I can't get my kitten....

[sugarpops]

I have recently adopted a second kitten from a rescue. This is the second kitten I have adopted through them. I have also helped to rescue a cat through the same rescue. Everything seems above board and the lady is nice enough. Never assumed anything dodgy.

When I adopted my first kitten, I told her how I would think about getting another one. It just depended on financial things and if I could afford it.

A few weeks later (3 weeks ago now) she messaged me to say she has a little kitten who needed a home and has a very similar personality to my first kitten I adopted. She said they would be a perfect match and would I be interested. She sent me some photos and I agreed.

I then paid the adoption fee and a fee for neutering. She says if I pay for her neutering then she can get it done through her rescue (she is also a veterinary nurse) and it is cheaper.

She told me the kitten would be ready at the end of the week - 2 weeks ago. We were supposed to collect him 2 weeks ago today.

When I text her to arrange a time, she told me she was drunk at a party and would arrange text me the next day. She didn’t.

A couple more days passed by and I messaged her again. She didn’t reply for 2 days and told me her grandad had passed away. I replied with I was sorry to hear that, hope she was ok. She didn’t reply and I left it for a few days.

I text her again and to say I hope she was ok, and was there any update on when we could collect him. She told me she would drop him off this last week at some point. She hasn’t.

I have then text her again and I am being completely ignored.

I understand she may be having a tough time. But aibu to expect that I should still be able to collect the kitten? It would only take 5 minutes (she knows me well enough) and it would also be one less animal for her to look after.

I am getting concerned. Before she told me about her grandad, I was also trying to ask about the kitten I have got who is due her vaccinations and spay (which stupidly I have paid her for) and I’m getting absolutely no where with that either.

All in all she has about £250 of my money for 2 kittens, vaccinations and neutering and I am getting no where with any of it.

I thought I would text her again on Monday and ask one last time. If I get no response, I’ll have to take it further.

Who would I even speak to regarding this?

Or - am I just being completely unreasonable here? I have 3 dc at home who are asking when our new kitten is coming and I’m at a loss of what to tell them! My gut is he isn’t coming at all .

OP I know you felt you 'knew' this person, but you shouldn't rely on pics and videos. I doubt you're going to get this kitten, so next time please visit in person, and don't hand over the money in advance.

As others have said, if she is a vet nurse and you know where she works, go in and see her.

Go to her work to speak to her - if she's not there due to bereavement/stress or whatever at least you know to approach more kindly than just to demand the kitten or your money back immediately.

It’s definitely fraud, am I to understand your first kitten hasn’t been neutered and you’ve already paid?

I absolutely get what you're saying.

It just that we spent about 6 weeks in total trying to rescue this cat. She's been to my house and I've been to hers many times. We spoke daily and saw each other regularly in this time. And she was an amazing support - I was devastated when the cat we were trying to rescue was put to sleep. The whole situation was awful but she was great. Honestly no reason to doubt her.

I actually think this cat is where it's all gone wrong. She cost a lot of money in vets bills and I don't think she has managed it very well at all.

Regardless yes I probably shouldn't have relied on pictures and videos but again - she's not a stranger at all

It does but again, I know her. I don't think she treats me as a customer in that respect.

Do you think I should text her again now or wait until Monday?

The last text I sent was to ask if I could come and collect him on Monday. I sent this yesterday morning.

Should I text now or give her the weekend to respond?

Are you sure there was a second kitten? Given that you have only seen a sad post, videos etc which could have been anywhere given she works with animals. If she has taken money for the jabs, op etc was that supposed to be through her work, so you could ring them to try to make the appointment or to find out the contact for the "charity".

You could try going to the vet practice she works at and spilling the whole story out “out of concern for her” and say you just don’t know what to do and you’re so worried about her and your poor little kitten…

Forget that, I've text her again. Still polite but insisted that I get an update. Will let you know if I get a response

OP, I would be very concerned about any animals in her care. It does all sound a bit scammy to say the least. I would be tempted to make an anonymous call to the RSPCA. She says she's a vetinary nurse, do you know which rescue centre she works for? If this is true (could be a lie) is she somehow taking animals from there and making a profit? I am deeply concerned about any animals she has at her home.

get in touch with the council and see if she is registered.

OP you have been very patient and now it’s time to put the pressure on.

She would have had a few minutes to respond since yesterday morning.

I’d text again now and then wait until this time tomorrow.

If she’s still not responded by then then I’d put it on her Facebook wall and ask why she’s not responded since X date and you want either the kitten or the XX amount you have given on Monday at the latest.

She's text back straight away. Said we could pick him up next weekend. She has the funeral this week and back to work 🙄

If it's a financial issue then surely they would be happy for you to collect the kitten?

Is there anyone else there you can contact?

Message again insisting that you pick the kitten up this evening. Do not let this drag on.

She has replied saying her grandma has moved in with them due to the loss of her grandad.

While this may be true....I don't get why I haven't been able to come and pick him up.

I have replied saying I would like to collect him before next weekend and if it's an issue with me going to her house, she works literally a 1 minute drive from my home so could we arrange collection on her way to work - I know she would usually do this as she dropped the rescue cat that passed off at mine once.

I will see what her response is. If there's no reply by Monday then I will take it further and say I will be going to the next length to get my money back

@Sheraprincessofflower unfortunately I can't this evening or even this weekend at all.

That's why I messaged to say Monday. I told her I wanted to have the kitten in and settled by this weekend as we have plans all weekend and I want to feel comfortable leaving them together but obviously that's not happened.

I'll wait until Monday for a response as I can't do anything before then anyway.

This woman sounds like an out and out scammer.
Neutering a make kitten takes so little time-
She’s had all your money up front and played all the excuses-
You need your money back OR the kitten you paid for.

Sadly there is a lot of money to be made selling rescue kittens especially if she doesn’t actually give people the kittens or neutering.

Scammer alert.

Can’t you phone her rather than text?

Regardless of her current family issues, the whole setup is dodgy and she's behaved poorly. She should not have taken your money in advance, and she should not be delaying you collecting him. If you do eventually get him, good luck.

Everything seems above board

Um... no it doesn't. It sounds dodgy as hell.

This doesn't sound like a rescue charity at all to me, it sounds like a woman who makes money out of picking up feral kittens/dumped kittens and selling them.

What @ManateeFair said. This doesn't sound like any rescue I've ever used. Is she the only person at the rescue? The ones I've used have several homes/families that foster the cats they take in until they find a suitable home. She seems to have an excuse for everything.

I was also trying to ask about the kitten I have got who is due her vaccinations and spay (which stupidly I have paid her for) and I’m getting absolutely no where with that either.

She let you take home the first kitten before she was spayed and vaccinated?

Yeah, this is really dodgy. A proper rescue set-up would never do this. Any decent animal charity spays/neuters an animal before they rehome it. And letting it go without its vaccinations is a big no-no.

She has had her first set of vaccinations. Unfortunately the second ones were booked in (by the rescue) but they were then cancelled so now she needs the whole lot again - this has happened since adopting the new kitten.

The text I sent was asking her when her vaccinations and spay would be done also. I gave no sympathy. No reply as of yet.

No because I need evidence really. Texts show everything. I can't prove anything over a phone call. If she won't answer my texts then I doubt she would answer my calls