How To Buy A Cat
Use these guidelines to help reduce risk when buying a cat and prepare your home for your new arrival. Bringing home a new Kitty or Cat is both thrilling and, sometimes, overwhelming. Below we offer some tips and ideas to make bringing a new kitty into your home easier and smoother. Additionally, we have included some common questions new cat owners often have. Before bringing home a new cat it is important to get as much information as possible, ask questions and prepare your heart and your home for a new family member.
Do Your Due Diligence When Looking for a Cat
When you transact with a seller, you are working with an independent person or entity separate from GoKitty. GoKitty uses automated tools and user reports to help identify suspicious activity, but these measures do not verify or guarantee users, listings, animals, or transactions. To help protect yourself from fraud or misleading sellers, follow these tips below and by all means, research even more ways to protect yourself. You may want to start with a basic filter during your search: Check the "Member Since" date connected with the seller. A longer membership history may provide additional context, but does not guarantee reliability. If the price is too good to be true, it could be fraudulent. If you are unable to see the cat in person before purchase (e.g.; online purchasing) use a method of payment with buyer protection. Buying a cat in person with the help of a friend is preferred. Reading our tips carefully is very important. Fraudsters typically demand a deposit using payment methods that don't have buyer protection (e.g.; Zelle, Cash App, Venmo's unprotected option, PayPal Friends and Family). Both Venmo and PayPal have an optional payment method with buyer/purchase protection so be sure you pick the proper option to best protect yourself against fraud. These are general suggestions and do not eliminate the risk of fraud.
- Research The Seller: When adopting a new cat it is important to research who you are getting your new cat from. Whether through adoption or through a breeder, it is important to look into them, get references, check out the facilities and conditions in which they keep their cats and help determine whether you are comfortable dealing with the seller. Consider using a written contract that clearly identifies the parties, the cat, the purchase terms, and any applicable health or return provisions. Protect yourself with making payment with buyer protection, require a contract with proper contact details, and if possible ask for information that allows you to confirm their identity and contact details.
- Confirm The Location of The Seller: Sellers designate their location within their account which is not verified. Be cautious - especially with online purchases - of sellers that tell you to make payment to another location or if they say the cat will be shipped from a different location. Some sellers may reside in the United States but will work with overseas sellers/breeders. Make sure the seller you are working with discloses where the cat comes from. Online or international transactions may involve additional risks and warrant additional precautions.
- Get A Health Certificate: Obtain the cat's health certificate and call the vet listed. Some laws require a health certificate at the sale (e.g.; Florida). Some health conditions may not be apparent at the time of purchase, so consider having the cat examined by an independent veterinarian before purchase or promptly afterward. It's very important to have your vet perform a thorough examination within a few days after you receive your new cat. Ideally, have the kitten examined by your vet prior to purchase. Though some sellers may only allow this after the purchase. Ask for available veterinary records and obtain an independent veterinary examination when appropriate. Review the seller's health guarantee carefully, including which conditions are covered, any exclusions, applicable deadlines, required veterinary documentation, and available remedies.
- Get Pet Insurance: Consider pet insurance and take your new cat to a veterinarian promptly after bringing the cat home. Veterinary treatment can be expensive, particularly for serious illnesses.
- Check Applicable Seller Licenses: Ask whether the seller is subject to any federal, state, or local licensing requirements and, if so, request the applicable license information. The USDA website has a search tool: Browse USDA breeder search tools now. Ask the seller to provide reasonable information that allows you to confirm their identity and contact details before sending a deposit. Breeders, catteries and pet dealers may be required to obtain a permit to be prominently displayed and/or shown to potential buyers. Los Angeles, California has detailed requirements regarding breeding and selling. Make sure you obtain the proper license information from the breeder or cattery as required by their local government. You should also find out what your local/state laws require when buying a pet. Please note that we do not require or verify licenses.
- Buy Your Kitten At The Right Age: Make sure the kitten is the appropriate age to be separated from the mother. Confirm that the kitten is old enough to be transferred under applicable state and local law and ask your veterinarian about an appropriate age for separation and placement.
- Understand The Pet Lemon Laws: Research the Pet Purchase Protection Laws in your state and the seller's state before purchasing a cat. Ask the seller how applicable pet purchase laws are addressed in the transaction and contract. If you have concerns about whether the transaction or contract complies with applicable law, consider obtaining additional information before proceeding.
- Talk On The Phone: Speak with the seller directly rather than conducting the entire transaction through messages or email. A phone or video conversation can provide additional information, but does not by itself establish the seller's identity or legitimacy. Treat an unwillingness or inability to speak by phone or video as a potential warning sign and consider whether you are comfortable proceeding.
- Be Cautious With Your Contact Information: Be leery of scam artists. Scammers may use personal information to impersonate financial institutions or other organizations and attempt to obtain passwords, security codes, financial information, or access to your devices.
