How to Sell Himalayan Kittens in the United States
To sell Himalayan kittens in the United States, show buyers both parents' negative PKD DNA results, describe each kitten's face, breathing and eyes honestly, raise the kittens used to daily combing and eye wiping, and sell in person with a written contract and a payment that has cleared. PetMD puts Himalayan kittens from breeders at about $500 to $2,500, so price within that range and let the paperwork justify where you sit in it.
This guide is for breeders and owners who already have a litter. The Himalayan shares the Persian's flat face and kidney-disease risk, so careful buyers ask hard questions; a clear, documented ad answers them before they are asked.
Key points
- Sales are regulated mostly by states and cities; the USDA exempts breeders with four or fewer breeding females, and face-to-face sales fall under its retail exemption.
- Both parents need negative PKD1 DNA results; Science for Animal Welfare says no cat with Persian ancestry should be bred untested.
- Breed only cats with open nostrils, quiet breathing and healthy eyes, and photograph each kitten's face from the front and side.
- Sell pets with a spay or neuter contract, a PKD health guarantee and a promise to take the cat back.
- Take cash or a cleared payment; never refund an overpaid check.
Is it legal to sell Himalayan kittens in the US?
Yes, but the rules sit at three levels and depend on where you live.
- Federal: the USDA's Animal Welfare Act rules exempt people with four or fewer breeding females. Above that, selling kittens that buyers do not see in person before buying generally needs a USDA license; face-to-face sales fall under the retail exemption.
- State: some states set a minimum sale age; Massachusetts, for example, bars selling or transferring a cat under 8 weeks old. Some protect buyers too: New York has a pet lemon law for purchases from commercial sellers.
- City or county: some require a breeding permit; the City of Los Angeles, for example, requires one for cats bred in the city.
Which health checks should Himalayan parents have?
| Check | How | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| PKD | PKD1 DNA test (mouth swab or blood) | Dominant kidney disease; a 2004 study put it at about 38% of Persians worldwide |
| Kidneys | Ultrasound, most reliable after about 10 months | Confirms no cysts |
| Airway and face | Vet exam of nostrils and breathing | Narrow nostrils and a long soft palate restrict breathing (PetMD) |
| Eyes and teeth | Vet exam | Heavy tearing, ulcers and crowded teeth are common in flat faces |
| HCM | Echocardiogram; ask your vet | PetMD lists this heart disease among Himalayan concerns |
| FeLV and FIV | Blood test | Infectious; the AAFP advises knowing every cat's status |
CFA notes that breeders bred out cats with smaller-than-average nostrils and brought PKD under control through genetic testing and by spaying or neutering affected cats. Keep to that standard: do not breed a cat that carries the PKD1 mutation, struggles to breathe or has a nose tip higher than its lower eyelids, which Science for Animal Welfare reports researchers advise against breeding. A kitten with a less extreme face is likely to cost its owner less in vet care.
How do you prepare Himalayan kittens for their new homes?
- Age: never before 8 weeks; International Cat Care notes pedigree kittens often go home at about 13 weeks, after their first vaccines.
- Grooming: comb every kitten daily and wipe its eyes with warm water and a soft cloth, as PetMD advises, so it accepts both for life.
- Vet work: vaccines, deworming, a vet check of nostrils, eyes and teeth, and a microchip registered to you until the sale.
- Paperwork: the CFA or TICA registration slip, both parents' PKD reports, the vet record and a care sheet covering combing, eye care and feeding.
Registration differs by registry. CFA registers the kittens as Persians in the Himalayan color division; TICA registers them as Himalayans in its Persian Breed Group. Tell buyers which applies.
How should you price Himalayan kittens?
PetMD gives about $500 to $2,500 for Himalayan kittens from breeders. Where yours fall depends on registration, whether they are sold as pets with a spay or neuter contract, the vet work included, the parents' results and local demand. Look at current Himalayan kittens for sale near you before you set a price.
Do not price far below the market. The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers lure buyers with prices well below normal, so a very cheap Himalayan makes careful buyers suspicious.
