Colin-Domestic shorthair

Age

All kittens must be at the minimum of 8 weeks of age before they leave their mothers and onto their new home. During the first 8 weeks of their lives, they receive all of their nutritional needs through their mother's milk. The first 8 weeks also allows for the kittens to be socialised properly and their personalities really start to take shape. 

If you suspect that this advertiser is letting the kittens go before they reach the age of 8 weeks, then you must report them to us.

Microchipping Advice

Cats have an inquisitive nature and this is one of the main reasons why cats go missing. With this, it's advised to get your cat microchipped.

Cat microchipping is very similar to dogs. The chip is implanted under the cat's skin during the surgical procedure and the owner's details are registered on a national database, so the cat can be traced should it become lost.

Your cat will spring back to themselves shortly after surgery and it's within their benefit to microchip them, so they can easily be located should the go missing.

Microchipping isn't mandatory by law like it is for dogs. It is still advisable to microchip your cat and that the registered breeders or owners details are kept up-to-date.

Make sure the breeder can verify that the kitten/cat has been microchipped, this can be done by providing all of the relevant paperwork. You must also contact the microchip company to update your details as the registered keeper within the first 21 days of ownership.

Vaccination Advice

Vaccinating your kitten will protect them from life-threatening diseases. As part of being a responsible owner and or breeder, you must ensure that your kitten is vaccinated correctly from an early age and then receives all the necessary vaccinations throughout their cat life.

Kittens should receive two of their vaccinations, the first vaccination will be around eight weeks old, and then the second vaccination will be two weeks later. It's important that the kitten doesn't go outside until seven days after their second injection. Cats occasionally require their booster vaccinations and this will need to be discussed with your vet. It's important that cats vaccinations are kept up-to-date, as always this is part of being a responsible owner.

If the breeder has not vaccinated their kittens/cat then this will be your responsibility to get this done straight away. If the kitten/cat has been vaccinated it is important that you receive their paperwork and verify that everything is correct. This can be done by ringing the veterinary practice that administered the vaccinations and checking that everything is correct on the paperwork.

Neutering Advice

As part of being a responsible cat owner, it is advisable to get your kitten neutered from a young age. Neutering your kitten is there to protect them during their kitten and adult lives. Female cats will start to attract unwanted attraction; so, to prevent them from falling pregnant you should get them spayed fro the age of four months. Male kittens will also need o be snipped to prevent them from fighting and contracting FIV which is similar to HIV in human beings. FIV can be contracted through a bite but can't be passed on to humans.

The small surgical procedure is performed by a veterinary surgeon and there is very little recovery time.

Cat Registration Advice

If this advert stipulates that the kitten or cat has been registered, this means that they've been registered with the GCCF, TICA or FIFE.

Registration to the above governing bodies allows the breeder and owner access to a wealth of information and advice on caring for your beloved cat. Covering everything from caring advice, cats welfare and much more. It also provides access to show your cat and attend events throughout the UK. 

The cat or kitten will have a pedigree certificate which records all of their details and the cat's ancestors/lineage. You will need to a request a copy of the pedigree certificate before buying the kitten or cat and confirm that the pet is registered with an official body.