Bidding wars over animals

[StormzyInaDCup]

We have been looking for a new kitten to replace the gap our late cat left. After looking on all the sites and contacting a few sellers, I'm finding that they are actually taking bids on the animals (after advertising them for a set price), as they have that much interest in them.

AIBU to find it unsettling that domestic animals are almost being auctioned, rather than found loving homes?

It doesn't have to be one of the other. You can check on all the candidates and if two are as good prospect, it make sense to go for who offers most.

I am not an expert of cats, but any breeder allowing a bidding war over a puppy would have me running for the hills.

They would not be a breeder I would entertain giving even a £1 of my money.

Yes agreed they can’t be a very good breeder if all they care about is £!

Are there no rescues around that have kittens?

Having grown up on a farm, where we have sent animals off to auction, and bought from there, I don't see the difference.
If a horse less needing of feed and care than a cat? No one goes bananas when there is a new colt up for bids!

Please try the rescue centres first...so many cats desperate for loving homes.

But why assuming that they only care about the money? It's a bit if an unfair assumptions.

There is more demand and more good families to welcome pets. No point in being bitter if another good or maybe even better family than yours could offer more.

If the breeder is doing no checks at all, they were crap breeders in the first place anyway.

@seafog I did think that initially, but personally I think there's a difference with domestic animals. It seems uncaring to me to do that to a domestic, livestock I get.

I have given the breeders a piece of my mind. Its not about the money, Its the attitude. I won't get into a bidding war over an animal... We are on sanctuary waiting lists 😊

@dontdisturbmenow none of them have been interested in taking up my offer of home checks.

I keep getting the same replies. So and so offered more money, can you better it? I find it sad.

It’s disturbing, and obviously these aren’t reputable sources for these animals. I wouldn’t go anywhere near a cat ‘breeder’ anyway.

Why does it have to be a kitten? Thousands of rescue cats waiting for loving homes. Get in touch with your local cat rescues I am sure they will be able to offer a cat.

@Proudboomer because the male cat we have won't accept an older cat. That's why it needs to be a kitten, so he accepts it. Not for the cuteness factor....

Sanctuaries just don't have kittens. I guess lockdown has just led to madness with animals.

Because these animals are not being sent off to auction - in which case prospectiove owners are already aware of the process.

They are being sold for a price and then prospectove owners are finding themselves in a bidding war. The additonal moral aspect is that propestive pet owners tend to be much more emotionally invested in the process than prospective livestock owners - thus the ask for extra money comes across as a play on those emotions.

As the breeder is someone (at least with dogs) who I would want some form of relationship with for the rest of the dogs life - e.g. support, advice, in the worst case scenario to return the dog - then I would not want to start that relationship in this way.

Rescue animal all the way. We are supposed to be one of the most animal-loving nations in the world which is surprising given how many end up in rescue. We have 15 of different species, apart from two abandoned kittens, the rest were adult and pretty knackered when we homed them and they are blooming now.

I am near County Durham and I know of rescue dkittens available

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Bidding for/auctioning of animals must be the most common way they get sold or do you only object to it for non edible ones?

They shouldn't be advertising them at a fixed price though

@PawsAndPhytoncides you articulated what I failed to, so beautifully as well. Thank you.

@onetc not where I'm from. As for the passive aggressive comment, no. I object to people putting money over welfare and playing on buyers emotions. If I wanted an auction, I'd enter one.

@Santaisironingwrappingpaper I've seen lots in County Durham too. I'm in the midlands.

@CunnyLingus what an amazing job you've done! How lovely that they are thriving and in lovely homes now.

Rescues do have kittens. You may have to wait.
Don’t give your money to people who don’t care enough about animal welfare to get their animals neutered instead of flogging their babies online to the highest bidder.

I took a look at a local cat sanctuary yesterday and lots of the cats are reserved for after lockdown. Can't you do that rather than pay a lot of money to potentially unsavory, irresponsible breeders?

I object to people putting money over welfare and playing on buyers emotions. If I wanted an auction, I'd enter one.

Yes I agreed with that but that wasn't your AIBU

Wasn’t there a lady last week with a farm and a billion cats? She had kittens I believe. Maybe you could contact her?

Contact your vet. They often know people with unhomed litters . ( or have vet nurses like my old vet nurse who was disturbingly successful at rehoming cats....)

@Wolfiefan you are right. I had not thought about it like that.

@Crankley thank you, I haven't seen anything like that. I'll look 🙂

You might find your existing cat would accept a very young cat. We got our last pair from a rescue that fosters. So they had a good idea of what the cats were like.
I spent Saturday afternoon socialising some lovely young rescue cats if you’re near Glos!!

Do not buy from any one who does bidding. Also point it out to site admins as this is not norally allowed on fb sites.

We got ours because our 8yo male dcat lost his dbro in April and has been distressed..
9 days in he is washing her already!! So glad we got her.
Hope you have the same success when you do eventually get one op.