Why are kittens so expensive now?

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(Before I get flamed I have gone down the rescue route to no avail).

For the last couple of months I’ve been looking online to buy a kitten. Even for a black moggie it’s minimum £150 with some being £200 and that’s before fleeing/vets etc etc.

I swear a couple of years ago you could pick them up to next to nothing. One of my neighbours used to have a sign in the window with ‘free to a good home’.

The only reason I can think is because it’s not quite kitten season yet therefore they’re not in high demand?

@GiveHerHellFromUs and what about the welfare of the mother having litters to be sold instead of being spayed for her health?

@Wolfiefan I'm not saying it's right and I'm not selling or buying kittens - I'm just telling OP she doesn't need to spend hundreds...

Rescues charge money to help with their running costs.
Cats are expensive. At the end of her life my old girl was on £60 a month of medication. For months. And that was quite a few years ago.

Kittens from rescues will be neutered, vaccinated, chipped, have recently seen a vet for a general health check and up to date with flea and worm treatment. The fee we charge doesn’t even cover the full cost of this and kittens sold by amateur breeders for similar prices probably won't have any of this. We also run autumn fair type fundraisers throughout the year and ask for donations generally.

Agree that buying on Gumtree etc is encouraging exploitation of the poor mothers who often have multiple litters at an unhealthy frequency, starting at too young an age. We rescue many mothers and kittens because medical treatment is needed that the owner doesn’t want to pay for. Or they simply don't appreciate how much food a nursing mother needs.

I’ve never paid more than about £30 for a kitten. The best cat I had was one I got for free.

I did have a couple of litters from one cat when she was young as it was educational for my children. Easily found homes for the kittens as they were getting expensive back then. Had her spayed after the second litter, she was a lovely mum and the kittens were healthy. To do it well does take up a lot of time though as kittens need worming etc and general health care before they go to new homes.

4 months is nothing. Just put your name down.

I really want to start stock-piling kittens.

That’s a great idea!! (My existing tortie two would hate that though!)
My old girl was 19 when we lost her. 4 months is nothing.

This is the Kenzo referred to in my username. I got her at 9 years old from a rescue and she's 14 now. Extremely healthy, good natured and far less bother than a kitten!

Oh she’s beautiful.

The OP doesn’t have to get a rescue if they don’t want to people
Buying cats is not morally defensible when there are so many in rescues needing homes.

Supply and demand. If people will pay it, that’s what people will charge. Greed doesn’t come into it - why would you sell something for less money than you could do? If you’re asking too much, no one will buy it!

Sorry but what are kittens bait for? Boas?

fighting dogs, deleting. Fcuking horrible.
(I am on a waiting list with a couple of breeders which may take a year, but I am very happy with the breeders and they only have two litters a year, which may turn out one kitten or six. Their costs include high calorie food for the cat and kittens, vet bills, insurance, vaccinations, flea treatment and the stud cat fee. I'm happy to pay and there is definitely an element of charging enough to make sure the cats go to a home that can continue to insure, flea and feed them properly)

200 quid for a cat? For that price I’d want it to be made of gold !