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New kitten is very sick. Seller will take no responsibility

389 replies

Sp3849 · 10/03/2021 12:18

So Friday evening I purchased a little sphynx kitten. When I got there it was clear the kitten was underweight but apart from being boney and dry skinned she was playing and inquisitive. I was told she was in good health was given her vaccine record. She was born very small and was 11 weeks old needed her second vaccine this week. I Asked to see mum and she explained that she had bought this kitten days before and had to sell her due to her other cat not liking it. She showed me pics of the kitten with mum and gave me the vax records with breeders details on. As soon as we got home she had bloody diarrhea I contacted her straight away and she seemed genuinely shocked and concerned. Said it was most likely the stress of journey. By Saturday evening the dhe diarrhea had continued all day and she wasn't eating. The lady wasn't responding to me. I Contacted a vet who said it was most likely the stress of the move and too keep her hydrated. I still didn't feel happy so tracked down her breeder on Facebook and she was shocked she had been resold and was very helpful explained she had been weaned onto a raw diet and was used to that and the biscuits the lady had been feeding her were probably the cause. I went straight out and bought her the recommended food and some fluid replenishment drinks and she ate fine after that, the diarrhea eased and became less runny and bloody. By Sunday night she devoloped bad eyes and was sneezing. This got worse throughout Monday she stopped eating agaim and I rang the vet. The vet explained she was severely dehydrated and that she had an infection. I had to go again yesterday and I also have to take her back again today. It is costing a fortune. Which i don't mind but the woman I bought her off is denying she was ill saying she had diarrhea but was fine! That she didn't have her long enough to make her sick and that this is my fault and she won't take her back (I wouldn't of taken her back to her anyway) she won't refund me and she won't contribute too vet fees. I am more upset about what she has done to this poor kitten. The photos the breeder sent me of the day she left hers it's just heartbreaking too see how much weight she lost. It is touch and go at the moment and I am just angry. I feel she should take some responsibility for what she has done. Am I being unreasonable to expect her to contribute? Where do I stand with this? There is a good likely hood this cat may not live and I have spent 1300 on it so far and not to mention my children and how upsetting it all is

OP posts:
SirVixofVixHall · 17/03/2021 16:06

OP I am so terribly sad to see your update. How heartbreaking for you and your family. Flowers

worried3012 · 17/03/2021 16:13

I'm sorry, poor little thing.I was really holding out that she was going to continue to thrive.

At least in the time she spent with you she would have felt loved and comforted.

Nothingyet · 17/03/2021 16:29

@DianaT1969

There are a lot of similar stories of buying privately on Moneysavingexpert and the answers are that there isn't much you can do, in terms of trading standards. I guess you could try Small Claims Court, but it would be a gamble.
You won't get much any joy from SCC if the seller just refuses to pay.
Wavescrashingonthebeach · 17/03/2021 16:40

So sorry OP Flowers.
I know its devastating but please use this situation to help educate and spread awareness about responsible pet breeding / buying amongst everyone you know and on your social media.
Yes, you will get stick off people who will berate you for you should have known better, but there's someone else out there who could make the same mistake and your story could help them know better.

Dasher789 · 17/03/2021 16:46

so sorry op Flowers i was late to the thread and reading each page with more and more hope. i hope that you can take some comfort in the fact that for the time you had Tinkerbell, she knew she was much loved and part of your family and enjoyed spending the time she could cuddled up with you all. Please don't let this experience put you off cats in the future. Best wishes and to your child too, I hope they are doing okay.

RoseLimeade · 17/03/2021 16:50

@Wavescrashingonthebeach

So sorry OP Flowers. I know its devastating but please use this situation to help educate and spread awareness about responsible pet breeding / buying amongst everyone you know and on your social media. Yes, you will get stick off people who will berate you for you should have known better, but there's someone else out there who could make the same mistake and your story could help them know better.
I wouldn’t personally judge someone who’d made the mistake of buying a pedigree animal but then learned from it and was spreading awareness to others, I’d have a lot of respect. It hopefully will prevent some people in the future from continuing to fund this awful practice.

Adopt, don’t shop.

Sorry for your loss OP.

