Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

The breeder lied!

130 replies

Puditt · 16/07/2021 11:42

We bought a kitten that was meant to be two breeds. I did find it strange that the breeder didnt have a picture of the dad cat but she was adamant that she knew his breed and that our kitten was exactly that. She had sent me loads of videos and pictures of the kittens older siblings so I decided to not doubt her.

We took the kitten home and he is lovely. He has integrated really well and gets on with my children just fine. But we have just taken him to the vets and she has confirmed she doesnt think that the breed we have been told and paid for is true. I was also sceptical and was looking up google images of this other certain breed and the kittens look nothing alike. The breeder seemed so trust worthy! She was really nice and asked to keep in touch and send photos of him as he grows up. I actually chatted to the breeder quite alot and she doesnt come across like the type of person to scam.

What should I do? Should I bother bringing it up with the owner. I'm just really upset as I specially set out for this type of breed as I loved the temperament and characteristics that came with it. I feel cheated with my money but my children have already taken to the kitten and so have I...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
36
TheMostHappy · 16/07/2021 11:47

You bought yourself a moggie - you cannot guarantee which characteristics of a specific breed will 100% be passed down with any degree of certainty. If you have a nice happy healthy cat then I don't really know what to you're hoping to achieve.

FatCatThinCat · 16/07/2021 11:49

The breeder may have told you the truth as she knows it. She might think she knows the father and he may actually be the father to some of the kittens. But cats can be pregnant by multiple males as the same time.

Also you haven't actually paid for a breed. You knew it wasn't a pedigree. So you paid for a moggy and you've got a moggy.

TooMuchPaper · 16/07/2021 11:50

How much did you pay??

TooMuchPaper · 16/07/2021 11:50

And what did you think you were getting (mix of breeds)?

lljkk · 16/07/2021 11:53

small claims court...

ChequerBoard · 16/07/2021 11:53

When you mix breeds e.g. first generation Tonkinese are Siamese x Burmese you will get a mixed litter - in this example some of the kittens will be Siamese coat pattern, some coat Burmese and some the mixed, Tonkinese coat pattern.

Just because the kitten isn't a perfect mix of the two breeds it doesn't mean it's parents aren't from two different breeds.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/07/2021 11:56

A mix of breeds is a mog. You don't know how it's going to turn out and neither does your vet.
Clearly you and your kids have already bonded with your kitten and that's what matters.
What are the two breeds? And I hope you didn't pay over the odds.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 16/07/2021 11:57

So you knowingly paid for a moggy- and now you have a moggy Confused

Original poster
Puditt · 16/07/2021 12:03

@FatCatThinCat that's really strange! I didn't know that. So they can have a mixed litter from different dads?

OP posts:
PiccalilliChilli · 16/07/2021 12:05

I don't understand the issue? You have a lovely moggie. He loves your family. He's going to be an awesome pet. Let it go.

Original poster
Puditt · 16/07/2021 12:15

@PiccalilliChilli I guess its principle and money? As I said I was really keen on that particular breed so hearing the vet say she doesnt think he is that has upset me

OP posts:
TooMuchPaper · 16/07/2021 12:17

So how much money? Less than £100. Or less than £500.
I don't think the Small Claims Court will be of assistance though.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 16/07/2021 12:17

I don’t understand- if you were really keen to secure a particular breed then presumably you’d have gone down the pedigree route for that breed- but you haven’t.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 16/07/2021 12:17

If you wanted a specific breed you shouldn't have gone for a mixed cat. Mixed cats are moggies with no guarantee of any characteristics of either breed.
Paying loads of mixed breed cats is daft.

FatCatThinCat · 16/07/2021 12:18

[quote Puditt]@FatCatThinCat that's really strange! I didn't know that. So they can have a mixed litter from different dads?[/quote]
Yes they can. That's why you can have a litter that all look different from each other.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/07/2021 12:18

Let me guess. You thought you were buying a half Persian or a half maincoone. It's pointless. They are just moggies!!

Original poster
Puditt · 16/07/2021 12:22

@Toddlerteaplease ouch yes I thought he was half maine coon. That was why the price was so high. I didnt realise their traits got lost if they were mixed. Oh dear now I feel stupid.

OP posts:
PiccalilliChilli · 16/07/2021 12:23

I never have understood this preference for cat breeds. At the end of the day, you have a lovely cat who has fitted in with your family. He's good with the kids. So it doesn't matter what characteristics he has or has not got. He's already awesome!

SmidgenofaPigeon · 16/07/2021 12:25

You have a lovely cat. Enjoy your lovely cat.

Personally I’ll only ever have common-garden-moggies from a rescue myself. But if you wanted a specific breed this wasn’t the way to go about it.

BrumCahoots · 16/07/2021 12:25

Oh , you love him now anyway ... mixed breed cats are usually stronger .. just enjoy your new kitty .. my big fat ginger moggy is priceless to me and he was free !!

The breeder lied!
hairychinsrus · 16/07/2021 12:27

You can get any animal dna tested U C L Davis in California does it you need to swab inside of mouth and send it off. Cost is about £50 or so
Suppose the question is if it comes back as not the breed you asked for then what are you going to do?

Original poster
Puditt · 16/07/2021 12:27

@PiccalilliChilli I completely agree with you he is a great character and has fitted in so well. But I guess both me and dp wanted a maine coon but couldnt afford thousands for a pedigree so this was our second best option. We already have a maine coon so we just assumed it would suit better and they would understand each other. From having a maine coon we really love the traits our first cat has and wanted that in our second. I guess it's like having a preference? People have it when they date others, when they look at getting dogs, and the same applies here with our kitten

OP posts:
mrscatmad31 · 16/07/2021 12:29

Lots of litters of 'half Maine Coons' about, you have a moggy, I'm sure he's absolutely lovely but even if he was half Maine coon, he's still a mixed breed and therefore a moggy. If he's insured make sure he's insured as a moggy as it's cheaper

Original poster
Puditt · 16/07/2021 12:30

@BrumCahoots what a handsome kitty! Cats always look so majestic sunbathing compared to humans Blush

OP posts:
Shellingbynight · 16/07/2021 12:31

As you didn't see the dad, it is entirely possible the cat isn't what you were told. You say you were keen on 'that particular breed', but she was advertised a crossbreed.

As others have asked, how much did you pay?

I bought a Bengal-Burmese cross (we saw the Burmese mum and Bengal dad) about 25 years ago. I paid £80 for her. She was a gorgeous cat. At that time I also had a couple of Burmese, and paid about £250 for them. So you should see a big price differential between the price of your cat and a pure breed. If you did, no worries about what breed (or not) she is.

I don't think you have any chance of getting your money back, just enjoy the cat.

Swipe left for the next trending thread