How to Spot a Kitten Scammer

Protecting Yourself When Searching for Your Next Cat or Kitten

Bringing a new kitten into your family should be an exciting experience. Unfortunately,
the internet has also made it easier than ever for scammers to take advantage of people searching for their next beloved companion.

Cat and kitten scams can happen to anyone. Scammers may create convincing websites, steal photographs from legitimate breeders, copy pedigrees and health information, impersonate established catteries, or advertise kittens that do not even exist.

Maine Coon kittens are particularly attractive targets because of the breed’s popularity and the significant demand for well-bred kittens.

The good news is that there are many things prospective buyers can do to protect themselves.

The most important rule is simple: Do your research before sending money.

A beautiful website, adorable kitten photographs, or a social-media account does not necessarily mean that the person behind it is a legitimate breeder.

What Is a Kitten Scam?

A kitten scam occurs when someone uses false or misleading information to convince a person to send money for a cat or kitten that either does not exist, is not actually available to them, or is significantly different from what was represented.

Scammers may advertise:

 Maine Coon kittens
 Other popular purebred cats
 Rare colors or patterns
 “Teacup” or unusually tiny kittens
 Kittens with supposedly exceptional pedigrees
 Kittens supposedly located nearby
 Kittens available for immediate delivery

After receiving a deposit or payment, the scammer may disappear completely.

In other cases, the scammer may continue requesting money for invented expenses such as transportation, insurance, crates, veterinary certificates, vaccinations, customs
fees, or “special permits.”

Common Cat and Kitten Scams

1. Fake Breeder Websites

One of the most common scams involves creating a website that appears to belong to a legitimate cattery.

The website may contain:

 Professional-looking kitten photographs
 Detailed descriptions
 Testimonials
 Pedigrees
 Health claims
 Registration information
 A list of available kittens
 A phone number or email address

Unfortunately, a professional-looking website does not prove that the breeder is legitimate.

Scammers can copy photographs and information from real breeders and create an entirely different website around it.

What should you do?

Research the breeder outside of their own website.

Search for the cattery’s name, telephone number, email address, social-media
accounts, reviews, and other online references.

Look for consistency.

Does the same breeder appear to have an established presence over time? Are their social-media accounts active? Do photographs appear consistently across multiple years? Can you find evidence that the person actually breeds the cats they advertise?

2. Stolen Kitten Photographs

A scammer does not need to own a kitten to advertise one.

They can simply steal photographs from another breeder.

This is particularly concerning because a buyer may perform a quick Google search, see a beautiful website, and assume the photographs belong to the person they are communicating with.

Reverse-image searching can help.

Before sending a deposit, consider performing a reverse-image search on photographs of the kitten and even photographs of the adults listed as the kitten’ parents.

If the exact photograph appears on another breeder’s website, social-media account, or an older advertisement, that is a major warning sign.

Also pay attention to photographs that look unusually professional, inconsistent, or
appear to have been taken in completely different environments.

3. Fake Social-Media Accounts

Social media can make someone appear established very quickly.

A scammer can create a Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or other social-media account and populate it with photographs stolen from legitimate breeders.

An account having hundreds of followers does not necessarily mean the breeder is
legitimate.

Look at the history of the account.

Ask yourself:

 How long has the account existed?
 Are posts spread consistently over time?
 Do the photographs appear original?
 Are people actually interacting with the breeder?
 Do comments appear genuine?
 Does the breeder have an established website that matches the social-media
information?
 Do the name, location, telephone number, and email address remain consistent?

Be particularly cautious if an account appears to have been created recently but immediately contains numerous kittens for sale.

4. Fake Pedigrees and Registration Claims

A pedigree can look official while providing little assurance about the person selling the kitten.

Scammers may copy pedigrees from legitimate cats or use real names of cats and breeders without having any legitimate connection to them.

The same applies to claims that a cat is registered with a particular organization.
If registration is important to you, verify the information independently with the applicable registry whenever possible.

Don’t assume that a logo on a website proves membership or registration.

5. Fake Health Testing

Responsible breeders should take the health of their breeding cats seriously.

Unfortunately, scammers know that health testing is important to buyers.

They may therefore advertise kittens as:

 “DNA tested”
 “HCM clear”
 “PKD negative”
 “Genetically tested”
 “Vet checked”
 “Fully vaccinated”
 “Health guaranteed”

The presence of these words on a website does not prove that testing actually occurred.

Ask questions.

What laboratory performed the testing?

What was tested?

Which cat was tested?

Can appropriate documentation be provided?

For Maine Coons, prospective buyers should also educate themselves about breed-associated health concerns and ask breeders what health screening they perform on their breeding cats.

A responsible breeder should be comfortable discussing their health-testing program rather than simply saying, “They’re healthy”.

