GCCF Code of Ethics
All GCCF registered breeders are required to provide a copy of this document for each of their kittens buyers.
You are welcome to print this page.
You are welcome to print this page.
GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS FOR BREEDERS AND OWNERS
Registered owners of all GCCF registered cats/kittens accept the jurisdiction of The GoverningCouncil of the Cat Fancy and undertake to abide by this general code of ethics.
1. Owners should think carefully and take advice before getting a kitten and choose a breed suited to their lifestyle. They should only keep as many cats
as they can care for adequately.
2. Cats and kittens must be provided with warm and comfortable housing, with plenty of opportunity for exercise and play. Cats should be kept indoors
at night for their own safety. Drinking water must be available at all times and cats must be fed regularly and adequately. Breeders will supply written
details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing cats in a new home.
3. All cats need some grooming to keep the cat in good condition and to check for parasites, e.g. fleas. Longhair cats need daily grooming to prevent
the formation of knots and matted areas of fur which cause them considerable discomfort.
4. Veterinary attention must be sought whenever a cat is showing signs of illness.
5. Cats that are bought as pets, not for breeding, should be neutered or spayed at an age recommend by your veterinary surgeon. If cats are registered
on the Non-Active register, this means that under no circumstances should they be bred from; no progeny from these cats will be registered by the
GCCF.
6. Breeders agree only to sell cats where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life. An offer should be made at a the time of sale to
help with the rehoming if at any time circumstances require the cat to be found a new home.
7. Owners should not sell any cat to commercial cat wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow cats to be given as a prize or donation
in a competition of any kind.
8. Breeders must not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise cats nor mislead any person regarding the health or
quality of the cats and must draw attention of purchase to the implications of the Non-Active register when selling pet kittens.
9. Breeders selling kittens on the Active register should offer advice and support to the new owners. Owners should not breed cats in a way that is
deleterious to the health of the cat or the breed.
10. Owners should consider carefully the best means of identifying their cats in case it should become lost. This can be done by means of a microchip
which can be painlessly inserted under the cat’s skin by your veterinary surgeon and then registering the number of your cat with PetLog registration
scheme run by Kennel Club/RSPCA and also by notifying the GCCF of the cat’s chip number. The alternative is for the cat to wear some form of
identification on a collar. However, there are dangers for cats wearing collars, as they may become hooked up and caught by them or more likely the
collar will break or come off the cat’s head, therefore preventing easy identification.
11. Breeders/owners must ensure that all relevant Governing Council of the Cat Fancy documents are provided to the new owner when
selling or transferring a cat in accordance with Rule 10 (see below), including a copy of this code.
Recommendation
The GCCF strongly recommends that no kitten should be permitted to go to a new home before 13 weeks of age. A least seven days prior to this the kitten should have completed a full course of vaccinations, including a health check, given by a Veterinary Surgeon or by a listed Veterinary nurse given under the direction of a Veterinary Surgeon. The breeder should ensure that the kittens are house trained, inoculated and in good general health.
Mating Certificate:- Section 1 Rule 3d
When a litter is registered, the application to register must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of mating unless the person registering the kitten(s) is also the registered owner of the sire. The owner of the stud must provide a Certificate of Mating to the owner of the queen upon collection of the queen.
Transfer of Registration – Section 1 Rule 10
10a When a cat or kitten is advertised or sold as a pedigree cat or kitten, the breeder shall, at the time of sale, provide the purchaser with a properly
completed pedigree signed by the breeder, carrying 3 generations at least showing all the breed numbers and registration numbers and also the
breeder’s name and address. If the vendor is not the breeder, the pedigree must additionally be signed by the vendor. If the cat/kitten is not
registered, a copy of the mating certificate (Rule 3d) shall be supplied by the vendor to the new owner.
10b. If, at time of sale, the cat or kitten is registered the seller shall provide the purchaser with a transfer form, duly completed and signed by the seller,
unless it is jointly agreed in writing by both parties at the time of sale not to do so.
Registered owners of all GCCF registered cats/kittens accept the jurisdiction of The GoverningCouncil of the Cat Fancy and undertake to abide by this general code of ethics.
1. Owners should think carefully and take advice before getting a kitten and choose a breed suited to their lifestyle. They should only keep as many cats
as they can care for adequately.
2. Cats and kittens must be provided with warm and comfortable housing, with plenty of opportunity for exercise and play. Cats should be kept indoors
at night for their own safety. Drinking water must be available at all times and cats must be fed regularly and adequately. Breeders will supply written
details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing cats in a new home.
3. All cats need some grooming to keep the cat in good condition and to check for parasites, e.g. fleas. Longhair cats need daily grooming to prevent
the formation of knots and matted areas of fur which cause them considerable discomfort.
4. Veterinary attention must be sought whenever a cat is showing signs of illness.
5. Cats that are bought as pets, not for breeding, should be neutered or spayed at an age recommend by your veterinary surgeon. If cats are registered
on the Non-Active register, this means that under no circumstances should they be bred from; no progeny from these cats will be registered by the
GCCF.
6. Breeders agree only to sell cats where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life. An offer should be made at a the time of sale to
help with the rehoming if at any time circumstances require the cat to be found a new home.
7. Owners should not sell any cat to commercial cat wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow cats to be given as a prize or donation
in a competition of any kind.
8. Breeders must not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise cats nor mislead any person regarding the health or
quality of the cats and must draw attention of purchase to the implications of the Non-Active register when selling pet kittens.
9. Breeders selling kittens on the Active register should offer advice and support to the new owners. Owners should not breed cats in a way that is
deleterious to the health of the cat or the breed.
10. Owners should consider carefully the best means of identifying their cats in case it should become lost. This can be done by means of a microchip
which can be painlessly inserted under the cat’s skin by your veterinary surgeon and then registering the number of your cat with PetLog registration
scheme run by Kennel Club/RSPCA and also by notifying the GCCF of the cat’s chip number. The alternative is for the cat to wear some form of
identification on a collar. However, there are dangers for cats wearing collars, as they may become hooked up and caught by them or more likely the
collar will break or come off the cat’s head, therefore preventing easy identification.
11. Breeders/owners must ensure that all relevant Governing Council of the Cat Fancy documents are provided to the new owner when
selling or transferring a cat in accordance with Rule 10 (see below), including a copy of this code.
Recommendation
The GCCF strongly recommends that no kitten should be permitted to go to a new home before 13 weeks of age. A least seven days prior to this the kitten should have completed a full course of vaccinations, including a health check, given by a Veterinary Surgeon or by a listed Veterinary nurse given under the direction of a Veterinary Surgeon. The breeder should ensure that the kittens are house trained, inoculated and in good general health.
Mating Certificate:- Section 1 Rule 3d
When a litter is registered, the application to register must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of mating unless the person registering the kitten(s) is also the registered owner of the sire. The owner of the stud must provide a Certificate of Mating to the owner of the queen upon collection of the queen.
Transfer of Registration – Section 1 Rule 10
10a When a cat or kitten is advertised or sold as a pedigree cat or kitten, the breeder shall, at the time of sale, provide the purchaser with a properly
completed pedigree signed by the breeder, carrying 3 generations at least showing all the breed numbers and registration numbers and also the
breeder’s name and address. If the vendor is not the breeder, the pedigree must additionally be signed by the vendor. If the cat/kitten is not
registered, a copy of the mating certificate (Rule 3d) shall be supplied by the vendor to the new owner.
10b. If, at time of sale, the cat or kitten is registered the seller shall provide the purchaser with a transfer form, duly completed and signed by the seller,
unless it is jointly agreed in writing by both parties at the time of sale not to do so.