Is it bad to get a kitten in a private sale?

[ThinkAboutItTomorrow]

We thought we were all set to get a kitten from Battersea dog & cat home, we've done all the stuff they asked but now they are saying they're inundated with requests for kittens and just to call up every week or so. I'm worried that it'll be ages to get one, there doesn't sound like a waiting list system even to guess how long.

We don't want to wait too long, partly as the kitten was a sort of birthday gift for DD next week and partly because as soon as lockdown ends we'll be visiting family quite a long way away so don't want to get a kitten and just as it's settling in we desert it to cat sitters.

If we bought one on gumtree is that 'bad'? I know there are puppy farms but is there a cat equivalent? How do we make sure we're buying from a good place?

Thanks for any advice.

I thought private sales on sites was banned now under Lucys Law.

Have you tried your vets? They often know if there are kittens needing homes.

Another one saying you could get an adult cat. They’re so often overlooked for kittens. Our local cats protection has lots of 10 months - 1 year old cats. We adopted our cat aged 2 and there’s plenty of life in him! We have had kittens before and they are a handful; can’t be left for as long, etc.

@HappyHammy Unfortunately, as I understand it, that only relates to third party sellers, such as pet shops. There is nothing to stop private sales.

CP Mitcham have a pair of 11 week old kittens on their website......