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Original poster

Do we have a breeder issue? WWYD?

27 replies

kitkatproblems · 19/08/2022 23:35

Hi all,

We brought home our two Ragdoll kittens this morning!
We first visited them on 2/8 - lovely cats, saw mum & dad etc happy with everything so reserved two girls.
Picked up today as now old enough.

When we first viewed them the breeder said that they'd be vet checked and flea and worm the week before collection - all fine. Today when we collected the breeder said that they'd had their worming / flea treatment on 01/08 when they were vet checked.

At the time I didn't think anything of it as didn't realise the dates etc. she's given us the name of the vets they were apparently checked at etc.

Anyways one of the kittens seemed a bit skinnier than I remembered and was looking a little scruffy but was happy and active and playful / relaxed.

We've got home and both are eating / drinking / using litter box and playing / exploring which is amazing given it's day 1 in a new place. They seem happy and relaxed.

However curiosity got me & I looked at the dates and I was right. We first saw them 02/08 and the breeder definitely said they'd be vet checked the following week. I messaged her to check I hadn't got the date for the worming etc wrong and she confirmed 01/08.

I haven't challenged her but to me that screams - they haven't been vet checked - so have they been wormed etc?!

She also dropped into conversation today she'd been letting them out in the garden and they'd caught a couple of mice etc - not thrilled about this as they've not had any vaccinations yet but we were already home.

Obviously I'll try and contact the vets she says she had them checked at on Monday - I will also be having a health check and first vaccinations & microchipping early next week. They're staying indoors until they've had all their jabs etc - and tbh probably until they've been spayed.

Anyways - I'm panicking now, why would the breeder lie? I wouldn't have been annoyed if she didn't want them vet checked but I would have liked her to be honest so I could arrange a vet check prior to bringing them home etc. now worrying what if there is something wrong but perhaps I'm over thinking?!

I'm an experienced cat owner and have had ragdolls before but not had kittens for quite a few years now.

thoughts?

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 20/08/2022 01:15

Yes, you have a breeder issue.

This is not a registered breeder, they would be able to give you a vaccination card which will also have the date of the flea and worm treatment. It's highly unlikely that the kittens have seen a vet.

How old are the kittens?

I hope all goes well at the vet but be aware that heart disease is common in unregistered ragdolls.

Floralnomad · 20/08/2022 01:34

If you haven’t done so get them insured ASAP and fingers crossed that it all works out ok but it does sound very dodgy . Definitely do not be letting them out before they are spayed . I would also have a really good look at them and check for fleas before your house gets over run .

Anon778833 · 20/08/2022 02:25

Any reputable Ragdoll breeder will not release kittens until they’ve been vet checked and with vaccination cards. As a minimum. And they also shouldn’t be younger than 12 weeks old.

One of our ragdolls did come from a breeder who didn’t look after him very well - he was covered in fleas so I wasn’t happy. But he is a beautiful cat. Some breeders have more interest in breeding beautiful cats than they do keeping them healthy. As if they are a commodity.

Do you have their pedigree certificates? You should have their registration paperwork and also their pedigrees which show their family tree.

Anon778833 · 20/08/2022 02:28

I hope all goes well at the vet but be aware that heart disease is common in unregistered ragdolls

Not necessarily. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is something which all cats are more susceptible to, even moggies. But a Ragdoll should usually come from a breeder who has had all their cats tested for HCM gene.

SavingsThreads · 20/08/2022 03:02

they've not had any vaccinations yet

Does that mean they're less than 8weeks?

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 20/08/2022 05:51

She also dropped into conversation today she'd been letting them out in the garden and they'd caught a couple of mice etc
You what??? No reputable breeder would be letting kittens outside at all, let alone unattended to catch mice. Also as young kittens (how old?) they generally haven't leaned enough to catch prey yet.
I think your 'breeder' is probably a liar and definitely dodgy as fuck based on this alone.
Key questions for you.
Do you have their pedigree papers?
How old does the breeder claim they are?
Wtf haven't they already had initial jabs and chips, RSPCA/Battersea etc. give first injections at about 9 weeks.
Do you have any vet documentation or just the word of your 'breeder'?
Oh - and don't start letting them outside until about 6 months, and definitely not until they have been neutered.

Wolfiefan · 20/08/2022 06:02

We have never taken any kitten or puppy without a card from the vets saying when they were vaccinated and details of when booster needed. Ever.
No kitten should be outside before vaccination and spaying.
Yes you have a problem. Get insurance. Fast. But they won’t cover anything in the next two weeks. Decent breeders usually provide cover for the first two weeks.

allboysherebutme · 20/08/2022 06:09

Can you report the breeder to anyone. ? X

Original poster
kitkatproblems · 20/08/2022 06:17

They're 12 weeks. Happy that they are actually 12 weeks.

They're not pedigree and she never claimed they were. Mum and dad are both obviously ragdolls but we weren't bothered about pedigree cats, they just happened to be ones we liked / chose.

