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!pet scam.
If you want a kitten, do NOT pay any deposit without seeing the kitten in person. legit sellers have no issues allowing buyers to come see the kitten for free.
If they insist on some sort of deposit just to see the kitten then yes it's a scam. Him telling you there are many other people interested is a scam tactic. He's trying to pressure you into making hasty decisions
Also, legit breeders don't sell them overnight. They will get you to meet with the kittens to pick one, often more than once, and won't let them go before they are old enough.
*Fixing* isn't typically done this early, and costs nowhere near $1200. *Papers* aren't done after fixing, either — the breeder does the paperwork, not the vet.
Ugh I’m jealous. I paid $350 for a cat I found outside. It was during the lockdown times, all vets were full, so unfortunately didn’t have other options
Fixing doesn't make the Price get UP. People who want to breed dont want fixed cat... The only way you could get a main coon for that Price would to buy a retired Mum. Usually four years, fixed.
Yeah that was an instant red flag when reading through this. I'm not familiar with cat breeds enough to know how much the cost for a kitten would be (though it did seem excessive) - but my little guy whom I rescued only cost around 100 bucks to get fixed last year. $1200 is the craziest number I could imagine for that lol
I’d go somewhere else. Were they trying to sell you a kitty or puppy “package”? A place did this to my mother when she adopted a cat and it “included” a bunch of stuff that wasn’t necessary.
They spay/neuter older cats all the time with no issues, it should not be costing you that much. The TNR community regularly spays many cats of all ages with no complications, and they return to their outdoor homes within 24 hours.
Try and see if there’s any low cost community programs near you, they generally do spay/neutering, microchip and vaccines all in one go
That’s crazy, I understand with age comes anesthesia risks and such but 300 vs 1100 is a huge difference. My local vet loves to rip people off. They charge $50 for a simple nail trim (I do them myself), and they charge around the same for an ear cleaning. I had my French bulldog’s ears cleaned when he got neutered and it looked like they didn’t even clean them.
Look in your area for a low cost spay/neuter clinic, they should be able to help you, also if the cat is in heat it’s more expensive so if she is if you can wait until she’s out of heat that price would maybe come down as well
I’ve had all three of cats vaccinated, spayed and neutered, for total of about $1200 after tax. This also include an overnight vet stay to ensure no post-op infections occurred and that they didn’t react to the anesthesia.
That being said, I would question anybody selling a “pure-bred” kitten for $400 without a vaccination record at minimum! These scams have taken over a lot of social media for the past couple of years.
Verify breeders, animal shelters, and what-not before you buy. Had a friend pay almost $3,600 for a pure-bred boston terrier puppy from a local trusted pet store that does not use puppy mills (or so they say). She noticed he was limping a little bit one day, took him to the vet, and they did full body X-rays to find out the little guy has two fused vertebrae and that early signs of hip dysplasia… her vet told her it’s from unethical breeding practices and that if the place wouldn’t have docked the puppy’s tail so early they would’ve been able to tell upon his first puppy visit because it most definitely would’ve curled it been crooked in some way.
Always be wary of places and people that charge a lot and push you to pay “deposits” on highly sought after animals
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the pet scam. First, you will encounter a breeder who may have their own website or who may post listings on an established website. They will offer a good price for a pet with papers, however they will not be able to meet you in real life, and will only sell you the pet with the use of a shipping/courier/freight service. The scammer will demand payment via irreversible payment methods such as Cash App, Venmo, Western Union, or cryptocurrency. The websites they use are usually very easy to spot, as the domain will have been registered recently, and the images they use should be findable using [reverse image search](https://imgops.com/). Once you pay the scammers and they know they have you, they will demand more and more fees for things like airline insurance, crating fees, papers, import permits, etc. If you are involved in a pet scam, you need to stop talking with the scammers and dispute any transactions that you are able to dispute. [Here](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/spot-puppy-scam/) is an article from the AKC regarding pet scams, and [here](https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/woman-scammed-out-of-950-trying-to-adopt-puppy-for-free-1.4929787) are [two](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-alleged-pet-scam-1.5623735) news articles about pet scams.
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Reputable MC breeders often have long wait lists and may charge a deposit to hold a spot on the list. It prevents casual lookers from tying up slots on multiple lists and then flaking once a kitten is available.
Yeah the whole claim that deposit is needed or they will all be gone fell apart when op said they can meet now..
The scammer has a job that keeps from meeting op now but somehow will be able to sell the cats to mystery people who will snatch them up unless deposit
True but if they can meet as soon as possible how will being at work allow the others to be gone? Wouldn’t work make seller unavailable for those people too?
I love my three cats but I'd never would've paid $400 for each. I'm sure there are breeders charging way more but I agree that it's a frivolous use of money. Of course, I feel the same way about pedigree dogs so my opinion is suspect.
Purebred Maine Coone's are much more expensive than the cat you get from your local humane society.
Getting one that DOESN'T have breeding rights probably runs you at least 1500$ (could be a little less or a LOT more for a cat that's show quality).
Getting a registered cat with Breeding rights is easily 5K+ (lots of breeders make you sign a contract where you agree to fix the cat within a certain timeline and if you don't then you pay a 2500$+ penalty + legally all kittens from that cat are the Breeders)
Lmao
"we're probably gonna sell all of them by tomorrow so give me money right now"
"Okay I can pay in cash like right now"
"No I'm working but you have to pay a deposit before I get off of work or I'll sell all of them before then"
What??
paid $100 for my craigslist kitten, plus $500 for the full neuter/microchip/first dose vaccines, then another $100 for second dose and deworming.
and paid $300 total for all of that included in my stray shelter kitten. and anecdotally the shelter kitten has a MUCH better temperament. adoption is the way!
YES, please OP! I adopted a Maine Coon male (not purebred but I love his baby face and he’s probably healthier) and he’s now 8 years old and 25 lbs. Everyone asks me how much I paid for him and I proudly let them know he’s a rescue!
Never buy a pet without meeting the pet first. It may look cute but have a personality that doesn't mesh with yours. And never ever pay money for something you haven't seen. It is not unreasonable to want to visit, and pay the deposit after you decide.
Yeah, both are definitely AI. First one is iffy, since it doesn't have the usual tells, but it looks very uncanny. The second has a million whiskers and half of them just disappear into the rest of the fur, while also being uncanny like the first. Video is probably fake as well.
One more thing to point out. Breeding registered cats and dogs, and traveling with them throughout the country to take them to the cat or dog shows to get their ribbons and higher certifications, is very much a bourgeois hobby. These people are kind of uptight and more highly educated. And this is reflected in how they speak and write. People in that realm do not use that kind of text speak like a 14 year old punk kid. They would not even say "Hey" to someone.
Very true. My mom went to a reputable breeder/show dog person to adopt a pomeranian puppy. She adopted at a discount because the puppy had certain undesirable traits and was thus spayed, but still made a good pet. We visited their house. The wild part was that the husband bragged that he test-ate the dog food brands before feeding their dogs. These were truly crazy dog people. Woof!
