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

Sp

I do hope your poor little cat pulls round. You were misguided, but are trying your best for her.

update I am feeling a little more hopeful this morning. She spent the day with the vet yesterday on iv antibiotics after alot of tests the only thing they can see is that she has an infection. They have said that she has lost alot of weight and fat reserves with the diarrhea and is struggling to maintain her body temp. She has picked up a gliv

I don't know what a gliv is but hopefully your wee kitten will improve and get better soon. It's horrible to feel helpless but we're all rooting for both of you

A flu type infection which has just reaked havoc. She spent a night at the hospital on iv antibiotics and is coming back to the vets this morning and will continue them today and all being well I can collect her tonight. I cannot afford another night at the hospital and to those people who say it is my responsibility to sort her out. I have a vet bill of 4000 pounds for the last days last night and today. I cannot afford for her to go back tonight at 1000 pound a night. I have given her the best I possibly can and hopefully it is enough

Sorry my phone posted half way through when she comes home tonight she needs to be kept very warm. They said even in an incubator her body temp isn't the best because of her loss of fat reserves. Radiators and hot water bottles heat discs aren't enough really. Any ideas Ideally needs to be kept in the vets words a very hot environment?!

Is the vet treatment not covered by the insurance?

@Notanotherhun

This is why people should get cats and dogs from shelters and approved rescues.

Yep. Do people not understand that breeding and supporting breeding is extremely unethical when there's already animals in shelters?

People who "love animals" but not enough to adopt and they only want a specific kind for aesthetics treat animals like objects rather than living beings. Please don't support breeding.

@dementedpixie no I took the insurance out the day I had her but it isn't valid for 14days until after you start the policy. It won't cover this now because the issue arose before the policy kicks in 😔 I did ask the breeder and the lady I bought her off about if they had insurance. They seem to think as she was sold as a pet and not for breeding it isn't needed to be provided?

Is there anyway you can place her against your skin securely with a sling type item or tight clothing?

Body temperature will help regulate her temp nicely

It is normal when you buy a puppy or kitten from a breeder that they come with insurance for the first month. This is what we had with my puppy.
Very much hope she pulls through and agree that keeping her next to you , down your top, might help. I don’t know what you do at night though, can the vet advise you ? As obviously you want her warm enough but not too hot, it is quite a fine balance.

@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 ^^

Rescues are full to capacity and people are spending £1300 on one kitten. Poor animals. People who are willing to pay that price are making way for greedy 'breeders' who don't care about the animals' wellbeing and just want to line their pockets!

@Sp3849

I also have pet insurance by the way and I have had many sphynx cats over the years. I have a 4 year old one now. Have him scanned yeah. I know the breed well and usually buy from a breeder directly. She is a pedigree kitten fleed wormed up to date and from a registered breeder. She had her first vaccine when she left breeder

If you're that clued up then it seems strange you have got yourself in this situation?

@Westernisles did you even read the thread?
She didn't pay £1300 for the kitten and she now has a very poorly kitten fighting for its life. A little bit of empathy wouldn't go amiss

@Sp3849

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

Help with costs?! I think you need a bit of reality? She will be selling more sick kittens to more gullible people who, like you, believed everything she said. She won't offer to help with costs? She will be doing it again and again - selling sick kittens to anyone that's daft enough to part with their money. Surely when you saw the kitten you could see it wasn't well cared for but you still went along with it? Surely it will be more upsetting for your kids if you get the cat and it dies a few weeks later because of poor health?

I think people should stop piling into the OP and also read the thread.
OP has stated that she did not spend £1300 on buying the kitten - this was the cost of the kitten PLUS the initial vet treatment.
OP has explained the insurance issue several times.
I believe that the OP knows she has made a very expensive mistake - she's now trying her best for this kitten and that should be applauded.
I hope your kitten makes it OP.
When this is over please report both the breeder and the seller to any official body that will listen. It is those two that disgust me.

Try bubble wrap for keeping her warm - wrap her in a layer or two, then a blanket or towel, then a hot water bottle again the blanket on either side. This is what I've seen done on animal rescue programmes.

Can you try animal charities like PDSA, Ble Cross, explain your position, see if they can help? Will your vet agree a payment plan, it's in their interests to keep you and little cat as their client / patient?

*against the blanket on either side

Hope that the kitten pulls through

@Soubriquet

Is there anyway you can place her against your skin securely with a sling type item or tight clothing?

Body temperature will help regulate her temp nicely

This is a good idea, and it’ll benefit her if she feels safe too.

I did ask the breeder and the lady I bought her off about if they had insurance. They seem to think as she was sold as a pet and not for breeding it isn't needed to be provided?

This is untrue. All the pedigree kittens I have bought were sold as pets, and they came with 4 weeks insurance from PetPlan or Agria. But given this kitten was sold 5 weeks too early you already know you can't believe anything they say.

I hope the kitten pulls through. She sounds very poorly.

@Sp3849

Really hope she pulls through. Please keep us updated. It's been amazing what you've done for her.

Skin to skin with a thick blanket over the top of her could help.
Keep her head covered to minimise heat loss.

I would echo keeping her inside your top or in a sling arrangement so she can benefit from your body warmth. Best of luck OP.

Down the line you might look at a small claims court action to recover these vet bills so hang on to everything and get written dates notes of your discussions with seller and breeder. Buyer beware is one thing but since they’re both registered breeders you might have a shot at it; your issue is that the whole reason breeder has got her mate puppy breeder to sell the sick kitten is to make it a non business transaction. If puppy breeder can be said to have sold as agent for cat breeder or otherwise in the course of her own animal breeding business (were you aware she was a dog breeder before you bought? Did she mention it in connection with making the sale seem credible?) then you will have a shot at recovery.

Do you have an airing cupboard she could be in? With the hot water tank in it. Ideally a bottom aga over like they do with lambs but I'm guessing you don't have one of those!