Complaint Review: TopCattery Persians - La Crecenta California

Topcattery Persians

Linda Pisani

2830 Highridge Road

La Crecenta, Ca 91214

818)541-9100

Any visitor who has knowledge of any other buyer's/consumer who has been ripped off by this particular cat seller, please refer them to this site for some assistance.

Official Complaint Filed 1/28/05

Subject: File Official Complaint

From FULL Name: Brian S. Bruns

Complaint against?: Cat Breeder

Name of breeder?: Linda Pisani

Breeders Cattery Name: TopCattery

Their Location: La Crecenta, Ca 91214 (818)541-9100

Their Website?: www.geocities.com/topcattery

Permission to file with other agencies?: Yes

Sick kitty?: No

What would Satisfy Complaint?: Full Refund of purchase price & return kitty

FACTS:

"Purchased cat as healthy eating well mannered cat. We were told that he was a good eater and that he would eat a variety of wet foods with no special restrictions. We have had him for 6 days and he has not eaten. Contact was made with breeder. During conversation she disclosed that he would only eat a special mixture that she makes, only eat off of a "flat" plate, needs a companion cat constantly and that she under no circumstance would refund our money.

None of the above was disclosed at time of purchase. She even gave us a sheet of paper listing multiple canned wet foods that he would eat. She did include the mixture that she uses but said multiple times that he did not have to eat only that mixture, he would eat other canned wet foods also. Only limitation disclosed at time of purchase was that he most likely would not eat "dry" food. Breeder was yelling, cussing and insulting during our conversation.

Breeder was told before purchase that this cat would be in a house with only one owner that worked full time, zero other pets and that specific mixture was not very practical in our situation. Not only did she not disclose his need for constant companionship but she assured us that he would eat other "wet" food with no special plate shape restrictions. She now claims that she has never had a cat that ate "canned wet" food. Ultimately we want to keep the cat but don't want to risk his health. In the interest of the cat we would like to take him back to her where he feels comfortable but she is unwilling to help us out."

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Linda Pisani response verbatim

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"A clean, healthy six month old show quality red Persian kitten was sold to Brian Bruns and his wife so that they could give the kitten to her mother. This kitten was and is in perfect health, great weight, clean with no health issues. He is sweet natured and lovable and was sold at a greatly reduced price because of his age and that he tipped his tongue ever so slightly which would prevent him from being sold as a show cat.

The folks were here on Sunday, January 25, 2005, to purchase the kitten and I had them sign and execute a Sales/Health Agreement which states that all sales are final, NO RETURNS, REFUNDS, OR EXCHANGES except as outlined by the terms of the agreement which states unless the cat/kitten has a life threatening disease or congenital defect that is life threatening the kitten is non returnable....they signed the agreement. There is a paragraph which includes "Seller has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for buyer's allergies to cats, affect or injury in relation to kitten's behavior, disapproval of landlord, lack of proper nutrition or care by buyer, etc.

I suggest they reread the contract...it is there to protect both parties.

Now to address their allegations: I gave the family a copy of the diet that he was used to for all of his six months of age. They were perfectly fine with my instructions and said that it would be "no problem." I did state that he did not particularly like dry kibble and they also agreed that it would be no problem.

I also told Brian and wife that I am here to answer any questions that may arise about the care and feeding of the kitten and just please call. I didn't hear anything from them until yesterday, Thursday, January 27, just 4 days after purchase of kitten, and that was the first that I knew that he was not eating what they were offering him. I had tried to phone the mother on several occasions to check up on the cat and left messages which were unanswered.

Brian's wife got very abusive with me and told me that I was "conniving" and I took that personally and disagreed with her. I have been breeding beautiful Persians for 25 years and do not take it lightly when a stranger attacks my reputation.

Most of Brian's complaint is twisted and untrue and they took what I said and made look like I am at fault. His complaint states that he wants full refund but at the bottom of his statements is, "he wants to keep the cat"....which is it Brian?

The mother called this morning and we had a nice conversation and I tried to help the situation. I told her that flat faced Persians prefer to eat on a flat dish rather than a bowl that she was using. I don't know how that translates into something ugly as Brian has stated.

