Ragdoll cat 🐱

[mich0130]

Hi on the 7th December 16 I purchase a ragdoll kitten for £425 off someone advertising on the site pets4homes. After the 2 hour round trip, I got the kitten home. The kitten wasn't eating but after some research I was reassured that the kitten just needed time to settle in. The next day I took the kitten to the vets for a general check up. As soon as the vet saw the kitten she didn't think the kitten was 8 weeks old as I told, only weighing in at 475g. also the kitten had fleas and I low heart rate and diarrhoea. The vet didn't think the heart rate was a problem ATM but prescribed flea and worm treatment and told me to purchase kitten milk. As soon as I got the kitten home I tried to get her to drink the kitten milk but she refused, she was also still refusing the kibble which the breeder told me the kitten was eating. That night I sent a message to the breeder saying that the vet thought the kitten was only 5 weeks old. The breeder responded saying that she was 8 weeks old she just was always a fussy eater. The next morning I went out and purchased a high quality wet food for the kitten in the hope that it would encourage her to eat, I also got some syringes to assist feed her some kitten milk. She did eat some of the new food and I carried on feeding her often. Over the weekend the kitten was still eating but continued to have diarrhoea and was very sleepy, I was having to wake her to eat and drink. So still concerned I took her to a different vet on the Monday 12th. The vet was appalled I had been sold such a sickly kitten. She prescribed Prescription food and some medicine for the kittens infected eye. The next morning I sent the breeder the following message but I am yet to hear back -


Hi. Princess has had to go to the vets twice in the short time that I have had her. As you know the first vet thought that she was only about 5 weeks. If she was infact 8 weeks as you said she is massively underweight and should have never been sold. I was told to give her special kitten milk which I am having to syringe feed her. She also had fleas, so had to buy flea treatment for such a tiny kitten. Princess was not eating the royal canin food you said she was on so I had to buy her a high Quality wet food which I have to feed her every 3 hours which she started to eat with a lot of encouragement. Princess was still not right so I had to take her to a different vet for another check up. The vet was appalled that such a sickly kitten was sold to me. I had to buy a special prescription diet to help her plus eye drops for her infected eye. Her treatment is o. Going and she is going to have to visit the vet often until healthy.
While I do not wish to return her as I am very emotional involved I do however feel that you should return money to me.
Regards Michelle

I have all correspondence, address, contact numbers, full name and screen shots of the advertisement.

Do I have any rights? And of so what should be my next move?

Many thanks
Michelle

[des8]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Hi.
A bad experience.
Did you purchase the kitten (ie pay for it) before seeing it?
Can you post up the advertisement please?
My oh is asking the name of the breeder (she's into cats1), was it insured & registered and did you get a kitten pack?

[mich0130]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

No I paid for her when I saw her. She was A big ball of fluff so I didn't notice how skinny she was. No not registered. Didn't give me anything with her. Her name is Linda greenstreet from dartford.

http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifi...-dartford.html

I've noticed she has removed her number but I have a screenshot of the original. My kitten is not pictured in the advert but she did email me one of her.

Many thanks
Michelle

[OliverJames]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Hi Michelle,

It sounds like you have had a very unfortunate experience. Purchasing an animal from a breeder is always risky as they can tell you whatever you need to hear to feel like you are making a good decision, and unless you have seen a 5 to 8 week old Ragdoll kitten, would probably be none the wiser! As to whether or not you legally have a case is tough. It states on the advert that the kittens have all been vaccinated. Can you get her to give you the details of the person who carried these out? This should be her vet....who should have the birth date of the litter? Just an idea.

Although the advert states 9 weeks now, and it is not recommended, you can actually rehome a kitten at 5 weeks, but it is not normally advised though as any pet owner not purely looking for profit knows that it learns the most valuable lessons between 6 and 9 weeks, including eating, using the litter tray and socialising. The money will still come, but you may need to feed the animals for a few more weeks....its pretty poor behaviour if you ask me (recently gave away a litter of 8 beautiful kittens to friends and family so have been there...)

Definitely report the advert to P4H as I believe their guidelines have been breached;

Check the Health of the kitten or cat
It can be difficult for the average person to check if a cat or kitten is healthy or not, so if you decide to adopt or buy the kitten, make sure that the seller agrees that you can return them within 48 hours for a full refund after taking the cat or kitten to a Vet of your choice for a health check. The seller should be willing to let you do this. If the kitten has already been health checked by their own vet, make sure you get evidence for this in the form of vet records and phone their vet to confirm this.

This is a really unfortunate situation and i hope that the kitten comes through and gives you as much joy as Ragdolls can!!

OllieJB

[des8]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Following on Ollie's comments it would seem your only recourse will be centred on their age.
If they have been vacccinated you should have been given the vaccination certificate, which would show her DoB (this is one of P4H conditions)
There are different types of vaccine (Viral and Bacterial, all of which could be live or inactive) which are not all compatible with each other.

