EK pet lovers urged to‘adopt not shop’
East Kilbride residents are being urged to be vigilant over online kitten sales and told to ‘adopt not shop’
Dr Lisa Cameron MP is supporting Cats Protection’s warning about the risk of unscrupulous online sellers capitalising on the COVID-19 pandemic to sell poorly-bred kittens.
Cats Protection says that demand for new ‘lockdown pets’ may make it easier for unscrupulous vendors to sell kittens which may be sick or too young to be parted from their mothers.
Dr Cameron is urging people to ‘adopt, don’t shop’, she said: “I’m pleased to back Cats Protection’s campaign to raise awareness of unscrupulous sellers who may be selling poorly kittens to unsuspecting buyers.
“I would urge anyone looking to buy a pet cat to follow the Kitten Checklist, and alternatively consider adopting from an animal charity such as CatsProtection.”
She added, “I fought for Lucy’s Law in the House of Commons to end puppy and kitten farming and sales through third party sellers in my role as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group.
“All puppies and kittens should be seen with their mother and should be at least eight weeks old.
“I am deeply concerned about the increasing reports of online says of kittens that are sick and too young to be parted from their mothers.
“It is vital that people take care when seeking to add a ‘new member’ to their families.”
Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy and Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: “With so many people now working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s understandable that many would want to bring a new pet cat into their household.
“But buyers must be aware that this demand creates the ideal conditions for unscrupulous sellers who put profit before welfare.
“These profit-driven sellers may be selling kittens which are sick or too young to be separated from their mothers, which can lead to high vet bills.
“Sadly, some kittens bred in poor conditions may not survive, which can be incredibly distressing for their new owner.
“Unscrupulous sellers have always existed, but the COVID-19 restrictions can give them an extra layer of invisibility.
“Before the lockdown, buyers may have heard alarm bells if a seller offered to deliver a kitten to them, or said it was not possible to view the kitten with its mother.
“But the guidelines and restrictions on visiting other households means it is now very difficult to be sure of a kitten’s background.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we may have been seeing moggies selling for around £50, but nowadays a quick scan of online adverts will find moggies for sale for hundreds of pounds.
“It is clear to us that there are individuals out there who are intent on putting profit before welfare”.
Sadly some of these kittens may not survive