cats from gumtree

[gramercy]

Would you buy a cat off Gumtree? There seem to be lots on there, but obviously they are not "background checked" like cat rescue ones. I don't want a pedigree cat - am happy with a moggy.

Thanks for advice!

One of my cats is off Gumtree, just a moggy but the person selling them made sure no one could buy one without us coming to see them weeks before we could have one and when we got it she came to our house with it to check us out too. I think this was pretty responsible and obviously someone just looking for good homes as she only asked for £30.

Although, I think she may have been an exception, Gumtree can be pretty dodgy I think with people just wanting to make a quick £.

Could you not maybe try Cats Protection?

no no no no no don't do it. Not because there will be anything 'wrong' with the cat, but because it may fuel what is becoming a horrible trade in animals on gumtree. People are breeding their animals loads and then selling for profit without any consideration for the well being of the animals. Or taking on pets and ditching them at the drop of a hat for money. of course you're a nice buyer, but there are many horrible ones out there with the worst intentions for these animals. So the sooner gumtree isn't allowed to post animal ads the better.

If you go to a rescue you will not only get a cat that NEEDS a home and hasn't been bred by that rescue for a profit. You'll also be able to get a cat that 'fits' with you and your family because the rescue will know it's personality. The donation you'll give the rescue (most have a minimum set one) will go to help cover the costs of cats in their care. You'll also likely get a cat that is de-wormed, de-fleaed, and may be neutered, vaccinated and microchipped too. So saving you any worry about those things.

Cats Protection have branches all over the place, but there are a lot of independent cat rescues too that will be worth a look as well.

I got a free cat from Gumtree a few months ago. My main motivation was desperation as we had been overrun with mice for 2 years and pest control could not shift them. I live in a flat without a secure garden and was told by various cat rescues that they were not willing to let us have a cat even an old one.

A young woman living in a bedsit was parting with the cat because she was allergic. She was relieved to give her to a family and not a dog baiting outfit or reseller (which she thought goes on on Gumtree). Cat has a good home, veterinary care and is adored by all.

Some rescues are very short sighted BeingFluffy. Whilst it wouldn't suit all cats to live in a flat, some would be very happy with the arrangement.

I can see why cat rescues do not want to re-home to people in flats. But I think it may be better than living in a cage at a pet rescue. I also find being judged by someone at a home visit quite insulting and humiliating to be honest - though obviously I can see why they do it.
Anyway, I got a healthy happy cat off Gumtree. I would not buy a kitten for the reasons other posters have described, but used it to circumvent the "rehoming industry".

I rang and emailed RSPCA, Mayhew and all the cat rescues I could find and they were all rather sniffy. A friend of DD did manage to adopt a flat cat via a charity, so they must do it sometimes, but it has behavioural probs and pisses all over the sofa and the beds!

We bought both our cats off Gumtree (siblings from same litter - they were 8 weeks old). We did investigate the charity route but they seemed reluctant to let us adopt kittens as they wanted one adult to be at home all day with them and we both work! We deliberately adopted two so that they would be company for each other - no lonely kittens here :)

I get what people mean about the risk of fostering a trade in animals on Gumtree, but we went to a regular domestic dwelling to collect our cats and the people selling them seemed like ordinary people whose cat had got preggers, not like they were making a living out of it. I guess that if you turn up and the situation seems a bit too commercialised then you can always back out.

Thanks for all your replies. Hmmm, perhaps I should be a bit skeptical about Gumtree cats - there do seem to be an awful lot of them and people could be dodgy breeders.

BeingFluffy: "a friend of dd managed to adopt a flat cat" !!! I have a mental picture of a one-dimensional cat being proudly taken home!

I got my cat off gum tree when 2 local charities wouldn't approve an adoption because if you go through my back garden, across the back wall, through the people that live there's back garden, up the side of their house and through their front garden -there is a bus route -over 100ft away from my back door!

I went to visit their house and saw the kittens with their mum -only paid £30 that she wanted reimbursing for worming and food etc

gramercy - please tell me you are in london. my beautiful long haired black cat made friends with a grey/white cat and now she has kitties in her belly. i would love them to go to good home and im hoping to home then without going on gumtree. either way i certainly wont be selling them.

No, sadly not in London. I'm sure you'll find the prospective kittens good homes - especially if they come out fluffy!

People with kittens to give away are often encouraged to charge £50 or so rather than give them away for free to make sure that the person taking them on is serious about it. They aren't necessarily breeding them for money.

I would definitely go the charity route if you can.

Buying kittens from Gumtree is just rewarding irresponsibility. These are people who do not bother to spay or neuter their cat, who did not bother to keep their cat inside before getting fixed, who thought brother and sister wouldn't mate, who thought "just one litter" would be nice. These people have no business breeding animals, especially animals for which there is no demand. The shelters are already full, don't reward those who put little value on the lives they create.

