A Cattery Horror Story
Scout Stormcloud
Scout Stormcloud is very special to myself and my husband.
All my life I had 'rescue moggies'- but one day I saw there was a breeder of Maine Coons advertising a black kitten.
I knew nothing about breeders or pedigree animals but had always admired Maine Coons so we made the trip.
We were horrified to find not a clean, comfortable cattery but a filthy little bungalow stuffed full of these beautiful creatures - kittens everywhere, full grown adults, the smell was awful.
Horrified, I asked about the black kitten.
Oh, the woman said carelessly, that'll be him - and there he was, cuddled up to his sister who had deformed front paws due to inbreeding but was also lovely.
Quickly I handed over what was to have been our holiday money and ran out with our boy.
I cried in the car because I wished I could have saved them all. Scout Stormcloud was, as it turned out, very ill with stomach problems but now at a hunky 8 months and many vet visits and stays in the vet hospital is on the way to full fitness.
My message is - do research - go to a reputable breeder and report bad breeders for their cruelty.