Buyer Beware!

It is that time of year again when people may be thinking of buying a kitten or a puppy to add to the family unit.

This is great! Every home should have a pet to love and to be loved by- the joy of watching a kitten or puppy playing and then almost falling asleep on their feet is so good for the heart and soul. Baby animals really know how to play.

A pet is a member of your family for life, he/she will grow to maturity and be a constant companion sensing your mood and enjoying life with you.

There are, unfortunately, unscrupulous people in the South Africa who believe they have found a way of making money out of people who are looking for a kitten or puppy.

Even though we try, through social media platforms, to warn you - there are still people being scammed out of their hard earned money.

Scam Artists are plausible individuals with active websites. So when you search for kittens for sale or a specific breed of cat, their catteries pop up because they have cleverly set up their SEOs to use the key words you type.

You cannot blame the search engines - they work on key words to show you a list of websites.

Try using more complex phrases when searching for kittens- such as SACC/CFSA/CASA Registered kittens or Breeders or Pedigreed and Registered Persians for sale.

Websites which show multiple breeds for sale should either be avoided or you can phone and ask which registering body the person belongs to and ask for a phone number so you can verify authenticity- a reputable, registered breeder will give you the information.

Pedigree Kittens always have the name of the Cattery before their name- not just Polly!

Such as this little Russian taken from a so called legitimate breeder's website. There are only 4 Russian Breeders in SA and this lady is not one of them! She has possibly "borrowed" the photo from one of them or has taken it from a non SA breeder's website. Just to get you to part with your money!!!

In conversation the Scam Artist will tell you that the kittens are selling fast and you will have to pay today for your chosen kitten- utter nonsense! Ethical Breeders have waiting lists for kittens- kittens are not an item on a store shelf! Breeders use lines which will give them robust and healthy kittens- this takes a lot of time and in depth knowledge of the breed.

Pedigreed and Registered Kittens from a reputable breeder are expensive but the kitten will be vaccinated, neutered, dewormed, genetically sound and well socialised. There are no "bargain basement" kittens!

Why not ask the following questions of the person you plan to buy from:

When is it convenient for me to come see the parents of my kitten?

Can you send me photos of your cattery and where the kittens are raised?

Or make statements such as:

I am going to use my own carrier to avoid any further expense.

I will arrange my own animal courier.

I will fetch the kitten myself regardless of where you stay.

Please do not part with any money until you are absolutely sure that you are dealing with a genuine and ethical breeder and not someone who uses photos to lure you in, takes your money and has a "courier" who wants to sell you an "air conditioned" carrier at great expense.

You will not get a kitten at the end of the transaction because a Scam Artist is not a breeder!

This is the quality of kitten you will get from an ethical, registered and genuine breeder and she has the wonderful pedigree name of Incatique Miss Blootiful

Thanks to photographer Ursula van der Riet for the collage images and Ingrid de Wet for the photo of Blootiful.