If you are buying an older cat, I have less moral argument against this as at least new lives were not created in the transaction, but it is still irresponsible pet ownership on the part of the seller and once again you are rewarding people who give the animals in their life little consideration.

As you can tell, I'm a bit passionate about getting animals from ethical sources! :P In my book responsible breeder of pedigrees or shelter are the only ways to go, but good luck whatever you do.

when we were looking at getting our kitten i would have loved to go to a shelter type place. however, we are on the first floor. i have made a little run from balcony and 'bubbles' love running up and down for her food and cuddles. luckly it runs in to a massive fanced off communal gadren type place so she has her own private garden. she loves laying doen there in the sun with her legs in the air.

i do agree about people getting kittens without being committed. my neighbour got 'bubbles' sister when i got bubbles. she 'cant afford' to get her spade so the cat is constantly coming in to heat. she also has never been outside the cramped flat.

RE the Gumtree cat I rehomed - the girl getting rid of her was very distressed and in tears as she wanted to keep her but had become allergic. She charged nothing. She was foreign (east European) and probably didn't realise that she could have put the cat in a shelter. I don't think that was rewarding stupidity as she obviously didn't intend to get rid of the cat when she acquired her (also from Gumtree and from an irresponsible and overcrowded household). I am amazed at the number of adult cats for rehoming on Gumtree because people are moving away, having babies, or whatever; I doubt shelters could cope with the sheer numbers on Gumtree tbh.

I would have been happy to adopt an older "flat-cat" (3-dimensional - Gramercy!); even one with medical needs, but was told there were none available and it was unlikely there would be. The family I know who managed to adopt an indoor cat were told they could only one over 8 years old. I also resent being "vetted" (excuse the pun) by some self appointed guardian of animal welfare. Charities don't have the monopoly on animal welfare to be quite honest.

Perhaps it's unusual, but the rescue I volunteer at have A LOT of indoor only cats looking for homes. Mostly hand reared cats that have no common sense so being in the outside world is too dangerous. Indoor only cats can be very happy, provided they get enough play/stimulation.

Unfortunately those involved in dog baiting tend to have the money to spend. So charging doesn't ensure a good home at all. Many people are out to make a quick buck with their pet by allowing them to have kittens. They don't think much about how good the homes are and the health issues they're putting the mother through. I know of a couple of people local to me who 'breed' their cat. You wouldn't know by looking, they're in a small house, a couple of kids, and tell prospective buyers that their cat got 'caught' and they are booked in to be fixed. But it's all a big lie. :-(

One reason why some rescues seem to be so 'picky' about the homes their cats go to is they need to be sure they're a great home. They need to know that their cats, which have been through a lot, aren't going to go through any more turmoil. Or else they'll just end up back in the system somewhere. Of course some have 'odd' ideals about the perfect home, which may or may not be correct. IMO there is a suitable cat out there for most types of home, but it sometimes takes patience to find the right match.

Regarding 'vetting'... can you imagine if rescues didn't do that? They'd be no different to those on gumtree selling kittens to dog baiters. Also, although the 'vetting' might seem a bit in depth, it's often the best way to find the right match. You wouldn't want to give someone who is out all day one three month old kitten. You wouldn't want to give someone with 2 'wild' children a timid, nervous cat. The match has to be right to give the cat every chance of success with their new 'forever' home.

I went after 2x5yo oriental sisters on gumtree who needed to be re-homed

Their mummy owner advertised them at £150, but once she realised I was a family (I took DD) she let me have them for nothing

We looked into charity route twice. First time I was told no becauase my dc's were under 5 and the second time no because I needed indoor cats (first floor flat)
I got 2 cats off gumtree, brothers from same litter. 20 quid each, from a lovely couple who we stayed in touch with and sent photo's etc.

I know what people are saying when they think it better to go down the rescue centre route, but these animals put on gumtree etc still need good homes and if you can provide that, do it.

I think I was asked more personal questions by the cat charity "vetting" procedure than I had when I had my security vetting at work. I think some of the charities believe they have the monopoly on common sense. Sadly, I think in some instances, this is denying rescue cats good homes.

No No No!!!! If you're happy with a moggy why on earth would you not go to a charity? Buying off gumtree just encourages people to think that cats are breedable commodities.

Some large rescues seem excessively pedantic about things, and rather intimidating. Try a small local shelter. Ours (Croydon Animal Samaritans) are amazing.

Having said that asking people adopting kittens to be at home all day is not unreasonable harrena. Don't they need someone around to litter train and feed regularly?

I got our kittens via Gumtree last week, our last 2 came from Cats Protection. We visited a couple of homes and the ones they came from was a lovely farm, the couple were really nice and ticked all the boxes for us - offered to have them back if we're not happy and have kept in touch to see how they are getting on. It seems we were really lucky?