LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Henderson Animal Protection Services confirmed it has been investigating “Sin City Sphynx” and breeder Shanti Cloonan after 21 Sphynx cats were confiscated over animal welfare concerns.
Officials said many of the cats suffered from illnesses and abnormalities tied to breeding practices.
Buyer describes kitten’s death
A local buyer said she purchased a kitten from the breeder for $1,000 and noticed an issue with the kitten’s eye almost immediately.
“And the breeder reassured us, like, it’s just allergies,” said Ashley Collins.
The buyer said the kitten’s health rapidly deteriorated.
“In the morning we got up. And we watched her go over to her little box and she just fell,” Collins said.
The family took the kitten to an emergency veterinarian.
They said that she almost didn’t make it,” said Collins.
The family was instructed to feed the kitten every two hours and sent home. The kitten did not survive.
“Yeah, it was absolutely, like, so devastating. And a complete panic because I feel like you can’t process it,” said Collins.
The family later learned the kitten was suffering from mycoplasma, which attacks red blood cells, and calicivirus, a contagious viral infection in cats.
“I think there was this part of me that just truly couldn’t believe it, being an animal lover, that anyone would knowingly or willingly not try to treat or just let people know about this, because some of it could be treatable,” said Collins.
Breeder response
The buyer said when she contacted the breeder for answers, she felt blamed at times.
“Yeah, there’s definitely some moments that I was told this is my fault,” Collins said.
The buyer said the breeder refused a refund. Instead, the breeder sold the family the deceased kitten’s mother for $1,250 more, saying she was healthy, and gave them a sibling kitten from the same litter for free.
Collins said both cats came back positive for the same respiratory illnesses, and the new kitten had additional complications.
“Both of them have come back positive for the same respiratory, and my little baby even has more,” the buyer said. “Yeah, he has extra illnesses. He also came to us with an inflamed eye.”
Collins said the mother cat, named Doja, needs about $2,000 worth of dental work.
“The older cat, that was the mom, her name is Doja, she needs about $2,000 worth of dental work,” Collins said. “She has infections in her mouth.”
Collins said the family has spent more than $4,000 in vet bills so far.
“You know, when I got these two other cats and we just said, we’re just going to treat them,” Collins said.
FOX5 reached out to the breeder of Sin City Sphynx. The breeder declined to formally comment on the case at this time.
The city of Henderson said custody of the 21 confiscated cats has been officially awarded to Henderson Animal Control, where they remain in quarantine.
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