6. The Shipping Scam

This is one of the biggest warning signs buyers should know about.

A scammer may tell you that your kitten is ready to be shipped and then introduce unexpected expenses.

You may suddenly be told that the kitten needs:

 A special crate
 Additional insurance
 A temperature-controlled carrier
 A health certificate
 A special vaccination
 A transportation permit
 Customs clearance
 An emergency flight change
 Additional “refundable” insurance
 A special tracking device

After paying one fee, another fee appears.

Then another.

The scammer may claim that the kitten cannot be released until the next payment is made. 

Be extremely cautious.

If you are repeatedly being asked for additional money by a person claiming to be a breeder or pet transporter, stop and investigate before sending anything else.

7. Payment Red Flags

Payment method alone does not determine whether someone is legitimate, but certain situations should make you stop and investigate.

Be cautious when someone insists that you pay through methods that provide little or no meaningful buyer protection.

Be especially careful when you are pressured to send money immediately because:

“Someone else is about to buy the kitten.”

or:

“You have to send the deposit within the next hour.”

or:

“There are three other people waiting.”

A legitimate breeder may have deposits, contracts, waiting lists, and deadlines. However, high-pressure tactics designed to prevent you from researching the breeder are a major warning sign.

Never allow excitement about a kitten to override basic due diligence.

8. The “Too Good to Be True” Kitten

Price deserves consideration, but price alone is not proof of a scam.

A kitten advertised substantially below the typical price for the breed should prompt additional research.

Likewise, be cautious about extraordinary claims such as:

 Extremely rare colors
 “Guaranteed giant” kittens
 Unusually tiny kittens
 “World’s largest Maine Coon”
 Extraordinary pedigrees
 Guaranteed adult size
 Guaranteed personality traits
 “Never gets sick” claims

Responsible breeders should be able to discuss their cats honestly, including both their strengths and limitations.

No breeder can guarantee everything about a living animal.

9. Impersonating a Real Breeder

This is one of the most frustrating forms of fraud because the scammer may use the identity of an actual breeder.

They may steal:

 The breeder’s name
 Website photographs
 Kitten photographs
 Pedigrees
 Testimonials
 Social-media content
 Business information

They may then create a similar website or social-media account.

Always verify contact information independently.

If you find a breeder through Facebook or another social-media platform, don’t automatically assume the account belongs to the breeder.

Find the breeder’s established website through an independent search and compare the contact information.

If something doesn’t match, stop before sending money.

How to Verify a Breeder

There is no single test that can guarantee someone is legitimate.

Instead, look at the entire picture.

Look for an established history.

A breeder who has been operating for years should generally have an online history that reflects that experience.

Look for older photographs, previous litters, consistent information, and genuine interactions with families who have purchased kittens.

Talk to the breeder.

A responsible breeder should be willing to have a real conversation with you.

Ask about:

 Their breeding program
 Their cats
 Their goals
 Health testing
 Vaccinations
 Veterinary care
 Socialization
 Their contract
 When kittens go home
 What support they provide after the kitten leaves

The conversation should feel like more than a simple transaction.

Ask to see the kitten.

Whenever possible, ask for a live video call.

A legitimate breeder should generally be able to demonstrate that the kitten actually exists and is in their possession.

Ask to see the kitten interacting in the environment where it is being raised.

You can even ask the breeder to perform something specific during the video call so you know the video is current rather than a prerecorded clip.

Ask About the Parents

Don’t just look at the kitten.

Ask about the kitten’s parents.

A responsible breeder should be able to tell you:

 Who the parents are
 Their ages
 Their health history
 Their pedigrees
 What health testing has been performed
 Why those particular cats were bred together
 Their temperaments

The parents are an important part of understanding what a kitten may inherit genetically and behaviorally.

Ask About the Contract

A responsible breeder should have a written agreement explaining the responsibilities of both the breeder and buyer.

Read the entire contract before sending a deposit.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you don’t understand.

The contract may address:

 Health guarantees
 Veterinary care
 Vaccinations
 Spay/neuter requirements
 Registration
 Breeding rights
 Return policies
 Rehoming
 Ownership responsibilities
 Deposits
 Transportation

A contract should never be something you see for the first time after you’ve already paid.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Documentation

A legitimate buyer should be able to ask reasonable questions.

Depending on the breeder and their program, documentation may include:

 Veterinary records
 Vaccination records
 Health-testing documentation
 Registration information
 Pedigree information
 Microchip information
 Contract documents

The exact documentation provided will vary from breeder to breeder.

What matters is whether the breeder is transparent and willing to explain what they do.

Red Flags Worth Taking Seriously

One red flag does not automatically mean someone is a scammer.

However, multiple red flags together should make you stop.