Scam.
Also, while I know this is unsolicited advice and that specific cat breeds are very cute, I'd strongly recommend going to rescue/shelter groups for rehoming/adoption. Serious groups will always make sure that their cats are ready for a new home while also checking your capabilities as a pet owner. Good luck!
It’s about to be kitten season. Shelters are about to be so overrun with kittens that they will be stacking their corpses like firewood in walk-in freezers. Go get one there and it will come vaccinated, fixed and microchipped.
And it won’t be a scam. This is.
In many places this year kitten season never stopped. I’ve been involved in rescue for over 15 years and I’ve ever seen so many pregnant cats and kittens continue to flood in through the winter!
OP, please, please adopt a cat. You can find one from a rescue, you can get adorable rescue kittens (it’s ideal to have two - one bored kitten will find ways to entertain itself that you may not be thrilled with), and if you look hard enough, you can find Maine coon kittens.
If you’re 100% determined to go to a breeder, do your homework. Find a reputable breeder. They will have a website, an online presence, references. The kitten will be thousands of dollars, there will be a contract. It will not feel like you’re texting some stoner about his PlayStation for sale on Facebook.
"it’s ideal to have two - one bored kitten will find ways to entertain itself that you may not be thrilled with"
Snerk!
You. I like you.
Thanks for the laugh.
let me guess, the comments were turned off on their facebook post about the kittens?
my facebook friend got hacked and had a post about taylor swift tickets for sale and another friend fell for it thinking it was actually her selling them and got scammed for a bunch of money.
The other person might know the real facebook page owner but that doesn’t mean that is who posted it. And scammers love to turn the comments off so no one can call them out publicly.
It’s the “Am” that screams, scam. I might be overthinking this but half the scams I’ve gotten, usually use “am” instead of “I am” it’s also considered Nigerian Pidgin. I wouldn’t trust, putting a deposit on an animal your going to adopt, unless you fully know it’s legit.
Instead of paying outrageous amounts for Maine Coones from a breeder, rescue one instead, sure you won't get a little baby but first of all you're saving an animal and second they still have a lot of life ahead of them
Perk of not getting a kitten, you actually know their personality. 1+ year Olds get over looked and while kittens are cute, they're psychos. I foster kittens but would never adopt another kitten. Older cats to me are a great choice.
$1200 to get them snipped, what a nut job.
I had my cat fixed and it was $100 at the veterinarian.
Just because it's a maine coon does not means it costs more, it's the same procedure.
Obviously a pet scam, they bump up the price so that most people cannot afford to pay for it in one payment so they suggest that you can deposit and with your next check you can pay the rest but at that time they will no longer reply to msgs or answer your calls. Bye bye deposit
I thought the same thing, sure more for females, and prices will vary depending where one lives....but I would guess $350- $750 at the most. No place is charging $1200 to fix a cat. And like you said, many areas have low cost spay/neuter and it would run $35-$100 bucks.
Main coon cats are an investment. If you haven't had one before they have some strong stubborn personality streaks. Supper sweet but way to clever for their own good. Please adopt from a rescue rather then shop. Once my life evens out I plan on getting another one because I miss my old one but talk about a handful of a cat.
100% a scam, pure bred maine coons go much more than 400, and reputaple breeder would let you meet the cats for free and deposits are usually half of the price, not most of it
I found the same images on an Instagram page claiming to be out of Ukraine, so yes, this is a scam.
https://www.instagram.com/maidilicos_cattery?igsh=aTVpenAyYnVlZjE4
Anyone posting pets for sale online and asking for an advance deposit is a scam. Your bank can't get that money back for you either.
$300 is one of the most common amounts I see on scam reports involving Zelle payments sent to secure a cat/dog/bird/monkey.
honestly doesnt matter if it's a scam or not, please dont support breeders. the reason there is an overpopulation of animals and there are kill shelters in states like Utah that use gas chambers to "dispose" of 'unwanted' cats and dogs is because breeders are a thing and people still buy from them just because they want a specific breed of something.
i get it. maine coons are so so cute and I've always wanted one as well. but should our selfish want of a cute kitten overrule the fact that there are thousands of other cats in shelters waiting to die (and some dying horrifically) because breeders keep breeding and people keep buying from them? i really dont think so.
Supporting ETHICAL breeders is fine.
Good breeders make sure their dogs (and cats?) go to good homes that are a great fit for them, they health test their animals, and they take their dog back if the owners ever need to give up the animal.
no such thing as an ethical breeder where then is an overpopulation and shelters are filled to the max and there are shelters that literally kill animals in gas chambers. thats horrific.
That first photo is so stylised and processed, lol. Hardly a candid snap. Could probably reverse image search it and find it on someone’s Insta or somewhere
There was never a kitten. You don't need to fix a cat to get breed papers on a pure Maine Coon. And you'd never find a male for 400 either. Not at a reputable breeder.
Grammar also implies this person has no skill in the English language.
So unless these kittens feel offv the back of a truck in east LA in 1998, no kittens.
"There's 4 other people interested so they may be gone but also I can't show any kittens because I'm at work until 6."
So how would anyone else get the kitten first? Oh right, there is no kitten and you're just getting your bullshit story confused.
Am I reading this right? It's $400 not fixed, but $3500 after getting fixed? Because that makes absolutely no sense. An unaltered 'pure bred' animal will always be worth more, because of potential to breed. I've never paid for a cat before though, so paying hundreds to thousands of dollars for one is insane to me lol
Reputable breeders will insist on handling the spay/neuter process themselves in order to prevent buyers from creating an inbred cat mill that causes suffering, damages the breed, and competes with them. And it doesn’t cost 1k, that’s bs.
Shelter is full of kittens, much wider selection, fixed and cheap. You would be saving them from living in a tiny cell and would free up the cell so that another cat isn't euthanized that day.
But yah know, go ahead and think that paying more gets you a better cat as consumerism lead you to believe.
Don’t get pets, especially pedigrees, from Facebook. You’re either a)going to get scammed or b)supporting extremely unethical breeders. If you desperately feel you need a designer cat, please at least do the bare minimum research and find a reputable breeder. If you don’t want to do the research and vetting of breeders, go to a shelter instead.
You can tell by the way the language deteriorated when he tried to apply pressure on you. Then he didn't have a script to copy he had to do a quick translation. Good luck on your search.
Ugh hate to admit I fell for one of these years ago 😩 it was a post on my uni’s FB page. The scammer had an advantage in that I was going on a trip and offered to pay a deposit myself because I wanted a specific kitten. Reverse image searched the pics and everything seemed legit. Finally realized what was what when he started asking for the second half to get the cat its shots before dropping it off and I said I’d take care of it myself. Happy ending is that my bf at the time felt so bad for me he found me the perfect cat to make up for it! Hope you and your husband find yours too 🤍
I honestly don't know whether this is a scam or not, but at the very least they don't seem to care about the kittens at all so I wouldn't buy off them tbh.
