Cedarwood Cattery Karen Vance Bait and switch, refusal to provide pedigree papers, sold me a sick cat, refused to pay vet bills Altona, New York Internet

BTW, Instead of making misleading promises about breeding rights, Karen Vance should have given full disclosure of the conditions of sale BEFORE she took my money rather than a week later. If she had done so, I might have chosen to adopt a retired breeder or retired show cat that was already spayed or neutered.

Thank you so much for the information. I think it's very clear that my complaint is not about general policy regarding pedigrees and breeding rights. My complaint is that general policy was not communicated before the transaction or even at the time of the transaction. Instead, misleading promises were made at the time of the transaction.

It was Karen Vance's responsibility to give this information BEFORE the transaction, not AFTER. Instead, she made misleading promises and rushed me into the transaction, and then It was only AFTER she had my money that she explained standard policy. She has serious problems with communication, and she treats her non-breeder customers with utter contempt.

And my kitten was sick when she delivered it.

 I am quite sure this breeder did not sell you a pet kitten for a breeder.  There are 2 kinds of kittens:  pet and breeder

You do not breed a pet quality kitten.  It is simply not breeding material.  If she sold you a kitten for $1000 guaranteed that is not a breeder kitten.  That is a pet, and not suitable for breeding.

You state that $1000 is not a lot for a kitten -- that is true.  Many breeds of kittens are selling for $5,000 just for a pet kitten today.  The amount of $1000 is standard for most pet kittens from a good breeder.  You may be able to get one from a "backyard breeder" for less.

Also, you state she "delivered your kitten" for $150.  I cannot believe someone would drive that far and back for only $150.  I am quite sure gas would cost more than that for that distance between Altona, NY and New York City.  You lucked out!!! Most breeders "ship" or use "couriers" and that can be anywhere from $350 to $500.  

 Standard policy is no papers until you supply a neuter or spay invoice from a vet.  Sounds like you are just nitpicking about this breeder. 

As you can see from Ms. Vance's rebuttal, she does not thin $1000 is a lot of money to take from her customers. That pretty much sums it up. She has utter contempt for her customers. Somalis and Abyssinian cats are wonderful pets, but if you are interested in these breeds, please find someone else. You'll only have grief with Karen Vance and her Cedarwood Catteries.

My transaction with Karen Vance was unsatisfactory for several reasons... The cat I bought from her had minor health problems (ringworm) and was poorly socialized when he arrived. I paid to take care of his health problems, and he blossomed into a wonderful gentleman within a few weeks. With appropriate care, the cat got better, but communication with his breeder went downhill quickly. For example, she changed the terms of the sale after I paid her and took delivery of the cat.

In addition, when I informed Ms. Vance that she had sold me a kitten with ringworm on his face, she initially accused me of lying in the most unprofessional way, especially after I paid her $1000 for a kitten plus her delivery fee of $150. Then when I sent photos of the kitten’s ringworm, she said she would take the cat back, but that she would not refund what she charged me for delivery and what I had paid in vet fees. That was a year and a half ago, and her manner of communication continues to be unprofessional, negative, and childish. She has treated me with utter contempt, and her basis for her contempt is simply that I expressed interest in getting breeding rights, which I was willing to pay extra for.

Now that I’ve paid for vet services that Karen should have reimbursed me for, the cat I got from her recovered and turned out to be remarkably sweet, smart, polite, congenial and a wonderful communicator. I wish I could say the same about the breeder I got him from.

I was ready to pay another $800 for breeding rights in addition to the $1000 I paid for the kitten. Karen Vance explicitly said I would have the option to obtain breeding rights and I was ready to pay the additional fee. I'm not complaining because she didn't sell me breeding rights - I'm complaining because she promised I would have the option to buy breeding rights, but then reneged and went back on her promise. BTW, I wasn't certain I wanted to breed, but i prefer to have the right to do so if I choose.

A breeding cat for $1000? thats not even remotely the right price for a breeding animal. There is another breeder in NY selling her kittens for $1,200 for PETS only! just because you buy an animal doesn't mean you have breeding rights. Breeders give you papers AFTER the animal is fixed, which if you intent was to breed is probably why you don't have them yet. And if the kitten is as sick and un socialized as you say it is why are you trying to still breed it? Do you not care about the breed? Because if what you say is true and it was my cat I would have it fixed right away. Sounds like you are the one who is in it for the money and just realized now you bought a cat at pet price without breeding rights and now to get your way you're throwing a fit and using blackmail.