Pet scams are no longer something we hear about occasionally. They have become a massive problem, particularly on Facebook and social media.

In our own experience speaking with prospective families, we would estimate that as many as 8 out of 10 people who contact us have already been scammed, experienced an attempted scam, or encountered a highly suspicious seller before eventually finding us.

That number is heartbreaking.

And we understand just how convincing these scams can be because, despite our decades of experience in the Persian cat world, we have personally been scammed online ourselves—more than once.

If someone who has been involved with Persians since 1989 can encounter a convincing online scam, imagine how difficult it can be for a family searching for their very first kitten.

Today’s scammers have become remarkably sophisticated. They can steal photographs, copy websites, impersonate established breeders, create fake testimonials, build convincing Facebook profiles, and advertise kittens that either belong to someone else or simply do not exist.

Please do not assume you would immediately recognize a scam.

Some of them look incredibly real.

Facebook Is One of the Biggest Places to Be Cautious!!

Facebook can be wonderful for following breeders and enjoying kitten photographs, but we strongly caution families against using a Facebook page alone to determine whether someone is legitimate.

Creating a Facebook profile or page takes very little effort.

Someone can steal photographs from an established breeder, invent a cattery name, fill a page with adorable kittens, copy information from legitimate websites, and appear to have an entire breeding program.

The kitten in the photograph may be absolutely real.

The problem is that it may not belong to the person selling it.

Scammers can also join groups, answer “looking for a kitten” posts, send private messages, and direct unsuspecting buyers toward pages that appear legitimate.

A beautiful Facebook page is simply not proof that there is an established cattery behind it.

Beautiful Pictures Prove Almost Nothing

Years ago, seeing numerous photographs of someone’s kittens offered some reassurance.

Unfortunately, that simply isn’t enough anymore.

Photographs can be copied in seconds. Entire photo galleries can be stolen from established catteries. Logos and watermarks can be altered or removed, and information from legitimate websites can be copied and presented as someone else’s.

A scammer doesn’t have to own a beautiful Persian kitten to advertise one.

They only need a photograph of one.

Never assume that because someone has dozens of beautiful kitten photographs on Facebook, Instagram, or a website that those kittens actually belong to them.

If the Price Seems Too Good to Be True, STOP

Everyone loves finding a bargain, and scammers know it.

If someone is advertising an exceptionally inexpensive Persian or Himalayan kitten and promising to ship or deliver that kitten anywhere with very little effort, slow down.

You are not realistically purchasing a beautifully bred Persian kitten online for $500–$1,200 and simply having it shipped to your doorstep without taking additional precautions.

Scammers often use extremely attractive prices because they know buyers are afraid of missing a bargain.

Sometimes that inexpensive kitten is only the beginning.

After the initial payment, another charge may suddenly appear.

Then another.

You may be told you need to pay for transportation, a special crate, insurance, a health certificate, a delivery fee, a refundable transportation deposit, climate-controlled shipping, or some other unexpected expense.

By that point, you are emotionally invested. You believe your kitten is waiting for you, and walking away becomes much harder.

That emotional attachment is exactly what some scammers exploit.

Scammers Aren’t the Only Problem—So Are “Pop-Up Breeders”

There is another issue families need to understand.

Not everyone selling kittens online is necessarily a scammer. Sometimes there really is a kitten—but the person selling it may have very little experience breeding Persians.

We call these “pop-up breeders.”

Breeding two cats and producing kittens does not automatically make someone an experienced breeder.

A responsible breeding program requires knowledge that develops over years and generations. Pregnancy, delivery, neonatal kitten care, nutrition, development, socialization, grooming, temperament, health practices, and knowing when a kitten is truly ready to leave are all part of responsible breeding.

This is especially important with Persians.

These are not simply fluffy cats that happen to have beautiful faces. Persians are a specialized breed, and raising them properly requires knowledge and hands-on experience.

“We’ve Been Breeding for 25 Years”—Can You Verify It?

Anyone can type a sentence on a website or Facebook page.

Claims of decades of experience should be supported by an established history.

A recently created website doesn’t automatically mean someone is dishonest. Established businesses sometimes redesign websites or change domain names.

However, when someone claims decades of experience yet appears to have very little established history behind the business, that should make you pause.

A genuine long-standing business usually leaves footprints.

Look for Independent Verification

Don’t rely entirely on information supplied by the person selling the kitten.

Look for an established business presence and consistency between the business name, location, telephone number, website, and history.

The Better Business Bureau can also be one helpful resource. Accreditation isn’t the only measure of a legitimate business, but independent information can provide another layer of reassurance.

Doll Face Persian Kittens has been raising Persians since 1989, and we are proud of the long history behind our name.

After so many years, families aren’t simply taking our word for how long we have been here. There is an established history behind us.