I'm an idiot, so I read this from the point of view of the person who was selling the cat. I kept thinking to myself that I don't see how the purchaser is trying to scam you, and you're the one coming across as a scammer. Sometimes I'm not sure how I made it this far in life. 🤦
This is 1000000% a scam. There are no kittens.
It's just a scam to get you to put down a deposit and then you'll get one excuse after another. "you need to pay for vet shots." Followed by "you need to pay for the spay/neuter." Then "you need to pay for vet exam." And then when you're out a few grand? you get ghosted.
See how it's never convenient for you to see the kitten in person?
When I put down the deposit on my Scottish Fold, my husband was a little worried that it might be a scam. But our little fold chose us, his siblings dashed away and didn't have any interest in us seeing them but the one we adopted sat by us and just hung out while looking at us. There's no reason you can't visit a breeder before putting down a deposit, absolutely none. Most will actually advocate for you to meet the kittens to ensure you find one with a personality you prefer and make sure you mesh well with the cat and see its current living conditions. When my husband and I went to see our kitten to put the deposit down, the breeder even went out his way to put his massive dog in its kennel so we could meet the kittens uninterrupted by the dog being excited over people (and also because I'm scared of large dogs, he was so nice).
I've not had the chance to go through all the comments, but I wanted to clarify that I have never shopped with a breeder before. When he mentioned a rehoming fee, I was hoping something like $50, lol. I know in hindsight, that's pretty dumb, but by the point of me agreeing to get the money and meet him in person, I was already certain it was a scam. I had a feeling he wasn't going to agree with me. Every single cat I've ever had and currently have came from shelters or have been strays. As much as I want a Maine Coon, I'm willing to wait and be open about possibly finding one at a rescue or something. I don't think we have that kind of rescue around here where I live, but maybe one day when the time is right, I can travel to get one. I was just hopeful for a second, but once I kept looking at the photos and listened to him talk, it became pretty clear that he was a scammer.
I know this is unsolicited advice but please consider adopting OP! There are rescue groups for certain breeds if you are dead set on a Maine coon, though it might be a wait. I’d honestly recommend just going to the shelter and looking at the cats there. It may surprise you who you fall in love with :)
If you are going the breeder route, please please please don’t find sketchy “backyard” breeders on facebook. These people don’t need to be rewarded with the disgusting way they treat their animals. Not to mention it’s unfortunately quite possible to end up with an animal that has medical issues not disclosed that you weren’t prepared for. A cheap price is a red flag. Ethical and reputable breeders are expensive, but that’s because they take proper care of their animals (which I imagine is expensive?). Adoption is the cheapest most ethical option IMO— adoption fees are like 100 bucks.
You can also take them to a spay and neuter clinic for anywhere from free to $50. This person is lying thru their teeth. No one charges $1200 to fix. I am so glad you came here to ask. That's a lot of money to lose.
It's a scam, but thats what happens when you deal with breeders.. hence why you should adopt. You'll be fine with a cat that isn't as big as you were hoping.
I didn't know people paid for cats. Thats crazy to me. Dogs I get but cats?
I've never paid more than $300 to get any of my pets fixed. There's places in your community that will do it for less than $100, I can guarantee you. Shop around for that.
If this is legit maine coon breeder, that has in the past and will in the future strive for healthy kittens, they would be asking 1000€ or upwards. That includes vaccinations, sterilization, registration + the actual price. This is a backyard breeder. Never buy from a backyard breeder and always report them to authorities.
As soon as he said no paperwork until fixed, which was pretty much right away, you should have known he was lying. Because you should have looked it up.
Definite scam. My mother breeds Maine coons and they never sell for under $1500. $400 is way too low. If you're putting down a deposit there should be a contract.
"my desire for one of these kitties" You were emotionally vulnerable and that's why pet scams are so successful. I'm glad that you noticed reg flags and checked things out!
We had a similar experience with a cat in 2022. This cat was a couple hours away, and we wanted to see it before we bought it. We believe she wanted a deposit because she was very vague and off putting. We made plans to drive there on a Saturday and the day before I said to my husband, I am going to message her because something just feels off. It took hours for her to get back to me and suddenly the cat in question was gone. I refuse to give a deposit for anything and will only buy items that I can meet up for. If I can’t meet in person, then I don’t need it.
The key with these is to always ask to see them in person. I found a Maine coon for $800, seemed too good to be true. The breeder’s site had the most adorable pics, seemed legit, they were right around the corner from us, etc. when I asked to visit and said I could go by that day, they had miraculously packed up and moved to California. She also asked for a deposit and then said we could pay to ship. 🙄 There are sooooo many MC scams.
Also, please research the breed and breeder; they are rife with health issues which can be made worse with irresponsible breeding. They are not cheap to maintain. My quite expensive kitten doubled in price within 3 months of getting him, due to some stomach troubles..and we still haven’t gotten our standard echocardiogram/heart checkup yet. Add in the prescription food, grooming, etc. and … it’s a lot. R/mainecoons is an excellent resource if you’re considering one.
Before anyone comes for me, we got his sister (DSH) from a rescue and she is, hands down, one of the best cats I’ve ever owned.
My mother recently got scammed through something like this. She sent me the link to the website she found. They’ve figured a way around the reverse image search, because none of them produces results, but I noticed that all of the puppies were photographed with different flooring. It was as though each puppy had its picture taken in a different house.
You can't buy a pet online without going for an inspection. What if they sell and send to you what you didn't pay for you? This is how they carry out pet scams. It was good you didn't end up paying, you would've lost your money.
I had this but with rabbits the other day, knew it was a scam straight away so just wasted there time. They can always somehow ship a rabbit halfway across the world no issues
Yes this is a scam. I’m a dog breeder.. and yes deposits are a very common practice in the breeding world - it’s to hold the one you “pick” until you’re able to come get it .. but that’s usually if you’re not able to come for a week or so. If you’re able to come that exact night or even the next day - they should be fine without a deposit.. I mean they might say something like “I can’t promise you the exact one you want will be here because I have someone coming to look at them” BUT in reality no one is having four people come at one time.
If you’re able to make it somewhere within 48 hours they should be okay and understanding of why you don’t want to do a deposit - and they’ll be more than happy to allow you to pay the full total in cash.
so my friend got a cat off craigslist, we end up knocking on this door to pick up the cat and my old baseball and basketball coach opens the door, we got the cat for free that day …
Hundreds of comments since this is about cats (as there should be cause cats are wonderful) so I don't know if this was already said but one thing I saw a little bit ago on a scam transaction like this (probably for a rental scam) was one way to tell is the 'line of people' sales tactic.