Be cautious if:

 The breeder refuses any form of live communication.
 The kitten cannot be shown in real time.
 Photographs appear elsewhere online under another breeder’s name.
 The breeder’s information changes from one platform to another.
 The website appears brand new.
 There are many different breeds or large numbers of unrelated kittens constantly available.
 The breeder pressures you to pay immediately.
 The price seems unusually low.
 The breeder requests unusual or difficult-to-reverse payment methods.
 You are repeatedly asked for additional transportation fees.
 The breeder refuses reasonable questions.
 Documentation cannot be provided or explained.
 The breeder becomes hostile when you ask questions.
 The person seems primarily interested in getting your payment rather than learning about your family and whether the kitten is a good fit.

Questions to Ask Before Sending a Deposit

Save this list and use it when researching any breeder.

About the breeder

1. How long have you been breeding?
2. What breed or breeds do you specialize in?
3. Where are you located?
4. Are you registered with a recognized cat association?
5. Can we have a phone or video conversation?

About the parents

6. Who are the kitten’s parents?
7. Can I see photographs of both parents?
8. Can I see the parents during a live video call?
9. What health testing has been performed?
10. Can you explain the health history of the parents?

About the kitten

11. How old is the kitten?
12. When will the kitten be allowed to go home?
13. What veterinary care has the kitten received?
14. What vaccinations and deworming has the kitten received?
15. Is the kitten microchipped?
16. How is the kitten socialized?
17. What food is the kitten eating?

About the transaction

18. Can I review the contract before paying?
19. What does the health guarantee cover?
20. What happens if something unexpected occurs?
21. What is your policy if I can no longer keep the cat?
22. How will transportation be handled, if transportation is necessary?

A responsible breeder should welcome informed questions.

Don’t Let Excitement Make the Decision for You

This is perhaps the most important advice we can give prospective kitten buyers.

Scammers understand that people fall in love with photographs.

They know that once someone sees a beautiful kitten and imagines that kitten becoming part of their family, they may become less cautious.

That’s why scammers often create urgency.

They want you thinking: “If I don’t send the deposit right now, I’ll lose this kitten.”

Instead, think: “If this is the right breeder and the right kitten, taking a little time to verify everything is worth it.”

A reputable breeder should understand why you want to protect yourself.

What If You Think You’ve Been Scammed?

If you have already sent money and believe you may have been the victim of a scam, act quickly.

Save everything.

Keep:

 Screenshots
 Emails
 Text messages
 Social-media messages
 Website addresses
 Payment records
 Receipts
 Names
 Telephone numbers
 Email addresses
 Photographs
 Advertisements
 Contracts
 Shipping information

Contact the payment provider as soon as possible to determine whether anything can be done to stop or recover the payment.

You may also want to report the scam to the appropriate platform and relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement authorities.

Do not send additional money simply because the scammer promises that another payment will release your kitten or refund your previous payment.

A Quick Buyer Checklist

Before sending a deposit, ask yourself:

☐ Have I spoken to the breeder?
☐ Have I verified the breeder's identity and contact information?
☐ Have I researched the cattery independently?
☐ Have I performed a reverse-image search?
☐ Have I seen the kitten in real time?
☐ Have I seen or discussed the kitten’s parents?
☐ Have I asked about health testing?
☐ Have I reviewed the contract?
☐ Have I verified the kitten’s veterinary information?
☐ Do I understand exactly what my deposit covers?
☐ Do I understand when and how the kitten will come home?
☐ Am I being pressured to pay immediately?
☐ Have I researched the payment method and buyer protections?

If you cannot confidently answer these questions, slow down.

Responsible Breeders Want Informed Buyers

A good breeder should not simply want to sell you a kitten.

They should want to find the right home for that kitten.

Responsible breeding involves much more than producing kittens. It involves making thoughtful decisions about health, temperament, genetics, socialization, veterinary care, and the long-term welfare of the cats.

For prospective buyers, the best breeder relationship should feel like a partnership—not a race to send a deposit.

Ask questions.

Do your research.

Verify information.

And remember that it is perfectly acceptable to walk away if something doesn’t feel right.

A Final Word to Prospective Maine Coon Families

Maine Coons are wonderful cats, and choosing to bring one into your family is a significant commitment.

Don’t let a beautiful photograph or an urgent sales pitch make the decision for you.

Take your time.

Research the breeder.

Ask questions.

Look beyond the kitten photograph and learn about the breeding program behind it.

And remember:
The goal isn’t simply to find a kitten. The goal is to find a responsible breeder and a healthy, well-socialized kitten that is the right fit for your family.

At Sheracoons, we believe prospective families should feel comfortable asking questions and learning about where their kitten comes from. An informed buyer is a protected buyer—and ultimately, that benefits both the family and the kitten.

Do your homework. Trust your instincts. And never be afraid to walk away when something doesn’t feel right.