Don’t Put Too Much Faith in Online Reviews

Reviews can certainly be helpful, but they should never be the only reason you trust someone with your money.

Screenshots can be fabricated. Testimonials can be copied. Comments can come from friends or fake accounts.

Instead of focusing only on how many five-star reviews someone has, look at the bigger picture.

Does everything about the business make sense?

Does its history match its claims?

Is the person knowledgeable?

Are the policies consistent?

Does the online presence stretch back years?

Trust should come from the complete picture—not simply from a page filled with glowing reviews.

Never Allow Anyone to Rush You

Scammers understand emotion extremely well.

They know that once you have fallen in love with a kitten’s photograph, you are afraid someone else will purchase that kitten before you do.

That creates the perfect opportunity for pressure.

“You need to send the deposit immediately.”

“Someone else is ready to buy her.”

“The transporter is leaving tonight.”

“If you don’t pay now, you’ll lose him.”

Stop.

Legitimate businesses may certainly have another family interested in the same kitten and may require a deposit to reserve one. That alone isn’t suspicious.

What matters is knowing exactly who you are sending your money to before you send it.

Never allow urgency to override common sense.

Pay Attention When the Story Keeps Changing

Small inconsistencies can sometimes tell you a great deal.

Perhaps the person says they are in one state, but suddenly the kitten is somewhere else.

Maybe the payment instructions unexpectedly change.

Perhaps delivery was originally included, but after you pay, unexpected fees begin appearing.

One inconsistency does not automatically mean someone is dishonest. There can be perfectly reasonable explanations.

But when the story repeatedly changes, pay attention.

Ask questions before sending additional money.

Be Especially Careful When Someone Contacts YOU

Scammers frequently search social media for people actively looking for pets.

If you post:

“Looking for a Persian kitten!”

you may suddenly receive private messages from strangers telling you they have exactly what you want.

Some may even say:

“My friend has one available.”

“My aunt raises Persians.”

“I bought my kitten from this person.”

“Here’s their Facebook page.”

Those recommendations may appear to come from completely unrelated people when the accounts could actually be connected.

Be extremely cautious about unsolicited messages and recommendations from strangers on social media.

Experience Matters

Someone who has spent decades raising Persians will generally have a depth of knowledge that comes from years of hands-on experience.

Persian kittens require specialized care, and experience teaches lessons that cannot simply be copied from someone else’s website.

Look at the overall picture: longevity, consistency, professionalism, health practices, business credentials, and an established presence.

A beautiful Facebook page can be created overnight.

Photos can be stolen.

Testimonials can be copied.

Websites can be duplicated.

But decades of history, experience, knowledge, and an established reputation are much harder to fake.

Protect Your Heart as Carefully as Your Money

This is the part of pet scams that doesn’t receive enough attention.

People don’t shop for kittens the same way they shop for ordinary products.

You see a little face.

You fall in love.

You give the kitten a name.

You show the photograph to your children, grandchildren, family, and friends.

You start imagining that little kitten sleeping beside you.

You buy toys, a bed, food, and supplies.

You begin preparing your home.

Before that kitten ever arrives, it has already become part of your family in your heart.

Then you discover there never was a kitten.

The financial loss hurts, but for many families, the emotional loss hurts even more.

We have spoken with far too many people who come to us embarrassed because they were scammed.

Please don’t be embarrassed.

These scams work because the people behind them have become very good at appearing legitimate. We know that firsthand because we have experienced online scams ourselves.

Take Your Time Before Sending Money

Never let excitement overpower caution.

Make sure the person and business you’re dealing with can be independently verified. Look for consistency, longevity, professional policies, established business credentials, and a history that supports what you are being told.

If something doesn’t add up, stop before sending money.

And if that little voice inside you says something doesn’t feel right, listen to it.

A Facebook Page Can Be Created Overnight. A Reputation Cannot.

Doll Face Persian Kittens has been raising Persians since 1989. Over those years, we have watched the internet completely transform how families find their kittens.

Unfortunately, we have also watched online pet scams grow into an enormous problem.

Today, we hear from family after family who has already lost money, experienced an attempted scam, or dealt with a suspicious seller before they ever reach us.

In fact, based on the families who contact us, we estimate that as many as 8 out of 10 have already encountered some type of scam or suspicious situation during their search.

That is how widespread this problem has become.

We don’t share this information to frighten families away from finding their kitten online. We share it because we don’t want another family to experience the financial loss and heartbreak that can come from one of these scams.

Slow down.

Ask questions.

Verify who you are dealing with.

Never allow yourself to be pressured into sending money.

And never allow the excitement of finding that perfect little face to make you ignore something that simply doesn’t feel right.

There are legitimate, experienced breeders online. Finding them may require more patience than it once did, but that extra caution can save you from tremendous heartache.

A beautiful kitten photograph can be stolen in seconds. A trustworthy reputation takes decades to build.