Kitten sellers taking the piss!!?

[Jamandbreadd]

I am thinking about getting a cat after the lockdown eases, my cat is really in need of the company I think. Had a quick scan of gumtree London (where I got my cat 2 years ago, from a family home where their moggy had kittens). To be honest I was at the prices of cars. I haven’t been in the market for a cat for 2 years but I remember I paid £50 for a litter trained moggy kitten. Now every similar kitten on gumtree appears to be upwards of £200 each, and £400+ is equally as common! Am I missing something? They are either from private homes or I guess breeders, and it seems incredible to charge that much per kitten. A litter of 4 will net some of these people over £1000!
I’m a good pet owner- have good insurance for my cat, she has a de flea and de worm subscription from the vet, enough food and lots of attention. We don’t have a garden so were turned down by our local cat rescue when we contacted them.
I just don’t believe that people should profiteer from kittens like this. It’s mad.. and has definitely got worse since I got my cat 2 years ago.
£200-£400 for a moggy kitten?!? AIBU?!

Yabu & yanbu. There has been a successful drive to get cats neutered so there just aren't the same amount of kittens for sale, this obviously affects supply. People can price moggy kittens at that price because they will sell. You could adopt, but certainly where I live there were no kittens looking to be adopted when I went to get a cat. Even accepting any cat, because of their overly onerous restrictions, I was waiting over a year and no 'suitable' cat became available. This pushes more people towards gettig a cat from gumtree etc, affecting demand. FWIW I ended up adopting a cat from abroad, it was actually cheaper than an adopted cat from the uk. I have no doubt my cat would not have been placed with me thru an uk agency as he was skittish, scared, traumatised etc (hes from a country with piss poor animal rights and god knows what he was put through) and I already had a cat/dog/kids/live on a main road. 2 years later and hes the sweetest sookiest cat you'll ever see. Try cretan animal protection, they are on facebook.

Cats are happiest alone (unless they're siblings or mother/ kitten sometimes). Unless you have a massive house you'll likely end up with two stressed cats.

This really isn't always the case and I wish people wouldn't peddle it like it's 100% fact.

We have two cats - both rescues and not related. They get on like a house on fire. They play together, sleep together, share food bowls and litter trays. They've never ever fought and we've had them as a pair for three years now.

It's not guaranteed that two cats will hate each other - it depends largely on their personality, the layout of your house and the age and genders of the animals involved. Ours are a neutered male/female pair and we introduced the older male when the kitten was one. Like I said, never had an issue.

I agree with the idea that cats generally hate other cats.

I got a dog from an advert on Gumtree. Someone rehoming due to change of circumstance. Was able to talk to previous owner at length about the dog, see the environment he was coming from etc. Getting a pet from private advertising can work, as it has for us.

Post don't buy a cat from Gumtree. If the rescue shelters won't let you adopt, you need to seriously consider whether you're a suitable person to adopt.

Why on earth would you buy a kitten? You are encouraging people to breed animals for profit when there are cats in shelters. How do you know your cat wants a kitten? What if they hate each other? If your cat is bored, provide cat trees and toys to entertain him. Not a kitten from Gumtree.

This really isn't always the case

But it is the case often. And then instead of one bored cat, there are two fighting cats. This is a gamble and if the context is a small flat in lockdown? Not a smart gamble.

@Badoukas Did you have to pay for the dog or were they happy to see it go to a good home as they could no longer keep it?

There's a huge difference. If people can make money from unregulated breeding, it's typically bad news for animal welfare, and more sales encourage more breeding.

Our cat had an accidental litter and we rehomed the resulting kittens with family and friends who had been turned down from rescues for really random reasons.
They just donated kitten food as the mother was eating that during pregnancy and beyond as it’s higher fat content and was better for her.

If we didn’t have homes already waiting I’d have terminated and not continued with her pregnancy, however they are responsible owners and didn’t pay me a penny.

Some offered what the going rate was on gumtree etc but I refused as its irresponsible for her to have had a litter in the first place (I felt terrible) and didn’t want to be making money off an animal having had babies

But it is the case often. And then instead of one bored cat, there are two fighting cats. This is a gamble and if the context is a small flat in lockdown? Not a smart gamble.

Most shelters will allow you to return a cat if they don't get on in your existing situation. There are also plenty of guides online about introducing strange cats into a home with a pre-existing cat.

If the cats are going to live in a small flat anyway, the fact that we're in lockdown is pretty irrelevant anyway.

