So kitten smuggling has profit margins of drug dealing?
Seriously? They go for 500EUR or less across the German border... and thats with all the family tree and papers... if you just want the look and not care about the rest... a fraction of that.
I said "up to" that was the price quoted to an acquaintance for a very particular colourway that is rare.
Norwegian Forest Cat kittens that stay with their mam for 14 weeks are between CHF 1200 and 1400. As a friend was the breeder for my older cat, I know that there is not a great deal of profit margin there. She showed me the invoices at the time. That price includes spaying/neutering, by the way. For 500 Euros, you won't even cover all the veterinary stuff, so it is not that easy to compare. Add to that toys, a spare room to keep them, high quality cat food, the risk of a medical issue arising, stud fees, the time invested... if the breeder takes her stuff seriously, it's more of a hobby than a source of income. It was worth it in her case, the cats I got from my friend were the best behaved, most social I've ever met, even as kittens.
Sadly, I lost one to cancer and his remaining sister did not like being alone. I got a kitten based on a decision from the heart and only brief research without getting a second opinion. The little fellow is adorable but he is a proper hooligan who refuses play by the cat rules and gets regular tellings off from the older cat. He destroys stuff, bites, all the things the other two never did. He was 12 weeks when he moved in, the other two spent 16 weeks with their mam. I reckon that extra month made a big difference.
In the end, it is pointless to argue over whether it is foolish to not bargain hunt for a pet. It is worth what someone is prepared to pay. When people asked me about my holiday plans this summer, my answer was "staying home with the new kitten I bought". I don't care if that makes me a fool, it's my choice and it doesn't hurt anyone.