You’ve probably heard of puppy mills. These are places where dogs are kept in filthy, crowded cages. Adults are bred continually, and their puppies are sold solely for profit. Unfortunately, kitten mills also exist.
Puppy mills are raided and in the news more often than kitten mills. This is because kitten mills are harder to find. Cats are quieter than dogs and can be kept in a small space, like a room. But, like puppy mills, kitten mills are horrible places, and their owners are guilty of animal cruelty.
Kittens from mills are sold to pet stores and through online marketplaces for thousands of dollars. Persians, Himalayans, Ragdolls, Scottish Folds, Bengals, and Maine Coons are commonly exploited breeds.
Mother Cats
Mother cats in kitten mills live short, miserable lives. They’re often kept in cages in crowded facilities. They’re not given opportunities to exercise. They may live in their waste and have little access to light. Not surprisingly, they’re usually sick.
Kitten mill operators begin breeding females when they’re just four months old. After this, they’re given only a short break between litters. When females can no longer reproduce, usually when they’re about six years old, they’re sold, killed, or abandoned.
Petland Pet Stores
Petland is the only national pet store chain that still sells kittens and puppies. Many pet stores today sell only supplies. Others have animals available for adoption from animal shelters and rescue groups. To adopt an animal, you need to submit an application. The shelter or rescue group may check references and call your veterinarian. You can’t take home an animal until your application is approved. Petland has been investigated by officials from animal welfare organizations. These officials believe the kittens and puppies Petland sells come from mills.
Kittens
The kittens in these mass breeding facilities may also be sick. They often have upper respiratory infections and diarrhea. Because their parents aren’t vaccinated, they may have inherited a serious illness, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FPV), or feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
Kittens from mills usually have parasites, such as fleas, tapeworms, and ear mites. Cats at mills are inbred, so it isn’t uncommon for a kitten to be born with a deformity or a heart condition.
Mill owners keep kittens in cages and don’t bother to socialize them. Unsocialized kittens hide from people. They hiss and growl when approached and bite and scratch when handled. This is why many of these kittens wind up at shelters.
The people who operate mills cut corners to make as much money as possible. They may take kittens away from their mother too soon. They try to sell the kittens quickly before they show signs of illness.
Kittens in mills aren’t examined by a veterinarian. So, kitten mill owners cannot give buyers a legal health certificate.
If buyers do get a health guarantee, it’s usually short and useless. It can’t be used to get a refund if a kitten gets sick or dies. Buyers may spend hundreds or thousands of dollars treating a sick kitten and are never reimbursed.
Kitten Mill Warning Signs
If you’re thinking about purchasing a purebred kitten, be on the lookout for these red flags:
- having multiple breeds available for sale at all times.
- selling kittens to pet stores or through online marketplaces.
- not providing health records.
- not allowing you to visit the facility.
- not screening you to see if you will give the kitten a good home.
Reputable Cat Breeders
Reputable cat breeders take excellent care of their cats and kittens. They have only one or two breeds and a limited number of litters. You might have to put your name on a waiting list to get a kitten.
These breeders genetically test their cats. This helps to ensure that kittens aren’t born with deformities. The kittens they sell are healthy and well-socialized. They are often raised “underfoot,” meaning in the breeder’s home with their family members and pets.
Reputable cat breeders offer health certificates and health guarantees. They will carefully screen you and encourage you to visit their facility.
They may even follow up with you after you’ve purchased a kitten, offering their expertise to help solve problems.
Kitten Mill Cases
Shutting down kitten mills is challenging for several reasons:
- Most are in rural areas, which makes them difficult to find.
- Kitten mill operators are cunning and adaptable. If they cannot sell kittens to pet stores, they’ll find another way to sell them. They may frequently change the name and location of their kitten mill to avoid encounters with authorities.
- Laws to protect animals in mills are often inadequate. For example, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the main federal law in the United States that establishes how animals should be treated. However, it doesn’t apply to breeders who sell directly to the public.
Fortunately, groups such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) are working to stop mills.
Kitten Mill in Chesterfield County, Virginia
In October 2023, the Humane Society of the United States and local animal welfare organizations rescued 110 cats and kittens from a mill in Chesterfield County, Virginia. They cited the operation for failing to provide veterinary care to sick cats and for keeping them in too-small enclosures.
The cats at this mill were seized and taken to shelters and rescue facilities to receive veterinary care. They were eventually available for adoption.
For more information: https://www.humaneworld.org/en/blog/110-cats-and-kittens-recovering-after
Kitten Mill in Monterey, California
In September 2027, after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen, SPCA officials raided a kitten mill in Monterey, California. The owner had been breeding and selling Scottish Folds, a purebred cat breed. The officials rescued 31 cats and two dogs that had been living in feces, urine, and mold.
The officials also discovered three dead kittens that had respiratory infections and starved to death. (A kitten with a respiratory infection is too congested to smell its food and may be too weak to eat.) Most of the rescued Scottish Folds were treated for illnesses and adopted into loving homes. The kitten mill operator was sentenced to thirty days in jail for animal neglect.
For more information: https://www.idausa.org/campaign/community-cats/latest-news/victory-scottish-fold-kitten-mill/
Kitten Mill in Orlando, Florida
In February 2025, the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against Adorable Stars, an Orlando-based kitten mill. Kittens purchased from the mill had fleas and ringworm. Some had upper respiratory infections and feline panleukopenia, an often-fatal disease. The owner was charged with animal cruelty, neglect, and practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
As of early 2026, Adorable Stars is still operational. About 55 kittens and adult cats are housed at the facility. They are Scottish Folds, British Shorthairs, and Maine Coons.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund wants to hold the owner accountable and permanently shut down the facility. It also seeks financial compensation for its plaintiffs.
For more information: https://aldf.org/case/challenging-a-florida-kitten-breeders-cruelty-and-fraud/
How to Stop Kitten Mills
- Kitten mills will close if no one buys their kittens. Avoid purchasing a kitten from a pet store or online. Consider adopting a kitten or cat from a shelter or rescue group instead. Otherwise, carefully research breeders to ensure they’re reputable.
- Support laws that ban pet stores from selling kittens and puppies. As of mid-2025, eight states banned the retail sale of kittens and puppies in pet stores. They were California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Towns and counties within states have also enacted legislation to stop the practice. According to the Humane World Action Fund in 2025, about 500 localities in the United States have banned the sale of puppy mill puppies in pet stores.
- Report suspected kitten mills to your local SPCA or the HSUS. Get a case number so you can follow up on your complaint.
- Educate others by informing them of the horrible animal suffering in kitten and puppy mills.
- Join local advocacy groups and support politicians who prioritize animal welfare.