BUYING FROM A REGISTERED BREEDER

The Gold Coast Cat Club Inc requires its breeders to comply with the Club’s Code of Ethics and that of their registering cat council,  and to supply you with a strong and healthy kitten.

We strongly recommend that when purchasing a kitten, any transactions with breeders are undertaken with the due diligence you would with any other business transaction.

• After making contact with a breeder/s ask which Cat registering body they are registered with as it is preferable to deal with only registered breeders.
• Ask the breeder from whom you intend purchasing a kitten if it is possible to send a photo of the kitten by email, if the breeder is located some distance from you.
• When you visit the breeder to view kittens, you should be aware of the standard of cleanliness of the litter boxes and the general health and well-being of the kittens.
• Healthy kittens will be bright-eyed, coats will be clean and free of fleas and flea dirt. Longhaired kittens should not have knots in their coats and shorthair kittens’ coats should generally be laying flat, except in some breeds where they have a much denser coat.
• Ears should be clean, and kittens should not be shaking their heads or rubbing at their ears.
• Kittens should be well-socialised; they should not dislike being handled by human beings as long as this is done gently. Always ask the breeder if you may handle the kittens.

ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS

• What date were they born?
• How old are they now?
• At what age may they go to their new home?
• When do they have their first vaccination?
• Depending on the age of the kitten: what are they eating now, and what diet will they be on when they go to their new home?
• Does the breeder provide a diet and care sheet? This should give you details as to what and when to feed your kitten, including brands of dry and tinned food, or raw meats.
• What type and brand of litter and litter trays are the kittens are used to using? Ask if the kittens are/will be litter-trained.
• The breeder should also provide you with detailed information on grooming your kitten's coat (especially if it is a longhaired or semi-longhaired breed).
• Will the kitten have had its second vaccination before it leaves the breeder?
• Is the kitten microchipped? This is compulsory in both Queensland and New South Wales.
• Will the kitten be desexed before leaving? Any breeder who is located in the Gold Coast City Council area is required to desex all kittens prior to it going to a new home as of 2010, unless a veterinarian certificate is issued that a particular kitten cannot be safely desexed due to health issues. If a kitten is not  desexed prior to sale, the breeder will  require you to sign a declaration stating that the kitten will be desexed by six months of age. The stitches should be removed before leaving if the kitten is a female.
• The Gold Coast Cat Club supports and promotes the early desexing of kittens.
• What is the total amount payable for the kitten?
• Deposit amount? This will usually be a minimum of 20 – 25% of the price. You should request a receipt which shows the amount paid, the details of the kitten, and the balance owing.
• Does the kitten come with a pedigree? This shows:
  • Sire and Dam (parents of the kitten)
  • Breed
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Colour.
• What other information will the breeder give you when you pick up the kitten? This should include details of vaccinations and microchip details and if the kitten is desexed, a Certificate of Desexing signed by a Veterinarian.
• If a kitten is not desexed when it leaves the breeder's home, the breeder may not transfer the registration and pedigree of the kitten into your name until the kitten is desexed and you provide a copy of the Certificate of Desexing.

WAYS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE CAT OWNER

Confine your cat indoors or in a safe enclosed outdoor area

• Desex your pet at an early age from 3-5 months of age, so that the natural instinct to wander does not overcome it, and it will be content to stay in the confines of your yard and home.
• A desexed cat will not go looking for a fight, it will not yowl at night, and it will not spray and cause unpleasantness and sleepless nights for your family and the neighbours.
• Cats should ideally be confined to the house or to a safe enclosed area attached to the house, so that they do not wander and get into fights with other cats, or are hit by cars, or hunt.
• If you must let your cat out, feed it after you have brought it inside preferably by dusk for the night – it may wander once it has a full belly.