How to Avoid Kitten Scams and Choose a Trusted Breeder

Recently, there has been an increase in cases of online kitten scam sales. Scammers may offer adorable kittens at a lower price and ask for payment upfront, promising to ship your new pet. However, once you send the money, they disappear, leaving you with nothing. These scammers often use fake photos (or photos from other breeders) and fabricated details, and they never actually have any kittens to sell. Always research sellers thoroughly, ask for references, and avoid making payments before seeing the kitten in person or receiving a trustworthy guarantee. Protect yourself and your wallet from these deceitful schemes.

Tips on How to Check If a Cattery Is Legitimate:

• The breeder should have a real first and last name, address, and phone number. Ask for a phone call or FaceTime video, where you can actually see the cats and kittens in real time.
• Ask if the cattery is a registered cattery and which cat association it’s affiliated with (there are several). Validate with the named association.
• Inquire if in-person visits are possible to see the breeding cats and kittens. Be mindful, though, that not every breeder will feel comfortable with too many visits, as cat queens who have just given birth and are nursing are extremely protective of their babies.
• Request a sample of the purchase contract to be sent to you for evaluation. This document should contain all legal information about the breeder and the cattery.
• When visiting the cattery, ask to see the pedigrees and health passports, including all medical records. Pay attention to the overall condition of the facility and animals. A clean house, plenty of toys, cat trees, and healthy, happy cats are all good signs.
• Ask the breeder about each cat personally — their habits, likes, and dislikes. A good breeder loves their animals and will be happy to share this information with you.

One final thing to note: legitimate breeders do not always have kittens available. Most breeders have very few litters per year and will offer you the option to be placed on a waiting list. On the other hand, scammers will always have a selection of kittens "available" for immediate purchase.

At Texada Siberians Cattery, we strive to build a trustworthy reputation as responsible breeders. We offer our customers in-person visits to the cattery, as well as FaceTime calls and videos. We are a TICA-registered cattery, which can be easily verified on the TICA list of Siberian breeders.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.