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/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/seller before you proceed with any payment.
Is the cat a legal breed in the USA?
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?
A reputable breeder should be able to show the mother of the kittens 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/seller have the chip number for you to check?
A microchip is important to make sure the cat/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.
Is the kitten older than 8 weeks?
It is illegal to re-home a kitten below this age.
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 questions you have, if they bought it from someone else you must inquire about why are they selling it to ensure it is compliant with the laws and regulations.
Is the breeder/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. And if you are concerned about the animals' welfare, please report the matter to our team so we can investigate and take the necessary actions.