Complaint Review: Helderberg Exotic Cats

 Despite reading both positive and negative reports regarding the integrity of Helderberg Exotic Cats, I purchased a bengal kitten from this cattery. The cattery facility IS nice and is quite impressive, and the cats...oh my gosh there is no denying they are beautiful animals. However...they ARE very, very sick. The kitten I purchased had crusty, goopy eyes and a crusty, snotty nose...as did every other kitten at the facility. I figured ok....upper respitory infection, easily treated, no biggie. I took my kitten to the vet the following day. The vet suspected a URI as well and placed her on Clavamox. She also had fleas and earmites. I will note that she was free of any internal parasites, including giardia.

The Claxamox cleared up the URI, prescription eardrops cleared the earmites, and Revolution killed the fleas....but other much more serious issues came to light. My kitten has cataracts in BOTH eyes, a heart murmur, and has recently been diagnosed with feline coronavirus. This can very easily lead to a FATAL disease known as FIP. Coronavirus is lifelong and cannot be treated. It could mutate into FIP and KILL my kitten at any time. My kitten will also need evaluation by a specialist for her cataracts and heart murmur. Both are GENETIC issues. The cataracts could worsen and render my kitten blind. The heart murmur could also worsen and become fatal. I contacted the breeder and advised him of these issues.

His response was short... simply that he has never before had these issues in his cats and would discuss these findings with HIS vet. I have never heard back despite further attempts at contact. I also never recieved my written health guarantee or contract despite the promise of such paperwork. The breeder has also with held my TICA registration paperwork until I furnish proof that my kitten has been spayed. Ok, thats fine... I know this is common with many breeders. That being said, I already have a sneaking suspicion that even when I furnish proof of spay that I will never lay eyes on her papers. Again...VERY dishonest. I LOVE my kitten so so much. I would never send her back to that cattery for a refund, despite having paid 4 figures for her.

However, Im heartbroken knowing that she could literally die at any time or go completely blind. This is caused by POOR breeding management and animal husbandry. When it comes to coronavirus, if one cat has it, they ALL have it. This means EVERY SINGLE CAT on that property is very very ill. Selling sick kittens is SO wrong on SO many levels. Its selfish to allow a new owner to become attached to their new furbaby, then that baby suddenly dies from a cattery bred illness. There is NO way these breeders are unaware they have an infected cattery. So...to summarize: VERY sick kittens, underlying genetic issues, failure to furnish promised written health contract, with held TICA papers and lack of contact. Please buy a kitten somewhere else!!!