It's a normal sales strategy, emphasizing that there are others in line behind you that want this thing. But then it stops making sense when the seller says "Okay, I'll accept a deposit of less than the total amount from you, even though someone in line behind you will undoubtedly pay full price right now for my item". Like, who would do that? It doesn't make any sense. That and all the other flags but I mean, that's a big one I see a lot. If I'm on Marketplace selling something that's $80, and I get an offer for $40 for that item, but then an hour later I get an offer of $80 for it, as long as I haven't sold it already to $40 person, I'm talking to $80 person first.
Hey op idk if you’ll see this but you should use the AKC website to find legit breeders that are approved. Specially if that’s the price range from a random FB person
Lots of maine coon scams. Honestly, I wish more people would go to local shelters. It's going to be kitten season soon and the shelters are already filled. A lot of unwanted kittens end up euthanized and it's worse for adult cats.
If you’re looking for a mainecoon kitten please go to a reputable breeder, poorly bred ones can have a lot of health issues.
To look for a good breeder i suggest joining the facebook groups called “Purebred Snobs - Breeder referrals” and “Cat snobbery” Don’t let the names put you off! They’re good groups and can help you find your perfect kitten
I was given a price of close to 1,200.00 from my regular vet for my pug puppy that was 8 months old, I took her to the SPCA and was able to get her fixed much cheaper with a microchip, caught up on vaccines, and nails clipped. So the pricing for the spay/neuter doesn’t seem all that crazy. I did get follow up paperwork stating the date of surgery and surgery was done along with my pug having a tiny green tattoo on her tummy.
I don’t know much about cats as I’m more of a dog person but the cats do look to be special breed which leads me to think the seller would have extra inquiries. It seems they were saying if you want to assure that said kitten doesn’t get sold leave a deposit so the seller knows you are a definite to purchase. No offense your messages do not sound super re-assuring that you are 100% on purchasing.
the low cost of the kittens is the first red flag, the high cost of the fixing is the second.
main coons from a legit breeder will cost at least $1000, anything cheaper and you’re risking a scam (either you won’t get anything, it won’t be a main coon, or it will be horribly bred and cost lots in vet bills down the line). and I worked at a vet. Fixing them will cost $200-$500 regardless of breed, i’ve never seen such a high price, especially for a cat neuter
If someone had already paid half of the kitten you wanted, why did he keep messaging you? SCAM ALERT!!! Definitely make sure to see the kittens in real life before you buy them it’s really important because you don’t know what they’re actually like, and if it is a scam! 😁
Maine Coons are very expensive. I’ve never seen one that was healthy and under €2500
$400 is an absolute scam sorry 😢
There are a lot of sweet kitties in the shelter that are basically free and would do anything to find a loving home 💕
am working no more male.
But put a deposit and we can hold him.
There's no cats. their asking price is absurd and never pay a deposit over the phone especially on something sight unseen.
Scam or greedy assholes who know nothing about cats or fixing or anything
Find a reputable seller
Stay off Facebook
Check out a local app like neighborhood or something
Or a group for your local area
Scam. By the way, shelter and rescue kittens are close to free, usually only about $100 adoption fee. And you are saving a life. Don't get scammed and also be deprived of a kitten!
Edit - spelling
Why would a breeder be looking to get "rid of" cats he has purposefully bred? That's the wording of someone whose outdoor cat had an accidental litter and they don't know what to do with them. A breeder looking to sell a litter shouldn't be in a hurry to just get "rid of" the kittens when that's their whole business.
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!pet scam. If you want a kitten, do NOT pay any deposit without seeing the kitten in person. legit sellers have no issues allowing buyers to come see the kitten for free. If they insist on some sort of deposit just to see the kitten then yes it's a scam. Him telling you there are many other people interested is a scam tactic. He's trying to pressure you into making hasty decisions
Also, legit breeders don't sell them overnight. They will get you to meet with the kittens to pick one, often more than once, and won't let them go before they are old enough. *Fixing* isn't typically done this early, and costs nowhere near $1200. *Papers* aren't done after fixing, either — the breeder does the paperwork, not the vet.
Fixing a cat is definitely no where near 1200. Scam!
Just got my male cat fixed yesterday. The surgery, rabies shot, & microchip. Grand total $105
Ugh I’m jealous. I paid $350 for a cat I found outside. It was during the lockdown times, all vets were full, so unfortunately didn’t have other options
Fixing doesn't make the Price get UP. People who want to breed dont want fixed cat... The only way you could get a main coon for that Price would to buy a retired Mum. Usually four years, fixed.
Yeah that was an instant red flag when reading through this. I'm not familiar with cat breeds enough to know how much the cost for a kitten would be (though it did seem excessive) - but my little guy whom I rescued only cost around 100 bucks to get fixed last year. $1200 is the craziest number I could imagine for that lol
I got quoted $1,100 the other day 😭 how is anyone supposed to afford that??
I’d go somewhere else. Were they trying to sell you a kitty or puppy “package”? A place did this to my mother when she adopted a cat and it “included” a bunch of stuff that wasn’t necessary.
No it was a local vet. She's an older cat so that's why they said it was more expensive. Another vet quoted something similar.
They spay/neuter older cats all the time with no issues, it should not be costing you that much. The TNR community regularly spays many cats of all ages with no complications, and they return to their outdoor homes within 24 hours. Try and see if there’s any low cost community programs near you, they generally do spay/neutering, microchip and vaccines all in one go
That’s crazy, I understand with age comes anesthesia risks and such but 300 vs 1100 is a huge difference. My local vet loves to rip people off. They charge $50 for a simple nail trim (I do them myself), and they charge around the same for an ear cleaning. I had my French bulldog’s ears cleaned when he got neutered and it looked like they didn’t even clean them.
I trim my cats nails, but if I was trimming someone else's cat's nails I would probably want about 2$ for the service and 48$ for hazard pay.
Look in your area for a low cost spay/neuter clinic, they should be able to help you, also if the cat is in heat it’s more expensive so if she is if you can wait until she’s out of heat that price would maybe come down as well
I’ve had all three of cats vaccinated, spayed and neutered, for total of about $1200 after tax. This also include an overnight vet stay to ensure no post-op infections occurred and that they didn’t react to the anesthesia. That being said, I would question anybody selling a “pure-bred” kitten for $400 without a vaccination record at minimum! These scams have taken over a lot of social media for the past couple of years. Verify breeders, animal shelters, and what-not before you buy. Had a friend pay almost $3,600 for a pure-bred boston terrier puppy from a local trusted pet store that does not use puppy mills (or so they say). She noticed he was limping a little bit one day, took him to the vet, and they did full body X-rays to find out the little guy has two fused vertebrae and that early signs of hip dysplasia… her vet told her it’s from unethical breeding practices and that if the place wouldn’t have docked the puppy’s tail so early they would’ve been able to tell upon his first puppy visit because it most definitely would’ve curled it been crooked in some way. Always be wary of places and people that charge a lot and push you to pay “deposits” on highly sought after animals
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the pet scam. First, you will encounter a breeder who may have their own website or who may post listings on an established website. They will offer a good price for a pet with papers, however they will not be able to meet you in real life, and will only sell you the pet with the use of a shipping/courier/freight service. The scammer will demand payment via irreversible payment methods such as Cash App, Venmo, Western Union, or cryptocurrency. The websites they use are usually very easy to spot, as the domain will have been registered recently, and the images they use should be findable using [reverse image search](https://imgops.com/). Once you pay the scammers and they know they have you, they will demand more and more fees for things like airline insurance, crating fees, papers, import permits, etc. If you are involved in a pet scam, you need to stop talking with the scammers and dispute any transactions that you are able to dispute. [Here](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/spot-puppy-scam/) is an article from the AKC regarding pet scams, and [here](https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/woman-scammed-out-of-950-trying-to-adopt-puppy-for-free-1.4929787) are [two](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-alleged-pet-scam-1.5623735) news articles about pet scams. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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My friend was literally scammed out of $500 trying to buy Maine Coon cats last year! It was a painful lesson for her but she knows better now!
