Frequently Asked Questions

We have added only a few answers to our top questions.

Most answers will be found while reading our Purchasing page.

Do you ship kittens?

We do not ship kittens. However, we are happy to meet you at the Dayton International Airport if you would like to fly in to pick up your kitten.

Will the kitten get along with my dog(s)?

Yes, depending on whether the dog(s) have been around cats. When you get your kitten home, you will want to start with a small room set up for the kitten. The kitten will need some time to transition into their new home. Russians get along very well with dogs provided the dogs have been trained to be nice to cats. We are always happy to further explain more about this over the phone.

I've heard these are hypoallergenic. Is this true?

While no cat is allergy free, it has been said the Russian produces less of the allergens responsible for reactions (Fel D1, Fel D2). There are many people who have said they do not react to the Russian. However, no breeder will ever guarantee against cat allergies. There are many factors involved in answering this question with greater clarity. Like some other breeders, we do have small blankets that can be purchased in an attempt for you to see if you will react. I can't make any guarantees regarding allergies since each person's allergy is different. Because of this, you should have the correct expectation that an allergic reaction could be possible. I would welcome the opportunity to explain further. Click here to get more information.

How can I reserve a kitten or be added to the waitlist?

Currently, deposit is $500. There are no other deposits or payments along the way until pickup unless YOU choose to send additional. This goes toward the cost of the kitten. Deposit is non-refundable. Final balance is due at pickup. To start this process, Contact Us.

Do you charge extra for "pick of the litter"?

Short answer... NO. While we will be incredibly selective in choosing a kitten to hold back for a breeding program, we will never charge extra for someone to potentially "skip the line". Truthfully, all Russian kittens will bond close to their families after leaving and will continue developing their personalities along the way to adulthood. In the distant past, we tried hand picking what we felt to be the sweetest in the litter, only to find out the one we thought wasn't as sweet turned out to be just as sweet, if not sweeter, than the one we picked! There is rarely a "runt" of the litter. In past litters, what we saw to be the smallest born within a litter caught up quickly with littermates, sometimes even turning out to be larger than one of the others. Typically, all kittens vary in weight slightly... not drastically. So no, we do not charge the general public extra for "pick of the litter".

Do you ever have older cats for sale?

Yes! When we retire an adult from our breeding program, we will sell them as pets to wonderful homes!! Contact us if you are interested in finding out if we have any available.

I went to the TICA website but didn't see your cattery name listed, why is that?

The page on TICA you visited was an "advertising" page. There are far more breeders in the United States than what you see listed there. The breeders there have paid to be listed on that page. There is a phone number for TICA on their website. Any time you want to confirm a breeder's legitimacy, all you need to do is call the registry and give them the cattery name (Mishka's Russians). Be certain you spell it correctly! Keep in mind, TICA does not have special characters or spaces in cattery names, so when you register a kitten from us, you'll see our cattery name MISHKASRUSSIANS appear before the name you choose for your kitten. If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact us.

There's a website claiming to be affiliated with you. What's the deal with that?
SCAMS

There is only ONE MISHKA'S RUSSIANS. We are located in Ohio. If we ever move or one of the breeders within our family moves to another state, we WILL update not only our website, but we will also let TICA know. If you come across any other website, Facebook page, or other social media outlet that claims to be part of Mishka's Russians or claims to BE Mishka's Russians, it is a SCAM.

Scams may copy parts of, or entire content from, a legitimate website. They will use pictures they have found online, often stealing actual pictures of Russians from breeder websites. Sometimes, the pictures will clearly not even be of a Russian cat/kitten, and many people won't know the difference! Scammers will use words like "shipping agent" / "shipping courier". They often have broken English when writing. They will NEVER want to speak to you directly by phone but will instead want to text or email you. They will ALWAYS want your money! Some will insist or ask you provide a deposit before you get any type of agreement. NEVER DO THIS! Do NOT ever send money to someone for a kitten prior to 1) Speaking with them by phone, and 2) Receiving some type of deposit agreement. A scammer is a dangerous individual who almost 100% of the time will neither be in the United States nor have any actual kitten. If you need more info on how to protect yourself from scammers, please don't hesitate to ask!

What's the Difference between a Breeder's Slip, Certificate of Registration, and Pedigree?

A "Breeder's Slip" is a document issued for every kitten within a litter. A breeder will register the entire litter, but each kitten will have an individual Breeder's Slip. The Breeder's Slip is what you use in order to Register your kitten with TICA. You will then have a "Certificate of Registration" which will be specifically identifying your cat with you as the owner. Think of a "Pedigree" as you would a family tree, because well, that's what it is only this is specifically for animals. Pedigree's can be obtained from TICA in either 3 or 5 generation formats. So a Breeder's Slip, Certificate of Registration, and Pedigree are 3 different things.