How to Avoid Kitten Scams When Buying a Devon Rex kitten

In recent years there has been a noticeable increase in online scams involving the sale of cats and kittens, including Devon Rex kittens. When you are looking to buy a kitten and add a new family member, it is very important to protect yourself from fraud and choose a real, responsible Devon Rex cattery and breeder.

Check the Devon Rex cattery online presence

A serious Devon Rex cattery usually has a page in Facebook or Instagram with real photos and videos of their Devon Rex cats and kittens, daily life in the cattery, and updates about litters. The page should have a history of at least one year, with posts over time, not just a few recent photos created “yesterday” for quick sales. Pay attention to comments, tags, and interaction with people; completely empty or closed profiles may be a warning sign when you want to buy a kitten.

Ask for recommendations before you buy a Devon Rex kitten

If possible, choose a Devon Rex breeder recommended by your friends, relatives, or people you know personally who already bought a Devon Rex kitten there. You can also look for reviews on Facebook, Google, or cat forums and politely ask the breeder for contacts of previous kitten buyers to be sure the cattery really sends healthy Devon Rex kittens.

Always request live video of the kitten

When buying a kitten from a person you do not know, always ask to see the kitten on live video via WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Facebook video call, or another service. A real Devon Rex breeder will easily show you the kitten in real time: you will see its condition, activity level, character, and environment. You can also ask to briefly show the mother cat and the place where kittens live to make sure they are raised in a clean home environment and not by scammers.

Check documents, pedigree and cattery registration

Ask the seller which cat clubs or feline organizations the Devon Rex cattery is registered with and request confirmation (registration certificate, cattery prefix, membership). Clarify which documents you will receive together with the kitten: pedigree or registration certificate, purchase contract, health guarantee and microchip. At minimum, the kitten must have a veterinary passport with vaccinations appropriate for its age; by four months, there are usually at least two core vaccinations for a Devon Rex kitten ready to travel.

Be careful with payments, delivery and suspicious links

If a courier promises to bring the kitten to you personally, you can agree that the main payment for the kitten and delivery will be made only upon actual handover of the kitten into your hands. Avoid sending full payment in advance to unknown people, especially via non‑secure methods such as anonymous transfers, cryptocurrency, or money transfer systems without buyer protection when you buy a Devon Rex kitten online.

Scammers can send you links which, when opened, ask you to enter your bank card details, online banking login or credentials for your account (for example, Telegram). After entering data on such fake pages you can lose control over your Telegram account, and large sums may be withdrawn from your bank account or card. Never enter passwords, one‑time codes or full card details (number, expiry date, CVV/CVC) on sites received from strangers in chats; always check that the address is the official website of your bank, payment system or social network.

Typical warning signs of a kitten scam

Price that is suspiciously low for a purebred Devon Rex kitten or “too good to be true” offers. One and the same photos of kittens used in different ads or on different pages (you can check by reverse image search). Refusal to show the kitten on video, vague answers, or constant “technical problems” with video calls. No club registration, no written contract, no clear information about vaccinations, pedigree and health tests of Devon Rex cats in the cattery.

If something seems strange, inconsistent, or you feel uncomfortable, it is better to stop communication and look for another Devon Rex breeder. A real, ethical Devon Rex cattery will be open, ready to answer questions, provide documents, and help you feel safe at every step of choosing and buying your Devon Rex kitten.