance, but the populous doesn't understand that.  I found him a kitten 5 states away, and he made the drive.  Not only did the breeder get a letter, but the day after Christmas I received a beautiful note of thanks stating that his wife was thrilled and he was grateful I took the time to find a kitten for him, where as others just had pushed him off with short notes stating they were sold out, if bothering to responded at all.