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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
KotoMoto · 04/05/2020 13:32

YABU to even consider supporting people who breed cats for profit. Just go to the Cats Protection League.

Thelnebriati · 04/05/2020 13:33

For that kind of money I'd expect a valid certificate of worming and vaccination from a vet and a weeks supply of food.

VictoriaBun · 04/05/2020 13:34

We got our cat as a kitten from an animal rescue, she was litter trained. Ok it was 7 years ago now and was £25. I do know they now ask for £50 but this would be where I'd go again and recommend everyone wanting a non pedigree to go too.

Cherrysoup · 04/05/2020 13:34

A mate was looking for a kitten recently and I asked on a local Facebook page for charities/rescues. Within 5 minutes, I found 3, all with kittens available for after lockdown. Gumtree is a horrible place to look.

Ijustneed · 04/05/2020 13:36

I think the reason prices are high at the moment is because the rescue centres aren't rehoming due to the lockdown, so people who are stuck at home and think a pet as company would be nice are buying kittens and puppies instead, people with kittens and puppies to sell are taking advantage of this. I've seen lots of comments online that dog breeders have had unprecedented demand. Puppies certainly seem to have become more expensive.

PerfidiousAlbion · 04/05/2020 13:42

It’s to stop people buying them for dog fights and other ‘sports.’

Please dont buy an animal though, there are literally tens of thousands in shelters up and down the country. Average cost is £60.

PerfidiousAlbion · 04/05/2020 13:45

Oh god, Ive just read that you live in a flat with a balcony and already have a cat. Please dont add another creature to this limited set up. Ive lived in flats myself by the way and deliberately waited until i had a house with a large garden before getting a cat. Your other cat isnt lonely, trust me. Theyre solitary animals.

CaptainButtock · 04/05/2020 13:58

You'll be wanting Battersea Dogs home (not just dogs) Not sure if it's open now though?
GumtreeHmm

MayDayFightsBack · 04/05/2020 14:20

There's a lot of shite written on here about cats being solitary creatures. As with human beings cats are all individuals, some like other cats in general, some don't. Some form close bonds with particular other cats, some dislike another particular cat on sight. Personally, I've always had at least two cats because I've always found that they are good company for one another and de-stress one another when they go to the vets or when they go into a cattery when we are on holiday.

Some of my cats have been closer than others but they've all spent a lot of other time together and it's very obvious they get comfort from one another. One of my cats grieved for a year when one of my other cats died (they weren't related). Another cat cried and searched the house for days when another one went into a veterinary hospital for an operation.

It's very important to introduce cats to one another properly though. It's best to introduce a cat of the opposite sex - if you have a male, get a female and vice versa, as the existing cat will find it less threatening. Also, if your cat isn't really old (don't get a kitten if you have a really old cat, it will be too much for them) then get a kitten. An older cat will find a kitten - particularly one of the opposite sex - much less threatening and will give them 'kitten licence' in a way they won't an older cat.

icedgem85 · 04/05/2020 14:55

Don't be so cruel! You shouldn't keep cats inside with no garden. If your existing cat doesn't get on with the new one, imagine how awful that will be. Also it doesn't sound like you have space for the cat you have, let alone another. YABU for that alone, plus buying pets off Gumtree... are you mad? Get the hint from the rescue centre - it isn't appropriate for you to have another cat.

Hingeandbracket · 04/05/2020 15:02

What is a "moggy kitten" exactly?

Thurmanmurman · 04/05/2020 15:03

Maydayfightsback. It's not shite though is it, it's a well known fact. Sure cats can and often do get on, but cats don't sit there longing for a cat friend. I think you're getting confused with dogs.

Hingeandbracket · 04/05/2020 15:10

Our two cats were supposed to sisters according to the rescue place. Maybe they were. They hated each other and divided each house we inhabited up so they each had a territory and they would hiss at each other if one entered the other's territory.

ducksback · 04/05/2020 15:12

I have to say that I agree with Mayday. I have four cats who adore each other and are all rescue and non related. They are all spayed/neutered and are a very happy team.

GreyishDays · 04/05/2020 15:19

@Hingeandbracket a moggy is a non pedigree. So just a cat, you know, black, ginger, tabby. Not a Siamese/Burmese etc.

(We have ‘just’ a cat btw, I’m not putting them down Smile)

midnightstar66 · 04/05/2020 15:33

Due to easy access of cheap or free spaying there aren't nearly as many moggy kittens available these days, the cats you'll find on gumtree etc are likely pedigree cats which is why they cost more.

MayDayFightsBack · 04/05/2020 18:05

@Thurmanmurman I think you're getting confused actually as I said nothing about cats longing for a friend. My post was all about looking at cats individually and not making sweeping statements.

SallyWD · 04/05/2020 18:14

I would ask a shelter for a house cat. They often have them. To be honest I don't think it's ideal to have a cat in a flat and your current cat is likely to get very stressed if you introduce another one.

JRUIN · 04/05/2020 18:15

Living in a flat with no garden you shouldn't even have one cat, let alone two. Get a gerbil.

Thurmanmurman · 04/05/2020 18:19

No you actually said it was a load of shite that cats are solitary animals, which is not true because they are. Anyway I'm not arguing about bloody cats on the internet, lockdown boredom or not. Have a nice day.

grumpyorange · 04/05/2020 18:32

OP I sympathise.
We really wanted a cat or kitten and no rescues would rehome to us as we lived on the corner of a road that conjoined with a main road. Even though we'd had cats previously etc.

It may be worth ringing round different rescues or asking your local vets if they know of any litters. Mine has a notice bored advertising.

Dullardmullard · 04/05/2020 20:05

What the hell is this get from a rescue coming from

Get from a reputable breeder instead,because you have no idea what you are actually getting from rescue as they have no clue on the background unless kittens or pups are born on premises but even then you won’t know parentage.

I live on a very busy road and have one cat that lives indoors so it can be done we did have 3 but the other 2 died of old age. None related either.

As for cats being solitary, like there own company what hogwash animals of any kind can like their own company but 99% want company of their own kind.

There are sites for breeders of cats OP if you look.

ducksback · 04/05/2020 20:13

No you actually said it was a load of shite that cats are solitary animals, which is not true because they are

No they are not. You are wrong and clearly no very little about them!

What the hell is this get from a rescue coming from

Why not rescue when there are so many animals in need of a good home?

midnightstar66 · 04/05/2020 20:17

My sil has several house cats (they are mostly ragdolls, you couldn't chase them out) they definitely don't seem solitary from the large pile of sleeping cats I see whenever I go round

BelfryBat · 04/05/2020 20:21

Cats that have grown up together are different. I wouldn't keep any cat in a flat without a garden, but introducing a second one is asking for trouble. Cats are very very territorial. Don't do it, OP.