Finding a cat

Please note that by listing specific websites, The Cat Group is not responsible for any information or advice given or acted upon.

Where do I find a pedigree kitten?

Pedigree cats are registered with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) or other organisations.

A list of GCCF breed and area clubs can be found on the GCCF website at www.gccfcats.org
Many of these clubs have websites from which you can email the club secretary. Alternatively, you can send a stamped addressed envelope to the GCCF for a free list of Affiliated club secretaries and write to the breed club for the breed you want or area club where you live to see if any kittens are available. When writing to any club, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

The address for the GCCF is 4-6 Penel Orlieu, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 3PG
website: www.gccfcats.org e-mail: info@gccfcats.org

A list of UK FIFe (Federation International Feline) clubs may be found on the Felis Britannica website: www.felisbritannica.co.uk

Breeders also advertise kittens in such magazines as Your Cat and Cat World, available from newsagents.

Most of the cat clubs have a welfare officer who tries to find new homes for adult pedigree cats whose owners can no longer care for them.

The Cat Welfare Rescue Directory on the GCCF web site is a list of the welfare contacts for each club, many with e-mail addressses. If you are unable to access this, the GCCF or the club itself should be able to provide contact details.

Occasionally pedigree cats can be found through other rescue organisations.

Which breed for me?

When choosing a breed, you need to consider your lifestyle.

Do you spend much of the day outside the home?
Do you have the time and inclination to undertake regular grooming?
Are you planning to show your cat?
What other pets do you have?
Will your cat be living mainly indoors?

For more information on individual breeds visit the following websites:
Link to breeders - www.palantir.co.uk/breeder.html
Breed information - www.palantir.co.uk/gccf.html
Breeds recognised by GCCF - www.palantir.co.uk/catbreeds.html

How do I tell if I am dealing with a good breeder?

See Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) website – www.fabcats.org for the information sheet entitled 'Choosing a pedigree kitten – what to expect'.

Where do I find a moggie kitten or cat?

There are several sources of moggies:

(a) Cats/kittens advertised in the veterinary surgery, local paper, by word of mouth or from a friend.

(b) Cats/kittens from a rescue organisation.
There are several large rescue organisations which deal with cats in need of new homes. These are:

RSPCA
Tel: 08703 335999 www.rspca.org.uk
Head Office - Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 7WN

Blue Cross
Tel: 01993 822651 www.thebluecross.org.uk
Head Office - Shilton Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4PF

Cats Protection
Tel: 08702 099 099 www.cats.org.uk
Head Office - National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Tel: 020 7622 3626 www.dogshome.org
49 Battersea Park Road, Battersea, London SW8 4AA

Wood Green Animal Shelters
Tel: 01480 830014 www.woodgreen.org.uk
King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambs PE29 2NH

Visit www.catchat.org

 

There are also small local organisations in many areas, which may deal with rescued cats. Information on these should be available through the local newspapers or Yellow Pages.

How do I tell the quality of a rescue centre?

The quality of a rescue centre can be assessed, to some extent, by the quality of housing it provides for its cats. They should be housed individually (or in groups if that is how they have come into the centre). The same principles apply to how cats are kept in a rescue centre to those for boarding establishments.

Cats should have sleeping accommodation with heating and a run where they can exercise. Cats from different origins should not be able to touch or sneeze over one another and the establishment should have a good management system for keeping them clean, warm and well fed.

Houses with rooms full of cats kept by well-meaning people are no longer acceptable - cats kept in large groups may be very stressed and liable to become infected with the many infectious diseases which can affect cats such as cat 'flu, enteritis, feline leukaemia, feline immunodeficiency virus or ringworm. A good rescue centre will want to know about your lifestyle and whether your family arrangements are suitable to own a cat.