You are kidding yourself that another cat would be good for your present cat. Cats do no like other cats. Do you not think that binging another cat into your home would seriously put your present cat's nose out of joint? I have 2 cats from the same litter, (thinking they would be nice company for each other) and they just tolerate each other. If you think she is bored then just give her extra attention. Buy a Yeoww cat nip toy off Anazon, and watch her have great fun for with it (other makes not so good )

I've never had a problem having multiple cats, many people have multiple. It's also ok to have indoor only cats.

I think rescues really do themselves no favours by turning genuine people away. If you want a kitten, then there's no problem buying one. Maybe talk to your vet and let them know you're looking. My vets do a wonderful community service with kitties (all animals actually) and will look after strays including pregnant kitties and rehome mum and the litter with desexing vouchers.

Your cat doesn’t need any more company and certainly won’t appreciate you bringing in a new cat. Cats are solitary creatures and prefer to be the only cat in a home. That’s not to say they won’t be happy growing up with their mum or a sibling, or even saying hello to other cats outside, but stop putting your needs before the best interests of your cat’s.

Most shelters will allow you to return a cat if they don't get on in your existing situation

The OP is talking about buying a kitten from Gumtree. Not getting one from a shelter. Getting a kitten to entertain an adult cat is a really bad idea. Doing it in a tiny flat? Irresponsible.

So sad that do many shelters restrict very good home owners on the basis of lack of garden. My sister in law got a car from a shelter last year in Spain. She's in a flat. The cat is a very happy kitty. She was 9 months when she got her.

Many people live in flat in Spain and have cats. The rules in the UK are too strict which then leads to people going on gumtree and poor rescue cats not getting the opportunity of a lovely home with caring owners.

Could you rehome a cat? I got my gorgeous 8month old girl for £20

www.pets4homes.co.uk/search/?type_id=2&advert_type=2&maxprice=150&results=20&sort=datenew#

YABU to buy a kitten from scum-tree.

The poor pregnant cat will be repeatedly pregnant so the unscrupulous owners can use her to rake in cash. This is a despicable practice and not one any decent cat lover should encourage.

Go to your rescue place. Thousands of kittens and cats need homes. They will be health checked, neutered and microchipped. This is the responsible thing to do. Look up your local cats protection rescue and tell them they’d like to adopt. Explain your situation.

Generally speaking cats aren’t like people or dogs in that they don’t need company in the same way pack animals do. They like their own company. They are very territorial too and they attach to places not other cats or to humans. Introducing a new cat into what has been her undisputed territory is very likely to disturb your current pet and cause behavioural issues.

Shelters are fussy because they know that cats deserve a good home. Flats are not usually a good home for a cat. If your current cat is bored, that's because you don't play with her. Cats need stimulation. There is no guarantee that another cat will become a companion to your existing cat. It could equally easily become an enemy - especially in a confined space.

Cats are solitary creatures and prefer to be the only cat in a home

I totally agree. They are often made miserably by feline company and kittens are likely to exasperate an adult cat. I have two cats, both rescues. I am lucky enough to have a large garden. They have separate areas and avoid each other. If they were in a flat together, it would be carnage.

Please don’t buy a cat online, doing that encourages back yard breeders.

If you want to be a responsible pet owner please get a rescue or buy a GCCF or FIFe registered kitten. Having a registered parent isn’t enough, the kitten must be registered.

The OP is talking about buying a kitten from Gumtree. Not getting one from a shelter. Getting a kitten to entertain an adult cat is a really bad idea. Doing it in a tiny flat? Irresponsible.

I know. I said in my first post not to buy one online and to go to a shelter instead :)

I just don’t believe that people should profiteer from kittens like this

@Jamandbreadd

I agree. If you buy a kitten from Gumtree, you are helping people make money from breeding animals for profit. Why do you want to do that? A kitten could make your cat really unhappy. Why do you want to risk that?

Quote from the PDSA: Cats like their own company and should generally be kept on their own. Living with other cats is a common cause of chronic stress which, in turn, can cause all sorts of health issues for your cat. It is sometimes possible for cats from the same litter to live together.

We paid £100 for two a couple of months back again from Gumtree. Would have gone for rescues but again were deemed unsuitable.

£50 doesn’t cover costs of increased feed or first jabs and worming/fleas (or certainly didn’t when my parents cat had its last litter) so I felt somewhat guilty paying that little. Breakeven once you include all up costs of a litter is probably closer to £100.

If you are looking for a pet £200 a cat is small beer once you start looking at annual feed and vet fees. If it’s a pest controller you only leave a few biscuits out for to hold it in place you can get a lot of poison for the same investment.