A Guide to Avoiding Feline Frauds
In the world of online pet adoption, the allure of Siberian cats with their majestic appearance, charming personalities and hypoallergenic quality has led to a surge in demand. Unfortunately, this popularity has also attracted unscrupulous individuals seeking to exploit the enthusiasm of potential cat owners. In this blog post, we will shed light on the concerning issue of Siberian cat scammers and provide valuable insights to help you avoid falling victim to feline fraud.
The Rising Trend of Siberian Cat Scams: As the demand for Siberian cats grows, more scammers are trying to trick those who are excited to get a pet. The fraudsters often create fake websites, fake Facebook groups and pages, online advertisements. Scammers are promising purebred Siberian kittens for a fraction of the market price. They steal pictures from real Siberian cat breeders and cat owners. Write fake reviews.
Red Flags to Identify Siberian Cat Scams:
Be vigilant when browsing online platforms for Siberian cat adoption. Look out for common red flags such as unusually low prices, poor grammar and spelling in listings, requests for payment via untraceable methods, and unwillingness from the seller to provide verifiable information about the cat’s background.
Verify the Breeder’s Reputation
Legitimate Siberian cat breeders take pride in their work and are transparent about their breeding practices. Before committing to a purchase, research the breeder’s reputation by checking reviews, contacting previous buyers, and asking for references. Trustworthy breeders are typically happy to provide information about the cat’s lineage and health history. Reputable Siberian cat breeders have registered their catteries at least with one cat association such as TICA (The International Cat Association), CFA (The Cat Fanciers’ Association), WCF (The World Cat Federation) or LCWW (Loving Cats Worldwide). Don’t trust only the information stated on the website like “cattery is registered with TICA” (for example). Check the particular cat organization’s website for the list of breeders or contact the organization directly.
Insist on a Video Call or In-Person Visit
Scammers often avoid face-to-face interactions and may provide excuses for not meeting in person. Although there are not many breeders that accept cattery visits prior to reserving or purchasing a kitten, it costs nothing to ask. Insist on a video call to see the cat in a live environment. Legitimate breeders are usually open to introduce you to the kitten virtually.
There is no such as “next day shipping”
Transporting cats requires careful planning, ensuring their safety and well-being every step of the way. If someone tells you they can ship a cat or a kitten tomorrow (especially if it is supposed to go to a different state) remember that it’s a lie. Responsible pet adoption takes time and consideration.
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off during the adoption process, trust your instincts. Scammers often rely on the urgency and excitement of potential pet owners to manipulate them into making hasty decisions. Take the time to thoroughly vet the breeder and ask as many questions as needed to feel confident in your decision.
While the allure of bringing a Siberian cat into your home is understandable, it’s crucial to remain vigilant in the face of potential scams. Arm yourself with knowledge, conduct thorough research, and trust your instincts. Navigate the online landscape of pet adoption safely and ensure a happy and healthy future for you and your feline companion.
What you describe could also be new breeders who lack confidence in their cats and breeding expertise, and want to build their reputation slowly by offering low priced kittens to carefully selected people and friends. I am not a charlatan. I bought my breeding cats from reputable breeders and one who has fifteen years in the industry, as well as another who shows and has multiple championship titles. I spent a whole year closely watching their cattery management. And I am also engaged in the Cat Sensei training program. If I took an average of the cats sold to me, and their breeders prices, it would start me at about $1,850 for a pet quality cat. Because I am a first-time homestead breeder, I do not feel entirely comfortable with that average. My breeder / mentor, who also starts her prices lower than average, raises them $100 a year, as she refreshes her breeding stock. She has a long list of buyers every year, and actually makes an income with her cattery. There is also two women I am aware of who have the prestige of being some of the first to start breeding Siberian Cats in the late 1980’s, start their pet quality FIRMLY at $1,500 with spaying / neutering included in the price. I could not offer that price with that service in my area where vets are hard to find and expensive as all get out. Thankfully my breeder / mentor offers the model of starting low, raising $100 a year, with the expectation that the buyer will pick up the final vet bills, shipping and spaying / neutering.
My point here is, not ALL breeders who start with low prices are just out to take the money and run. The other point is, I worked so closely with my breeder / mentors that I had studied their lines and anticipated every litter of Siberians they had in the past year. My breeders gifted me with hundreds of pictures of their cats past and present, so I could build a website based on the family lines of the cats I own. Of course, I give them credit. I am very loyal to the breeders I work with. It is very frustrating to have breeding cats, but no kittens to display. LoL So, the pictures help me talk about the genetic probabilities of my own lines, while I wait.
Now, BEFORE I stumbled upon these two NW American breeders, I did have a couple experiences with the charlatans you describe. When I grew suspicious of them, It’s checked the out with the BBB in their area, and sure enough, they were red flagged as scammers. Another experience was with a backyard breeder in my own State, who thought she was selling purebred Maine Coon, but did not have paperwork for the mother. I ran a genetic test on the kitten I got from her, and the kitten was 60% American Domestic; 40% Exotic Breed & Siberian Mix. Although that cat bears little resemblance to a full bred Siberian, my research gave me a healthy fascination with the breed, which might be a contributor genetically to the American Domestic in Alaska because of the Russian Occupation that ended just a little over a hundred years ago.
Anyway, great article, but rather antagonistic to start ups like us. Thank you for posting the topic. I am still working on my website.
Thank you for taking your time to write this comment. Starting out as a breeder takes a lot of patience, diligence and money. Well-being of our cats and kittens should be a top priority. You don’t have to start with low prices, because once you calculate all your expenses you will understand, that if you breed cats with love and passion (buy high quality food, treats, cat litter, toys, do health check ups with your veterinarian, cat shows etc.) it is not a real business. But if you turn it into a “cat mill” it might be. Personally I see it as my expensive hobby. If you have any questions regarding Siberian cat breeding, feel free to send me an email, I can recommend you a great group on Facebook, where meet and share their experience knowledgeable and dedicated Siberian cat breeders. Good luck to you in this journey! 🙂 Lana