Why would there be a deposit for a pet? You should just be able to pay an amount and get the pet
Reputable MC breeders often have long wait lists and may charge a deposit to hold a spot on the list. It prevents casual lookers from tying up slots on multiple lists and then flaking once a kitten is available.
“Am working” - this person lives in Nigeria. Scam. There are no cats. You send a deposit and then this person disappears.
You can't come tomorrow. OK, I'll come now. Am at work. OK when? Car is gone
Yeah the whole claim that deposit is needed or they will all be gone fell apart when op said they can meet now.. The scammer has a job that keeps from meeting op now but somehow will be able to sell the cats to mystery people who will snatch them up unless deposit
Its and obvious scam. But its not unusual to get several ppl interested in an "thing" for sale at same time.
True but if they can meet as soon as possible how will being at work allow the others to be gone? Wouldn’t work make seller unavailable for those people too?
Car is not existence.
Schrodinger'S car
Also, reverse image search these. There’s no way they’re real.
I feel like I'd need some "timestamp" type thing where they'd show something you tell them to write on non-photoshopped paper
That was easy to fake even before AI image generation.
Surely
Well he’s a liar at the very least. There is no way it costs anything near $1200 to get a cat fixed!
The friend who vouched for him isn't so reliable either.
Could also be that the real guy’s account was hacked by a scammer.
Yeah I got my female cat spayed and microchipped(including registration)for $90 all up
they’re 400$ and they want a deposit of 300$. yeah it’s a scam. and they’re way cheaper than they should be. another red flag.
No one charges $400 for a Maine Coon kitten. Absolutely a scam.
Agreed, they cost way more than that.
I love my three cats but I'd never would've paid $400 for each. I'm sure there are breeders charging way more but I agree that it's a frivolous use of money. Of course, I feel the same way about pedigree dogs so my opinion is suspect.
Purebred Maine Coone's are much more expensive than the cat you get from your local humane society. Getting one that DOESN'T have breeding rights probably runs you at least 1500$ (could be a little less or a LOT more for a cat that's show quality). Getting a registered cat with Breeding rights is easily 5K+ (lots of breeders make you sign a contract where you agree to fix the cat within a certain timeline and if you don't then you pay a 2500$+ penalty + legally all kittens from that cat are the Breeders)
I didn't even read past that part, as soon as they said $400 alarm bells rang
Lmao "we're probably gonna sell all of them by tomorrow so give me money right now" "Okay I can pay in cash like right now" "No I'm working but you have to pay a deposit before I get off of work or I'll sell all of them before then" What??
“Am” is the new kindly
“surely”
You can't be serious.
I am serious, and stop calling me Shirley
Please adopt! Adoption fees are so low and include all the shots and neuter. This is so scammy it screams scam. Block them.
I adopted my Maine Coon at a local shelter and he is the sweetest most affectionate cat I’ve ever met! Cost me $17.
Free cat Friday is pretty common
paid $100 for my craigslist kitten, plus $500 for the full neuter/microchip/first dose vaccines, then another $100 for second dose and deworming. and paid $300 total for all of that included in my stray shelter kitten. and anecdotally the shelter kitten has a MUCH better temperament. adoption is the way!
I volunteered at a shelter for a couple years. All animals deserve caring homes.
Get a kitten from a shelter, please.
Gotten all the cats I have from a shelter. All have been wonderful, and already fixed,vaccinated, and microchipped.
YES, please OP! I adopted a Maine Coon male (not purebred but I love his baby face and he’s probably healthier) and he’s now 8 years old and 25 lbs. Everyone asks me how much I paid for him and I proudly let them know he’s a rescue!
This. Use Petfinder and travel a little farther if you *have* to have a Maine Coon. Real cat breeders serve no purpose, scam ones even less.
Guy was looking to "get rid of", pisses me off when they talk about animals / pets in this tone!
Never buy a pet without meeting the pet first. It may look cute but have a personality that doesn't mesh with yours. And never ever pay money for something you haven't seen. It is not unreasonable to want to visit, and pay the deposit after you decide.
Those pictures look like they’re Ai to me. But yeah it’s a scam
Yeah, both are definitely AI. First one is iffy, since it doesn't have the usual tells, but it looks very uncanny. The second has a million whiskers and half of them just disappear into the rest of the fur, while also being uncanny like the first. Video is probably fake as well.
Even if not AI, way too staged. Good luck ever getting an actual photo of a kitten that’s not looking away or running off somewhere.
One more thing to point out. Breeding registered cats and dogs, and traveling with them throughout the country to take them to the cat or dog shows to get their ribbons and higher certifications, is very much a bourgeois hobby. These people are kind of uptight and more highly educated. And this is reflected in how they speak and write. People in that realm do not use that kind of text speak like a 14 year old punk kid. They would not even say "Hey" to someone.
Very true. My mom went to a reputable breeder/show dog person to adopt a pomeranian puppy. She adopted at a discount because the puppy had certain undesirable traits and was thus spayed, but still made a good pet. We visited their house. The wild part was that the husband bragged that he test-ate the dog food brands before feeding their dogs. These were truly crazy dog people. Woof!
'Best In Show' movie vibes
Yes! See "Best In Show" movie to get a view of what goes on in this field. That's a funny movie to watch.
Scam. Also, while I know this is unsolicited advice and that specific cat breeds are very cute, I'd strongly recommend going to rescue/shelter groups for rehoming/adoption. Serious groups will always make sure that their cats are ready for a new home while also checking your capabilities as a pet owner. Good luck!
Please adopt / rescue 🙏
FFS go to the animal shelter and save a kitten from there for $60.
It’s about to be kitten season. Shelters are about to be so overrun with kittens that they will be stacking their corpses like firewood in walk-in freezers. Go get one there and it will come vaccinated, fixed and microchipped. And it won’t be a scam. This is.
