We brought our new kitten home on Tuesday - I'm so annoyed with the breeder

[lottielou7]

He's a ragdoll, from a supposed reputable breeder and he has a pedigree certificate. He came with vaccination certificate which indicated he'd had a vet check and was treated for fleas about 10 days ago. When I visited the breeder the first time, the house was clean and there was no smell of cat wee or anything.

He's a lovely little kitten - really playful and bold. But I started to notice a few issues with him, for example I looked at his fur and could see flea poo. He's also sneezing and he walks around constantly meowing, which my other ragdoll does not - she's quite quiet.

I've just got back from the vet who says he has a mild version of cat flu and is covered in flea poo with a few fleas in there. We can't treat him again at the moment because he was too recently treated with quite strong stuff. So I've had to buy a flea comb and get out as much as I can. The vet said that the stuff he was treated with is good and that the breeders house must be riddled with fleas for it not to have worked.

My other cat has been vaccinated but I noticed her sneezing this morning. I think it is very annoying that I tried to do everything by the book and use a registered breeder, and I paid a lot of money for this cat. Surely the least she could do is make sure her animals are actually well. The vet says that once a cat has had flu it can keep resurfacing later in life.

[SharingMichelle]

When people make money using animals, the animals' welfare is rarely top priority.

[SharingMichelle]

Hope your cats are well again soon.

[lottielou7]

Well I was led to believe that a registered breeder does it for the love of the animal and therefore aims to break even because it's a hobby.

Should I inform the breeder? There is no way I would want to lose him now - he's ours and our other cat has bonded with him already.

[lottielou7]

What I mean to say is that I would not ask to take him back.

[VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon]

Well I was led to believe that a registered breeder does it for the love of the animal and therefore aims to break even because it's a hobby
Lol that's naive

[lottielou7]

So it seems!

[Floralnomad]

When my mum got her Ragdoll ( he's 15 in May) he became seriously ill with an intestinal problem the following day , we rang the breeder as a courtesy because we thought she would like to know and she couldn't distance herself quickly enough . Some of these breeders are an odd bunch , btw our Ragdoll can be really noisy and annoying .

[Madbengalmum]

Vince, it sounds like OP is well versed in the breed and has done her research. You seem abit agressive.

OP i would contact the breeder and see what their response is. Many moons ago, i purchased a persian who turned out to be deaf, the breeder was genuinely devastated and offered us help and to return the kitten, we didn't, but her help was invaluable. And it is worth making the breeder aware.

[VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon]

Aggressive? Eh? I don't think you know what agressive means.
I think it's really naive to think that people breed animals out of altruism or as a hobby. They breed them for money. That's the long and short of it.

[lottielou7]

The vet says its probably a generational problem that the breeders cats have. I guess a breed like ragdoll that is so inbred are not going to be as robust as moggies.

Our girl is an absolute darling - we love her to bits. I hope she will be ok but she has had her vaccinations.

[Madbengalmum]

Everybody is aware of that, im sure Op is due to her experience with the breed.

And, I am aware of what aggressive means, thanks!

[lottielou7]

I did research it properly - certainly. This person seemed to be doing everything correctly and she bought her stud from a renowned ragdoll breeder that I am familiar with already.

[mmmuffins]

How disappointing that your kitten is sick. A good purebred breeder will be registered, but not all registered breeders will be good breeders. I find the biggest tip off to be whether the breeder tests their breeding animals for diseases in the breed. Dont even bother visiting a breeder unless they are doing this! Though of course this isnt the only thing to look for. Was your breeder seen to be doing everything right?

I would probably express my unhappiness to the breeder, even though you have no intention of giving your kitten back.

[FuzzyOwl]

I would speak to the breeder but be prepared for them to blame you for the fleas and flu.