I also told the mother that the kitten may be a bit lonesome and is having a harder time adjusting to his new surroundings because he was used to being with another kitten his same age. I fail to understand how my statement to the mother can now be reversed to say that the kitten has to be with another constant feline companion when I never said that at all. Many older kittens or adult cats will temporarily refuse food after being moved into a new environment and that is not out of the ordinary.

In speaking with the mother this morning, I did agree to work with her over the next few days and that we would stay in touch and that rather than let the kitten die from non-eating that I would take him back. She didn't want the money back, she just wants to make sure that the kitten will not starve and I feel the same way and told her that. However, I will NOT refund the $400.

I was prepared to find the family another kitten (I do not have kittens to sell or replace at this time if I felt I am at fault here, which I am not). Now that Brian has chosen to slander my name with your questionable website....I will not be offering them another kitten. I won't be bullied or pushed around. Your threats will also fall on deaf ears. I expect that you will also publish my full rebuttal to Brian's and your allegations."

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Brian's 2nd response to Topcattery

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"A rebuttal to the rebuttal. From the top:

Regarding the reason his price was reduced. She wrote a note at the bottom of the aggreement that he is reduced for the tipping tongue and his shaved belly, not his age.

This doesn't factor in the eating issue but I want all the facts straight. We have proof if you need it. He is not 6 months old he is 8 months old. We were told via email that he was only 4 to 5 months old. Regarding the return policy, I would consider this a LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. The lack of proper nutriton/ care of buyer, is irrelevent becaues he wouldn't even eat her food that was sent with us. Explain our reponsibility on that one. We are attempting to feed him many different things including a mixture that Linda asked us to try(in conversation this morning) He still won't eat it.

Yes she gave us a copy of the mixture she uses. She failed to mention that at the bottom it has a list of other "canned food" that she said was a good alternative to her mixture. I asked and clarified at least twice to verify his diet. We were perfectly fine with the instructions because we were told he would eat other "canned food." She keeps bringing up the dry food issue. Again totally irrelevent. We stated that in the complaint. We waited four days to call because we were advised by our vet that a fews days is not out of the ordinary for a cat that has been moved.

She never called my mother-in-law. No messages, no missed calls, no caller ID. My wife got very upset, after being told that by Linda that she didn't care nor had any compassion for our family and the loss of our family member 3 weeks ago. I would think that a breeder of 25 years would take pride in happy customers and guarantee her cats without deceiving buyers. I did state that we do not want to get rid of the cat. He is our pet, we love him. However we will return him back because of the feeding issue. Is returning him our preference or the best case scenario, "NO". What choice do we have? Dead cat or return him. My questions for Linda are, if he is used to a companion, why didn't you say something when we told you, on a few occasions, he would be alone, or when I (Brian) first called to tell you we were having a problem.

All that was said to me is "that is ridiculous, I will not give your money back." No suggestions, no help(as you had offered to do when we picked him up). Just a cold brush off like it is no longer your responsibility.

Cats refuse food, yes. For a 6 day time period there is a problem. My mother in law wants her money back. But she is more concerned with the cats health. She walked in to find her son dead 3 weeks ago. The last thing she needs to find is her cat dead also. She is putting the cat ahead of herself.

I find it funny that she is trying to look like such a humanatarian and saying that she was "CONSIDERING" finding us another cat. Well it could have changed things if she would have offered that to us. We wouldn't be asking for our $400 and another cat. She is trying to make herself look good. It seems to me there is a problem with her communication.

She failed to tell us all the "restrictions" of this cat, she failed to call my mother-in-law, she didn't offer any help when I informed her of the problem, she made statements in phone conversations that DID NOT agree with her prior statements, she is blaming us when we are trying to feed him the same food that she did, and she NEVER offered to find us another cat.

At this point I wouldn't trust her to find us another cat. Regarding the slander issue. I did not file this complaint to ruin a reputation, I filed this complaint to have a independant party hear our case and suggest a resolution. I don't want her turn around and deceive someone else.The resolution is what we have asked for all along. I want what ever done so that other potential buyers know what they are getting into.

Thank you............I just sent a rebuttal to her rebuttal. Please do whatever you can. This lady is out of control and is trying to manipulate my mother-in-law(a depressed, disabled woman) into returning him for free. She did not offere to address this issue for the next few days. She said she would take him back for no money tomorrow only.

Brian

Riverside, California
U.S.A.