By Ruth Steinberger
The puppy mill issue remains in the headlines in Oklahoma, and although they are covered under breeder regulations passed in 2010, high-volume kitten producers are rarely mentioned. Kittens that are sold in pet stores, over the Internet or through newspaper ads often come from unregulated facilities with too many cats and too little oversight. With all the talk about puppy mills, few people think about kitten mills.
The puppy mill issue remains in the headlines in Oklahoma, and although they are covered under breeder regulations passed in 2010, high-volume kitten producers are rarely mentioned.
Kittens that are sold in pet stores, over the Internet or through newspaper ads often come from unregulated facilities with too many cats and too little oversight.
With all the talk about puppy mills, few people think about kitten mills.
Whether it is because far more dogs are purchased overall than cats, or that mixed breed cats carry less stigma than their canine brethren, the discussion of mass production of companion animals usually centers on dogs.
The term “kitten mill” refers to facility in which kittens are produced for profit, in poor conditions, with little or no human contact.
Buildings with cages crammed full of cats which are bred until disease or overuse requires them to be put down may not be as common as high volume puppy producing facilities.
High volume kitten-sellers rely mainly on direct marketing, primarily because USDA licensing is only required for breeders who sell animals to brokers who then re-sell them to pet stores and because most brokers and transporters do not buy kittens to resell.
They escape USDA licensing and often slide in under the wire. In states which lack high volume breeder regulations, those selling kittens bypass licensing requirements altogether. Yet, they are there.
Classified newspaper listings for purebred kittens along with Internet sites reveal that while not nearly of the size and scope of puppy sellers, those selling cheap purebred kittens by the litter are present throughout Oklahoma.
It’s not hard to spot kitten mills when browsing the classifieds. Ads placed by someone looking to make a quick buck will offer kittens that are priced well below average (for example at $50 to $150 each) and may state that the kittens do not have registration papers, or that they are registered with an unknown registry instead of CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association, which is the equivalent of the AKC – American Kennel Club – for dogs).
Another sign of a kitten mill is a lack of health records with no veterinary reference available, or kittens being sold with existing health issues which may last a lifetime, including serious respiratory ailments.
Other warning signs include a seller who is more interested in collecting the money then the quality of the home where the kitten is going. Buyers should avoid any breeder who offers to meet them instead of allowing the buyer to come to the seller’s home or facility.
Additionally, as in purebred puppies, many veterinary resources note disorders which are common in purebred kittens.
Genetic problems may include fecal incontinence in some Manx cats, vision problems in Siamese and other health issues in other breeds.
A kitten mill will avoid the expense of testing or the owner may even be unaware of the need to screen the cats used for breeding. An April Tulsa World ad cited extra toes as a selling point.
The word “rare,” may mask abnormalities which have associated health problems, and it is used as a cover for scams. Some people selling unusual cross breeds may advertise them as “rare,” leading people to think they are getting a unique treasure.
Camille Hulen, owner of Camille’s Cat House and an animal welfare advocate, says, “If you buy a purebred animal from a breeder, an animal in a shelter will die because you did not choose it. Discourage breeding by not supporting it.
“Also, if you must have a purebred, go to a purebred rescue organization.” Hulen continues, “When people seek out the purebred they usually do so from a lack of knowledge. They really haven’t seen the cats and it has been my experience that those who seek an animal based on “pictures” alone are among the first to give it up because it did not meet their expectations. For this reason, there are many, many purebreds available.”
Whether it is because far more dogs are purchased overall than cats, or that mixed breed cats carry less stigma than their canine brethren, the discussion of mass production of companion animals usually centers on dogs. The term “kitten mill” refers to facility in which kittens are produced for profit, in poor conditions, with little or no human contact. Buildings with cages crammed full of cats which are bred until disease or overuse requires them to be put down may not be as common as high volume puppy producing facilities.
High volume kitten-sellers rely mainly on direct marketing, primarily because USDA licensing is only required for breeders who sell animals to brokers who then re-sell them to pet stores and because most brokers and transporters do not buy kittens to resell. They escape USDA licensing and often slide in under the wire. In states which lack high volume breeder regulations, those selling kittens bypass licensing requirements altogether. Yet, they are there. Classified newspaper listings for purebred kittens along with Internet sites reveal that while not nearly of the size and scope of puppy sellers, those selling cheap purebred kittens by the litter are present throughout Oklahoma.
It’s not hard to spot kitten mills when browsing the classifieds. Ads placed by someone looking to make a quick buck will offer kittens that are priced well below average (for example at $50 to $150 each) and may state that the kittens do not have registration papers, or that they are registered with an unknown registry instead of CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association, which is the equivalent of the AKC – American Kennel Club – for dogs).
