Hi, I have done my research on the breed and have my heart set on getting one, I've never had a pedigree or purebred animal before though so I'm at a bit of a loss as to what the norm is in getting one. My other two cats I just got for free off friends and family after their cats accidentally had kittens, and they weren't specific breeds or anything fancy just everyday cats. I found a breeder who I think is reputable and that I can trust, but my friends and mother have me thinking I'm crazy for spending so much money on a cat haha. I stalked their whole website, read everything and sent an application by email. Breeder responded and said that the kitten I was interested in would be ready to leave in two months, registered, fully vaccinated, microchipped and neutered. This all sounded good to me and was what I expected after reading all the info on the website. She said to reserve her the deposit would be 250, which I knew from the website. The full price is 850 and is due a few days before I take her home. Now, I am on board with this and sent the breeder the deposit and everything. But I mentioned it to my mother and she thought I was crazy for sending money without seeing the kitten or anything. I thought this was normal for pedigree animals because of the fact that the animal is reserved and the deposit is a safety net for the breeder if I don't follow through with the purchase and to stop people from wasting their time. But now I am worried about giving the rest of the money before seeing the kitten? Is this silly of me? I would feel better giving cash upon arriving and bringing the kitten home, or sending the money on to her while I'm there and seeing the kitten in good health. But on the other hand, this is a reputable breeder whose cats I have seen credited on foreign breeders websites as parents of their litters. And I'm a good three hour drive away so it's not like I can just pop over for a visit, also I think it would be rude of me to ask because it's like I'm doubting their rep haha. I read on her website also that she sends regular updates on reserved cats, should I email her asking for regular updates and pictures and pray that it's legit? This all sounds silly rereading it but can someone please let me know if I'm being silly, thanks so much. I feel it's important to note that the breeder has the parents family trees on the website, but I feel like those can be easily faked. They are also TICA registered, but I seen some people say that TICA is very lax and don't know what to believe.

tldr; Buying a pedigree animal for the first time, sort of clueless. Sent on deposit for kitten but my mother made me doubt whether the breeder is legit, even though all signs point to it being legit and now I'm scared of sending on the rest of the money before I go to collect the kitten,

Please help me, I'm hopeless.

Edit: I'm in Ireland and a few quick google searches have told me that bengals are expected to cost around 800 euro to 1500 euro here and in the UK.