Mumdiva99 · 17/03/2021 16:53

So so sorry. Poor little Tink. She was so gorgeous.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 17/03/2021 17:19

@RoseLimeade

Yes, hopefully most people would be the same as you and respect them for it, but there's always going to be that one person who wants to have a go.

makingmammaries · 17/03/2021 17:22

I am very sorry, OP. Just as it looked like things were going to be OK. It will take a while to get over this. Your DS is going to need a new pet. You don’t need me to tell you, but choose with great, great care.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 17/03/2021 17:37

I'm so sorry, poor you, poor little baby Flowers

bpirockin · 17/03/2021 17:37

I'm so sorry to hear this, heartbreaking. Just keep reminding yourself that you did your best to do right by her, and she knew love.

Big hugs.

LApprentiSorcier · 17/03/2021 17:47

Oh, no, that's heartbreaking. I'm so sorry. You had her for such a short time but I am sure she will stay in your heart forever Flowers.

eurochick · 17/03/2021 17:48

I'm sorry to hear that. You tried so hard for her.

Closetbeanmuncher · 17/03/2021 18:25

I'm really sorry OP what a horrible decision to have to make, she was certainly loved before she passed away and would have sensed that.

R.I.P little tinkerbell xx

RandomMess · 17/03/2021 18:39

ThanksThanksThanksThanks

RedPandaFluff · 17/03/2021 21:02

Oh @OP I'm so sorry! You did your best for her Thanks

RaelImperialAerosolKid · 18/03/2021 07:34

So sorry - hope your son is ok.

Closetbeanmuncher · 18/03/2021 09:01

@Sp3849 how are you and your son doing? X

Sp3849 · 18/03/2021 09:57

@Closetbeanmuncher honestly we are heartbroken. I feel extremely guilty and angry and just devastated. Exhausted too. I am thinking today that I need to make sure that they don't do this to anyone else. I have tried to contact them to tell them we had to have her put down but they blocked me a few days ago after I sent them copies of the bills they requested to see. It's not about the money anymore. It's more about what they have done. They knew the circumstances in why we were getting tink. They knew she was poorly they admitted this when I spoke to them last week that she had been unwell. With them the week before I had bought her. But they said they just put it down to a change in diet and didn't take her to the vet. I am so angry and broken that their are such heartless awful people in the world and I am so angry with myself for believing them and supporting such a dirty industry really. I am going to put my efforts in to trying to rectify my mistake. In hope that others don't make my mistake and that these people cannot own or breed animals again. I will start with rspca and trading standards any other suggestions or advice is grateley appreciated x

OP posts:
DenisetheMenace · 18/03/2021 10:02

So sorry for your loss.

It used to be legal to sell animals from market stalls. These websites are the modern equivalent and need to be made illegal too.

Beamur · 18/03/2021 10:03

What a sad outcome. At least you did the best you could for this little kitten.
Hope your son is ok. You've all been through an emotional wringer.

windymillertheecowarrior · 18/03/2021 10:16

I am sorry to read that your kitten has died. Kind of you to let everyone know.

IntermittentParps · 18/03/2021 10:20

I'm very sorry, OP. Thanks
Please try not to be angry with yourself and to channel the anger to what you so rightly call this 'dirty industry' instead.
As well as the rspca and Trading Standards, remember the GCCF.

ChequerBoard · 18/03/2021 11:39

Yes, please remember to report the original breeder to the GCCF. Poor Tinkerbell was far too young to have been parted from her mother when she was originally sold. her problems began with that heartless sale.

https://www.gccfcats.org/About-GCCF/Making-a-complaint

It may be worth checking the list of suspended breeders to see if yours has already been added to the list:

https://www.gccfcats.org/About-GCCF/Suspension-List

So sorry you and especially your DS have had to go through this. Thanks

Closetbeanmuncher · 18/03/2021 11:56

You have nothing to feel guilty for OP the fault lies with the breeder and the seller.

You did the very best you could do for her, my guess is that she either had an extreme worm infestation or the previous owner (or breeder) used clumping litter and this may have been stuck in her bowels. Kittens are naturally curious and I know when my boy first came to me he had a litter chomping fetish that stopped when I put him on a high quality diet.

I can't believe they blocked you, disgusting behavior. Please don't beat yourself up, it truly isn't your fault.

Xx

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