I knew they weren't vaccinated .... knew we would need to do this but obviously I had no idea they'd been outside or anything.

They're already insured and registered with our vet - will phone for an appointment on Monday. I was expecting paperwork from her vets but all she gave was the name etc, not sure I'll actually get any info from them even if I call them direct tbh.

We probably should have walked away tbh but I felt committed to them.

Is there any point having the gene testing now? If one of them does have the heart issue (or both) nothing can be done...? I'm not inclined to take them back to where we got them, atleast they'll be cared for well here.

Urgh what a nightmare. We haven't done kittens for so long ... we usually rescue but now that we have a child (primary age) we were literally declined everywhere, despite them being brought up with cat and us living in an area not on a main road and with a big garden.

Guess I just have to hope for the best now

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/08/2022 06:51

So you’ve bought from someone who CBA to neuter but happy to sell the resulting kittens.
Not an actual breeder.

Original poster
kitkatproblems · 20/08/2022 07:09

It's not usual for female kittens to be neutered before they're sold? It's not recommended until until 4-6 months old.

Even RSPCA rehome kittens before 2nd vaccination and being spayed. They just arrange for you to take them back at the right time.

Not sure I agree with this comment - sorry.

Agreed clearly not a great breeder but I don't think most people expect the cats to already be spayed when they collect.

OP posts:
Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 20/08/2022 07:20

I read Wolfiefan's post as meaning the breeder couldn't be arsed to neuter their own adult cats. (convenient if they are being used as a kitten production machine...)

Original poster
kitkatproblems · 20/08/2022 07:30

Well yes potentially but I wasn't aware of this.

It's all very awkward as they were recommended to me by a work colleague.

I don't think they're being relentlessly bred - work colleagues cat is 3 and this is their next litter apparently. I mean granted she hasn't exactly been truthful so who knows.

Mum and dad were seen on both visits though and both looked well.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 20/08/2022 08:19

Have they also had a breed screen for heat disease. My two rescue Persians were from a kitten farm and there are no doubt loads of my girls kittens with HCM.

Toddlerteaplease · 20/08/2022 08:22

Apparently the woman breeding from the put on a great front. By mine had never lived in a house and there was a chicken coup style cattery round the back.
What's done is done., you've got them out of the situation anyway. Fingers crossed that they will be ok.

JorisBonson · 20/08/2022 08:23

Wolfiefan · 20/08/2022 06:51

So you’ve bought from someone who CBA to neuter but happy to sell the resulting kittens.
Not an actual breeder.

Yep. Someone who's chasing money. So sad.

Suzi888 · 20/08/2022 08:26

If the breeder has had vaccinations/ vet check you’ll get copies or copies will exist of the medication etc given. Request the documents.

Carlycat · 20/08/2022 08:45

No such thing as a responsible breeder. Adopt don't shop

Wolfiefan · 20/08/2022 08:53

@Carlycat that is far too simplistic. I would love a Siamese one day. If I’m ever lucky enough to be in that position I will look long and hard for a breeder who cares about the breed, breeds for health, rarely (so each Queen isn’t having loads of litters and they don’t have too many cats to care for properly. I expect a homecheck and a contract etc.
For now we have rescue moggies. I wouldn’t pay some chancer who CBA to neuter their cats.

lljkk · 20/08/2022 08:58

I'm curious what vet says when OP phones them.
I'm sure it will all work out for your pets, OP. Keep us updated.

Wolfiefan · 20/08/2022 09:05

Probably they can’t discuss due to privacy of clients.

Rottenpumpkin · 20/08/2022 09:05

Carlycat · 20/08/2022 08:45

No such thing as a responsible breeder. Adopt don't shop

😂

Original poster
kitkatproblems · 20/08/2022 11:58

So many Comments that have already been answered

  • we couldn't get a rescue due to having primary age DC despite the fact they've lived with a cat their whole life apart from the last few months. We are a perfectly suitable home & we're willing to offer a rescue a happy life. It's their loss that they are so fussy about their rules they think cats are better in kennels than in happy homes.

We knew the cats weren't going to be vaccinated- we were told they were health checked / flea & worm regime started

We knew they weren't pedigree - we never wanted pedigree. Breeder was recommended by a colleague who has a lovely 3 year old cat from the this woman & we liked the kittens.

I don't really see the point in contacting the other vets now - they'll likely not tell me anything anyway and they're seeing our vet Monday morning.

I wasn't aware a vet would give paperwork for a check up & flea / worm - ours never have in over 10 years. We only got paperwork for vaccinations.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/08/2022 12:33

Absolutely not true that no rescue will rehome cats or kittens to anyone with primary school age kids. We brought home two rescues when youngest was age 4.
That isn’t how you find a recommended breeder. The fact she had a kitten from this person does not mean she is a good breeder.
You should have run a mile when you were told they wouldn’t be vaccinated.

SavingsThreads · 20/08/2022 12:43

Do you know why they've not had their vaccinations if they're 12 weeks?