How do you write a Himalayan kitten ad that attracts good buyers?
- Registry and color: CFA or TICA, and the point color, such as seal point, blue point or lynx point.
- Health: both parents' PKD results with dates, and the kitten's vet check.
- Kitten details: sex, date of birth, go-home date and what the price includes.
- Honest care needs: daily combing, daily eye wiping and regular dental care.
- Media: clear photos of the face from the front and side, and a short video of the kitten resting so buyers can hear its breathing.
When you post your Himalayan kitten ad on PetzLover, describe the kittens as they are and let buyers message you through the listing. Keep your phone number and home address out of the ad text.
How do you vet buyers and hand over a Himalayan kitten safely?
- Ask who will groom the kitten every day and whether they have kept a longhaired cat before.
- Ask about the home: other pets, children, landlord permission and how long the cat will be alone.
- Invite a visit or a live video call before taking a deposit, and give a written receipt for it.
- Sign a contract covering the price, a PKD health guarantee, spay or neuter terms, no declawing, registration papers and a promise to return the cat to you if needed.
- Take cash or a payment you have confirmed has cleared. A check for more than the price with a request to refund the difference is what the FTC calls a fake check scam.
- Hand over the records, a steel comb, a few days of food and the care sheet, and transfer the microchip the same day.
Buyers may read how to buy a Himalayan kitten, so meeting its standards helps. If someone has posted a wanted ad, see how to respond to a Himalayan wanted ad; to place a retired adult, read how to rehome your Himalayan responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I sell a Himalayan kitten for?
PetMD puts Himalayan kittens from breeders at about $500 to $2,500. Check current local listings, and price pets with a spay or neuter contract below kittens with breeding rights. A price far below the market makes careful buyers suspicious.
Do I need a license to sell Himalayan kittens?
Federally, breeders with four or fewer breeding females are exempt from USDA licensing, and face-to-face sales fall under the retail exemption. Some states and cities have their own rules, such as the City of Los Angeles breeding permit.
Which tests should Himalayan parents have before breeding?
A PKD1 DNA test at minimum, ideally with a kidney ultrasound, plus a vet check of breathing, eyes and teeth and known FeLV and FIV status. Ask your vet whether a heart scan is advisable. Do not breed a PKD-positive cat.
Should I register Himalayan kittens with CFA or TICA?
Either works. CFA registers Himalayans as Persians in the Himalayan color division, and TICA registers them as Himalayans in its Persian Breed Group. Use the registry the parents are registered with.
What age can Himalayan kittens go to new homes?
Never before 8 weeks, which is the legal minimum in some states such as Massachusetts. Many pedigree breeders keep kittens until about 13 weeks so vaccines are started and the kittens are used to grooming.
What payment is safe when selling a kitten?
Cash at handover or a payment you have confirmed has cleared. Never accept a check for more than the price and refund the difference. Give a written receipt for any deposit.
Helpful guides
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Himalayan Kitten in the United StatesBefore you buy a Himalayan kitten in the US, ask for negative PKD DNA results for both parents, choose a kitten with open nostrils and quiet breathing, plan for daily combing and pay only after you have met the kitten.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Himalayan Cat in the United StatesBefore you take in a rehomed Himalayan, ask about its grooming routine, eyes, breathing and PKD status, book a vet check within days, budget for combing or professional grooming and introduce handling gently while it settles.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Himalayan Cat Responsibly in the United StatesRehome your Himalayan responsibly: rule out a grooming or health fix first, contact your breeder or a Persian and Himalayan rescue, disclose coat, eye, breathing and kidney history honestly, and screen for someone who will groom daily.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Himalayan Cat Wanted" Ad in the United StatesTo answer a Himalayan cat wanted ad, describe your cat honestly, including grooming, eyes, breathing and PKD status, check the poster can groom daily, verify who they are in person and hand over only with a written agreement.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Himalayan Cat Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in the United StatesA good Himalayan wanted ad says what age and type of cat you want, asks for PKD results and a moderate face, shows you are ready for daily grooming, gives a realistic budget and promises to meet in person before paying.