- Make Your Payment With Buyer Protection: Use a payment method that offers meaningful buyer or purchase protection. Before paying, confirm directly with the payment provider what protections apply to your specific transaction. Be especially cautious if a seller insists on wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards, person-to-person transfers, or a payment option that does not provide purchase protection. Do not use a payment option intended for friends or family when purchasing a cat if that option does not provide purchase protection. Confirm eligibility and coverage directly with the payment provider.
- Evaluate the Breeder and Conditions: Ask to see where the cat has been kept. If a cat appears to not be well cared for, or the conditions seem poor, it is best not to go forward with the purchase or adoption of a cat.
- Ask if the breeder is associated with any breeding organizations or has any affiliations. Depending on their answer, ask why they do or why they do not.
- Confirm the Seller Has Access to the Cat: Ask for additional pictures of the cat with a specific item—for example, ask the seller to write your name on a piece of paper and place it next to the cat. Beware that some scams use stolen pictures of cats even though they do not actually have a cat in their possession to sell. If a seller is unable to provide additional pictures with the specific items requested, it is best not to go forward with the purchase or adoption of a cat from this breeder.
- Don't Worry: Many breeders conduct legitimate transactions online. Doing your due diligence can help reduce the risk of fraud and help you make a more informed decision about the seller and cat.
Common Questions to Ask When Getting a New Cat
- If, for any reason, I am unable to keep the cat, what is your return policy?
- If the seller is a breeder/cattery: How do you protect kittens against contagious disease?
- May I see the cat's health certificate from your vet?
- What is the phone number of your vet?
- Do you have vaccination records from your veterinarian, and what vaccinations or veterinary care are still recommended?
- Are you currently treating your cat(s) for fleas or infections such as ringworm?
- Do you have a contract with a return policy and a health guarantee?
- Can you provide information that allows me to confirm your identity and contact details?
- Is the kitten currently using a litter box?
- Can you describe the lineage of this cat's parents?
- What are common personality traits of this cat?
- What kind of lifestyle and habitat does this kind of cat prefer?
- What are the common health problems associated with this breed of cat?
- What kind of grooming does this cat breed require and how often?
- At what age can a new kitten come home with me?
- Do you have any references from people who have previously adopted cats?
- Are you affiliated with any breeder associations?
- Has the cat been spayed or neutered already?
- What is the average lifespan of this breed of cat?
- What kind of litter box and litter would be best for this cat?
- What kind of toys do you recommend for this breed of cat? (Some cats are more active and playful than others, requiring extra stimulation)
- Should I get a scratching post for my cat?
- Should I get cat health insurance?
Finding a Healthy Kitten
It's best to meet the cat before making the purchase. Ask for vaccination and veterinary records and independently confirm them with the veterinarian identified in the records when possible. Make sure to get proof of this from the breeder and also inspect the coat and skin before purchase. Report concerns if you believe a cat is being improperly cared for. Some visible signs may be worth discussing with a veterinarian, but appearance and behavior alone cannot establish that a cat is healthy. Consider an independent veterinary examination. Things you may want to observe and discuss with a veterinarian include:
- Good muscle tone
- Clean coat and well groomed
- No discharge from the eyes
- No sneezing or runny nose
- The ears are clean and pink inside
- No bald patches or flaky skin
Items to Consider in a Breeder Contract
Contract terms vary by seller and applicable law. Before purchasing, consider whether the written agreement clearly addresses the following items:
- What happens if a veterinarian finds a congenital health problem, including any return or refund options.
- What the health guarantee covers, any exclusions or deadlines, and what vaccination records are provided.
- A description of the kitten you have agreed to purchase and the date of birth.
- The date purchased and price.
- An agreement to neuter/spay the cat or conditional breeding rights (which will likely cost more).
- When registration forms will be sent.
- Registration names and numbers of the parents.
- The breeder's name, address, phone number as well as yours.
- Your signatures and a copy of the contract.
Not all breeders are affiliated with a cat registry, and registration alone does not establish quality or reliability. Ask about the kitten’s health, history, lineage, veterinary care, and living conditions, and independently confirm veterinary information when possible.
How to Prepare Your Home For the Arrival of New Cat
- Discuss the arrival of a new cat with all family members, including children, so that everyone is prepared and on the same page.
- Purchase a litter box and litter so that you can teach your cat to use it right away.
- Purchase some interesting cat toys and possibly a scratching post for your new cat to entertain it and keep it from scratching your furniture.
- Purchase food and water bowls for your new cat.
- Get a collar for your new cat.
- Find a veterinarian to care for the health and well-being of your new cat.
- Take your new cat to your veterinarian within the timeframe required by your contract and as recommended by your veterinarian.
- Consider your lifestyle and begin to make adjustments to your schedule to accommodate your new cat, or make arrangements so that your cat is well cared for.
- Consider pet insurance.
Further Reading
- petcoach.co: Kittens Purchase Contract & Placing Kittens in a New Home
- wikipedia.com: Cat Registry
- dogplay.com: What is a Hobby Breeder
- pets.webmd.com: Vaccination Schedule for Cats
- vet.cornell.edu: What is FIP?