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

The person who sold you the kitten is breaking Lucy’s law. But you were also very naive in taking it on. If she didn’t want the kitten anymore she should have sent it back to the breeder. I hope the kitten gets better soon.

www.ifaw.org/uk/journal/lucys-law-comes-into-force-england?ms=KONDF210001101&cid=7013k0000010mmn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3pHLte6l7wIVh7LVCh2oEgYWEAAYASAAEgLklvD_BwE

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

I am not sure I believe that. It is against GCCF rules. I know a couple of breeders quite well as I've had kittens from them on several occasions, but they would never let me have a kitten before it was fully vaccinated.

And all reputable breeders will tell an owner that if for any reason they can't keep the kitten, the kitten must be returned to them, not sold on. So the original breeder clearly has very poor judgment if she thought 'the lady' was a good bet.

It's too late to worry about who did/said what. Just do your best for the kitten, and do more research if you buy another pedigree in the future so you don't encounter these issues.

I would just concentrate on getting kitten better. Sometimes you have to spend money and as you say money isn't a problem.
You are not innocent party either, since you bought her from stranger online.
Hope the kitten gets better soon.
I once rescued an abandoned sick kitten and had to spend a lot of money on vet fees, and kitten didn't recover. But I still felt better for doing everything I could, and I never forget about my little Kumao, after 20 years.

You’ve been conned

And they are still conning you. The breeder is visiting to try to cover her back, not for the kittens welfare.

I hope your little kitten recovers and you are able to give them a good home, it is in no way their fault.
Yes you were naive and have been burned but unfortunately I don’t think you will be able to get anything out of complaining.
It is just one of those things you might be better chalking up to experience. Hopefully kitty will turn out to be a lovely family pet and you will look back and be glad they came to live with you.

Ps one of my kittens started with gummy eyes and sneezing a few days after being delivered by a caring cat charity. A few weeks later he was fine but I think the stress of a new home at that age can bring on mild illnesses.

If she is a reputable breeder I'm gobsmacked she let the kitten go at 8 weeks and 3 days regardless if she knew the person or not as it isnt in the kittens best interest. And putting a kittens best interests above financial gain or a quick sale is what makes someone reputable. She should never of let the kitten go without four weeks insurance either. I'd be informing her I needed to report her for that as you are concerned for the wellbeing of any future kittens. I'd also inform the seller you are going to take her to small claims court. Might put the fear in her and encourage her to offer you a vet contribution.

OP read Lucy’s Law.
Breeders only see profit.
The previous owner obviously seen the kitten was sick and decided to pass the responsibility to someone else.
Only buy from reputable rescues.
There is nothing you can do, ask the vet if she can be tested for all of the diseases, ie Felv/calcivirus etc.
If positive for any, this needs to be logged with the RSPCA and breeder reported.
Also a raw diet can upset a young kittens stomach, try a premium wet food and add dry food when she’s sufficiently hydrated.
I hope she survives 🤞🏻

Yabu to have bought a kitten from a random
The story about her cat not liking it is rubbish. A decent breeder would take a kitten back after a few days in those circumstances.

If you haven’t already, please get the cat to a vet ASAP, instead of messaging us on here.

She's been to the vet several times - it's right there in the first post!

Our sphynx kitten was about £1200 - we waited for her to be born and met the kitten about two months before she was allowed to come to live with us permanently. They usually stay with their mothers for three months minimum. The breeder was also registered and spent her own money on the first vet health check and getting the kitten microchipped for us.

I think you should report the seller and try to get your money back somehow but also...next time (i'm sure you don't need to hear this) do your research - it's basically impossible to get hold of a cheap kitten, through a breeder, or a 'free' kitten through a shelter right now. I'm sorr yyou're going through this, but you'll have to see it through or take it to the shelter, I guess.

