A free cat/kitten or a scam?

I have been looking to adopt a warm-blooded pet because as lovely as my Siamese Fighter fish are I would like something I can cuddle at night etc. So I looked on my local Trading Post for a cat or kitten nearby that I could adopt and I found a very peculiar ad. Because the person was offering ‘Purebred British Shorthair kittens’ as ‘Free to a good home’.

Thinking I may perhaps have landed the deal of the year but not holding my breath, I immediately contacted the person selling them to ask what, if anything, was wrong with the wee kitty’s, seeing as a purebred kitten is usually priced in the region of $500+AUD.

This is the response I received. I have omitted names & emails to protect both of us, and also because I pity ignorance and don’t wish to turn this into a smear/hate campaign.

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Hello
Thank you for your interest in this race. We have a male and female kittens
Sex: female and male
Age: 11 weeks
Champion bloodlines: Yes
Champion request: yes
Show potential: Yes
Note: The enrollment / registration, current vaccines, Veterinarian examination,
       Health certificate, Health guarantee, Pedigree, Travel Case
My name is Jane Smith. So I would like to hear from you
Where are you located?
Have you ever had a pet?
Are you a veteran?
Do you have children and have enough space?
be careful?
Please, sorry for all the question I just want to ensure that my children come to a beautiful family
thanks
Jane

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Hi Jane,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
My name is Hikeezy.
I live in Melbourne with my mother and grandmother.
I have had 2 pet dogs before, Ridgebacks the last of which died late last year.
I currently have two pet fish too.
I have always wanted a cat and took to adopting strays when I was little.
Now that I live alone I have hoped for a kitten.
I have no children, although my boyfriend is trying very hard to get me pregnant.
I’m not sure what you mean by ‘veteran’ but I am close to a veterinarian?
As to whether or not I’m careful, I’m not sure what you mean by that either.
But I have been told that I need to wait for my cat – as a pet chooses me and not the other way around.
This is why I contacted you – I understand your wishes to ensure your cats find good homes and people who will love them and treat them as family.
I have space but I would like to tell you honestly that I do not trust my neighborhood and therefore, if you were to gift me a kitten I would keep it as a strictly INDOORS cat. Especially since it has a fine pedigree.
I hope this information helps.
Regards,
H

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Hello
Thanks for your response to our  cute baby,
we do have two left
they are 11 weeks old
well socialized with kids
dewormed and vaccinated
potty trained and micro chipped
Right now i am in Darwin with my family
so if you can come for a pick up here it will be very nice of you.
if you can not, then we can arrange for home delivery today
which will cost you $200 for the transportation of the one  kitten and  for both will cost you $350
from  Darwin to your home address in Melbourne .
i will send the kittens tomorrow morning,
just provide the information below
i am not selling them
but i am giving it for adoption because of my health condition.
i have been diagnose of the cancer of the brain.
i will have no time to care for them
and as you best know pets are like children
and needs a lot of care.
This money will be paid to the agency directly
for the transportation of kittens
from Darwin for delivery to your home address.
they will be coming along with their food menu,
Health certificates, their toys.
And you will have to assure me
that you will be sending pictures of him to me.
so if okay
get back to me  with your full contact delivery information
so  that i can registered him for delivery
to your home address this morning.
With this information
i can register the puppies
and you have it home today
i will need the following information from you

Names?
City?
Post Code?
House Address?
Contact Number?

send this information now so that i can send my daughter to go and
register him now, for delivery to your home address today.
since the agency is not far from my house.
As soon as i have all this information
i will do the registration and you have the kittens this morning at your door step
thanks and waiting

___________________________

Hello again,

Unfortunately I have been given a kitten today by someone in my state.
I did not realise that you and the kittens were in Darwin as I believe your listing said you were located in Melbourne. After receiving your email this morning I contacted another friend instead.
Best of luck to your health and to the rehoming of your cats.

Regards,
H

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ok my dear what is the problem is it about the cost just tell me then i will help you o.k

____________________________

Hi Jane,

There is not a problem at all, but thank you for asking.
I simply wished to adopt from someone close by rather than Darwin.
I was interested in your kittens as they are pedigree but Melbourne and Victoria as a State have plenty of cats and kittens that need furever homes so I have looked elsewhere.

Once again, best wishes in your battle with Brain Cancer and I hope you find good homes for your kittens in Darwin since it would be less traumatic on them if they could stay up there rather than post them anywhere.

Best wishes,
H

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my dear it means really you are not a real lover or you never have love for my kittens because the distance will not be a barrier because when i adopt this kittens from some one in London why because i really love the kittens o.k so what is your problem is it the cost

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Hi Jane,

I understand how you feel and I respect that the distance may not be a barrier for many future cat lovers.

It is not the cost but simply the distance, as somebody who has wanted a cat for a long time now I will simply wait for my friends to get back to me on their kittens. As their British Shorthair cat has just had a litter 1 month ago and I will wait for them to be old enough and buy one off them instead.

Thank you again for your concerns but I would rather pay someone here in Victoria, as I said in my last email, I wouldn’t want to traumatize my future pet via postal service. I do not need assistance with payment, I simply want a cat I can pick up here.

I hope you find someone soon for your kittens and wish you the best of luck.
Best wishes,
H

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I think it’s interesting that in the first email she introduces herself as Jane Smith (or something very similarly Anglo-Saxon like Sarah Miller etc.) and yet clearly from the tone of her emails – she has little to no command of English or English grammar AT ALL. The spacing was atrocious too but that has been omitted.

I wonder if any of you reading this noted that she mentions PUPPIES in her second email where she mentions money. And even though the money was enough to send up warning signals, the mention of the fact that a ‘Pedigree breeder’ can’t distinguish the difference between a puppy and a kitten was enough of another warning signal to put me off completely.

But I guess the biggest thing that I found offensive – and I don’t mind admitting that I lost a bit of sleep over it tonight – is the point where I’m being told that I mustn’t be a ‘Real cat lover’ at all. That hurt. But rather than dwell on it I hope Jane and her fake cancer are fine and that she and all the kitten-puppies in Darwin are okay.

Score

Hikeezy – 1

Nigerians – 0