![]() This is another reason we recommend looking for a kitten locally. There will be multiple ways to contact them. There will be something, such as a link to their website, email address, mention of their location, and what organizations they are registered with so you can do that all-important cross-reference. If there is only a FaceBook page for the cattery, they display something in their about section, even if they choose not to show their home address, or name. You can go on the TICA and CFA websites and cross-reference that the cattery is indeed registered there. The cattery will be registered with organizations such as TICA (The International Cat Association), CFA (Cat Fancier's Association). They'll show their breeding girls and boys. They'll have an "about us" page that tells you how they got into breeding. By the time you figure out it's a kitten scam, it may have cost over $600, or much more.Ī real breeder will usually have a fleshed out website. There will be a cost for vet bills, insurance, or special shipping for the ill kitten. Once they have the money, there will be additional shipping and delivery company fees. They will want to use a payment method you don't normally use and provides no fraud protection for instant money transfer. This is because they want you to send the money right away while you're looking at an adorable picture, before you have time to dwell on the specifics that don't feel right. You see an ad, comment, or link on a site you know and trust, and are interested in an adorable kitten. If you do find out a price, and you've compared prices, the kitten scam price is low. A real breeder on the other hand, plans litters in advance, perhaps only a couple litters per year. They apparently currently have a kitten for anyone who asks. These Maine Coon kitten scammers are eager to sell kittens. (in some cases they will actually use the address of an unsuspecting homeowner, so definitely double check it.) There will be no visiting permitted, and no physical address. Interestingly, I then learned that many Maine Coon kitten scams originate there. If you do, are they located in a part of the world where scams tend to originate? The user who commented on the MCCN Facebook post was from Cameroon, West Africa. Who runs the page? If you can't find an administrator that's a red flag. One place didn't capitalize or even properly spell Maine Coon. It looks like they use the same paragraph, copied and pasted in all their posts. “inbox this page if you need a baby." - not professional. "we would be pleased to satisfy you and others." or ![]() "pure Maine Coon kittens for rehoming" (the use of "rehoming" isn't right in this situation) Something in their grammar or presentation isn't quite right. Whenever they are asked where they are located, or what their prices are, or who they are, they reply with "message us directly for more info" or "check inbox" or "pm for details." Nowhere on this page can you see that this is a cattery located in a specific location run by a particular person. These will be missing the 'things to look for' we'll discuss later. Or, they may have multiple cheap websites. When viewing this page, there is no phone number or physical address, even no breeder name. This is because they get reported, shut down, then make a new one. The one I'm looking at as an example is about 3 weeks old. These are things that, when taken together, should prompt one to research further, and proceed with caution.Ī pet service that has no real website, just a page on a free platform like FaceBook. These kitten scam artists are definitely too close for comfort. It can be like chasing one's tail to look for them and remove them when they crop up. And when they show up on a trusted site like ours in the form of an advertisement or comment, they have already snuck in. It's not simply one perpetrator or one site that can be taken down, it's a Maine Coon kitten scam formula. In the last week or so I've received emails from our MCCN community friends informing me of a Maine Coon kitten scam which is gaining traction right now. I thought, "how great people are finding and using the Maine Coon Cat Nation social community to connect!" Well, it seems I was a bit naive. At first, I didn't even recognize it! I had noticed recently that on our FaceBook page, we began getting an occasional comment with a link to a "pet service" where kittens are available.Īt first glance they look like a small hobby breeder. There is a Maine Coon kitten scam going around.
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