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.

I’m wondering why people are still giving advise in getting a pet from a rescue when it’s also well known that’s it’s near I possible to be approved for it.
The no children/should have experience/big enough house/not too close to big road blabla excludes so many people that getting a pet from a rescue is rarely the answer tbh.

And the reason why people are still buying pets from Gumtree etc…

I've had two male cats and both have been the softest lap cats ever so I would always pick male over female! My current boy is from a rescue and he would be happy as an indoor cat
Yes they can get sick at any time so get decent insurance

Smaller rescues are often more flexible
I live near a road, first cat from cats protection and I had no experience at all and worked FT. I've literally just adopted my second last week from a smaller rescue who followed my cats FB page
They didn't even home check me

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

This.

We got our kitten nearly 2 years ago now when my ds was 6. Rescue places wouldn't give us the time of day even though we've had cats as kids and had evidence of caring for our last one until a ripe old age of 20. So very frustrating so whilst rescuing is a better option it's not for anyone with children.

We reluctantly looked on pets4homes and it was very legit and I'd recommend it rather than gumtree as that sounds a bit dodgy.

I live pretty near a Cat's Protection centre and you pretty much turn up, look at some cats, give your details, pay and take them away. The nearest RSPCA centre is much the same.

Smaller rescues are much less rigid in their requirements, I followed a load on Facebook for a while and chatted to the volunteers until they had a cat who they said would be a good match for us.

Please, please, please RESCUE a cat. I volunteer in rescue, we're over run with perfectly wonderful animals needing a home. Not helped by idiots not nuetering their pets and selling them on Gumtree etc and Breeders breeding for money, and exacerbating the problem.

A rescue will give you great advice, have health checked the animal and will understand its behaviours and suitability for you.

Because most of the time, rescues come up with the most ridiculous of reasons as to why you can’t rehome a cat/dog, therefore the only way to get one is to buy one.

Gumtree is awful.
Pets4homes has a mixture of kitten farmers and genuine breeders.
Personally I would look for a breeder via the GCCF body. The breeders listed on there sign up to a code of conduct and many of the kittens are surplus show animals. Look for a breeder who is choosy about where their kittens are going.
I'd be wary of breeders who frequently have available kittens. You should expect to wait.
Two of my cats are pedigrees and two are rescues.
My pedigrees were very expensive. Then I had to pay to have them neutered. My lovely Mog cost £85 which was an enormous bargain as she came chipped and neutered. My other cat cost nothing as he adopted me.
The rescue local to me is overflowing with kittens and young Mama cats. Unless you want a breed for a specific reason, domestic short haired breeds are by far healthier and more robust in general.
Lots of cats are listed as being BSH or Bengal mix (etc) - you're buying a very expensive moggy.
Good luck getting the right cat for you..

I'll admit to being tempted by pets4homes. It seems impossible to find a rescue near us happy to rehome a young kitten to a family with toddlers and an older cat. Some of the ads on there are v obviously fake or dodgy though (happy to bring kitten to you to save you trouble ).

Our two cats are CPL Moggies .
They were rescued from a garden and though they are good,solid, no-frills-felines , the male is still very shy .

We got them very soon after they went onto the CPL site as our house and family ( garden, adult DC, quiet road) suited these cats .

My DD willl never be allowed to leave home , the little boy adores her
The female cat is the feistier one , she's DH shadow.

I know dogs suffer more with the intensive breeding causing health issues . When I look at our cats, I am so happy they are cats , bog standard cats .