[Terry Wigon]

I have just found out that someone I vaguely know is 'farming' cats on a small scale. I have heard (although I personally have no proof of this) that she has 5 or 6 cats at the moment and one Tom. The cats are constantly pregnant and when the kittens are ready she is selling them for £45. One cat has had about 8 litters so far! One of the cats is pregnant again with about 14 kittens (according to a scan).

Now, what she's doing probably isn't illegal, but I think it's cruel, especially with so many cats/kittens being abandoned. Allegedly, she also doesn't care who she sells them to as long as she gets the money for them.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do (if anything)/how I should approach the situation, or should I keep my nose out as it is just hearsay (although I trust the source implicitly)?

PS-.Just as an aside, this person doesn't work and is claiming benefits so this is also a bit of 'pocket money' for her!

[Maisey Moo]

Even though i have had litters thats a lot of your "friends" cats. I only let one go to a good home which is a good home through a friend i totaly trust i never got any money either. Its not healthy for them too have so many litters after each one. All i can is say contact the RSPCA and see what they say as well. I doubt they will do much. Also i dont think a cat can have 14 kittens in one go the most is about 8 i have never heard of any more than that. If she had a scan done for the mum the vets will be aware of what she is doing as well. So too the RSPCA she will be getting vet care for them.

[Lippincote]

I agree 14 kittens sounds a lot for one pregnancy, the most is usually 8 as maisey says.

A scan costs money and is not usually necessary during a cat's pregnancy, so if the woman is doing this purely for profit I am surprised she is paying for scans.

So the information sounds a bit... unreliable.

[charliesugar]

If she is breeding large numbers of cats to sell, then I think both Inland Revenue and the Benefit fraud line would be very interested....

[lightonmyfeet]

Originally Posted by charliesugar

If she is breeding large numbers of cats to sell, then I think both Inland Revenue and the Benefit fraud line would be very interested....

Yes, report her. Greedy, irresponsible and dishonest behaviour, and at least if animal welfare charities cannot do anything then hurting her in the purse may help stop it.

Cats Protection won't be able to stop her but might want to give advice as this goes against all they promote and believe in. Furthermore it is Cats Protection who pick up the pieces when irresponsible owners who want a cute ickle kitten get fed up with it when they realise it is growing into a cat and is a 15 year committment. Grrr

[Zigesa]

If this story is true, then it is really wrong.

I volunteer at my local RSPCA and we get a lot of pregnant females in. They work so hard to bring up their kittens, and to put the female through that time and time again is wrong, selfish, and if for money plain greedy and the woman should be stopped.

I feel sorry for the females having one litter, and then they are obviously spayed, then rehomed as a single, female kitten to live a normal life, so to have to keep having litters over and over again, just to be a breeding money making machine makes me mad.

I would definitely have a closer look at it then report it to anyone who you feel will be able to help.

[Lippincote]

Three weeks have passed since your original post, what did you decide to do OP?

You could not take any action just on the basis on secondhand claims on Facebook - as you said, you had no proof it was true - so did you investigate further?