I HATE Gumtree with a passion, I have just had a ad I posted for baby rats removed because it 'breaches their guidelines' on 'breeding', but after having a closer browse, I have discovered something FAR more horrible than my rat advert, which I will say was for home reared pet rats, nothing commercial.

I have discovered kittens frequently being advertised at 6 weeks old. Kittens are not ready anytime before 8 weeks at least.

It's disgusting, Gumtree needs shutting down for what they allow in their pets section.

This is a warning to cat owners, don't buy off Gumtree

I have spent a large part of this evening reporting pet ads which breach their rules, if they want to remove my ad, fine, but I have targeted the really bad, irresponsable ones.

kittens arent ready before 12 weeks of age, puppies not before 8weeks even 12weeks with some breeds.

these people just dont care and dont want to eat into their profit
dont buy them and they will be forced to stop breeding them!

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What's the point?

People want things NOW - they can't be bothered to wait for a properly weaned, well socialised, healthy kitten. They don't want to be asked serious questions of ownership, welfare and responsibility by rescue centres/breeders. Do you honestly think the sellers of kittens on Gumtree give a f*ck what happens to the kittens after they get their cash? After a few months these kittens, if not dead already are given to rescue centres or dumped on the street as they are past their cute stage.

Gumtree gets their money, sellers get their money and people get their 'for the moment' kittens. If the people buying actually cared about kittens/cats they would have steered clear of Gumtree in the first place.

CP warned me against going to Gumtree (as if I would have!), and they are trying their best to change the laws about unregulated online selling of animals, but as with all things internet; easily obtained, readily disposed of.

Very, very sad.

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It makes me SICK. People are selling baby allsorts there way before they should. I think the government ans DEFRA should set the ages pets can be sold at, and make it illegal to sell animals below these ages.

I am involved in he rat scene a lot and I have spouted off at many rat owners trying to sell rats that are not even fully weaned yet.

Money, and sheer greed before Animals. Please someone bring out a tough LAW restricting pet sales online. Make all sites that sell pets register with the government first, any that do not, become illegal and the owners can get prosecuted.

There are SO many things involved in finding homes for your pets than just selling them. Cats are delicate animals, one wrong move in feeding them when they are young can cause them lasting gut problems. People do not realise that an underweaned kitten will probably become very ill shortly after it's removed from the mother.

I am a hobby rat breeder, and I thought Gumtree would be a good place to get some interest for my babies, I honestly cried when I realise what kind of a place it was. How dare I put my babies on there??

I am selling rats to friends now, and people I trust now, no way will I ever touch this sickening site again, not even for a sofa. Lots of people are interested, and I am vetting each one very carefully before allowing them to buy rats, no matter how well I know them. I question them extensivly about how well they know rats etc.

The way animals, specially dogs and cats are being sold on gumtree, some for hundreds of pounds, honestly brings tears to my eyes. Some are living in squalid conditions and the sellers are not bothered about posting pictures. There are many people milling animals and using Gumtree to sell them. I don't expect the person who wants that cuddly looking puppy or kitten has much clue that that tiny great dane puppy will soon be a big hulking dog that just won't fit into their bedsit, so there goes another homeless pet.

I also expect minors are using the internet to buy pets, when it is, by law, illegal to sell a pet to anyone under 16, I think (and hope) this has been increased to 18. Who's going to care if a kid turns up wanting to buy 10 rats or a kitten to feed to his snake or murder for kicks, they're not.

I don't know what to do, I feel like I won't make much of a change myself to this disgusting site, but maybe pressure from the wider pet community can make them have a rethink about selling pets.

Rodents are getting a raw deal on Gumtree too, many being sold as snake feeders, way before the correct age for sale. Live feeding should also be illegal, and so should breeding and selling so called 'live food'.

I have seen people selling pedigree cats on Gumtree for over £600, they don't see those cats as animals, they see them as £600, and they want that £600 NOW, they don't want to wait.

@Taylorbaby, I know, but most places say 8 weeks, but I agree, 12 weeks is the ideal age.

I really want to pull Gumtree out by the roots! :'(

dont know who buys these kittens at £600 as you can get a fully health tested vac'd reg pedigree for £300-450

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I suspect some of it is scams, people who ask you to send 'a bit of money' to cover something, and then some more, then some more....

Gumtree doesn't care though, so long as they were paid for the ad

I think gumtree is free, prob get money through advertising? its a awful place most of the ads are scams on there!

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It makes me sad when people post pets on Gumtree because they say stuff like
"Buy this pet before it's put down" I just want to cry. :'(

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You can pay a fee for an 'urgent' or 'featured' ad, which a lot of people do for pets.

Preloved is another one :-( Some genuine ads there but also there are the usual 6 week old ones plus ones like the "Rare all ginger female kitten" (moggy) for £150

:-(

Carol