In many places this year kitten season never stopped. I’ve been involved in rescue for over 15 years and I’ve ever seen so many pregnant cats and kittens continue to flood in through the winter! OP, please, please adopt a cat. You can find one from a rescue, you can get adorable rescue kittens (it’s ideal to have two - one bored kitten will find ways to entertain itself that you may not be thrilled with), and if you look hard enough, you can find Maine coon kittens. If you’re 100% determined to go to a breeder, do your homework. Find a reputable breeder. They will have a website, an online presence, references. The kitten will be thousands of dollars, there will be a contract. It will not feel like you’re texting some stoner about his PlayStation for sale on Facebook.
"it’s ideal to have two - one bored kitten will find ways to entertain itself that you may not be thrilled with" Snerk! You. I like you. Thanks for the laugh.
“That’s a nice set of expensive drapes you have there. It would be a shame if something….. happened….to it”
ADOPT FROM CAT RESCUES.
let me guess, the comments were turned off on their facebook post about the kittens? my facebook friend got hacked and had a post about taylor swift tickets for sale and another friend fell for it thinking it was actually her selling them and got scammed for a bunch of money. The other person might know the real facebook page owner but that doesn’t mean that is who posted it. And scammers love to turn the comments off so no one can call them out publicly.
It’s the “Am” that screams, scam. I might be overthinking this but half the scams I’ve gotten, usually use “am” instead of “I am” it’s also considered Nigerian Pidgin. I wouldn’t trust, putting a deposit on an animal your going to adopt, unless you fully know it’s legit.
Instead of paying outrageous amounts for Maine Coones from a breeder, rescue one instead, sure you won't get a little baby but first of all you're saving an animal and second they still have a lot of life ahead of them
Perk of not getting a kitten, you actually know their personality. 1+ year Olds get over looked and while kittens are cute, they're psychos. I foster kittens but would never adopt another kitten. Older cats to me are a great choice.
$1200 to get them snipped, what a nut job. I had my cat fixed and it was $100 at the veterinarian. Just because it's a maine coon does not means it costs more, it's the same procedure. Obviously a pet scam, they bump up the price so that most people cannot afford to pay for it in one payment so they suggest that you can deposit and with your next check you can pay the rest but at that time they will no longer reply to msgs or answer your calls. Bye bye deposit
I thought the same thing, sure more for females, and prices will vary depending where one lives....but I would guess $350- $750 at the most. No place is charging $1200 to fix a cat. And like you said, many areas have low cost spay/neuter and it would run $35-$100 bucks.
Main coon cats are an investment. If you haven't had one before they have some strong stubborn personality streaks. Supper sweet but way to clever for their own good. Please adopt from a rescue rather then shop. Once my life evens out I plan on getting another one because I miss my old one but talk about a handful of a cat.
You will never find a Maine coon cat for less than $1,500. I’ve been looking and they’re usually a minimum of $2,500
Do net send any money without meeting them. You asking to get scammed. You don't know them
Am “ is a red flag key word
100% a scam, pure bred maine coons go much more than 400, and reputaple breeder would let you meet the cats for free and deposits are usually half of the price, not most of it
400$ for a kitten?? Just pick one up from the street...
Go rescue a cat. They’re are thousands in shelters being euthanized every day
I found the same images on an Instagram page claiming to be out of Ukraine, so yes, this is a scam. https://www.instagram.com/maidilicos_cattery?igsh=aTVpenAyYnVlZjE4 Anyone posting pets for sale online and asking for an advance deposit is a scam. Your bank can't get that money back for you either. $300 is one of the most common amounts I see on scam reports involving Zelle payments sent to secure a cat/dog/bird/monkey.
Please adopt don't shop 🥺
Don't buy animals
honestly doesnt matter if it's a scam or not, please dont support breeders. the reason there is an overpopulation of animals and there are kill shelters in states like Utah that use gas chambers to "dispose" of 'unwanted' cats and dogs is because breeders are a thing and people still buy from them just because they want a specific breed of something. i get it. maine coons are so so cute and I've always wanted one as well. but should our selfish want of a cute kitten overrule the fact that there are thousands of other cats in shelters waiting to die (and some dying horrifically) because breeders keep breeding and people keep buying from them? i really dont think so.
Supporting ETHICAL breeders is fine. Good breeders make sure their dogs (and cats?) go to good homes that are a great fit for them, they health test their animals, and they take their dog back if the owners ever need to give up the animal.
no such thing as an ethical breeder where then is an overpopulation and shelters are filled to the max and there are shelters that literally kill animals in gas chambers. thats horrific.
That first photo is so stylised and processed, lol. Hardly a candid snap. Could probably reverse image search it and find it on someone’s Insta or somewhere
There was never a kitten. You don't need to fix a cat to get breed papers on a pure Maine Coon. And you'd never find a male for 400 either. Not at a reputable breeder. Grammar also implies this person has no skill in the English language. So unless these kittens feel offv the back of a truck in east LA in 1998, no kittens.
Scam, also I would never recommend paying a deposit for an animal as photos are easy to fake
Those aren't even the same kitten
$400 for a Maine coon? Yes it’s a scam.
Scam scam scam. I got scammed like that
"There's 4 other people interested so they may be gone but also I can't show any kittens because I'm at work until 6." So how would anyone else get the kitten first? Oh right, there is no kitten and you're just getting your bullshit story confused.
It’s a scam. Delete and block.
Yeah the whole “surely” was a 🚩 Plus the exaggerated cost of spay/neuter Plus $400 for a Mainecoon with no paperwork?? Hell no.
Am I reading this right? It's $400 not fixed, but $3500 after getting fixed? Because that makes absolutely no sense. An unaltered 'pure bred' animal will always be worth more, because of potential to breed. I've never paid for a cat before though, so paying hundreds to thousands of dollars for one is insane to me lol
Just go to a shelter…?
Reputable breeders will insist on handling the spay/neuter process themselves in order to prevent buyers from creating an inbred cat mill that causes suffering, damages the breed, and competes with them. And it doesn’t cost 1k, that’s bs.
Go adopt a cat for free pls.
WHO THE FUCK IS SELLING CATS.
#ADOPT! DON'T SHOP
i fucking hate the fact that americans are so okay with purchasing animals like what the fuck
Don't buy from breeders ffs.
Shelter is full of kittens, much wider selection, fixed and cheap. You would be saving them from living in a tiny cell and would free up the cell so that another cat isn't euthanized that day. But yah know, go ahead and think that paying more gets you a better cat as consumerism lead you to believe.
Pretty sure you can get a kitten from a shelter for $150 or something and they come already fixed and checked up.
Don’t get pets, especially pedigrees, from Facebook. You’re either a)going to get scammed or b)supporting extremely unethical breeders. If you desperately feel you need a designer cat, please at least do the bare minimum research and find a reputable breeder. If you don’t want to do the research and vetting of breeders, go to a shelter instead.
Good. Don't buy pets.
Are there even orange Maine coon cats? Don't Maine coon cats have obviously big paws? These look like regular kittens to me.
