Learning The Hard Way - Buying an Unregistered Kitten
“Coco”
So, you’ve discovered Ragdolls. Aren’t they the most gorgeous cats?! And the kittens? Have you ever seen a more adorable ball of fluff?
Now I imagine as a responsible pet owner you’re going to do some research... it’s only right, any animal joining your family is a huge responsibility and you’re a good person, right? You want to give a great home to one of these little wonders and you want to do it right.
Imagine this story.
You start doing your research. Facebook is great if you’re on there, lots of Ragdoll related pages and groups.
You contact a Registered Breeder at the start of your journey and think blimey; Ragdolls are expensive, aren’t they? But what are you really paying for? Must be those fancy pedigrees. You aren’t bothered about a bit of paper, are you? You just want a fluffy little baby and you don’t care if its great grandfather was named something long and unpronounceable.
But 13 weeks seems a super long time to wait.... you want a cute little baby; 13 weeks is like nearly an adult right? Or at least a juvenile!
Let’s look on Google; lots of pet sale websites, oh, look at that tiny baby!! It’s only a fraction of the price, and you can collect at 8 weeks! She’ll still be so small and cute!
The breeder isn’t registered, but she is so nice and confident on the phone. “Yes, yes, I’ve been doing it for years, no they are not registered but it doesn’t really matter, that’s why I’m cheaper! No, don’t listen to those snobby breeders on those groups, yes, she’ll be fine to leave at 8 weeks, maybe even before if she weans early enough. Don’t worry, it will be fine!’
Ok great. You trust the breeder, why wouldn’t you? She’s saying everything you want to hear and besides, you’ve already fallen in love with that adorable picture you’ve been sent of ‘your kitten’.
A deposit is paid. Maybe you’ve seen the kitten, maybe you’ve settled on a photo. Anyway, the kitten is yours, at the tender age of 1 or 2 weeks old... so the wait until you can collect is on! So exciting!
You might still see the registered cat groups on Facebook. You read horror stories of poorly unregistered kittens, kittens that leave before they’re ready, but your breeder says it’s fine, why would she lie?
The wait is killing you! You reserved this kitten at just one week old, so you’ve got seven weeks to wait. Maybe you’re getting regular updates with photos, but on seeing the photos something doesn’t look right, you might have a small voice telling you that your kitten doesn’t look quite the same as the kittens the registered breeders post on those groups. But you ignore this voice, you don’t mind because you’ve fallen in love with this little one.
It’s been six and a half weeks now, and you get a message from the breeder, all the siblings have gone to their new homes already! So, would you like to collect your kitten early? Obviously, you’re very excited at this idea, how wonderful that you’re being given the chance to pick your bundle of fluff up already! But that little voice asks again, “is it too soon? Is this right? Does this feel ok? Why is she letting her go earlier than she originally told me?”
You decide to go for it. Your kitten is ready to bring home and why would you refuse! You’re on your way to collect your kitten and the kind, caring breeder has reassured you that the kitten is absolutely fine to leave, in perfect health, ready to go.
You arrive. The breeder meets you outside holding the tiniest bundle you ever seen! Wow she’s so small, you think. You can’t help but let that thought slip out loud. The breeder tells you,” no she’s fine, I think she’s quite big actually for her age”. You trust her, and so the breeder stands slightly back, waiting for the money before handing your baby over.
You’re feeling weird, conflicting, and confusing emotions. You’re so happy to finally have your baby. But she’s so, so small. Should she be leaving her mum so soon? Is she ready to be on her own? But you get to take her home, you can look after her there and make sure she is okay.
She’s home! The children love her. They bond immediately. She is wonderful! So cute, so tiny, so adorable! This was the best decision ever.
Things are fine, for a few hours. But you start to notice that something isn’t quite right. You’ve provided everything, food, water, litter trays, but she’s not able to eat anything hard, and is it just you, or does she not quite know how to drink?
Doubt sets in. Has this kitten not been weaned?
It’s ok, you tell yourself. The vets are booked tomorrow they can look her over for her first vaccination and give us steps to get her eating properly.
She’s been to the vets, we got mixed reviews. Vet says she seems ok but she very small for her age. She weighed a mere 500g! Miniscule! Little cuties. But aren’t Ragdoll kittens meant to be quite a lot bigger?
She’s back home, it’s been a week or two now. She’s eating ok now, playing, and using the litter tray. She’s so affectionate. She knows her name, comes when called. Loves to snuggle, chats to you. You look at her and your heart could burst with love. How lucky you are to have a long future of friendship in front of you? It’s finally all fallen into place, you think.
Oh, what’s wrong with her eye? It looks weird... she seems a bit...off? Trip to the vet. Best check it’s nothing serious. “Looks like conjunctivitis caused by trauma” you are told by the vet. Strange, she was in bed with me...what trauma could it have been? Anyway, you pay the £100 fee for some drops and painkillers and go home.
The children are worried. Her eye looks so strange with the third eyelid covering half of it. But she’s on her meds, she’s sure to get better.
