I need some advice on a difficult situation as I don't know what to do

[Maybruce]

Last Sunday I bought a kitten, when I got him home I knew something wasn't right, I took him to the vets after he was settled at home and they found out he had an extremely low white blood cell count, unfortunately he had to be put down yesterday after his condition worsening over time, the vets tried every thing they could but said he would need intensive care for a few weeks which I couldn't afford as it would be expensive and my bill was already high from the treatment he had before hand, which broke me and my boyfriend, I've never seen him cry before it was heartbreaking. The vet told me he had a bacterial infection which he would have caught from his previous living conditions, now I know the woman had a lot of kittens for sale and I sent her message about when he first went to the vets and since she has removed all of her adverts off pets4homes, I've sent her messages about it and that I would like her to help out towards the big vet bill I have and I've had no response and I do t really know what to do, its a horrible situation to be in and I just need advice about if I have a foot to stand on, I've tried to call the rspca but because I didn't see the living conditions they can't do anything, and I need advice about asking her to pay the vet bill and what to do.

[Lilith]

Was he a pedigree and registered? Pedigree cat Associations like the GCCF and TICA are very keen on putting a stop to any bad practice and as far as I'm aware will investigate a complaint about one of their members. This sort of thing isn't normal I might add but sadly it can happen occasionally.

If she was breeding and selling kittens without papers and not registered, then I don't know. It sounds very iffy to me that she's removed all her ads though - as though she's lying low for a while.

Hopefully other members may have more info/advice. I'm so sorry to hear of your kitten's death; have posted on your other thread.

[bobbys girl]

I am so sorry to hear about your kitten. As Lilith has said it sounds very iffy, and as such, you probably won't get anywhere with your requests for financial help from her.

You also won't get any joy from the RSPCA (unless you can get the BBC involved, then they'll be there like a shot)

It's not right, but I would chalk it up to (a very unpleasant) experience. Bad publicity might push this woman to change her act or give up the 'business', which would be good for her cats and prevent heartbreak for other people.

BTW your boyfriend sounds like he'd make a wonderful kitty daddy (soft, in the nicest possible way, just like my OH) I'm sure there are plenty of kitties in rescue centres who would love to live with you - when you are ready. Just a thought.

[Lilith]

I'm reminded of a similar case, a long time ago, when a friend of mine asked the breeders of her puppy if she could return her as she wasn't coping with her. No problem, said the breeders, and were straight over for puppy and papers, money to be refunded asap.

Except it wasn't. It was several hundred pounds, and so my friend took the breeders to the small claims court where the breeders claimed that a) she had 'mutilated' the dog (she had had to trim round the dog's backside) and b) they couldn't pay the money back; they were so skint they were having to give up breeding and showing (detailed list of income/outgoings supplied, heavily slanted as to skintness.) And they won their case but my friend decided to appeal or whatever it is you do, and this time she decided to collect some info.

I rang the breeders, saying I'd seen an advert in an old Exchange and Mart and asking if they were still breeding or could she put me in touch with another breeder. Oh yes, they were still breeding and showing. (That of course was why they were so annoyed about the trimmed fur; they'd planned to get the pup straight on to the show circuit.) I kept her chatting (I was chattier in those days) and pretended to be a bit thick (not difficult in my case) and drew her out a bit ... In fact they were planning to breed their youngest bitch soon, oh, what does she look like? Description tallied with my friend's puppy ...

The case went back to court and my friend won and got her money back.

If you have a friend who would be prepared to go along to this woman's premises under the pretext of having seen her adverts and being interested in a kitten (you can bet she won't pass up on the chance of a sale) and collect as much info as possible and try to see as much as possible, you might have a court case. Sometimes you have to be as sneaky as these scallies.

Also another good agency is the CAB - they can advise you legally.

Good luck!

[BabyBerlioz]

These people make me sick.

I looked around for almost a year before I bought my hairy baby. When I finally found him I asked the breeder a gazillion questions and and she asked me a gazillion in return. We met each other and Berlioz and hi mammy while he was only 5 weeks or so and only then did we put a deposit down. I think if any breeder doesn't want you to visit I would walk away.

I think you might have a case for small claims, but as they say above I would try and covertly gather as much information as you can. I am also surprised the RSPCA would not visit her? Even though you didn't see the home, your story sounds like there is enough information for them to at least visit? Is it possible someone from your local Cats Protection could help you push for that?