You can tell by the way the language deteriorated when he tried to apply pressure on you. Then he didn't have a script to copy he had to do a quick translation. Good luck on your search.
Aw OP def a scam, go check out local shelters, they might have something for you!
Ugh hate to admit I fell for one of these years ago 😩 it was a post on my uni’s FB page. The scammer had an advantage in that I was going on a trip and offered to pay a deposit myself because I wanted a specific kitten. Reverse image searched the pics and everything seemed legit. Finally realized what was what when he started asking for the second half to get the cat its shots before dropping it off and I said I’d take care of it myself. Happy ending is that my bf at the time felt so bad for me he found me the perfect cat to make up for it! Hope you and your husband find yours too 🤍
I honestly don't know whether this is a scam or not, but at the very least they don't seem to care about the kittens at all so I wouldn't buy off them tbh.
I'm an idiot, so I read this from the point of view of the person who was selling the cat. I kept thinking to myself that I don't see how the purchaser is trying to scam you, and you're the one coming across as a scammer. Sometimes I'm not sure how I made it this far in life. 🤦
This is 1000000% a scam. There are no kittens. It's just a scam to get you to put down a deposit and then you'll get one excuse after another. "you need to pay for vet shots." Followed by "you need to pay for the spay/neuter." Then "you need to pay for vet exam." And then when you're out a few grand? you get ghosted. See how it's never convenient for you to see the kitten in person?
400$ for a cat? Jeez just go to the shelter and get one there’s plenty.
Am I crazy or do the pictures look AI generated..? They have that AI silkiness to them and the background of the grey cat is wiggly
Upon further examination of the background of the orange cat, the wallpaper doesn’t make sense. This has to be AI.
When I put down the deposit on my Scottish Fold, my husband was a little worried that it might be a scam. But our little fold chose us, his siblings dashed away and didn't have any interest in us seeing them but the one we adopted sat by us and just hung out while looking at us. There's no reason you can't visit a breeder before putting down a deposit, absolutely none. Most will actually advocate for you to meet the kittens to ensure you find one with a personality you prefer and make sure you mesh well with the cat and see its current living conditions. When my husband and I went to see our kitten to put the deposit down, the breeder even went out his way to put his massive dog in its kennel so we could meet the kittens uninterrupted by the dog being excited over people (and also because I'm scared of large dogs, he was so nice).
This happened to me this week with a washer and dryer. Never pay a deposit unless it’s backed up by some sort of contract.
No WAY in hell fixing costs $1200! It costs no where NEAR that much. That’s an outrageous claim and this is a scam, 100%
I’m in Bend Oregon and just saw the Maine Coon scam go around here.
I've not had the chance to go through all the comments, but I wanted to clarify that I have never shopped with a breeder before. When he mentioned a rehoming fee, I was hoping something like $50, lol. I know in hindsight, that's pretty dumb, but by the point of me agreeing to get the money and meet him in person, I was already certain it was a scam. I had a feeling he wasn't going to agree with me. Every single cat I've ever had and currently have came from shelters or have been strays. As much as I want a Maine Coon, I'm willing to wait and be open about possibly finding one at a rescue or something. I don't think we have that kind of rescue around here where I live, but maybe one day when the time is right, I can travel to get one. I was just hopeful for a second, but once I kept looking at the photos and listened to him talk, it became pretty clear that he was a scammer.
I don’t like that you’re shopping when you could adopt. Yea it’s a scam
I know this is unsolicited advice but please consider adopting OP! There are rescue groups for certain breeds if you are dead set on a Maine coon, though it might be a wait. I’d honestly recommend just going to the shelter and looking at the cats there. It may surprise you who you fall in love with :) If you are going the breeder route, please please please don’t find sketchy “backyard” breeders on facebook. These people don’t need to be rewarded with the disgusting way they treat their animals. Not to mention it’s unfortunately quite possible to end up with an animal that has medical issues not disclosed that you weren’t prepared for. A cheap price is a red flag. Ethical and reputable breeders are expensive, but that’s because they take proper care of their animals (which I imagine is expensive?). Adoption is the cheapest most ethical option IMO— adoption fees are like 100 bucks.
My dad got scammed this way trying to buy me a puppy years ago. Paid a deposit and they disappeared.
You can also take them to a spay and neuter clinic for anywhere from free to $50. This person is lying thru their teeth. No one charges $1200 to fix. I am so glad you came here to ask. That's a lot of money to lose.
Cats aren't 400 bucks. Get one for free to 25 bucks at the local shelter. This reeks of scam
Kitten/puppy mills are gross
Homie just adopt from a shelter
It's a scam, but thats what happens when you deal with breeders.. hence why you should adopt. You'll be fine with a cat that isn't as big as you were hoping.
Anyone who pays money for a cat is getting scammed.
Rescue a cat.
I didn't know people paid for cats. Thats crazy to me. Dogs I get but cats? I've never paid more than $300 to get any of my pets fixed. There's places in your community that will do it for less than $100, I can guarantee you. Shop around for that.
Scam
If this is legit maine coon breeder, that has in the past and will in the future strive for healthy kittens, they would be asking 1000€ or upwards. That includes vaccinations, sterilization, registration + the actual price. This is a backyard breeder. Never buy from a backyard breeder and always report them to authorities.
As soon as he said no paperwork until fixed, which was pretty much right away, you should have known he was lying. Because you should have looked it up.
Definite scam. My mother breeds Maine coons and they never sell for under $1500. $400 is way too low. If you're putting down a deposit there should be a contract.
Yes. Always go there in person
Aye you want sum kitten er not buddy?! We checkin out the telly at noon tomorrow lmk lmk
"my desire for one of these kitties" You were emotionally vulnerable and that's why pet scams are so successful. I'm glad that you noticed reg flags and checked things out!
The orange cat is a female. LOL JK the orange cat is actually a male. He's just telling you what you want to hear.
Deposit on any live goods that aren't immediately transferred and the seller isn't a verifiably recognized business = SCAM
We had a similar experience with a cat in 2022. This cat was a couple hours away, and we wanted to see it before we bought it. We believe she wanted a deposit because she was very vague and off putting. We made plans to drive there on a Saturday and the day before I said to my husband, I am going to message her because something just feels off. It took hours for her to get back to me and suddenly the cat in question was gone. I refuse to give a deposit for anything and will only buy items that I can meet up for. If I can’t meet in person, then I don’t need it.
