Why we built GoodCattery — our story

Hey everyone. I'm Josh, and I built this site with my girlfriend Avy. Figured I should actually tell the story of why this exists. Last year, right before Christmas, our two Bengals — Sam and Bean — were stolen. They were indoor/outdoor and chipped — we did everything right. A college kid next door took them and brought them to his parents' house in Pennsylvania. We filed reports, talked to the college, talked to the police. Nobody did anything. They were just gone. Our kids were devastated. Avy was devastated. I was furious. We couldn't afford to just go buy another purebred cat. Avy's wanted a Maine Coon for years, but that's a big purchase when you're already hurting financially. So we started looking for more affordable options — rescue Bengals, rehomes, anything. That's when we got scammed. Someone online had "Bengal kittens available" with photos and a sad story. We sent money. The kittens didn't exist. The person disappeared. And there we were — no cats, less money, and feeling like idiots on top of everything else. I'm a web developer. I started GoodCattery because nobody should have to go through what we went through. Every breeder on here is verified against TICA and CFA records. We built a scam database so people can check before they send money. And we're building a community so cat people can look out for each other. That's the real story. No corporate founding myth. Just a family that lost their cats and got burned trying to replace them. If you're here — welcome. Whether you're a breeder, a buyer, or just someone who loves cats, this is your space. — Josh