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 .

@ManateeFair I'm sure this is generally true but there may sometimes be exceptions. We adopted two kittens through the RSPCA and although they came to us chipped and vaxxed, they hadn't yet been neutered. The RSPCA woman did stress that she expected us to arrange for this to be done and then let her know (which we did).

We've also had kittens not yet spayed because the vets the rescue used wouldn't do them until a certain age, but we signed contracts that we would have them done by X date and if we used the vets the rescue recommended then they would already be on their database and the cost would be covered by them.

@MermaidEyes yes exactly the same here. It's not unusual for a kitten to leave unspayed at all and I've always had cats so this didn't concern me at all.

Both kittens should be neutered at the vets she works at.

I foster for a recognised charity and the kittens go from my home to their new home already neutered, chipped and first vax as a minimum. Often with booster too, but if not, adopters have to sign to say it will be done and acknowledge that the kitten isn't theirs until the booster done. Microchip only re-registered to new people when proof of booster is provided. The charity does all the vetting, home checks etc, I just look after mum and kittens, and the charity messages me with contact details of the approved people then I arrange a convenient time for them to visit me to meet or choose their kitten.

If this lady has been reliable before, could it be she's just overwhelmed with her grandpa's death and having to make funeral arrangements? Or is it a case of dead grandpa syndrome - blanket excuse to avoid doing as she promised / stringing you along?

Should add, my charity neuters by weight not by age. Males and females both, as it's possible to start reproducing from 4 months on.

Is there no way you can pick it up this weekend?
If she’s claiming to be busy next week then the sooner you do it the better.

I’d keep pushing to get it before next weekend.

The handover would take literally seconds.

If she doesn’t agree earlier pick up I would say something like ‘I can drop into your work to discuss.’ I suspect it will galvanize her either way.

This is what I don't understand. It really would.

I could possibly get him Sunday evening. I definitely can't today or tomorrow. I'll message her tomorrow and ask for Sunday night instead - you are right that I need to keep pushing. If not, I'll call into her work on Monday morning.

If she's not there then she could be telling the truth.

Update -

She didn't reply from yesterday.

I messaged her this morning and asked if we could go collect the kitten tomorrow. I said we can go at anytime suit and it would only take 5 minutes. I am less friendly in my texts now.

She replied straight away that she was taking her grandma away tonight and wouldn't be back until tomorrow evening.

I can't actually collect the kitten today but I knew she was lying.

I replied with 'ok we can come now then'

She replied with 'we're setting off in 15 minutes'. Even though she had already said she was taking her grandma tonight.

I replied with - ok we can set off right now, it's not a problem.

No response.

I wish the vets were open today as I would be going straight there.

Sounds like she is pulling a fast one. How disappointing. Turn up at her place of work or her house, text her to tell her if you don't receive what you paid for you'll have to get a solicitor involved as it was fraud. Sounds harsh but she is really taking the piss. I suspect multiple people have paid for the neutering of this 'kitten'. I dont for a second believe the grandfather story, obviously its upsetting but people don't stop going to work or paying their bills when a grandparent passes away. I think its time to look for a new kitten, your poor DCs must be so disappointed.

Her excuse is her grandma is moving in after the passing of her grandad. Losing a grandparent is awful. It is. But we all go through it and we carry on. It's not ok to take someone's money.

If the vets were open today I'd be straight down. They are part of a chain of vets and we have 4 in our city. The main branch is open today but not the one she works at. I could call them but I think I'd be better going into the one she works at.

Strangely enough, she's put a random picture of a cat on her Facebook page just after these texts. No writing in the post. Just a picture.

I'm absolutely fuming for my kids. I genuinely think she just sees me as gullible - maybe I am. I just went to such great lengths to help rescue a neighbours cat from abuse and I think she's taken advantage of that.

Maybe call into the other branch and enquire. Ask if anyone else can help while she is on bereavement leave. Call her bluff.

@sugarpops This woman is an out and out scammer.
Report her fraudulent activity to the Veterinary chain
It’s because she worked there that you fell for her scam.
She’s using that to gain your confidence.

What a complete charlatan.

I’d be taking her to small claims court.

Have you solid proof of transactions?

What a piece of work she is.

I have absolutely everything yes.

Text messages
Bank statements
Also emails of adoption certificates for both kittens - even the one I don't have.

How does a small claims court work? Would it cost me money to do it? She owes me £300.

Yes - I adopted a kitten from the RSPCA and the arrangement was that I took him back when he was old enough to be neutered and their in-house vet did it.

You pay a fee but get it back in costs when you win the case. Just Google small claims court.

You’d stand a great chance of getting that back
Im not sure about how to do it but it’s meant to be for exactly this type of thing- it’s about £30 I think??? Google
you have proof- Great news!

Could you do a charge back on your cards?

If she is going away who is looking after the kitten/other animals?

Absolutely no idea. I asked this too but no reply

I would have gone straight round to her house if you said that what you would do.

I would turn up at the vet practice on Monday morning and ask to speak to whoever is in charge. Show them the texts, bank transactions etc and say you are worried you’ve been conned by a member of their staff.

I've rang the vets - the main branch.

They were absolutely disgusting. They weren't interested. They said I can bring my kitten in for vaccinations but I will have to pay for it myself.

They just weren't interested at all and told me I have to take it up with her.

They did say she has been off this week for personal reasons.

Yes you are right - thank you. I've just looked it up. I will do that as a next step.

Check if she is a registered charity. Stop messing her. Phone her. Failing that go to her work place.

@sugarpops Thats appalling.
Take it up with the head of the chain.
That’s completely unacceptable that they are allowing one of their employees to scam people out of money.
She’s using the fact of working with them to gain people’s trust and money in advance-
Who does this??
Who asks for money up front.

The blatant lying is so annoying. I'd be fum8ng