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AIBU?

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Original poster

Kitten sellers taking the piss!!?

226 replies

Jamandbreadd · 04/05/2020 10:41

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 Hmm 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?!

OP posts:
Floofymcfloof · 04/05/2020 12:36

They do have outside time - I spent thousands and thousands cat proofing my large garden so they experience that every day - right now my girls are sprawled out whilst I garden. I am breeding a specific breed, therefore temperament and type are a known quantity. I do not agree with or condone accidental litters. My kittens are neutered at 12 weeks to prevent this happening, as I feel it is my responsibility. No kittens from me can end up contributing to these oops litters and rescues. I personally love my breed, I know their temperaments inside out, you know what you are getting. For example, someone who wants a cuddly lap cat is perhaps not going to want a Bengal, with a moggy you don't know what you're getting. I dont believe that good and reputable breeders contribute to the rescue issue as we are early neutering and very carefully selecting homes. I also have a contract which states that if there is any change of circumstance the cat must be returned to me and not sold or rehomed and therefore they aren't ending him in rescue. I know where every single kitten I have ever sold is and am in contact with every single owner, to date all are happy and I have not had to take one back, if the time ever came I would take the cat back, as per the contract.

BusyProcrastinator · 04/05/2020 12:39

Goddard vets (a chain) will do a kitten with jabs and neutering for £90- if/when they get strays.

BovaryX · 04/05/2020 12:40

The thing is though, what happens to the kittens that don’t get bought?! The amount that get dumped around here is shocking and so sad and often they are not found alive

This is just one of the ugly, cruel consequences of people selling animals for profit on sites like Gumtree. I find it really hard to understand how anyone who cares about animals wants to encourage this. If you buy kittens online? That is exactly what you are doing.

TheRoyallingStones · 04/05/2020 12:41

YABU for buying an animal on gumtree, I can’t take anyone’s claims of responsible pet ownership seriously if they think gumtree is a suitable place to purchase a living creature

Thingsthatgo · 04/05/2020 12:42

if You take out the morality of breeding cats, people are allowed to sell whatever they like for whatever price they fancy. If they don’t sell at that price, that their problem. It’s like any other commodity in that respect, it is worth whatever someone is prepared to pay for it.
(Before anyone hits the roof, I know that a cat isn’t a commodity, and I personally wouldn’t buy an animal from gumtree. But this is just buying/selling and people are not obliged to sell things at an affordable price just so people can buy them.)

userxx · 04/05/2020 12:45

YABU for buying an animal on gumtree, I can’t take anyone’s claims of responsible pet ownership seriously if they think gumtree is a suitable place to purchase a living creature

It's seriously depressing and just shows the ignorance of so many people.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 04/05/2020 12:46

We found our lovely cat on Gumtree - I was idly scrolling and just "knew" she was ours. Her previous family were rehoming her because she was stressed and unhappy with their boisterous toddler, and they had another baby on the way. We didn't pay anything, although I did give them gift vouchers for the Disney Store for their little one. They gave us her bed, blanket, dishes, litter tray, toys and so on with her so she would settle in.

She's been here for three years now - currently snoozing in her basket on the kitchen table because I'm working here - and is the most loved cat in town. We keep in touch with her previous family still. She had been mainly an indoor cat with them, now she has a huge garden, trees to climb, and the roof of our shed to sit on and survey her land.

We'd been desperate to adopt a cat from a shelter (not even a kitten) but they were snapped up before we could even visit them. Not everyone who adopts from Gumtree is going to use the cat for dog fighting bait or be a bad owner.

Thurmanmurman · 04/05/2020 12:46

My advice. Don't get a kitten, opt for a slightly older indoor cat from a shelter. Cats do not need the company of other cats, they are solitary animals. I speak from experience as I got a kitten a few years ago and my poor old boy didn't appreciate it one bit. The two tolerate each other now but initially he was very put out. If you are demermined to have another, a quieter indoor cat from a shelter is your best bet, but don't do it for your other cat, they couldn't give a shite about company!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 04/05/2020 12:47

Given that you are in London @thecatneuterer might have some advice.

