Will prices of kittens ever come down?

[Mharte88]

I have always had cats. Sadly my five year old indoor cat was so ill she didn't make it. Three months on, I would only ever have the same type of mixed breed cat again bc they are so affectionate and lovely natured.
There was no reason for me to ever know prices of cats, and for her I was asked £30 five years ago, which I gladly paid. My cat before the chap gave to me. Now I have been looking, and am stunned at what is happening in the cat world. Mixed breed cross kitten going for well over £1000? More over, I have had three disappointments, and thinking about it afterwards, realised I missed out each time, as the buyer offered another £50 on top of the asking price, which meant the kitten was gone in less than an hour?
I appreciate we will never "get back to normal" - this will change forever the life we knew, but I despair on two fronts, the prices returning to near normal and how much longer I will need to wait before my life feels whole again, which without my furry baby, it just doesn't.
Rescue cats (there are no kittens), are an option of course, but the rules regarding these, from private sellers too, are extraordinary? This cat has to have a dog as a friend and companion and young children? The children I can understand, but a dog? As this is what this cat has been used to over the last four/five months?
Does anyone have any encouraging words regarding this situation? I am appalled at how many breeders are breeding their gorgeous cats two and three times, to get litters of 7 - 9 kittens and go on to charge £750 each kitten? I thought Cat people were just that, but these are not cat people, these are business people and it is so unfair on their cats, it risks cancer in years to come. We are not even in kitten season until April?
Thank you for reading this and please take care of yourselves and your furry babies x

Can you get in touch with a rescue and offer to foster? Great in itself, but our rescue then gives you first refusal on ‘your’ kittens, though you do still have to pay for them (and worse, you have to hand the rest back).

It does vary by area, have you searched on here?
www.pets4homes.co.uk/search/?type_id=2&advert_type=1&maxprice=300&results=10&sort=datenew

My lovely boy was £95 from the RSPCA, he was vaccinated, neutered, vet checked, deflead and wormed already.
We had to fill in some forms and have a quick homecheck. It was pretty straightforward. There weren't many cats on the website but I contacted our local centre directly. Due to Covid they brought him to us, which was great.

Thank you for replying; sorry I don't go in to this thread every day as it can be comforting, or it can just set it all off again as I first got in touch when my darling was still with us, last year, as she was putting on weight.
When you say "have you tried on here" how do you mean? I like what happened in your case, RSPCA and they delivered. The thing is though, depending on your particular branch, some state no cats if you are on a second floor flat. Which is crazy to me, as I have always kept my cats in doors for safety reasons!!
I am only speaking for myself here, but I had Milly as a kitten, and my cat Louie before her, too. I especially love that period with them as you can bond so completely.
Its so hard, I thought come March, I would be at least able to get sudden memories and be ok, but it is not the case at all, here weeks later, especially coming home into the flat, it gets me every time.
I should imagine this is what is making the situation with ridiculously high prices, so hard to experience.
One Mumsnet lady said she thought the prices would be coming down now, but they are going up - I think this type of business person demanding this kind of money will keep going until they are actually starting to get left with three month old kittens. Then of course the shoe will be on the other foot! No ahhh factor from their stand point with the non-kitten cat.

I missed out on a beautiful boy (4 months old ginger), he was so gorgeous I was prepared to forgo the kitten stage to get him. The buyer offered more than the asking price - so within an hour he was snapped up. To be fair, as he was £300 I did want him, and I never go on holidays, drink or smoke, so have to admit £350 to own him would have been fine, to have a little ginger cat to love again.

Thank you for sharing with me

Molly :) x

You could get a kitten via rescue. Our Maxi came to us at 9 months old from Battersea costing £85, neutered, free insurance for a month & even came with some food. Battersea are brilliant so caring and match you with the right cat. They had several kittens when we were looking. Good luck!

www.battersea.org.uk/cats/cat-rehoming-gallery

Kitten prices will come down in the summer. It's not kitten season yet, that's why there are fewer about at the moment and people can charge silly money. Cats are more likely to get pregnant in the spring and summer.

Try a local sanctuary?

I would never buy from someone who CBA to get their pets neutered.
Rescue.
But rescues will look for homes that best suit that particular cat. Most cats like to go outside so you may have to wait.
Or buy a pedigree from a decent breeder. But that’ll really cost and you will still have to wait.

I am looking for a kitten or dog friendly cat. They are nine in my area, I use www.catchat.org/index.php to look for rescues