Maine **** cat breeder in JHB sold me a kitten with a severe heart condition

1. Health Issues and Misrepresentation When I purchased the kitten, Kito, I was not made aware of any health issues, despite paying full price for the kitten. During Kito’s first inoculation, my vet informed me that he had a heart murmur. I immediately contacted Ms. Le Roux about this, and she assured me that such conditions could be "outgrown," which I naively accepted at the time as I was not properly informed of the severity of the condition. As time passed, Kito exhibited symptoms such as shivering when lying down. However, in December 2023, Kito sustained a femur fracture, and upon taking him to the vet for x-rays, I was informed that the anaesthesia procedure needed to treat him would be extremely risky due to his heart murmur. The vet described the murmur as severe, and we arranged for a heart scan to be performed by a specialist while Kito was under anaesthesia for his femur x-ray. This scan could not be done immediately, leaving Kito to endure unnecessary pain while waiting for the specialist’s availability. This situation has been traumatic for my family and me, as we are now faced with the uncer*****y of Kito’s future health. We are left with both emotional and financial burdens from ongoing medical treatment for a condition that was never disclosed to us. When I raised this issue with Ms. Le Roux, she claimed she was unaware of Kito’s heart murmur. This is untrue, as we had discussed it previously, and such a condition would have been detected by her vet during Kito’s vaccinations and neutering procedure prior to my receiving him. 2. Unfulfilled Promises of Compensation In an attempt to resolve the matter, Ms. Le Roux promised to compensate me by offering a kitten from her upcoming litter. She sent me photos of two female kittens, stating she had not yet decided which one she would keep. I agreed to this offer and discussed it with my children. However, when I followed up, she sent me a photo of a third kitten, which she had previously identified as a male, despite previously stating that only two females were available. When I inquired about this, she informed me that one of the initially available kittens was "no longer available" and became uncooperative when I sought further clarification. 3. Unprofessional Behaviour and Lack of Accountability When I questioned her further, Ms. Le Roux became hostile. She called me and screamed at me over the phone before abruptly hanging up. When I attempted to call her back, she informed me that I would not be receiving any kittens from her. This behavior is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. 4. Concerns About Socialization and Welfare of Kittens Additionally, when I first brought Kito home, he was in a state of shock for at least a week, which raises serious concerns about whether Ms. Le Roux is properly socializing her kittens before placing them with new owners. As a breeder, it is her responsibility to ensure that the kittens she sells are healthy, well-socialized, and free from any hidden defects. I believe an inspection of her breeding practices and environment is warranted to ensure that the necessary standards are being met for the well-being of the cats in her care.