AIBU to want to see kittens at home

[MrsPeacockDidIt]

I've been communicating with a gumtree seller about 2 kittens I want to purchase out of a litter of 5. She's now said she'll meet me in town rather than at home.

AIBU to want to see the kittens in their home environment ? She'd already said I wouldn't be able to see the mum as she'll be recoverying from being spayed.

I've bought and sold things from gumtree and facebook before and always exchanged in home environments. The last cat I bought was from loot (the paper version!) and we saw them at home. I just didn't know if this is a thing now, not wanting to give out your address.

[WannaBe]

"Where the hell are you seeing kittens for £150?!" on pets4homes - have just been on there to look actually and there isn't a single kitten for sale under £100, several alleged pure-half breeds for £600 plus, but the moggies are all advertised for between £100/£150

[Loaferloveforyou]

The excuse she is recovering is exactly that - an excuse. When we got our kitten spayed she was her usual kitteny self within a few hours albeit very pissed off. It's not like she's lying in the vets expecting visitors.

[CousinCharlotte]

I don't think any animal should be allowed to be sold on sites like this. Please try shelters and local vets for kittens and make a donation instead.

[Janey50]

This would definitely ring alarm bells with me. Expert opinion is that you should always,if at all possible,see a kitten (or a puppy) in it's home environment,and always with the mother. Sounds to me like they are trying to hide something. Incidentally,telling you that you wouldn't be able to see the mother as she would be recovering from being spayed, also sounds a bit suspect. A female cat,after undergoing a spaying procedure would normally be home from the vet's in a matter of hours,and the vast majority of cats make a very quick recovery. They don't generally require to be isolated,or given special treatment! Or surely the owner could re-schedule for a couple of days later if she is that bothered? Honestly,I would avoid.

[cavkc123]

This really does ring alarm bells, please don't do it.

As others have said, once you meet her, she's more than likely going to have a problem, meaning you can't visit her at home but it she could drop kitten off at your place later.

I would contact a few local vets, ours quite often put on their Facebook page about kittens their clients are trying to get good homes for.

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

We have just got our kitten from Blue Cross and it was amazing. They do such a great job and I'm happy that I've helped rehome a kitten who was dumped by some selfish walker at a few days old. Kitten is very healthy with a full health record and a voucher for neutering when she's ready. No need to buy off Gumtree.

[RortyCrankle]

With thousands of animals in shelters desperately needing homes, please don't buy from could be dodgy Gumtree sellers when you have no idea about the care given to the animals and a home visit can't give you the whole story.

The sooner people stop buying from such places the better.

[EttaJ]

YABVU to buy an animal from scumtree and to buy a kitten when there are plenty in rescues and foster homes already! I wish people would have their pets fixed and stop breeding to make money because they're too fucking stupid/greedy/lazy to make honest money.

[NameChange30]

DO NOT BUY KITTENS FROM GUMTREE

You're not just being unreasonable, you're mad!

You would be funding an irresponsible kitten farmer, the kittens won't have been looked after properly and might be in bad health.

Report the woman to the RSPCA and get your kittens elsewhere, preferably from a rescue or rehoming centre, but if not from someone you know (ask family, friends and colleagues if they know anyone with kittens that need homes).

[rhiaaaaaaaannon]

If you really want to buy a kitten I would recommend going to a reputable breeder.
If you're just after your average mog then have a look round the rescues. There are soooo many cute kittens going you honestly won't believe it.

[Whateverandeva]

Please don't buy from gumtree, my guess in this case that mum is pregnant again already or that they have cat flu or even worse rife at the moment. You cannot be sure what diseases these kittens have been exposed to. There are so many other options in terms of finding kittens. Give your local vets a call I'm sure they can point you in the right direction of a nearby charity.

[Swatsup]

It's a risk. There might be an honest reason she doesn't want you to go to the house but I'm guessing she will have the kittens with her. You will feel so sorry for them and want to rescue them! Please only go if you are strong enough to walk away and not try to rescue the poorly kittens.
Possible she is already known to rescues and the rspca and that's why she won't give out her address until she sees you?

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

To be fair it's possible that she doesn't want some random person off Gumtree coming round to her house until she's met them in a public place and checked they're not an obvious axe murderer.

However that's neither here nor there, there are loads of lovely kittens at rescue centres looking for good homes and you should go there rather than encouraging dodgy backyards breeders by giving them money.

[NerrSnerr]

I agree with the others. People will continue selling kittens on gumtree as long as there are people like you out there who will buy. Go down the proper route and use a proper breeder or shelter.

[2kids2dogsnosense]

You should be able to see mum too. You have a right to see how fit and well she is as well as the kittens - and to make sure that she is their mother. Speying does not mean that she is lying in bed like Camille, unable to have visitors. I've had both dogs and cats speyed and they recover and are up and about remarkably quickly - usually almost as soon as the anaesthetic has worn off. This is a kitten farm. Avoid this woman.

[SheldonsSpot]

If the seller doesn't want random people off Gumtree coming round to her house then she shouldn't be advertising to random people on Gumtree.

[Vinorosso74]

Do not buy kittens or any living creatures off Gumtree! As previous posters have said the conditions for the kittens and especially the poor mother are probably appalling. I bet she is being used as a breeding machine to make money.
Go to a reputable rescue there's a lot of kittens still coming in or adult cats who will already be neutered.

[maisiejones]

I would never, ever buy kittens (or any animal) from a site such as Gumtree. I think it's appalling that people can sell animals on these types of site.