New kitten is very sick. Seller will take no responsibility

[Sp3849]

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

She told me she never lets her kittens leave this young but this particular kitten was doing so well and she let the lady have her as she knew the lady

What a load of bollocks.

If she is from a GCCF registered breeder, then contact the GCCF for help and advice.

I hope the kitten will ok and the vets can help her

These shitty breeding practices are rife in the dog world. Seems cats have not escaped it, either.

Breeders and sellers are exploiting an emotional 'loophole' in which they are selling a product but the new owner is buying a loved family member - thus creating an 'opportunity' to take advantage.

No one would spend the kind of money involved in these pets on a material good without proper legal protection. Yet they do it with animals all the time.

All buyers should look firstly at proper legal protection for their money - because that is the way humane protections will be given to the animals bred. This includes proper contracts calling out who is responsible if the animal is unwell. If this was demanded, it would make both parties think about the question in advance and help flush out the responsible sellers vs the chancers.

In this case, there is little legally protecting the OP or the kitten. As always, the animal will pay the highest price of all.

Why has this lady had so many dogs? Also why have you had many cats?

I don’t feel sorry at all for irresponsible pet ownership.

@RoseLimeade

I’ll get flamed for this but YABU to have purchased a kitten like a luxury product (1300!?) from someone who is financially motivated to breed as many of them as possible. You’ve supported an atrocious business model that trades in living beings. Not sure why you’re surprised I have to admit.

The moment you adopted that kitten they became your responsibility. Next time go to a shelter. You don’t get a partial refund on a living being because the quality isn’t to your liking.

If you can afford 1300 on a kitten then I’m sure you have money put aside for vet fees.

This ^^

How young was the kitten when it left its mother? We had some kittens and they left left at 10 weeks as I wouldn't be comfortable with them leaving sooner. The mum cat was still teaching them how to behave and a couple were not fully litter trained until then. I had been asked by a neighbour if I would let her have one at 5 weeks because that's when they're cutest . People are so irresponsible and selfish it's ridiculous.

The fact is the kitten I have is from a reputable breeder gccf registered who I am now in contact with daily and came to my house yesterday to see for herself the state this kitten is in.

Original breeder cannot be reputable, I'm afraid, so a poor start for a delicate breed already. GCCF breeders 'must not sell a kitten or allow it to go to a new home until a minimum of seven days after it has completed the full course of vaccinations. In practice this means when the kitten is at least 13 weeks.'

This poor mite was already off to another home at 11 weeks. Am sure the breeder is keen to help so she doesn't get reported to the GCCF (and she should be).

There are good breeders out there in dogs and cats, but buyers must follow the copious amounts of advice that are available out there to find them.

This is so sad but you ignored warning signals.Its not just puppies who are farmed by irresponsible breeders. I do hope the kitten survives, similar issues with feral kittens have proven expensive. I'd go down the line of the small claims court, it's unlikely the kitten will ever have good health.

Ah well the plot thickens. You’ve been had. The breeder is a bad breeder the dog breeder first buyer is always a bad breeder.

Basically I think. The kitten was allowed to go young because pup/kittens hey she knows what she doing. Turns out nah the kittens not great it’s not thriving oh shit. Fuck it sell it.

And now your here.

It's really awful. I hope you're covered by insurance for this. The kitten is better off with you than with the seller though - I can't imagine they would have taken it to the vet.

You could report the kitten breeder but unless her friend the buyer will back you up I’m guessing you won’t be able to prove when it left etc

Reputable cat breeders typically keep them with the mother until they’re 12 weeks.

You’ve been conned, OP, by the breeder and the seller.

This is so sad, the breeder and both the seller sound dodgy as anything. A friend recently bought a kitten from a FB seller, turns out kitten was 8 weeks and so poorly and it passed away. It is so cruel.

I have 2 rescue cats, bought as kittens from RSPCA, £100 per cat and that included neutering, vaccinations, worming and flea treatments. They are strong and healthy and loving.

It is always worth exploring adoption.

Good luck OP, hope the kitten pulls through and sounds that he/she is lucky to have found you.

Please report the breeder and seller.

I don't want to let my children down

This is where you're going wrong, OP.

You're the parent. You're the adult. You don't let your DC call the shots. If you were as knowledgeable and responsible as you claim, you'd never be in this situation.

You decided to get this kitten as your own so now she is fully YOUR responsibility. You shouldn't have bought a kitten in the first place when so many need adopting, especially one you thought was underweight etc but you did so now it's up to you to take care of her needs. You're the owner now (by choice) so her health is down to you now.

The breeder sounds pretty poor to me. I have pedigree cats (4 of them, we've had 6 in total over the years) who have all been from registered breeders who I checked out. None of them left before 13 weeks and being fully vaccinated, they all came with insurance, and the breeders all stayed in touch, provided food packs and so on.

This poor kitten went off far too young despite being underweight. Dodgy as hell

Antibiotics and back on the raw diet is the best course for the kitten. Forget about the breeder.

@TheDoctorDances

Reputable cat breeders typically keep them with the mother until they’re 12 weeks.

You’ve been conned, OP, by the breeder and the seller.

I thought it was a little sad that the kitten was going to her third home at around 11 weeks.

Poor little mite. I think the kitten is best off with you op. If you're nursing her back to health at her very tender age. She must have been neglected to get into such a state.

OK so I will report the breeder too ggcf I have plenty of evidence and messages concerning dates etc. The breeder sold her three days after her first vaccine. 8 weeks and 3 days. So I guess she was in the wrong to let her go so soon. I wasn't sure if an age when I googled it they said they can be sold at that age so I didn't think anything was wrong with what she had done. My insurance doesn't cover her until I have had her a fortnight and this will be classed as an ongoing issue as I have taken her to the vet before it kicked in, so they won't cover it now anyway. It's not about the money. It's what they have done. It would have been nice if they apologised showed some compassion asked how she was and offered to help with costs. That isn't going to happen though. I just wanted to know what to do about the whole mess. I don't think that any of them should get away with it. I certainly don't think she should be allowed anims and now I am staring to wonder if the breeder is being nice out of trying to keep me sweet

Is this a pedigree kitten? They aren’t allowed to go until after 2nd jab at 12/13 weeks. Do you have registration papers? Sounds like you’ve been conned unfortunately. There are now laws about selling puppies and kittens though, I would do some research as they may not have acted legally.

There is nothing you can do. You will get nowhere using any official channels such as small claims- you may win but won't be able to enforce the win, and then will lose even more money.

Hope the poor cat survives.

Never buy an animal in the way you did again.

Do you have a family tree and link to register the kitten?

You're not unreasonable to expect her to contribute, but there really isn't much you can do about it. I'd probably report the breeder though. She's made a big mistake here and who knows how many similar kittens she's endangered.

Sphynx are notorious for illness, particularly gastro issues, and if she pulls through, make sure you have her fully tested for heart defects (HCM) and FIV, and get some really robust insurance for her.

For those saying to adopt, if you want a hairless breed your only option is to buy them. It's incredibly rare to see them up for adoption because they're so niche and complicated so generally have experienced owners. This little one has been very unlucky, and it sounds like the OP made a rash decision when she was let down by another breeder. Hopefully, the kitten will survive and all will turn out right.

I'm sorry OP - but it looks as if you have bought this cat from utter scum (both the original breeder and the seller) and I wouldn't believe or trust anything they say.
Your choice now - continue with veterinary treatment or have pts. Please don't return the kitten to either the breeder or the seller for the kitten's sake.

This is why you shouldn’t buy a kitten from anywhere other than a rescue centre or registered breeder.