A Cattery in Illinois: Insights and Considerations for Pet Owners

Candyland Kittyz Introduce

For residents of Illinois seeking to add a new feline member to their family, a cattery, or cat breeder, is often the first place they look. A responsible and reputable cattery is one that prioritizes the health, welfare, and socialization of its kittens, ensuring they are ready for a smooth transition into their new homes. This article provides an overview of Candyland Kittyz, a cattery located in Palos Park, Illinois, based on publicly available information and customer experiences. It is intended to help prospective cat owners learn more about this place and make a fully informed decision about their pet adoption journey.

This information is presented to provide a factual and clear picture of the experiences shared by past customers, which are crucial for any potential buyer to consider. The tone is meant to be informative and professional, focusing on a neutral summary of the facts as they are presented in the reviews. It is a critical part of the pet adoption process to conduct thorough research, ask questions, and be aware of all aspects of a transaction.

Candyland Kittyz is located at 8714 123rd St, Palos Park, IL 60464, USA. Palos Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, situated in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago. This location places it within a reachable distance for many residents in the greater Chicago area and the broader Illinois region. The nature of a cattery’s location is often different from a traditional storefront business, as interactions often involve scheduled meetings or pickup arrangements.

Accessibility to the cattery itself is an important consideration. While there is a physical address provided, the business operates as a cattery, meaning customer visits may be by appointment only, and the specific terms of interaction should be confirmed directly with the business.

The core service offered by Candyland Kittyz is animal breeding, specifically focusing on a type of cat known as a Ragdoll. As a cattery, its main function is to breed and sell cats. Based on the reviews, services and offerings would typically include the sale of kittens.

Services Offered:

Kitten Sales: The business sells kittens to new owners. Prices and terms of sale vary and are subject to the cattery's specific policies.
Breeding of Ragdolls: The cattery specializes in breeding Ragdoll cats, a breed known for its docile and affectionate nature.

Based on customer reviews and public data, several features and aspects of this business have been highlighted, which are important for potential buyers to understand.

Features / Highlights:

Show and Breeder Quality Claims: Reviews indicate the cattery claimed to offer "show and breeder quality" kittens. This is a term used to describe kittens that meet the stringent physical and temperament standards set by associations like The International Cat Association (TICA). However, customer experiences suggest that these claims may not have been accurate, particularly for young kittens whose traits are still developing.
Pricing and Payment: The reviews mention that the price for a kitten was agreed upon in advance, but that the breeder demanded an additional sum of money at the time of pickup. The required method of payment was cash-only, and no sales receipt was provided.
Kitten Condition and Health: Multiple reviews document that kittens from this cattery were sold in poor health. Specific issues mentioned include being underweight and suffering from severe, persistent diarrhea. The reviews claim that a licensed veterinarian confirmed poor health and diagnosed multiple conditions, which contradicts the breeder’s claims of the kitten's health.
Transparency and Communication: Reviews describe a lack of transparency and poor communication from the breeder. This includes a failure to provide promised weekly updates on the kitten's health and growth. After concerns were raised about the kitten’s health, the reviews state the breeder became evasive, rude, and eventually stopped responding.
Paperwork and Legitimacy: According to the reviews, the breeder failed to provide standard documentation such as a health certificate and a full document packet at pickup. The TICA registration slip provided was reportedly for a different year's litter and had to be corrected after persistent requests, with the legitimacy of the new slip also raising concerns.

To learn more about the cattery, you can review its address and phone number, although it is important to note that the public business listing and website mentioned in reviews are no longer active.

Address: 8714 123rd St, Palos Park, IL 60464, USA
Phone: (444) 444-4444

Based on the publicly available information, particularly the detailed customer reviews, what is worth choosing and what requires caution when dealing with Candyland Kittyz? The reviews paint a picture of a business model that, according to multiple customers, involves significant red flags. The most prominent concerns raised by customers are the health of the kittens upon sale, and the overall business practices of the cattery.

The reviews consistently mention kittens arriving in an unsanitary state, with documented health issues like chronic diarrhea and being underweight, requiring extensive and costly veterinary care. One customer's account includes a veterinarian’s confirmation that their kitten's health was poor, weighing only 1.87 pounds at 16 weeks, far below the healthy range for a Ragdoll of that age. This directly contradicts the breeder's purported claims of selling healthy, "show and breeder quality" kittens.

Furthermore, the reviews highlight issues related to the sales process itself, including a last-minute cash-only demand for an additional $400, a lack of a sales receipt, and the failure to provide promised documentation like a health certificate and accurate TICA registration papers. The breeder's response to these issues, as described in the reviews, was reportedly unhelpful, dismissive, and ultimately led to the removal of the business's website and Google business listing, which is a significant red flag for accountability.

For potential buyers in Illinois, the information provided in these reviews serves as a strong cautionary tale. When considering a cattery, it is crucial to do your due diligence. This includes:

Requesting to visit the cattery and meet the kitten's parents to assess the living conditions.
Insisting on a signed contract that outlines a health guarantee and return policy.
Requesting and verifying all health records, including vaccination and deworming history.
Paying with a traceable method and ensuring a receipt is provided.
Verifying breeder registrations with reputable associations like TICA or CFA.