Another sign of a kitten mill is a lack of health records with no veterinary reference available, or kittens being sold with existing health issues which may last a lifetime, including serious respiratory ailments. Other warning signs include a seller who is more interested in collecting the money then the quality of the home where the kitten is going. Buyers should avoid any breeder who offers to meet them instead of allowing the buyer to come to the seller’s home or facility.
Additionally, as in purebred puppies, many veterinary resources note disorders which are common in purebred kittens.
Genetic problems may include fecal incontinence in some Manx cats, vision problems in Siamese and other health issues in other breeds.
A kitten mill will avoid the expense of testing or the owner may even be unaware of the need to screen the cats used for breeding. An April Tulsa World ad cited extra toes as a selling point.
The word “rare,” may mask abnormalities which have associated health problems, and it is used as a cover for scams. Some people selling unusual cross breeds may advertise them as “rare,” leading people to think they are getting a unique treasure.
Camille Hulen, owner of Camille’s Cat House and an animal welfare advocate, says, “If you buy a purebred animal from a breeder, an animal in a shelter will die because you did not choose it. Discourage breeding by not supporting it. “Also, if you must have a purebred, go to a purebred rescue organization.” Hulen continues, “When people seek out the purebred they usually do so from a lack of knowledge. They really haven’t seen the cats and it has been my experience that those who seek an animal based on “pictures” alone are among the first to give it up because it did not meet their expectations. For this reason, there are many, many purebreds available.”
The puppy mill issue remains in the headlines in Oklahoma, and although they are covered under breeder regulations passed in 2010, high-volume kitten producers are rarely mentioned.
Kittens that are sold in pet stores, over the Internet or through newspaper ads often come from unregulated facilities with too many cats and too little oversight.
With all the talk about puppy mills, few people think about kitten mills.
Whether it is because far more dogs are purchased overall than cats, or that mixed breed cats carry less stigma than their canine brethren, the discussion of mass production of companion animals usually centers on dogs.
The term “kitten mill” refers to facility in which kittens are produced for profit, in poor conditions, with little or no human contact.
Buildings with cages crammed full of cats which are bred until disease or overuse requires them to be put down may not be as common as high volume puppy producing facilities.
High volume kitten-sellers rely mainly on direct marketing, primarily because USDA licensing is only required for breeders who sell animals to brokers who then re-sell them to pet stores and because most brokers and transporters do not buy kittens to resell.
They escape USDA licensing and often slide in under the wire. In states which lack high volume breeder regulations, those selling kittens bypass licensing requirements altogether. Yet, they are there.
Classified newspaper listings for purebred kittens along with Internet sites reveal that while not nearly of the size and scope of puppy sellers, those selling cheap purebred kittens by the litter are present throughout Oklahoma.
It’s not hard to spot kitten mills when browsing the classifieds. Ads placed by someone looking to make a quick buck will offer kittens that are priced well below average (for example at $50 to $150 each) and may state that the kittens do not have registration papers, or that they are registered with an unknown registry instead of CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association, which is the equivalent of the AKC – American Kennel Club – for dogs).
Another sign of a kitten mill is a lack of health records with no veterinary reference available, or kittens being sold with existing health issues which may last a lifetime, including serious respiratory ailments.
Other warning signs include a seller who is more interested in collecting the money then the quality of the home where the kitten is going. Buyers should avoid any breeder who offers to meet them instead of allowing the buyer to come to the seller’s home or facility.
Additionally, as in purebred puppies, many veterinary resources note disorders which are common in purebred kittens.
Genetic problems may include fecal incontinence in some Manx cats, vision problems in Siamese and other health issues in other breeds.
A kitten mill will avoid the expense of testing or the owner may even be unaware of the need to screen the cats used for breeding. An April Tulsa World ad cited extra toes as a selling point.
The word “rare,” may mask abnormalities which have associated health problems, and it is used as a cover for scams. Some people selling unusual cross breeds may advertise them as “rare,” leading people to think they are getting a unique treasure.
Camille Hulen, owner of Camille’s Cat House and an animal welfare advocate, says, “If you buy a purebred animal from a breeder, an animal in a shelter will die because you did not choose it. Discourage breeding by not supporting it.
“Also, if you must have a purebred, go to a purebred rescue organization.” Hulen continues, “When people seek out the purebred they usually do so from a lack of knowledge. They really haven’t seen the cats and it has been my experience that those who seek an animal based on “pictures” alone are among the first to give it up because it did not meet their expectations. For this reason, there are many, many purebreds available.”
So me tips:
• Visit the breeder to see the facility.
• Do not buy from a pet shop.
• Do not buy online or mail order.
• Ask the breeder for a veterinarian reference. Does the animal have immunization records?
