Much like puppies sold in pet stores, pet store kittens are often raised in kitten mills, mass warehouse-style breeding operations characterized by abuse and neglect.
As in puppy mills, the cats in kitten mills live in small, crowded, and often filthy cages. Mother cats are confined without opportunities to socialize or play, having one litter after another. Kittens are also denied socialization and physical and mental stimulation, and nutrition is often poor as well. In some cases, the cats are not even given enough to eat.
Cats with Lifelong Health and Psychological Problems
Before they even reach the pet stores, kittens are often shipped long distances, which causes extreme stress, and in some cases they may be injured along the way. Most pet stores send “damaged” or “defective” kittens back to the kitten mills rather than obtaining medical care or finding homes for them. In some cases kittens are abused or neglected at the pet stores as well. Many cases are reported by pet store employees and visitors each year, but they’re rarely investigated, and if investigators are sent to assess the situation, the evidence is usually covered up before they arrive.
Purebred kittens raised for pet stores often aren’t screened for genetic defects and are also more likely to be exposed to contagious illnesses. In addition, they are frequently adopted out too young. As a result, there is a greater likelihood of long-term health and psychological problems. For more information on the problems caused by adopting kittens out too early, see the Ideal Age to Adopt a Kitten.
Perpetuation of Animal Cruelty
Although breeders also sell kittens as a business, reputable breeders do it for the love of the animals as well as the money, whereas pet stores are usually just in it for the profit. As such, if the costs of providing necessary medical care exceed the price for which an animal can be sold, medical attention may not be provided. Animals that aren’t sold may be shipped back to the kitten mill for use as breeders, killed outright, or sold to labs for medical experimentation. A few lucky ones end up placed with breed rescue organizations.
Those who adopt kittens from pet stores often do so with the noble goal of rescuing a kitten from a cage. However, as long as there is a market for pet shop kittens, disreputable breeders will continue to churn them out in substandard operations. Purchasing kittens from pet stores contributes to the abuse and neglect of both mother cats and kittens in these operations. Also, people who buy purebred kittens at pet stores usually pay more than they would to a breeder.
False Claims
Many pet stores make false claims in an attempt to assure their customers that they don’t support the abuse of cats. Some such claims include:
- "We only get kittens from reputable breeders” – Reputable breeders don’t allow their kittens to be placed in a pet store setting.
- “We obtain kittens via USDA-licensed brokers” – The USDA doesn’t have the resources to monitor the living conditions of most animals, and having a USDA license doesn’t guarantee ethical and humane breeding and care practices.
- “The health of our kittens is guaranteed” – This is nothing special because in many places stores are legally required to reimburse anyone who is sold “faulty merchandise.” All this means is that these kittens are thought of as commodities rather than creatures capable of suffering. A “defective” kitten will be replaced and discarded.
Where to Get Kittens and Cats
Petfinder.com is a great resource for finding pets in need of good homes. Local veterinarians may also know of kittens or cats in the area that require adoption, and local animal rescue organizations have plenty of animals in need of good homes.
For those seeking purebred cats or kittens, there are a number of legitimate breeders and breed rescue organizations. See How to Find Purebred Kittens for information on how to find a reputable breeder and Cat Breed Personality Traits for an overview of cat breed characteristics.
References:
- Cat Fanciers’ Association. (2007). “Finding the Purrfect Pedigreed Kitten.” CFAinc.org.
- Engrebretson, Monica, Senior Program Coordinator, Animal Protection Institute. (2004). “Animals in the Retail Industry.” Avian Welfare Resource Center, AvianWelfare.org.
- Hotchner, Tracie. (2007). The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know. London: Penguin Group.
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