I wish I had done research about this lunatic before handing over any money for Bengal kittens. I contacted Linda Johnson this past January, 2011, after deciding to get my daughter a Bengal cat since we live in a co-op and are not allowed to have a dog. Initially she was extremely nice, and was fast to talk contracts & for me to send a deposit on two litters that were due in March. I wanted a male, which was agreed. Come the first litter mid-March, she says there was only a single male available and it was going to someone before me but that she had females to select from. I said I was interested in a beautiful kitten she named "Sue", but then recalled how back in January she said all the females "were spoken for". When I asked this, I got some kind of round-about answer. The bottom line is that I wanted this beautiful female that had an amazing rosetted pattern created by her Blackbeard and Cheetaro. My daughter was ecstatic! We agreed to drive down to visit the cat and Linda in April near to my daughter's 12th birthday. Linda then, shortly after promising me the female, advises me of another litter born via her sire Blackbeard and dam Splash, however there was only a single male (according to Linda, who at the time I had faith in and knew nothing of her deceptive ways) which she named Pete. He was a gorgeous male, who she said wouldnt be available for less than $1, 500. I said I'd consider but I really didn't want to spend more than perhaps $1, 800 for cats as I'mot planning on breeding or showing...these are just beautiful little leopards for my daughter to love in lieu of not being able to have a dog. After advising Linda of my spending limit, she emails me just 2 days later and OOFERS ME BOTH THE FEMALE SUE AND THE MALE PETE FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $1, 900. Never did I think she would do such a thing, and I truly thought she was being kind and putting the money aspect out of it. Linda clearly stated to me that "if I keep another cat my husband will put ME out." SO, by default, I figured I was getting an INCREDIBLE deal and felt indebted to Linda for her kindness. THEN THE TROUBLE BEGINS... Every so often I'd get an email that my female is a bit "spooked" or "gun-shy" and that she was "concerned about this". Then Linda sne tme an email stating that she feels the little male is worth more and is considering raising the price on him. I immediately responded to her emails reminding her that the agreed price was $1, 900 for BOTH the male and female kittens as per the prior agreement. Linda would then state "oh Jerry, don't be silly. I was just blowing air up your skirt. It's so easy to get a rise out of you". At this point I started to have doubts at her mental capacity, but because I was smitten with this pair of cats and invested in my daughter's happiness, I overlooked it. So we drive from NYC down to Beaufort, NC for a 4 day weekend primarily to visit Linda and our kittens. I handed Linda an additional $500 cash, which makes a total of $800 adding in the original $300 deposit sent via PayPal back in late January/early February for the female. Another contract was drawn up for the male & all seemed like it was going to go smoothly. Linda watched on as I presented BOTH cats to my daughter who was just exhilarated. I really felt like this was all going to be a wonderful, wholesome experience despite the little long-distance head games Linda played via email. We drove home back to NYC and have been in great anticipation for the July 4th weekend which is when Linda and I agreed for me to drive back down again to pick up the kittens, complete our business transaction, and bring them home.