I have had three Ragdolls and one came from someone who was considered to be very well known and reputable regarding the breed in the South West. She sold me a cat she said she had used for breeding but could not breed from anymore and said she was timid because she had always lived outdoors and as a result wasn't keen on being picked up. I was young and naive and accepted it. She gave me a vaccination card for the cat (in her pet name) and her pedigree papers (in her registered name). When I got home, I discovered the vaccination card had a completely different date and year of birth on it. Years later, when the cat developed a thyroid condition, she was xrayed all over and the vet was staggered that she had survived such an appalling break of her breastbone that had not knitted back together and effectively left her organs to bounce around inside her. There is absolutely no way that the breeder did not know this and the cat even now (15 years after I got her, cannot be held although she is an incredibly affectionate girl). She was a very unusual colour at the time (a seal lynx and I got her in 2002) and the vet says that the break would have prevented anyone from breeding from her and she also doubts she is a pure bred Ragdoll - she certainly doesn't look the same as my other two who are very similar, despite not being related (although they are from the same breeder who also thought very highly of the other breeder). If the breeder was still on the committee she had been at the time, I would take it much further but according to Google she doesn't breed cats anymore.

After that rambling story, I just wanted to say that a breeder is a better person to go to than someone who just advertises in the local paper but still go in with your eyes open.

[FuzzyOwl]

Oh yes, about cat flu. I got another cat from a rescue centre (fully vaccinated) who had had flu and got reoccurring bouts. He gave it to the other cats I had, and now they all intermittently go down with it but each time is less serious than the last until you barely notice it.

[Madbengalmum]

Lottie, exactly, from your previous posts you have researched, which is why i took Vince up on what i deemed was a sharp comment. If only we could be as perfect!

I would definately contact your breeder though.

[lottielou7]

I think that on mumsnet, some people are a bit prickly about people who buy pedigree cats. I absolutely love ragdolls and since they are going to be in your household for up to 20 years then I wanted cats of my choice. I completely get that it's nicer to use a rescue but we have quite a stressful home life because one of my children is severely disabled so I wanted cats that are relaxed temperament. I did look at the ragdoll rescue but all their cats have homes agreed at the moment.

The vet said that he's a good specimen and has a good, strong heartbeat (my other cat used to have a heart murmur though she doesn't any more). He's just got some health issues because the breeder obviously isn't keeping on top of things with the cats - he probably caught flu from his mum.

I have heard that when a cat who has cat flu has a booster, it can reactivate the illness - is this true?

Thank you for your comments - it's interesting to hear.

[Madbengalmum]

Lottielou, yes the flu jab can create further problems, had this with my first bengal over twenty years ago, he reacted terribly to the jabs and nearly died,but he became a big strong cat and died at 17 yrs.

[Jeremysfavouriteaunt]

Sorry but vince was only saying what a lot of people believe to be true.

[FuzzyOwl]

My cats have never had an outbreak of flu immediately after their vaccinations. They tend to get it when we move house, a builder is round or something happens to stress them out.

[lottielou7]

What do 'a lot of people believe to be true'? That people breed animals to make money?

[UptownFlunk]

I think it's very important to check that the breeder you go to provides ongoing help and support once you have bought a kitten. The breeder I bought my Ragdoll from has a closed Facebook group that all the owners of her kittens are invited to join in order to swap photos and stories and/or get information or support if there are any health or behavioural problems.

I think you're right to be fed up but, as previous posters have said, you'd have problems proving that the fleas came from the breeder's establishment - even though I believe you that they did. I hope your kitten is better soon and that your other cat was just having a random sneeze.

My Ragdoll is very vocal so I think you have to accept that each cat is different and your kitten might be quite different from your other Ragdoll.

[lottielou7]

Well, you know it's just one of those things I guess. I don't have any interest in complaining to her now - I just feel sorry for him really and the other cats. Anyway, to lighten things up here's a picture of him.

[FuzzyOwl]

He is absolutely gorgeous! 😻

[lottielou7]

FuzzyOwl - as far as I know 'new' types within a breed have to be introduced by cross breeding somewhere and I think I've read that this was the case with Lynx ragdolls. They are relatively new to the uk anyway aren't they as a breed?