For starters you could write to her asking for the vaccination certificate which you should have been given on purchasing the cat.
Advise her that your vet needs to see it to check the type of vaccination given, and that if she doesn't produce it you will assume that the kitten has not been vaccinated.


If you get the cert you'll know the date of birth, and we can check your options from then on.
If you don't get the cert, you can assume the cat was not vaccinated, and so the cat was not as described and that will give you the opportunity to consider initiating court action.

[mich0130]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Thank you both. The breeder is not answering me anymore. No vaccination card was given to me. Both vets that I have seen say she is to little to vaccinate.
I messaged the breeder when I got home from collecting her and she told me her dob was 15th October, so using that date she would have been 7 weeks and 3days on the day I collected her which was different to what was stated on the advert.

Many thanks
Michelle

[OliverJames]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Hi Michelle, if you have that in writing and proof of purchase date then you may well have a case!

Sorry, I got my post wrong. Cats can't be vaccinated until they are 12 to 14 weeks I believe. But she should have registered them with a vet when they were born and also the mother would have needed to be checked during the pregnancy to make sure everything was OK, and as cats can also keep still births inside which can get seriously infected, vets need to do a postpartum check to make sure all are clear. (Gross I know...but that's what they did with us and said it is the same for all litters as it is more common than expected...)

As for the legal stuff, I will leave that to the experts here as they are amazing and really know their stuff, but from a cat lover and recent cat parent to a healthy and lovely litter, give her all the love and attention she needs to make sure she gets through this!!

Sounds like the breeder was only in this for the money and the animal welfare side of things don't play a part...something that pets4homes take very seriously! I would also check on the preloaded website as she may also be advertising them there....not an uncommon pairing.

Keep us updated on the state of play!

OllieJB

[des8]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

So the cat was misdescribed, and you have witten proof of that
1) age
2) probably not vaccinated as uk vets (as a general rule) will not vaccinate a cat under 9 weeks old.

You now have some choices to make.
1)You can forget about pursuing the breeder, and put the incident down to experience or
2) return the cat to the breeder and receive a full refund (including damages ie your costs).(probably not an option you would chose) or
3) request a price reduction and claim damages.

Your rights are set out in the Consumer Potection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008

If you need help drafting a letter when you have made your decision don't hesitate to let us know.

[mich0130]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Thank you Ollie.
She is getting lots of love and cuddles. I will do anything in my power to make sure she gets through this.

If I'm honest it's not about the money I just don't want her to get away with treating people and animals like this.
She said it was the mums 2nd litter but who knows :-(.

Michelle

[mich0130]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

I would definitely not return her as I have no doubt she will not be cared for.
I would like to pursue it out of a matter of principal.

I would very much appreciate some help with this please.

Many thanks
Michelle

[OliverJames]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

It's pretty disgraceful how some people treat their animals! Unfortunately until you have had your eyes opened to what is an underworld industry, you just go about looking for a new pet assuming that everyone feels and thinks like you do. It's more upsetting when you end up in the situation you are in and are able to now consider what the other pets go through!

I think your 'principle' approach is a good one, and if nothing else it could get her to wake up to the fact that she has potentially acted not only against the letter of the law, but totally unethically & inhumanely.

Sounds like she deserves is!

OllieJB

[des8]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Did she confirm the DoB in writing?
Would you be prepared to go to court to pursue this matter?

[Fred]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Thank you Ollie.
She is getting lots of love and cuddles. I will do anything in my power to make sure she gets through this.

If I'm honest it's not about the money I just don't want her to get away with treating people and animals like this.
She said it was the mums 2nd litter but who knows :-(.

Michelle

Well good for you & your new Kitty..............hope you get some pressure on to improve the way these animals are treated.

For what its worth we rescued a ginger tom a couple of years ago, he was very young & in a mess but, with professional help he is a good healthy chap now..............wouldn't swap him for a gold clock

[mich0130]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

Yes all our correspondence was done by text message.
I would but cost is an issue unfortunately.

Many thanks
Michelle

- - - Updated - - -

Well good for you & your new Kitty..............hope you get some pressure on to improve the way these animals are treated.

For what its worth we rescued a ginger tom a couple of years ago, he was very young & in a mess but, with professional help he is a good healthy chap now..............wouldn't swap him for a gold clock

Thank you Fred that is reassuring for me, I've been worried sick

[des8]

Re: Ragdoll cat 🐱

[QUOTE=mich0130;696000]Yes all our correspondence was done by text message.
I would but cost is an issue unfortunately.

Small claim court fee for claim upto £300 is £25 on line (, https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-...ney/court-fees)
If it goes to a hearing there is a further fee of £25 to pay

You might be elegible for fee remission https://www.moneyclaimsuk.co.uk/fee-remission.aspx
and if you win your costs would be reimbursed by defendant.

There is no need to employ a solicitor, which is discouraged for small claims.