What Are Kitten Mills?

Luckily, many animal lovers have at least heard of puppy mills by now. Being aware of these bad breeding facilities can remind people to be cautious of where they get a dog from. But terms like kitty mills, kitten mills, and cat mills don’t come up as often. So, are there cat mills? And if so, what are kitten mills and how should people avoid them?

Are There Cat Versions of Puppy Mills?

While not as common as puppy mills, kitten mills exist and they’re a huge problem. Some of them are puppy mills that also sell kittens while others focus solely on kittens. It’s always important to do your research when going to a breeder for any animal, because there are so many people who aren’t treating animals well and only focusing on profit.

What are Kitten Mills?

A kitten mill is defined similarly to a puppy mill: a cat breeding facility that puts profit above the well-being of the cats. These breeders typically operate at a large scale while neglecting the health and/or socialization of the cats. These breeders commonly sell their kittens through pet stores and online retailers to prevent buyers from visiting their facility.

There’s an abundance of cats at shelters and on the streets, but kitten mills are profitable because they usually focus on high-demand breeds that are harder to find at shelters and rescues. This includes breeds like Persians, Himalayans, Siamese, and Sphynx.

How Common are Kitten Mills?

Like puppy mills, there’s no exact number of kitten mills. Humane World for Animals has estimated that there are approximately 10,000 puppy mills, but they haven’t given an estimate for kitty mills. This might make it seem like cat mills are much less common, but that’s not automatically true.

Commercial breeding facilities often stay hidden to avoid repercussions. While licensed mills can be tracked through documentations like CVIs and inspection reports, there’s no easy way to locate the businesses that are trying to keep operations hidden altogether. Since cats are smaller and quieter than most dogs, it’s easier for kitten mills to operate without anyone knowing.

So, no one knows exactly how common kitten mills are, but they’re definitely more common than they should be (because they shouldn’t exist at all).

Signs a Kitten is from a Cat Mill

The signs to look out for in kitten mills apply to most animal breeding facilities. If you’re buying a pet, you’re adding a member to your family. Any breeder who cares about money more than the well-being of their animals should be avoided. Below are some signs to help you spot a cat mill.

Avoids In-Person Visits

A responsible cat breeder should have no problem with you meeting the mom of the kittens and seeing where the cats are bred. They may try to meet you somewhere to sell the kitten to avoid those interactions.

Sells Kittens Through Other Sources

If breeders ship their cats off to pet stores to be sold or sell through websites without any in-person interactions, that’s a red flag. A good breeder should care about where their kittens are going, so they won’t ship them off somewhere to be sold.

Always Has Kittens Available

Most cat breeders will only have a litter or two available per year, and they’ll likely have a waitlist. If they constantly have kittens for sale, then there’s a good chance they’re only in it for the money. It also suggests they have a lot of breeding cats at once rather than a few cats that are treated like family.

Doesn’t Have an Application or Contract

Getting a kitten is a big decision for you, but it’s also a big decision for the breeder. If they truly love their kittens, they’ll want to ensure the person buying the cat is a good fit. They’ll likely ask you lots of questions and have you fill out paperwork along the way. The contract will usually state that they’ll take the kitten back if it doesn’t work out. Breeders who avoid these steps may only care about money.

Pushes to Make a Sale

Another sign that a breeder doesn’t care about their cats is if they’re trying really hard to convince you to buy one. If they insist you buy a kitten today without considering if you’re a good fit, they’re likely in a hurry to make a profit rather than putting the kitten’s best interest first.

Ways to Help End Kitten Mills

I wish we could just snap our fingers and get rid of unethical breeding altogether. But that’s not realistic. I’ve done a lot of volunteer work to help end puppy, kitten, and even rabbit mills, and it’s not as straightforward as many would hope. Below are some ways to make an impact.

Do Not Support Stores Selling Kittens

Stores selling puppies and kittens get them from unethical sources. This is because a good breeder will want to be there for every step of the process, ensuring their kittens go to perfect homes. If the kittens are sold through a pet store, the breeder no longer plays the primary role in deciding where the kittens go. Don’t buy anything from these stores, even products, because that money is supporting kitten mills.

Report Suspected Mills

If you believe a cat breeder isn’t treating their animals right, you can report it to your state agency, Humane World for Animals (formerly HSUS), and/or the USDA. This won’t guarantee that they will be shut down, but it can encourage them to inspect the breeder more closely. Breeding laws are very loose in most states, so many kitten mills operate legally.

Help Pass Ordinances

Since reporting inhumane breeders doesn’t always solve problems, helping with legislation is the next best step. Passing breeding laws is tricky since terms like “kitten mills” and “bad breeders” can’t be easily defined and enforced. However, I’ve had a lot of success with Humane Pet Store Ordinances, which ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. These ordinances are straightforward and cut off sources for kitten mills, so they’re a great place to start.

Spread Awareness

It might not seem like much, but spreading awareness about kitten mills can make a huge impact. Many people don’t know that places like this exist, so they might not think twice when getting a cat from a breeder. Volunteer at education events, post on social media, and talk about the topic with people looking for a cat. You never know when your words might help someone steer clear of a kitten mill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Kitten Mills Illegal?

No, unfortunately, kitten mills aren’t illegal. Some states have passed laws to create stricter breeding laws, but those are often not strict enough to ensure proper care.

Why are There More Puppy Mills Than Kitten Mills?

You hear about puppy mills more than kitten mills because there’s a higher demand for puppies, especially specific breeds. Thus, breeding dogs is typically more profitable than cats.

Where Do Kitten Mills Sell to?

Kitten mills typically sell through pet stores and online sites because that’s an easy way for them to sell kittens without having you meet the mom or see the facility.

What Do Breeders Do with Unsold Kittens?

It depends on the breeder. Most will mark down the kitten prices until they’re sold, but some will dump them at shelters and rescues if they don’t have a use for them anymore.

Puppy Mills Aren’t the Only Bad Breeding Facilities

People talk a lot about puppy mills across the internet, so it’s surprising to me whenever someone hasn’t heard of them. However, kitten mills aren’t discussed nearly as much. While kitten mills likely aren’t as common as puppy mills, they still exist despite their inhumane operations. 

Always be cautious when getting an animal from a breeder. Ask lots of questions to ensure the breeder is knowledgeable and genuinely cares about where the animals are going. If they try to pressure you into a sale or refuse to let you see where the animals are bred, walk away. 

If fewer people support kitten mills, the demand will decrease and they will eventually have to close. Every effort counts, no matter how small it may seem.