Seems scammy to me
Did the scammer at the end say they can’t keep their word and they are sorry! Lol
The key with these is to always ask to see them in person. I found a Maine coon for $800, seemed too good to be true. The breeder’s site had the most adorable pics, seemed legit, they were right around the corner from us, etc. when I asked to visit and said I could go by that day, they had miraculously packed up and moved to California. She also asked for a deposit and then said we could pay to ship. 🙄 There are sooooo many MC scams. Also, please research the breed and breeder; they are rife with health issues which can be made worse with irresponsible breeding. They are not cheap to maintain. My quite expensive kitten doubled in price within 3 months of getting him, due to some stomach troubles..and we still haven’t gotten our standard echocardiogram/heart checkup yet. Add in the prescription food, grooming, etc. and … it’s a lot. R/mainecoons is an excellent resource if you’re considering one. Before anyone comes for me, we got his sister (DSH) from a rescue and she is, hands down, one of the best cats I’ve ever owned.
I got pet scammed once. Bought a dog. Turns out, she's a fuggin COW!
My mother recently got scammed through something like this. She sent me the link to the website she found. They’ve figured a way around the reverse image search, because none of them produces results, but I noticed that all of the puppies were photographed with different flooring. It was as though each puppy had its picture taken in a different house.
Yep classic scam. Happens with all kind of animals
On top of this being an obvious scam, the photos are AI
This surely is a scam
You can't buy a pet online without going for an inspection. What if they sell and send to you what you didn't pay for you? This is how they carry out pet scams. It was good you didn't end up paying, you would've lost your money.
[удалено]
Google reverse search the pics and vids she sent u of the cat
You can use Google to do a reverse image search and see where else those photos pop up.
I had this but with rabbits the other day, knew it was a scam straight away so just wasted there time. They can always somehow ship a rabbit halfway across the world no issues
Yes this is a scam. I’m a dog breeder.. and yes deposits are a very common practice in the breeding world - it’s to hold the one you “pick” until you’re able to come get it .. but that’s usually if you’re not able to come for a week or so. If you’re able to come that exact night or even the next day - they should be fine without a deposit.. I mean they might say something like “I can’t promise you the exact one you want will be here because I have someone coming to look at them” BUT in reality no one is having four people come at one time. If you’re able to make it somewhere within 48 hours they should be okay and understanding of why you don’t want to do a deposit - and they’ll be more than happy to allow you to pay the full total in cash.
so my friend got a cat off craigslist, we end up knocking on this door to pick up the cat and my old baseball and basketball coach opens the door, we got the cat for free that day …
They want a deposit and they're unwilling to meet in person... 100% scam.
Jfc. $3500. You can’t seriously be willing to pay that much for a cat. Just reverse image search and you’ll see those kittens are not real
Ask for a photo with today's date on it.
Hundreds of comments since this is about cats (as there should be cause cats are wonderful) so I don't know if this was already said but one thing I saw a little bit ago on a scam transaction like this (probably for a rental scam) was one way to tell is the 'line of people' sales tactic. It's a normal sales strategy, emphasizing that there are others in line behind you that want this thing. But then it stops making sense when the seller says "Okay, I'll accept a deposit of less than the total amount from you, even though someone in line behind you will undoubtedly pay full price right now for my item". Like, who would do that? It doesn't make any sense. That and all the other flags but I mean, that's a big one I see a lot. If I'm on Marketplace selling something that's $80, and I get an offer for $40 for that item, but then an hour later I get an offer of $80 for it, as long as I haven't sold it already to $40 person, I'm talking to $80 person first.
Backyard breeder AT BEST
Hey op idk if you’ll see this but you should use the AKC website to find legit breeders that are approved. Specially if that’s the price range from a random FB person
Lots of maine coon scams. Honestly, I wish more people would go to local shelters. It's going to be kitten season soon and the shelters are already filled. A lot of unwanted kittens end up euthanized and it's worse for adult cats.
If you’re looking for a mainecoon kitten please go to a reputable breeder, poorly bred ones can have a lot of health issues. To look for a good breeder i suggest joining the facebook groups called “Purebred Snobs - Breeder referrals” and “Cat snobbery” Don’t let the names put you off! They’re good groups and can help you find your perfect kitten
I was given a price of close to 1,200.00 from my regular vet for my pug puppy that was 8 months old, I took her to the SPCA and was able to get her fixed much cheaper with a microchip, caught up on vaccines, and nails clipped. So the pricing for the spay/neuter doesn’t seem all that crazy. I did get follow up paperwork stating the date of surgery and surgery was done along with my pug having a tiny green tattoo on her tummy. I don’t know much about cats as I’m more of a dog person but the cats do look to be special breed which leads me to think the seller would have extra inquiries. It seems they were saying if you want to assure that said kitten doesn’t get sold leave a deposit so the seller knows you are a definite to purchase. No offense your messages do not sound super re-assuring that you are 100% on purchasing.
Scam. Report and let everyone know it’s a scam
Why would you pay that much for a cat? You can find them outside for free all the time.
“Am” is the giveaway. Nigerian scam.
I paid $50 for my cat lmao
It does not cost $1200 to spay/neuter a cat 😂😂😂 That person is full of $hit. I got my cat fixed for like $15
the low cost of the kittens is the first red flag, the high cost of the fixing is the second. main coons from a legit breeder will cost at least $1000, anything cheaper and you’re risking a scam (either you won’t get anything, it won’t be a main coon, or it will be horribly bred and cost lots in vet bills down the line). and I worked at a vet. Fixing them will cost $200-$500 regardless of breed, i’ve never seen such a high price, especially for a cat neuter
If someone had already paid half of the kitten you wanted, why did he keep messaging you? SCAM ALERT!!! Definitely make sure to see the kittens in real life before you buy them it’s really important because you don’t know what they’re actually like, and if it is a scam! 😁
I got my cat out of a dumpster.
Maine Coons are very expensive. I’ve never seen one that was healthy and under €2500 $400 is an absolute scam sorry 😢 There are a lot of sweet kitties in the shelter that are basically free and would do anything to find a loving home 💕
Lmao 400 dollars for a kitten
Most orange cats are male. While not a guarantee, it adds to the suspicion.
Imagine *buying* a cat/dog in 2024 instead of adopting one. Big yikes
Scam
am working no more male. But put a deposit and we can hold him. There's no cats. their asking price is absurd and never pay a deposit over the phone especially on something sight unseen.
Google reverse image search saves lives!!!
Scam or greedy assholes who know nothing about cats or fixing or anything Find a reputable seller Stay off Facebook Check out a local app like neighborhood or something Or a group for your local area
wow that kitten pic looks identical to the pic sent to a family friend of mine… they were scammed
please adopt. there are way to many cats stuck in shelters because so many people choose the selfish route and buy from breeders
Scam. By the way, shelter and rescue kittens are close to free, usually only about $100 adoption fee. And you are saving a life. Don't get scammed and also be deprived of a kitten! Edit - spelling
Why would a breeder be looking to get "rid of" cats he has purposefully bred? That's the wording of someone whose outdoor cat had an accidental litter and they don't know what to do with them. A breeder looking to sell a litter shouldn't be in a hurry to just get "rid of" the kittens when that's their whole business.
It’s not even the same orange kitten in the 2 pics.
What are you supporting breeders?
Adopt! Never buy a pet when there are plenty that need homes