The breeder lied!

[Puditt]

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...

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

Yes and they can give birth to the second litter a few days after the first.

OP

I have a stray who I think has a Bengal parent I had a visitor who has two half bengals and she asked if mine was because she is so similar.

Her cats came from a breeder, they are siblings. The breeder's queen managed to get out and have fun with the local boy cats so they have a pedigree bengal mother and it is anyone's guess who the father (s) one exhibits a lot of bengal traits the other is apparently quite dopey and spends his time being dressed by the owner's daughter.

Pic of mine 'helping'

It's known as 'super fecund' - being able to be pregnant by more than one male at the same time. Very rare! A cats' ovaries are triggered to release eggs when the male withdraws - that's why (entire) males have a barbed penis (similar to the barbs on a cat's tongue).

Are there DNA toe tests like they do with dogs? The cat might indeed be part MC just not look like it.

Bear in mind kitten prices outside of rescue are crazy right now.

Back in the day I paid £10 each for my original 2 moggies, before then having 2 rescues.

When Old Lady Cat died and I was looking for a new cat, there were prices of £600 for a standard moggie kitten. It's bonkers.

I've seen a lot of people advertising kittens crossed with a Maine Coon lately. And I've noticed a lot of them aren't. I'm not saying your baby isn't mind but there is so much scamming lately.

People mentioned my cat is part Maine Coon. Simply because he is larger than average (size of a small dog) and has a huge fluffy tail. But I have to argue that he isn't, I seen both mother and father, both moggies. I bought him for £50 3 years ago. Some of his siblings were short fur. I wouldn't say there isn't any Maine Coon blood generations and generations ago but I would say I'm 95% certain my boy is just a large moggy.

@AnnaMagnani

Bear in mind kitten prices outside of rescue are crazy right now.

Back in the day I paid £10 each for my original 2 moggies, before then having 2 rescues.

When Old Lady Cat died and I was looking for a new cat, there were prices of £600 for a standard moggie kitten. It's bonkers.

We got a kitten last summer for £10.

They're still out there - all my £10 moggies have been from local farms and advertised on social media or via signs outside "farm kittens - £10 each".

No, they're not health checked or jabbed or chipped, but I've never had an unhealthy one. I take them to the vets and get them sorted myself instead :)

I think it matters. Obviously you love the kitten now and you are happy with him or her. But people will continue to sell kittens and lie about their parentage if nobody ever questions them. You've been tricked out of money and whether you end up liking the kitten or not is not the point. You could have paid a lot less for the same kitten. You paid for something you didn't get. It doesn't matter on an individual level as you are happy with the kitten but if 'breeders' do this and nobody says anything it isn't going to help future breeding practices.

Most breeders lie, even if the animal comes with ‘papers’.

@Direstraitsmates

I think it matters. Obviously you love the kitten now and you are happy with him or her. But people will continue to sell kittens and lie about their parentage if nobody ever questions them. You've been tricked out of money and whether you end up liking the kitten or not is not the point. You could have paid a lot less for the same kitten. You paid for something you didn't get. It doesn't matter on an individual level as you are happy with the kitten but if 'breeders' do this and nobody says anything it isn't going to help future breeding practices.

I agree with you, it 'matters' in the sense you have given. But 'saying something' isn't going to help. If the OP complains to the breeder she will stick to her story, and then doubtless block her and move on to her next victim.

The way to stop these practices is to avoid them in the first place. If someone is asking £££ for a 'cross breed', they are scamming you, there is no question about it. So don't buy. A cross breed should cost about the same as a moggy, under £100.

So the OP is now armed with that information she can avoid it happening in future, and enjoy her lovely (but overpriced) cat.

@overtherainbo there is some maincoone in him somewhere!

My cats mum was a Maine coon. I know this because I saw her. She was stunning. His dad however was a big ginger moggy and he is definitely his fathers son! It doesn't matter one jot to us, he's a much loved family member. Enjoy your kitten.

Cat tax.

I've got a half Bengal. She looks like any old black cat.

@overtherainbo

I've seen a lot of people advertising kittens crossed with a Maine Coon lately. And I've noticed a lot of them aren't. I'm not saying your baby isn't mind but there is so much scamming lately.

People mentioned my cat is part Maine Coon. Simply because he is larger than average (size of a small dog) and has a huge fluffy tail. But I have to argue that he isn't, I seen both mother and father, both moggies. I bought him for £50 3 years ago. Some of his siblings were short fur. I wouldn't say there isn't any Maine Coon blood generations and generations ago but I would say I'm 95% certain my boy is just a large moggy.