Based on the available information, the consensus from customer experiences is a warning to "buyer beware." The reviews advise anyone considering a purchase from this cattery to do extensive research before making any payment, as the documented experiences suggest a pattern of unprofessionalism, misleading claims, and a lack of concern for animal welfare after the sale is complete.

Candyland Kittyz Photos

Candyland Kittyz Location

Candyland Kittyz

Illinois Cook County Palos Park 123rd Street

8714 123rd St, Palos Park, IL 60464, USA

Candyland Kittyz Reviews

An average rating of ★1 from 2 user reviews.★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

BEWARE. My experience with this cattery was profoundly negative. There were so many issues that it is impossible to list them all here. I will start with this: I was sold a notably ill and underweight kitten by CandylandKittyz. The kitten arrived in unsanitary condition - very dirty with dried-up fecal matter caked into his hair across his tail, legs, & paws. His fur was also strongly stained with matted fur. No reputable breeder would present an animal to new owners in this state. Within 2 hours of pickup, the kitten began having severe diarrhea with repeated soiling incidents in our home. When I raised concerns, the breeder irresponsibly dismissed this as "totally normal adjustment". Infectious diseases, and parasites, have incubation periods; chronic diarrhea does not appear within 2 hours that she was not aware of.A licensed veterinarian confirmed my kitten’s poor health, with multiple diagnosed conditions. Despite weeks of around-the-clock feeding and care/treatment, he weighed only 1.87 pounds at 16 weeks during a vet visit. For reference, a healthy 16-week-old male Ragdoll typically weighs 3.7 - 5.5 lbs!Beyond the health issues, my process with this cattery felt beyond disorganized and misleading. The breeder claimed this kitten was "show and breeder quality" at barely two weeks old, stating the "entire litter exceeds all necessary standards for showing and breeding". It is not possible to ensure show or breeder quality for an entire litter at that age - particularly Ragdolls, a slow-maturing breed whose defining characteristics develop over time. The $3,900 price did not reflect my kitten's falsely inflated quality. The photos we received appeared to be edited or filtered, and did not reflect the kitten's poor condition upon arrival. Also, if the entire litter were truly of equal quality, other kittens from his same litter would not be listed $1,000 less online. Furthermore, the breeder promised “weekly updates” of my kitten upon payment of the deposit. By ‘updates’ you expect meaningful information on his health, growth/weight, temperament, milestones, and care. The weekly updates were not delivered as promised.The price of the kitten was agreed in advance. Cash-only was required, with no sales receipt. Four minutes before our scheduled pick-up time, she demanded I provide her an additional $400. I reluctantly complied, acting in good faith throughout the entire transaction. The breeder required full payment upfront, including the increase. After full payment, the kitten was finally handed over in a closed carrier, and the breeder departed immediately.Paperwork problems were extensive. At pick-up, I received only a single paper with a microchip number handwritten. A document packet was never produced (standard practice). For example, the breeder's own website lists providing a health certificate, yet when asked she says she "does not issue them". In addition, I was later given a TICA registration slip for a 2024 litter, but my kitten was born in 2025. Only after persistent requests did she issue a new slip, and this slip raised concerns about accuracy & legitimacy. Official registration papers must actually match the animal sold; anything less is a major red flag.When I attempted to address my countless concerns, the breeder became increasingly evasive, rude, and unhelpful, then stopped responding to my texts completely (despite promising "life-time support"). After I escalated through email, the breeder's website immediately disappeared. Reputable breeders do not erase their online presence when questioned.There were other reviews describing similar negative experiences with this cattery (sick kitten, diarrhea, misleading photos, etc). Shortly after I left a review, the breeder's Google business listing was removed entirely. My review reflects a verifiable, fully documented experience. Attempts to have negative reviews removed or suppressed only reinforce the deep concerns described here. Under the Consumer Review Fairness Act, honest consumer reviews are legally protected.
August 23 · Ragdoll
Buyer beware. Our previous negative review was removed, posted by both myself and my wife. With that said, we purchased a ragdoll from this breeder and from the day we took her home, she was sick with constant diarrhea and being underweight.Breeder insinuated things that she knew nothing about and made some assumptions that were entirely not true or warranted. The kitten was never under stress and had been given food that the breeder specifically said she recommended. We ended up paying a vet for multiple tests and visits after the diarrhea persisted which the breeder argued was stress from adjusting. This was not stress but a health issue, which she still suffers to this day with sadly. This breeder did offer to pay for a test but only if we removed the negative reviews, which we obviously didn’t do.I would echo the other negative review posted in that it was a very similar experience and would advise anyone purchasing from this breeder to fully do your research before handing over any money. Her actions are striking, removing her website and her google business to hide accountability of bad transactions and customer interactions.
September 02 · Leon Malone