Bollss · 04/05/2020 12:47

You live in a flat with no garden?? It would be cruel to keep a cat there

eh why? plenty of cats live happily as house cats.

Burntmybiscuits · 04/05/2020 12:48

YABU for looking on gumtree rather than rescuing a cat when there are literally thousands out there needing a loving home...

RainMustFall · 04/05/2020 13:00

I'm beyond shocked that people have bought and are considering buying an animal from Gumtree. 99.99% of the sellers are scum who breed for the money and don't give a damn about the health and welfare of any of their animals. Please don't do it. Same goes for pet shops.

Hoppinggreen · 04/05/2020 13:04

You live in a flat with a garden and already have a cat, 2 very good reasons NOT to get another cat.

Littlemeadow123 · 04/05/2020 13:05

@Floofymcfloof

When you buy of gumtree, you don't know whether the breeder follows good practices or bad. If you buy a puppy or kitten on gumtree, even from a good breeder, you are enabling bad practices.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

It's not so much that the puppies and kittens go to bad homes (although that is a concern too). It's more a case of the breeders following bad practices and not treating their animals nicely that makes buying from gumtree a bad idea.

heartsonacake · 04/05/2020 13:06

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Purpletigers · 04/05/2020 13:08

If you’re adamant you want a kitten , contact some vets . They often have litters or know where you could get one . Also if you have any way of contacting any farmers they’ll probably give you one for free .

ducksback · 04/05/2020 13:13

I'm beyond shocked that people have bought and are considering buying an animal from Gumtree. 99.99% of the sellers are scum who breed for the money and don't give a damn about the health and welfare of any of their animals. Please don't do it. Same goes for pet shops

Thick, lazy stupid people who want a baby animal NOW. It is heartbreaking.

ALovelyBitOfSquirrel · 04/05/2020 13:19

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NotEnoughTime · 04/05/2020 13:21

Please, please do not buy a moggie (or any other living animal) from Scumtree.
I am not claiming to be an expert on these matters but when I decided to buy a dog a while back I did @ two years research into puppy farms, unethical breeding/selling of animals etc and it really opened my eyes to cruel practise.
I know you have already said that you have been turned down by two rescues (I mean this kindly when I say maybe there is a reason for that) but if you are insistent that you want/need one then I am sure there are many other rescues out there.

Inthepurplerain · 04/05/2020 13:28

The fact a shelter has said no should be enough OP for you to consider that you’re not living in the best conditions to own one cat, never mind another.

Some cats absolutely hate being inside, don’t subject a cat to no choice.

GoldenKelpie · 04/05/2020 13:28

Hope it all works out for you, OP but word of caution, some cats like to be single in a household and may play up when another cat is introduced. I found this out to my cost when many years ago I brought a second cat into my home. I've always regretted causing my original cat stress. Eventually, after a couple of years she did 'accept' the second cat but at least I had a large garden for them to escape to when it all got too much.

Years after my first two cats died I adopted two males kittens and they are both 15 now and even though they are litter brothers, they have spats and fights regularly (sleeping together on the bed too though). I had imagined that they would automatically get on, but no, they are exactly like siblings Grin and I do have to put them outside when they start aggro.

The fact you have a flat with no outside space is a worry. If your original cat takes against your new one, it ain't going to be a pleasant place for anyone in the household (and cats often do protest soiling around the house if they are stressed).

quarantinevibes · 04/05/2020 13:30

YANBU. Unless pedigree with papers they definitely shouldn’t be 100s of pounds. Makes no sense at all, they haven’t paid for a stud, registered the litter, had them vaccinated and microchipped, etc. So what on earth is all the money for? It’s all profit and greed. Well if anyone’s stupid enough to pay more than £50 for a moggy more fool them. I’d say free but the dog bait is a whole other reason people should be be breeding moggies!

quarantinevibes · 04/05/2020 13:30

Shouldn’t be* that should sh

CheapChild · 04/05/2020 13:30

We've had warnings in my city of people being scammed paying for kittens or puppies that do not exist.