Price-tag for kitten prompts warning from Inverness charity
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A cat rescue centre owner has given a stark warning after an unprecedented number of animals are appearing online for sale.
Heather Swinton, of Inverness Cat Rescue, reminded anyone thinking of buying a pet that paying hundreds of pounds may not secure a healthy cat or kitten.
On websites such as Gumtree, the price for a kitten in the Highlands has been reaching as high as £700.
Mrs Swinton said: “For the first time since we started the rescue centre we have a waiting list of 30 people for adult cats, and we have stopped taking names for kittens.
“We cannot keep up with the demand. The lockdown has really changed the way people are behaving towards animals.
“On Gumtree I have seen for myself the rising prices for cats, and we need to remind people that while they might be paying huge prices for the animals, it does not mean they will be fit and healthy – serious questions need to be asked of the sellers.
“There is no such thing as a ‘half Maine coon’, or a ‘Siamese cross’, they are just cats – do not be fooled.
“I work part-time in a vet’s practice and I have seen for myself the devastation when a kitten is brought in and it cannot be saved as it is just filled with worms.
“People need to ask questions before they buy a kitten, such as has it been wormed? Is it over eight weeks old? Has it been checked by a vet? Can you see it at home or with its mother? Was it raised in a house?”
Mrs Swinton said she would also be asking what the cat seller is doing with the money.
Her call comes as the Cats Protection charity warned of so-called petfishing – when someone tries to sell a cat or dog, but not all is as it seems due to the animal being ill or not suitable for rehoming.
Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s head of advocacy, said: “With so many people now working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s understandable that many would want to bring a new pet cat into their household. But buyers must be aware that this demand creates the ideal conditions for unscrupulous sellers who put profit before welfare.
“These profit-driven sellers may be selling kittens which are sick or too young to be separated from their mothers, which can lead to high vet bills. Sadly, some kittens bred in poor conditions may not survive, which can be incredibly distressing for their new owner.
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we may have been seeing moggies selling for around £50, but nowadays a quick scan of online adverts will find moggies for sale for hundreds of pounds. It is clear to us that there are individuals out there who are intent on putting profit before welfare.”
