I am looking at a black kitten for show purposes, and I wondered if any of you lovely show people could give me an opinion or two? I don't want to broadcast the photo, but I'd love a more experienced opinion, especially from someone with experience showing blacks.

If anyone is willing to lend an opinion, a PM would be great. I want to make sure I don't just have "Oooh pretty kitty" eyes before I take the plunge.

I know you will get many good answers soon. Just reading your post I see you are sincere in getting a gorgeous show kitty. Good luck Pat

I hope so!

I'm so excited, but I know how easy it is to get blinded lol!

My advice would be to look OUTSIDE your region - CFA, for example, divides the nation into regions. It does not make sense for someone living in your region to sell you a top show kitten - then they will have to compete with themselves, essentially. You will be much more likely to find a breeder on the West Coast, for example, who will sell you a competitive show kitten if you live on the East Coast. They won't have to worry about being beaten in the ring by their own kitten!

That being said, I can recommend an excellent breeder in Florida who raises some beautiful blacks. Her name is Diana Belfatto and her cattery name is Belcats. She has a website.

This kitten is located in KY, and I am in GA. She's no longer breeding, and selling this last kitten and both parents. I will look up Belcats. I'm not 100% set on a specific color, this boy just really caught my eye.

I will look at the pictures for you, but please understand: you can only tell so much from a picture. The best way to buy a show quality kitten is to see it in person and put your hands on the cat. Is this your first show kitten? Have you ever shown before? Do you also intend on breeding this kitten or would you be showing in Premiership? Do you have a price range that you want to stay within? If this is your first time, I would really suggest you get a mentor BEFORE buying who can help you evaluate and select your kitten. The person you buy from is just as important as the kitten itself, and can make the difference between being ripped off or being completely satisfied. I don't think it is that important to buy outside of your region (your region for CFA is Southern Region 7), as someone else suggested (FL is still in your region). You can find a nice cat from a breeder at one of your local shows and that is what I would suggest you do- go to a show. Too bad you just missed a big one in Atlanta a couple of weekends ago...but there are many shows in GA. Here is a link to your Regional Website so you can see which ones are closer to you-http://www.cfasouthern.org/
BTW- I do get black cats on occassion and I have a good friend in the Dallas area who has an absolutely wonderful black stud male out of very good lines and she gets blacks too. Also know that if you inquire with top show breeders, you can expect to pay top show prices. Many breeders won't sell their best kittens to someone who has no experience.

You can find my email on my website home page to send me your pics-