I first contacted Paradise Cats on 3 July to purchase an $850 Ocicat. The cattery handled both Ocicat & Egyptian Mau breeds at the time I entered into a contract with them. I contacted them via e-mail and terms of purchase & shipping were discussed. I was mailed a pet contract that I signed & returned 8 July along with a $300 non-returnable deposit. I thereafter received the binding contract with Stephanie Strothers signature on the document.
Frequent communication continued via e-mail to let the cattery know of my continued interest in the Ocicat kitten. While waiting for a litter of Ocicat kittens to be delivered, I continued to make payments towards the purchase price of the kitten. I made payments up to the amount of $725. I would have paid off the entire $850 amount, but was told by Stephaie Strother to hold off on the final $125 so she would have sufficient funds to ship the kitten.
On 15 May 05 I received notice from Paradise Cats Cattery they intended to sell their breeding Ocicats! They offered to refund my money or substitute an Egyptian Mau for the Ocicat. I wanted the previously agreed on Ocicat or a refund.
22 May 05, Stephanie Stother's Paradise Cat Cattery notified my that if she was unable to sell her breeding Ocicat's, she'd produce an Ocicat litter for me. I agreed to this arrangement. I remained in contact via e-mail.
On 31 January Paradise Cats Cattery would, "need to refund my money - but not all at once." 21 February I received a check for $300, but that was it. I constantly kept after them via e-mail to refund the remaing $425 dollars, but they constantly whined about, "we've fallen on hard times" & "we can't pay you." Even though the cattery was still producing & selling Egyptian Maus during this period.
After almost a year of periodic e-mails, Paradise Cats Cattery sent a couple of payments using PayPal that totaled $75. Still owing me $350 dollars that I never expect to see come my way.
At this point, I've learned a valuable lesson here. Don't do business with a cattery several states away where their contract only provides protection for the breeder. Their contract is useless holding them accountable or responsible for anything other than being low-life outright thieves.
I've learned a lot dealing with Stephanie Strother & Paradise Cats Cattery. Only deal with a "local" cattery. So if things go south & the breeder turn out to be a crook, (like Stephanie Strother & Paradise Cats Cattery) you can reach out & touch them through small claims court. It cost $350 to learn that. Thanks Stephanie!
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