When we got my cat from the breeder they wouldn’t let them go from their mother any younger than 14 weeks and ideally around 16 weeks.
They explained that they were weaned first and the last few weeks were spent with increasing time apart from their mum gradually but that they learned all their social skills from their mum so this was the best way to have a friendly and well adjusted cat.
Our cat is 9, very adaptable, loves greeting people and being out and about and doesn’t have any accidents (doesn’t scratch furniture or wee where she shouldn’t). It sounds like a bad breeder to be letting them go so young. Then being bought by someone who didn’t have a clue what they were doing.
I would report the breeder to be honest as this should never have happened. The new owners should have been screened and the kittens followed up on to ensure they were doing well. Most breeders have a policy saying the kitten needs to return to the breeder if they have any problems or don’t want to keep the cat

They are collectively conning you. Breeder has breached GCCF rules. Why? The 2nd home (a dog breeder so should understand this stuff) decides after a few days to sell the cat on. No- she would have returned the cat to the original breeder - a term in most pedigree cat purchase agreements. The pair of them thought the could get away with palming off the runt of the litter for full price and without damaging the breeder’s reputation. Report the daylights out of them.

And fwiw, I was advised by my bet to return a kitten I’d had for 2 days, whose vaccination record was a lie, and who had breathing issues. In the 18 wonderful years I had her, she needed vet treatment twice (a cut / cystitis). She remained very small, but ended up quite tough. I hope you get that result.

I am staring to wonder if the breeder is being nice out of trying to keep me sweet

I don't doubt it for an instant; she's already offloaded a weak, less profitable kitten at far too young an age ("this one was doing so well" my foot ) and is probably worried about what you reporting her will do to the business

Hope the kitten recovers though - at least she's in safe hands now

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.

Totally agree

The breeder knows they are in the wrong and i would say, trying to butter you up so you believe they are a super wonderful breeder and this is just a one off. I hope the kitten makes a speedy recovery it seems like she has a good home now!

Apart from reporting her, I'm not sure there's much else you can do. She shouldn't have let the kitten go until it was 13 weeks old.

My suspicion would be that the breeder and her "friend" are con artists. She'll "take the kitten back" and her friend will re-sell it to someone else, repeat until either the kitten dies or someone refuses to hand it back.

I really wish people would take more care when they decide to get a pet. You bought a live animal from a total stranger online - it's not surprising that it's gone wrong.

“Didn’t want to let the children down”

You didn’t want to upset them by there being no kitten. Now they will be upset because there is a sick or possibly dead kitten.

I think you need to forget about them and just focus on your little kitten. It's been a really unfortunate trail of events and she's in the best place now - with you and under vet supervision. It doesn't sound like she'd have stood a chance with the person before you so you've just got to do all you can now to ensure her survival.

Think about the other stuff - complaints and small claims - when you've got her through this. The poor little thing. Think of her as a very expensive rescue cat for now and a good cautionary tale for others. It's so easy for people to cast stones but they weren't in your situation.

Good luck and sending you and kitty good vibes to get her better.

YABU for expecting anything else. But I am sorry for your situation. The seller owes you nothing sadly. Vet bills are your own.

This is why it’s better to adopt a kitten (or better, an ADULT CAT) - they’re not bred for profit, and are in good health!

@DasPepe

“Didn’t want to let the children down”

You didn’t want to upset them by there being no kitten. Now they will be upset because there is a sick or possibly dead kitten.

Hopefully not since it has “bad eyes and sneezing” which should be easy to rectify.

It's your kitten. Look after it.
It's not a shoddy dress you've bought in Topshop ffs

Sphynx owner here.

Agree that she doesn't sound like a reputable breeder at all and that she's trying to keep you sweet so she doesn't get reported.

While she is trying to keep you sweet I'd ask for copies of pedigree certificate and evidence of parents HCM scans.

Try the kitten on some lysine paste

Every kitten I’ve bought from a breeder has come with 4 weeks insurance. I think it’s Pet Plan that does it free for breeders to start them off.
This sounds dodgy on so many levels.