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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I feel a bit anxious

43 replies

Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 18:53

I am getting another kitten.

They are going very fast atm and as soon as you message anyone they have gone or been “reserved” for a better word.

I messaged someone about a kitten and asked if we could come and see it (taking precautions obviously). I have seen photos of the kitten and the person has added me on FB but three times now they have cancelled me going to see the kitten (the reasons are symptoms of covid, waiting for a test result and it not being convenient). The second time when I tried to rearrange they then said they couldn’t keep it indefinitely without a deposit as they had had so much interest in it. I said fine and sent a deposit online - (we have a couple of mutual friends on FB who have said they have no concerns about them).

I am not bothered about the money particularly although obviously it would be shit to be ripped off, but is it normal atm for people not to see a pet before they commit.

AIBU to expect to be able to see her with her mother before I agree to buy her?

OP posts:
HowFastIsTooFast · 13/10/2020 19:01

Yes it's completely unreasonable not to see any baby animal with it's mother before you buy them, but (in my honest opinion) it's also a bit unreasonable to buy a kitten from a breeder when there are so many in animal shelters desperate from adoption.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 19:03

She’s not a breeder, she’s just selling her own cats kittens and I want to have a kitten because I have another cat who is 2 whose sister was killed in the summer and I don’t think he will take well to an older cat with set habits.

OP posts:
Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 19:05

...and none of my local rescue centres have kittens as clearly no one is abandoning them atm as they are worth so much money...

OP posts:
mrscatmad31 · 13/10/2020 19:06

That's a breeder... Yeah it's really not a good idea tbh

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 19:08

I had a cat once that had two kittens and I sold them - that does not make me a breeder ....

OP posts:
Florencex · 13/10/2020 19:10

@HowFastIsTooFast

Yes it's completely unreasonable not to see any baby animal with it's mother before you buy them, but (in my honest opinion) it's also a bit unreasonable to buy a kitten from a breeder when there are so many in animal shelters desperate from adoption.
Oh put a sock in it. OP is entitled to get a kitten and doesn’t need to justify it.
TORDEVAN · 13/10/2020 19:15

When I was getting a kitten the biggest advice I got was to make sure you see them with the mother and meet them before you commit. So I wouldn't have even paid a deposit without meeting them x

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 19:18

I know I need to see it with it’s mother but it seemed the only way was to put a deposit down to “secure it”, in the current climate it’s bloody tricky as everyone is getting pets (which in itself is slightly alarming).

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 13/10/2020 19:19

She’s not a breeder? She’s just someone who can’t be arsed to spay their cat or someone who would rather put their cat’s health at risk so they can keep flogging the kittens.
Walk away.
Rescue. Wait if you have to.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 19:27

Thanks for the helpful replies 👍🏻

OP posts:
Florencex · 13/10/2020 19:43

You absolutely need to see the kitten in person before putting down a deposit.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 20:02

What I was asking really was what have other people’s experiences been during the pandemic of buying a pet?

Sorry I should have been clearer in my OP that I wasn’t asking for others unsolicited opinions and judgements of my perfectly responsible behaviour.

OP posts:
LST · 13/10/2020 20:07

Granted my situation was slightly different as the person I had my 'accidental litter kitten' from was a woman I went to school with, though we weren't 'friends'. I didnt see the kitten with the mum in person. I was happy with pictures. How much is she charging? Mine was 30 quid with a 12 quid bag of food and wormers thrown in.

Suzi888 · 13/10/2020 20:12

I’d want to see the kitten with its mum in one way, but is it health tested etc? Do they health test cats Hmm
We’ve only ever adopted rescues / dumped pregnant cats. I’m going back over 20 years though.

1Morewineplease · 13/10/2020 20:16

Do not pay a deposit before seeing the kitten.
Find another source.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 20:16

When I got my two 2 years ago I took them to the vet as soon as I got them and got them checked. I paid £180 for two, 2 years ago but they are all £300 + each atm and dogs have doubled (due to the craze for getting pets during the pandemic).

I am paying £200 for 1 which will be wormed and fleaed which I agree is absolutely outrageous but I have quite specific requirements and this one is ready when I have a week booked off work and I have been looking for a while and don’t have any friends who have kittens.

OP posts:
LST · 13/10/2020 20:28

They aren't accidental litter prices. They are full blown making money out of my cat prices! If you're paying that much I would definitely want to see kitten first.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 20:40

Everyone is charging that amount on gumtree and anywhere that I have seen advertising pets.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 13/10/2020 21:40

So don’t shop on gumtree where people flog the offspring of the cats they should get neutered. Angry

HowFastIsTooFast · 13/10/2020 21:46

£200-£300 for a kitten off Gumtree that you can't see with it's Mum? Please walk away OP. At best you'll get scammed, at worst you'll contribute to an 'industry' that seeks to make money out of mistreating animals.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, in MY opinion you should adopt, but if you must go to a breeder then please find a legit one, even if that means waiting for your kitten.

If your summation that there's some kind of rush on pets during the pandemic is correct, shelters will likely be chock full of no longer wanted young cats and dogs this time next year Hmm

DDiva · 13/10/2020 22:06

To be honest I be concerned if there was a cat at all ! If she keeps cancelling the delay in paying a deposit is her fault not yours. I wouldn't want to deal with someone like this.

Snog · 13/10/2020 22:11

I am having the same problems as there is such a shortage of cats right now and it is a sellers market.

I've been offered FaceTime viewings but I want to see the kitten in RL. I've cery sadly come to terms with waiting 6 months and trying again next year.

Wolfiefan · 13/10/2020 22:18

I volunteer at a rescue. As soon as one leaves another comes in. Three Or four litters of kittens.
That’s just one rescue.
Don’t buy from someone cashing in and failing to do the responsible thing and neuter. Rescue.
That way at least you get a healthy and healthy checked animal. Even if you don’t care about the welfare of the mother.

Original poster
Besswess88 · 13/10/2020 23:12

Right - lots of people sell cats on Gumtree. Not all are “irresponsible breeders”.

Lots of people let their cats have one litter (I had my last girl neutered and she did not but my other cat did and I gave one away and kept one).

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the two cats I brought from a family home on Gumtree, they were seen with the mother and father and in perfect health.

It is a sellers market, people are getting pets and people also are out of work and need money.

People need to wind their judgemental necks in. My cat was killed and I want to get another young cat for company for her brother before he gets too used to being alone and becomes hostile.

OP posts:
Utilityroomenvy · 13/10/2020 23:21

No one is being judgemental - you are being irresponsible. I paid (7 years ago) £40 each for two young adult cats, fully spayed / wormed / flea treated from the Cats Protection League. £300?! Ridiculous. No reason why you can’t introduce a rescue cat/kitten into your household if you do it properly. But you clearly want a new pretty pet and won’t be discouraged otherwise.