That reminds me, some friends got a puppy born of 2 moggy dogs (is the term still moggy?). And I knew the parents: mum was brown dad was black. Very much random streetish dogs.

Puppy was born with ALL the characteristics of a purebred

@grey12 I think it's just luck isn't it haha. None of the kittens looked spectacular when I went, I only got our boy because he reminded me of post man pats cat as a kitten😂!

I think it's mongrel/ mut. That sounds horrific though 🙈

@overtherainbo you're right totally forgot

This dog was amazing: it had speckled fur, a raised bit on top of his head, an extra wobbly toe, and it wagged its tail in circles!!!! All very specific purebred! It was a shock!

I had a half Maine Coon, aka a mog.
He cost me nothing though as I have the Mum and the wee horror escaped.
Dd has a Maine Coon with papers, she was £750 recently.

Our boy is only small but incredibly fluffy. His mum was a rescued street cat so I have no idea of his DNA. I’d love to know. Maine Coone has been suggested but he’s petite - like his mum. He’s a meower and a chirruper - plays hide and seek, acts like a dog. I’m a dog person so have no clue what he could be. Any thoughts? Isn’t he a beauty though!

Ha! No idea how you got the first photo!

@Suzi888

Most breeders lie, even if the animal comes with ‘papers’.

No, most breeders don't lie.

JaneExotic your cat could be a forest cat? Very fluffy and lovely, but capable climbing.

@overtherainbo could of cooled me your cat definitely looks maine coon to me ( he is a very handsome big boi)

@Shellingbynight I really wish i understood this beforehand. I do think there is a current fluctuation in prices for pets in general. Even the basic domestics were going for at the minimum a hundred. I almost cant believe the people on here that said they got their furry friend for 60 and less.

@Direstraitsmates I agree I just cant stand dishonest people. It comes down to the principle of it. But there is nothing I can do now but learn from it I guess. I've gotten over the initial anger and at the end of the day I'm not going to give him up so my anger was abit pointless. By all means she could be telling the truth and as others have said on here it may be that my kitten just takes after one breed more than the other.

The only thing I do find peculiar is both the mum and dads breed is meant to be fluffy and although my kitten does have long hair he isnt fluffy at all. Very odd and raises my suspicions abit

Would also like to add my kitteb is only two and half months old but he is already half the size as my half maine coon cat. I guess only time will tell and reveal what he will be

My very ordinary tabby cat had a night of romance with the local Burmese tom cat. She had 2 kittens. One was a ball of grey fluff, the other was very ordinary black and white kitten. Both cute, but the grey fluffy one grew huge while the black and white stayed ordinary moggy sized. The grey fluffball went to live with my DD and her partner, the black and white one went to a friend nearby - no money exchanged hands. People often ask DD if her cat is Burmese.

My tabby cat had a visit to the vet after her adventures and can no longer have kittens, and the Burmese owners are careful to keep their boy under lock and key.

Cross breeds are moggies and you just can't guarantee what characteristics the kittens will have.

@Puditt - please read your original post back to yourself first.

Then answer this question - how/where did you find the breeder?

All the photos, videos, email updates in the world won’t make a blind bit of difference - they are skilled at scamming people who want a kitten.

To another poster who said breeders lie. You are partly correct. Backyard breeders will lie - all the bloody time. Their poor “queens” will churn out multiple litters in quick succession to make them money.

OP - if you wanted a specific breed, then be responsible and search for registered breeders of that breed.

To anyone reading this thread for info. If you want a specific breed, then do your research. If you find a breeder you like the look of, make sure you see mum and dad in the flesh, see paperwork re progeny, health checks etc.be prepared to wait a while - they shouldn’t be churning kittens out at a rate of knots.

Otherwise, don’t be contacting “breeders” via sm platforms. Instead, go to reputable rescues to find a cat. It might not be the breed you “want”, but they won’t be conning you into buying a cat that ISN’T the breed that you want.

@Puditt

Would also like to add my kitteb is only two and half months old but he is already half the size as my half maine coon cat. I guess only time will tell and reveal what he will be

And this annoys me too. Most reputable breeders won’t let their kittens go until they are twelve weeks old. This is largely due to their socialisation. The kittens learn a lot from their mum and siblings with regards to behaviour etc.