Buying a kitten on Gumtree - wise?

[Brixtonrunner]

Cat people I need your help. No experience of cats previously but our family lifestyle now allows for a pet. We're keen on a British shorthair kitten because they're apparently easy going and adaptable to being an indoors cat. We're looking on Gumtree and there are loads of sellers, very few seem to be registered sellers though - is this a must? We've read through the Gumtree cat buyers guide and it suggests sellers should be registered but barely any are. Are we taking a risk to buy from a seller who isn't? Most seem to offer kittens who are weaned, de-flea and de- wormed and pictured seen with mother but not with father and prices ranging from £500 to £1000 (would prefer the lower end of price range). Any other advice/considerations would be massively appreciated.

Of course you're taking a risk, plus potentially supporting animal cruelty as many of these animals are from puppy/kitten farms.

Either look for a licensed breeder only, or get one from a rescue centre.

Perhaps googling some of the heartbreaking horror stories online would answer your question.

If you want to perpetuate the industry of kitten farming, and buy a kitten who probably won't have been checked by a vet and maybe very poorly then fill your boots.

No.

And if you want to get one on the cheap rather than pay more for a quality breeder who cares for their animals, you shouldn't be having a pet in the first place.

You have answered your own question OP.

The breeders are not following Gumtree guidelines! The likelihood of them being dodgy is high!

Short answer - No.

Long answer - don't do it. They are likely to be very poorly bred (as in no consideration for health conditions etc) if they are full BSH, more likely a BSH cross or just a chunky grey (always grey/blue) kitten. You will pay through the nose for a moggy and just fund more breeding for the sellers.

This rescue specialise in indoor cats, particularly exotics/BSH/Persian https://www.strawberrypersianpedigreecatrescue.co.uk/adoption/

Please PLEASE do not buy a cat from gumtree. I have indoor cats - happy to answer any questions you have!

It’s not ideal. I sold some on there once (found them in my garden) , I thought they were about 8 weeks but the first person who came to buy one said they were much younger probably 4-5 weeks so she bought them all and took them home to look after them altogether . It was an absolute last resort for me though and was a really stressful experience

If you want a dcat for the right reasons contact a reputable rescue and get a Moggy.

Imo no dcat will happily be indoor only. Wr got a black dkitten from CPL for £30. Included neutering..

Get one from a rescue.

as the owner of a cat used and abused for breeding never use gumtree etc for animals. My cat is the sweetest thing but they nearly killed her putting her through pregnancy after pregnancy.

try breed rescues if you want a specific breed.

my rescue cost me £80, she arrived neutered, chipped, fleas, wormed and vaccinated.

Why did you not take them to a vet instead, surely that would have been easier and better for the kittens.

Why would you not get a rescue?

Why would anyone buy a kitten when there are thousands in rescues! Have a look at one near you.

This. There's so many cats in rescue centres. and it's cruel to not allow a cat the option of going outside.

Echoing the rescue comments. There's so many cats and kittens that need a home. Don't support someone who is only out to make a profit and doesn't care about the animals welfare.

I called all the local ones they all said no. So I called TWENTY EIGHT different rescues all said they were full. I called cats protection they said ‘fill in the form we will contact you when we have a space’

I called and called the rspca and they never got back to me !!!

I don’t drive so I couldn’t just take them to a vet as it would be public transport and all the vets kept saying no !

I asked people I knew and nobody wanted them. I couldn’t look after them in my house so had to leave them in my shed. In the end I was desperate

If you want an indoor only cat I would look for a fiv+ or blind/disabled cat that cannot go out.

a healthy cat that wants to go outside and can’t can make your life hell.

advantage with rescues and older cats is you can get a better idea of their personality. Kittens can grow into completely different cats.

They were not yours to sell! Surely any rescue would have taken them in, kittens are very easy to rehome as that's what most people want.

OP - please go to a rescue centre, they can match you with a cat to suit your circumstances as they will know it's personality and nature.

Absolutely do not buy a cat through gumtree.

They can make all the claims they want and you have effectively no come back when they hand over a too-young half dead kitten covered in it’s own excrement in a car park. You have no idea how it or it’s mother have been treated, if it’s actually the breed they say it is, if it has had the vaccinations and so on. Photos can be faked or from elsewhere.

There has literally been a story in the news in the last week about people being sold sick and dying kittens by unscrupulous characters with fake documents on websites.

If you must buy a cat then go through the official cat breeders body to find a properly vetted breeder. Visit them, see the cats and their environment and ask all the questions you need to.

Cannot stress strongly enough not to use Gumtree.

I had spent a lot on kitten milk and cat food etc over the week I was looking after them so I only charged £30 each to cover what I’d paid out

Yep. The best guy I ever got from a rescue was FIV+. The most affectionate, silly little man. Lived into his late teens. I miss him every day!

Also @Brixtonrunner , just because a cat is a certain breed it doesn't guarantee it's temperament.

At least you tried, I can't believe no one would help you ( not an accusation ) what did they expect you to do?!

And as I said after calling 28!!!! Rescues plus cats protection and the rspca and all the local vets what was I meant to do !!!!!