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 or 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 Ventura County, California. 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.
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.
To understand why breeders and exhibitors sometimes place adult cats, see this article.
We currently have 4 adult cats available.
Kittens
Available Rescued Cats
For rescued Abys and Somalis in Southern California, go to SCAR. There is a sweet 9 year old red Somali spay available in Vancouver, WA. Inquiries to Tammy. We have a really sweet 8-10 year old ruddy boy named Rusty - he has special dietary needs, read about him below. Email us for more informaton.
We do have a black DSH spay called Ella Bella. I found her under my car at Target in October 2009, just before Halloween. She's best buds with My older boy Frankie, is probably 3 years old by now. Email us for more informaton.
Peanut is a beautiful fawn Somali, just turned 4 years old. Peanut is extremely affectionate, wants to be with you and cuddle and sit in your lap whenever she is not eating or sleeping! However, she's also shy with strangers, and would probably not do well with a very busy household with lots of coming and going, or with small children. Because she is shy, I want to place her within driving distance, so if things don't work out I can either come visit and help her adjust, or bring her back. But the person who has the patience to spend time with this very special girl will have a totally devoted, lifetime companion. Peanut is not terribly tolerant of other cats, especially females. She will likely get along with 1 or 2 neutered male cats who are not dominant. Her exposure to other cats should be limited until she feels comfortable with her new human family - probably weeks rather than days.
If you are interested in Peanut, please fill out the inquiry form and email me with any questions.
In December 2012, we had 2 kittens, a blue girl and a fawn girl. Click here for photos.
If you are interested in a kitten, please fill out the inquiry form and email me with any questions.
Above is Rusty, rescued ruddy Somali. We don't know Rusty's age or who his breeder was. He was rescued from a shelter in Washington state. He'd been in and out of the shelter several times. He had intestinal parasites, and was repeatedly misdiagnosed and therefore not treated with the proper medications - and now he has intestinal damage. When I got Rusty, he was skin and bones. All the parasites are now gone, and by using a special homecooked diet, simple and easy to make, Rusty is now fat and happy. Rusty loves EVERYONE - he wants nothing more than to cuddle and give headbutts. Unfortunately, he has to be separated at my house, because he cannot eat the other cats' food or he will have very bad diarrhea. He also upchucks hairballs frequently - he has a very thick coat that requires frequent brushing, which unfortunately we don't have time to do! The photo above was taken before his coat grew back, he has a big bushy tail now.
Rusty deserves a family of his own to cuddle and brush him. Please consider giving this guy a forever home, you wont regret it! I'd happily keep him, but he deserves to be in a place where he can sleep on the couch and sit in a lap in front of the TV, and I can't give that to him.
Nonnie is on the left, Merrie on the right. They are both very sweet, playful girls. Nonnie has been staying with a friend who has an 8 year old son, so she is used to children and a very hectic household. Merrie is less bold by nature, loving and friendly but not as brave as Nonnie. Both were intended to be show cats, but they didn't turn out to have quite the show potential we were hoping for. They are 12 months old and could go together or separately.
In addition, we also have their blue sister, Baby. Baby would do well with one of her sisters, or with another young cat who is interested in playing, but not in picking on Baby! She is super affectionate and would spend all her time in your lap if she could!
