Why Using AI Alone to Decide If a Cattery Is Legitimate Can Be Misleading
Imagine sitting in a vet’s office getting a litter of kittens updated on their vaccines when you suddenly receive a message from a potential buyer that says “With the upmost respect, I feel you are authentic. I have no issues with the contract or fee. However there are some online reviews…I’m sure you are aware.” I sat there, confused….as I was not aware of any negative reviews about me. I replied “May I see the online reviews? I am not aware. If you can point me in the direction of the reviews I would like to see what they are so I can address them.” She then sent me the following image (with permission to share):
This potential buyer searched for my cattery, Aub’s Maine Coons, and the AI-generated summary describing me as “high-risk,” “alarming,” and associated with serious negative reports. These statements were false, inaccurate, and in some cases appeared to pull information that was not even related to my cattery. When I saw the search results it gave her, it was a mixture of emotions ranging from being both shocked and wanting to laugh all at the same time at the false information it was providing about my cattery.
Ironically, when I searched my own cattery name using a guest account, the AI summary displayed positive information instead.
This experience highlights an important and growing issue buyers should understand: AI summaries are unpredictable. They can change from one search to the next, pull from unreliable or unrelated sources, and present speculation as if it were verified fact. When choosing a breeder or Maine Coon cattery, relying on AI alone can be misleading, unfair, and sometimes completely wrong.
The Problem With AI-Generated Reputation Summaries
AI search tools gather information from across the internet without verifying whether it is accurate, relevant, or even about the correct breeder. These summaries may include content from:
• Anonymous forum posts
• Social media comments
• Reddit threads
• User-submitted complaints
• Old discussions
• Unverified blogs or posts
These sources may be:
• Outdated
• Referring to a different breeder with a similar name
• Based on misunderstandings
• Written by competitors or trolls
• Missing key context
• Completely false
Artificial intelligence does not investigate claims, contact breeders, or confirm details. It cannot determine whether a complaint was resolved, whether a post is credible, or whether it even applies to the right business. It simply compiles text and attempts to summarize it. Because of this, two people searching the same cattery name can receive completely different AI summaries minutes apart.
Why AI Should Never Be the Sole Judge of a Breeder’s Reputation
AI-generated overviews often sound official and convincing. But they are not legal findings, verified reports, or investigative conclusions. They are automated interpretations of internet chatter.
Using AI alone to determine whether a cattery is legitimate can:
• Harm responsible breeders unfairly
• Spread misinformation
• Give credibility to unrelated or false claims
• Discourage buyers from doing proper research
• Create unnecessary fear or confusion
AI can be a starting point for research, but it should never be treated as the final verdict
Better Ways to Determine If a Cattery Is Legitimate
If you want to responsibly evaluate a breeder — whether it’s a Maine Coon breeder in Missouri, Kansas City, or anywhere else — there are far more reliable ways than relying on AI summaries.
1. Look for a professional, transparent website. A legitimate cattery should have a real website that includes:
• Detailed information about their breeding program
• Health testing practices
• Policies and expectations
• Contracts or guarantees
• Clear contact information
You can see read all about our policies and guarantees here.
Serious breeders invest time into educating buyers. Scam operations rarely do.
2. Evaluate their social media presence. A trustworthy breeder typically has:
• Consistent posting over time
• Photos and videos of kittens at different stages
• Behind-the-scenes content, not just sales posts
• Real engagement with followers
Authenticity matters more than perfection. A long history of genuine content is a strong credibility indicator.
3. Read reviews and buyer experiences directly instead of relying on AI summaries:
• Read reviews yourself
• Check comments on posts
• Look for photos shared by past buyers
• Notice how the breeder responds publicly
Patterns of real experiences are far more reliable than isolated complaints. You can see reviews our buyers have left in the comments section of this post on our Facebook Page.
4. Ask for a video call. A legitimate breeder should be willing to:
• FaceTime or video chat
• Show kittens live
• Answer questions openly
• Demonstrate that the kittens are actually in their care
Scammers avoid real-time interaction. Ethical breeders generally welcome it.
5. Be wary of unusually low prices. Low prices are one of the biggest red flags in the cat breeding world.
Responsible breeding requires:
• Genetic health testing
• Veterinary care
• Quality nutrition
• Proper socialization
• Time, labor, and experience
Ethically bred kittens cannot be produced at bargain prices. If the price seems too good to be true, it usually is. You can read about our prices and reservation policies here.
6. Ask questions — and pay attention to the answers. A responsible breeder should:
• Encourage questions
• Explain their practices clearly
• Be transparent about risks and responsibilities
• Never pressure you into quick payment or rushed decisions
High-pressure tactics and refusal to communicate are real warning signs. Transparency is not.
You can also ask in black list groups on facebook if a cattery is legitimate or not. This group had a good discussion going on about this very subject.
A Final Thought on AI and Responsibility
Artificial intelligence is an incredible technology, but it is not perfect, not consistent, and not capable of verifying truth. It can amplify misinformation just as easily as it can surface helpful information.
Before accepting an AI-generated reputation summary as fact, remember:
• AI does not verify sources
• AI does not confirm identities
• AI does not understand context
• AI does not investigate claims
Real conversations, real documentation, and real experiences matter far more.
If you are choosing a breeder, do your research the right way: communicate directly, ask questions, review real buyer experiences, and look for consistent patterns — not automated summaries.
Ethical breeders deserve fairness. Buyers deserve accurate information. AI alone cannot guarantee either.
About the Author
Aubre Barnhart is the owner of Aub’s Maine Coons, a registered cattery specializing in European-line Maine Coons with extensive health testing. She is dedicated to ethical breeding, transparency, and educating buyers on how to responsibly choose a breeder.