She does! The eye clears up, she’s looking back to normal. She’s playing with the kids, acting like the gorgeous ball of fluff that all kittens should be.
You’re getting ready to go to work, those hard night shifts whilst your family sleep. The kids are tucked up in bed, the kitten is following you around as you gather you stuff to leave, one quick last cuddle and you’re out the door.
It’s 10:30pm. The phone rings. It’s your husband. “There’s something wrong with Coco....she’s really out of it, it’s like she’s collapsed”. You’re at work, you can’t do anything. Your heart freezes in your chest. Your tiny kitten, whom mere hours ago had been prancing around playing, is desperately ill. “Take her to the emergency vet.” You shout at your husband. “Now! I’ll call the neighbour to sit with the kids, go. Hurry!”
She’s collapsed! What is it? A stroke? Something brain related... epilepsy? God this is going to be expensive... but she’s insured, so fine, whatever we’ll pay it and she’ll be fine.
11:15pm. The phone rings again. It’s your husband again. Something is wrong with his voice. “What’s wrong?” you ask him, desperately. The vet takes the phone, clinical, brisk. “It’s not good I’m afraid, some kind of neurological infection. Her prognosis is not good.”
“Would you like us to put her down?”
…..
You know when time stands still, and you don’t really feel connected with where you are? Your chest feels tight and you can’t seem to get your brain to make the connection between thought and stringing a sentence together?
“I can’t make that decision!” You plead down the phone to the vet. “I’m not with her! My baby!! She was fine a few hours ago! I don’t understand. Her eye was better!” You try to understand what is happening but you can’t let the vets give up on her little life. “You need to do something else, help save her! She can’t die she’s only a baby!!” You are begging the vets to help your little baby.
You end the call with an agreement to try. Try! Try to keep her alive! You think, what is happening here?
She was fine when you left for work. She is just 11 weeks old, she can’t.. die? You’re not with her. Is she ok? Does she know where she is? Does she wonder why I am not there?
2:25am. The phone rings. You flinch. You don’t want to know.
It’s the vet. You feel sick, cold.... terrified.
“We’ve been trying to resuscitate her for 25 minutes.... we need permission to stop. We’re so sorry”.
Logic finally steps in and you beg down the phone to the vets. “‘Stop! Stop right now, no more. Leave her.” You plead. “Please, no more suffering. If you bring her back now, she’ll be brain damaged. Leave her. Let her go. Let her be in peace.”
So many emotions are running through you. Empty. Cold. Sick. Confused.
And so, your gorgeous tiny baby girl is finally put to sleep, at the mere age of 11 weeks old. There are no words to describe your heartache.
How did this happen?
Coco - aged 9 weeks
This is a true story.
All of this happened to me. My story is likely one in thousands, happening every single day across the country, and we need people to learn from our mistakes.
Please listen to us.
I’m not saying that every kitten bought from every unregistered breeder will end like this, but I am saying that the odds are so much greater. Please don’t risk it.
The guilt and pain and sadness I felt was nothing, compared to how the pain of my children ripped through me when I told them. Have you ever heard your children howl in emotional pain? I wouldn’t recommend it; that noise will stay with me to my dying day.
This might all sound a bit overly dramatic to you, still not quite sunk in. Maybe you think this won’t happen to you? Who knows? Maybe it won’t. But you can’t be sure.
Since this horrendous tragedy was thrust upon my family, I have approached this properly. A breeder who is registered, who is experienced and who has to adhere to guidelines and answer to the GCCF. The way I had originally started out, however I didn’t contact the original registered breeder as I felt ashamed to do so.
I have found another registered breeder. A breeder with 16 years of experience and a compassion for her animals that shows in the happy, healthy and well socialised kittens she breeds. Tanya, has been patient, sympathetic and most importantly listened to and answered any and all questions I’ve had. Her prefix is Tzkatz with the registered body, GCCF and follows their codes of ethics.
She has 4 generations and they are all beautiful cats with fantastic, calm and friendly personalities. When she first showed me pictures and videos from the litter my kitten is from, I was completely bowled away by the difference in appearance. When I compare the photos of Arlo and Coco, it’s obvious that my first ragdoll kitten was a rescue mission. The difference is staggering.
I have complete confidence in Tanya; her cats are vet checked and tested for the HCM gene which is a well-known heart disease and often killer of Ragdolls.
She is in no rush to take a deposit and I have not felt pressured in any way. I have been reassured that Arlo is mine and only when he receives his first vet checks and vaccination, will she accept any money. She has been open and honest with me and has said that my family is welcome to visit Arlo and form a bond with him several times before we bring him home. This can only be beneficial to all parties.
And do you know what the price difference is?
£200.
£200 bloody pounds to save my children from that heartache.
An extra £200 to ensure a properly vet checked, certified, healthy, happy kitten and a lifetime of support from a breeder who cares.
A mere £200 to ensure these babies are raised properly, and go on to live happy, healthy lives in their new homes.
£200 that we had to spend and more to try and save Coco.
£200 in exchange for peace of mind and all of the above... seems worth it to me, what do you think?
Laura.
This is a true account from a pet owner, Laura, from Bucks