When you're looking for the perfect cat or kitten to join your family, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of things you need to think about in order to make sure you are making the best decision for you and your furry friend!
Is your lifestyle suited to owning a cat or kitten?
Every cat breed may require a different lifestyle and approach to care. Depending on your home setup, an indoor or outdoor cat might not be suitable, or your home might not be a safe environment. Do you own another cat or animal? If in doubt or if you have any questions, please contact a local vet or your cat's protection center before adopting a cat or kitten.
Visit your new family member in their own home!
A cat or kitten should always be seen in its own home environment, and a kitten should always be viewed with its mother.
Consider rehoming a rescue center cat first!
Before giving a cat a home, please consider searching local rescue centers to rehome an animal in need; there are thousands available!
We have also prepared the below checklist of a few things you need to ask the breeder or seller about before agreeing to rehome your new furry friend. We hope this checklist makes it easier for you, so please go through each point with the breeder or seller before you proceed with any payment.
Is the cat a legal breed in the U.K.?
If not, then you shouldn't consider rehoming it.Have you visited the cat in its own home, or was the mother of the kitten present? If you couldn't visit in person, could you at least do a video call to see the kitten and its mother?
Lucy's law makes it mandatory for a breeder to show the mother to potential buyers.
Were you able to check the cat's medical records? Are the records up-to-date and from a licensed vet clinic?
It is important to ensure the cat or kitten has been checked by a vet prior to you attempting to make any payment. You should also ensure that the pet is vaccinated and that their vaccinations are up-to-date to make sure they are healthy.This is perhaps the most important point to check for prior to considering making any payment. So please don't skip this!
Has the cat been dewormed and treated for fleas?
Worming and flea treatments are an essential part of preventative health care for any cat or kitten you rehome. Without these treatments, your furry friend may get ill, and treating this once they do could be quite costly and dangerous to their health.
Camlist has offers for this for our buyers at no extra cost. You can check out our special offer for buyers here
Has the cat been microchipped? If yes, does the breeder or seller have the chip number for you to check?
A microchip is important to make sure the cat or kitten hasn't been stolen from another owner and to register your new furry friend under your name. It also helps you cross-check the health records the seller provides to ensure they belong to the cat you are actually buying. Every pet over the age of 8 weeks is required to be microchipped.
Is the kitten older than 8 weeks?
It is illegal to rehome a kitten below this age, as per Lucy's law.
Is the current owner the breeder of the kitten, or did they buy it from someone else?
If they are the breeder, they should be able to show you the mother and answer all your questions. If they bought it from someone else, you must inquire about why they are selling it to ensure it is compliant with the laws and regulations. If they are the breeder, you should ask for the required council license document to ensure that they are licensed breeders.
Is the breeder or seller accepting to receive their payments through Camlist, or are they insisting on PayPal or bank transfers?
Any payment you make on Camlist is protected by our Buyer Protection program. So your money is safe until you receive your new furry friend. If the seller insists on receiving their payment outside the app, this may be a warning sign of something fishy.
If the answer to any of these questions is no, please consider a different breeder or seller.
If you are concerned about the animal's welfare, please report the matter to our team so we can investigate and take the necessary actions. You should also report your concerns directly to the local council, as they have the authority to inspect the premises if there are any welfare concerns and can take further action if required. For serious welfare and/or cruelty issues, please contact the RSPCA immediately.