SO, a little time passes and it is now about 2 weeks prior to this past Memorial Day weekend. I received an email from Linda telling me "how big my male was getting" and that I should "come on down and pick them up already". I advised that I couldnt due to pre-arranged plans, but that we were supposed to get together 4th of July weekend. I asked her if this would still be alright, and she stated "no problem". Memorial Day weekend comes and on that Sunday evening I look at her website and I see my male pictured there. I called Linda's home that evening to inquire if, in fact, that was my male, leaving a message. The next Morning I awoke to an email from her indicating that it was indeed my male kitten, and further stating that "we have a little problem". Linda went on to state how she will no longer release the male to me after just realizing how much more valuable he is. NOW WE HAVE BEEN IN AGREEMENT SINCE MARCH and just signed a contract with full $300 deposit for this male PLUS an additional $200 JUST TO BE NICE on our part. NO MATTER how much I tried to reason with Linda, she would not listen and could have cared less about my daughter and our spending time and an additional thousand dollars to take the trip out to see her and the kittens. It was just one pathetic rationalization after another, to the point where she said in an email "you've forced me to pull rank on you Jerry - refer to your contract stating that I can withhold any kitten and return any deposit at my discretion". I pleaded, I begged, and I finally got angry. At this point, after MANY heated emails back and forth, I turned to the Better Business Burea branch in Raleigh, NC and filed a complaint. Days passed and the emails began again, indicating that I was NOT getting that male no matter what. I reminded Linda that she OFFERED me that male kitten because her husband stated she "couldn't have another cat". Moreover, I reminded Linda that JUST TWO WEEKS PRIOR she emailed me urging me to come and get both of these kittens!!! But no matter what I said, it just didnt register. I advised Linda that I would be deferring the matter to my attorney. After 2 days of silence, Linda sends me an email asking "So does this mean you don't want the female then?"...my response was simply "I am not saying anything at this time". A few days pass until just this past weekend (June 10th/11th) when I looked on her site...I couldnt believe my eyes...NOT ONLY DOES SHE HAVE MY MALE'S PHOTO STILL ON HER WEBSITE, SHE WAS NOW OFFERING MY FEMALE SHOWING TWO PROFILE PICTURES OF HER FROM EACH SIDE!!! Above the pictures Linda wrote "Just made available!!! Beautiful rosetted female..." etc etc etc. At that point I was FURIOUS, and called her home at 2am and leaving a message on her home answering machine and a follow-up email. I wasn't able to sleep until 5am out of sheer anger, and when I awoke a couple of hours later, I get a reply email stating "well since I hadn't heard from you Jerry I assumed you were still angry and didn't want the female anymore. So I put her back up on my site." Linda continued to state how "turning her in" to the BBB was the "last straw" for her and stated she would REFUND MY $800 in full & suggested I work with another breeder instead. Soon after my daughter awoke to learn she was getting NO KITTENS at all. She was so upset, and reminded me that they were her birthday present. Against my better judgment, I emailed Linda and stated that I "may still want the female if it is still being offered to me". The sheer guilt made me bend in a direction I DID NOT want to go in. Several hours later that same day, I emailed Linda back after promising my daughter that we would find another breeder and I would endeavor to replace the kittens promised as her birthday present. I told Linda that I agreed with her recommendation, and that the money should be refunded after all she has put me through, and the we should go our separate ways. During the remainder of that day, I stumbled upon several breeders on the east coast that had what I was looking for. What I learned that afternoon was that Linda was using my contracted male kitten as a means to get another Bengal in trade for him from one of the breeders I contacted. Suffice it to say, I told my story to several breeders that day and each one was SHOCKED.

Yesterday morning (June 13th) I awoke to an email from Linda stating "Jerry, since you have expressed interest in the female again and have backed out, the $300 deposit is now non-refundable but will send you back the $500 for the male". AGAIN I WAS FURIOUS, and called her only to leave a message declaring outright WAR. Within 5 minutes she calls me back telling me that she will refund my $800 but could only give me $500 right now and the remaining 300 she would give to me by the end of the month. I demanded the full amount, but accepted the $500 which she PayPal'ed me yesterday. However, in response to her PayPal message which stated "I only received $295 originally for your deposit on the female THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY FROM ME ANY LONGER". Again, another manipulation of words...as well as noticing that my female is no longer displayed anywhere on her site. A classic case of a plot to cover her own ass, and I immediately sent her an email just this evening reminding her that I expect that $300 deposit balance in my hands in short order or else. SO what do I get back in return just a little while ago? An email stating "I will no longer take your abuse. You are banned".

So, will I get my $300 as promised? For her sake I certainly hope so. I, too, am a breeder of exotics (reptiles) and have been for the past 19 years. I know many, MANY people around the world that are NOT just into exotic reptiles. I can and WILL utilize my extensive amount of connections in the animal/pet industry, in addition to MANY other tactics up to and including litigation, to get every single penny back that I have spent dealing with this nutjob. I also just did some more research before writing this complaint that Linda Johnson also has the following listing on the internet:
http://catteryrow.com/?p=2775
This lists her in a completely different state!!! Unfrigginbelievable.

Linda, remit my $300 or so help me God I will be the last thing you see in your mind when He decides it's your time. Both you and your husband will be remembering my name for the rest of your lives if you try to screw me, and I will NOT STOP being a sore pimple on your redneck ass until you do. PAY ME MY $300, LINDA JOHNSON of CAZPURR BENGALS. I HAVE EVERY SINGLE EMAIL EXCHANGE WE EVER MADE, AND I HAVE WITNESSES TO YOUR LIES AND DECEPTION. EVERY SINGLE ORGANIZATION, EVERY SINGLE INTERNET AREA YOU USE, EVERY SINGLE PET MAGAZINE ON STORE SHELVES, EVERY DAMN BREEDER IN THIS COUNTRY AND ABROAD I WILL CONTACT -- I PROMISE YOU IF YOU DO NOT RETURN MY MONEY AS YOU HAD PROMISED BOTH IN WRITING AND IN VERBAL CONTRACT.

PAY ME MY $300, LINDA JOHNSON.