Kittens in Pet Stores Options

[ciggggg]

Hello Again!

Ok, so this time, I was wondering on how people feel about kittens in pet stores? A couple of months ago, In one of my local pet stores (national chain) I saw some kittens advertised as Bengals, This pet store was asking $1800 for it. Two weeks later, there appeared to be a litter of Ragdolls, and everyime I've been back in that store since, there's always ragdolls. They sell them for $1200 each.

My question is this :

Do ethical registered breeders ever produce kittens to sell to pet stores? I personally dont trust pet stores for various reasons, and I also feel that they mark the price up on everything by like a billion percent haha.

I also wonder about the temperament of these cats. It couldnt be good for them to be cooped up in small glass cages having hundreds of people banging on the glass at them all day either...If I was one of those cats, I would be pretty stressed I think.

I am probably making a huge assumption here and I apologize if this comment offends anyone but, If I was a breeder I would NEVER sell my kittens to pet stores for the reasons stated above. In my eyes it would be a bad situation for a new kitten to be in. It would be stressful enough leaving thier mothers let alone being thrown in a glass box for weeks on end being gawked at by strangers. In saying that, I guess it would depend on the store? I'm aware some are better than others. There is one pet store I do enjoy going too in Canberra, they have a couple of thier pet cats and dogs wandering around the store... I think I just go there to play with thier animals haha :P

[Serena]

It would be awful if unethical registered breeders sold their kittens in pet stores. I know of a pet shop that sells kittens and I wont even walk past it.

[ciggggg]

It would be awful if unethical registered breeders sold their kittens in pet stores. I know of a pet shop that sells kittens and I wont even walk past it.

I feel the same, I always feel bad for the kittens in thier glass boxes and often think to myself, Surely an ethical breeder would not have supplied these kittens. So it appears that they did not, which is a good thing. Unfortunately every time a new litter appears in this shop in Belconnen, it's just another "win" for UNethical breeders I suppose.

IMO, No breeder who claims to love thier cats and have thier best interest at heart would ever supply a pet shop in this way.

[Serena]

Couldn't agree more.

[Furrballz]

I agree with you about not selling your babies in pet stores. You also cannot be assured that they are going to a home you would approve of when a 3rd party is selling them.

Most Registering Bodies also have it written in the ethics you sign to be accepted as a member every year, that you cannot sell your kittens and cats thru a pet shop or dealer

Ethical breeders will not sell thru these avenues, they will keep the babies until the right home comes along, regardless of the ongoing cost to them :)

[Mymphf]

I agree with Terri-Ann wherein no registered breeder's babies should ever be found in pet shops. Sadly the byb's out there don't hold to the same ethical standard and most 'pure breed' cats you will find there will not have come from registered animals. This poses a problem in legitimately classing the animal to be of the breed stated, even though it blatantly looks to have the same characteristics of said breed.

Purchasing kittens through pet shops is a nightmare. Not only are you paying over the top dollar for the animal, most won't be desexed and you're up for the cost of that; you will also pay for rudimentary health care - vaccinations, worming etc. and most have no traceable medical history so anything could be wrong with the animal whereas if you were to buy the same breed from a registered breeder you can be more assured of the health of the animal and the history of it's lines, the kitten to have been desexed and to have been wormed, flea treated and at least two of it's three shots done. All this and at a fraction of the cost that Craig has quoted in the original post.

Having said that, it is totally possible that the kitten you purchase from a breeder could have health problems but every registered breeder that I know will virtually hold your hand through such a harrowing time and if worst comes to the worst, replace the kitten should that be suitable. You don't get that sort of service from a pet shop.

[Perko]

I agree with you about not selling your babies in pet stores. You also cannot be assured that they are going to a home you would approve of when a 3rd party is selling them.

Most Registering Bodies also have it written in the ethics you sign to be accepted as a member every year, that you cannot sell your kittens and cats thru a pet shop or dealer

Ethical breeders will not sell thru these avenues, they will keep the babies until the right home comes along, regardless of the ongoing cost to them :)

My exact thoughts!
Code of conduct states Breeders can "Not sell or dispose of cats or kittens to or through pet shops, markets or animal shelters, or allow any cat or kitten to be given as a prize or donation of any kind, nor act as an agent."

So that means that it is very likely that these kittens in pet shops are not registered...and they're asking prices that challenge those of an entire kitten from a registered breeder...wow...

Whyever would anyone buy a kitten in this manner...

[Serena]

A registered breeder on another forum has stated that she has sold cats to pet shops.

[2furries]

It's just like people that either advertise on the gum tree website or put signs on the side of the road. However, its still early and if we hurry, we can round them all up before night turns to day n string em up

[Perko]

It's just like people that either advertise on the gum tree website or put signs on the side of the road. However, its still early and if we hurry, we can round them all up before night turns to day n string em up

Hahaha...{puts hand up excitedly} I'll do the stringing part

[Rascal]

yes and if you look at their post they have added that it was 9-12 years ago and that their friend that owned the shop was a registered breeder of ragdolls..............or are you going to string up all the registered breeders out there that own pet shops........I believe there is quite a few around?

I think there is worse things - like those who sell their kittens in bulk lots overseas.................