How do you prevent from falling for a scam when buying a Maine Coon kitten?

That is a really great question, and an important one! Nothing is more heartbreaking than hearing of someone who has been scammed by those claiming to be a breeder. Scammers can be smart and tricky, and before you know it, the money you saved up for your own Maine Coon kitten can be stolen from you in a blink of an eye. In a previous post we went over how to find a Maine Coon kitten. But how do you spot if someone is reputable or fake?

Look Out For The Red Flags

Spotting a scammer can be hard, but there are usually some red flags that you can look out for. Here are some steps to follow and some things that could indicate you are dealing with a scammer.

1. Do your homework on every breeder that you show interest in. Ask questions. As for referrals and get in touch with other cat lovers who have gotten cats from them. If they are the real deal, they will have no problem giving you that information. Ask us to do video chats, send you picture after picture after picture, and video’s!

2. Their price is too good to be true. Watch out for the deep discount kittens. That’s a big warning sign. Many scammers will try to sell you kittens for $500-$1000. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. With that being said, scammers are catching on to that tip that breeders have been giving out, and have actually started charging more.

3. Are they asking you to wire them money? Never wire money!. Use secure payment platforms that offer buyer protection, such as PayPal or credit cards, which can provide recourse in case of fraudulent transactions. A reputable breeder will also NOT ask for money without properly vetting you, stalking you back, chatting over the phone or video call, and have a written contract. They will also not ask for the full amount before you pick up the kitten.

4. Does the website look like it was thrown together in 5 mins or does it have a lot of spelling errors? Yup, warning sign!!

5. Do they display a crazy amount of kittens? Warning sign. It either means it is a scam or their living arrangements are not the best and they run kitten mills.

6. Look at all of the photos! Do they seem consistent? Do they have multiple photos of the same cat from different angles? Look for age progression photos. Do they have the same background?

7. Join Maine Coon facebook groups and ask if anyone has had experience with the breeder that you have interest in.

The Bottom Line, Do Your Homework!

Follow these steps to spot a scammer, follow your gut, and again, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! Don’t just give your money to anyone who isn’t willing to work with you and answer any and all questions as well as provide you with whatever you ask to see. Finding Maine Coon kittens near you can seem daunting and scary, but I promise you that there are great breeders out there. Just be careful who you end up chosing.