Shrimp's reluctant rehoming

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For other pets - never send a deposit unless you have viewed the pet at the seller's premises and are confident that the seller is genuine. You should always pay the final amount when you collect the pet, never before.

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Getting a new cat or kitten is a massive commitment, so make sure you have researched the breed fully and have the time and commitment necessary to care for the cat. Do you have the right living conditions to have a cat? Most healthy cats would prefer to be able to go outside, but some prefer to live indoors. If you are keeping your cat indoors, please make sure that you can provide the cat with the opportunity to exhibit normal hunting behaviour. You can read our detailed Information guide about cats for potential new cat owners. Also read our Cat breed information profile.

Always view the kitten at the seller’s home with the kittens' mother. Do not accept any excuses for sending money without a viewing having taken place, or if the advertiser attempts to meet you at any other location than their own home. Unscrupulous sellers will often suggest another location to avoid showing the kitten’s true living conditions. Pets4Homes do not allow the third party sale of kittens. All litters of kittens advertised, MUST have been bred by the seller. Make sure that the interaction between the kitten and its mother is natural to avoid the setting being staged.

The seller should be willing to let you take the pet to a vet of your choice for a health check and return the pet within 48 hours for a full refund if there are health issues. If the kitten has already been health checked, make sure you have this documented and phone their vet. The vet may not be able to disclose specific health information due to GDPR, however they should confirm the kittens have been checked. When you meet the kitten, they should be sociable and alert, with bright eyes and no visible health issues.

Kittens should receive 2 vaccinations, the first at around 8 weeks of age and the second, two to three weeks later. Kittens should not be allowed outside until 7 days after their second injection. Cats should also receive a yearly vaccination booster. Ask the breeder which vaccinations they have had and if not, why not. If the seller has not started the kittens vaccinations, it will be your responsibility to make sure you arrange both vaccinations 7 days before letting your kitten go outside.Kittens should really be wormed at around 2 weeks of age, and again at around 5 weeks of age, and finally just before they leave the seller/breeder at 8 to 12 weeks of age.

Pets4Homes always recommend that you microchip your cat/kitten, especially if you have an outdoor cat. This provides a safe way of identification if the cat were to be lost. In December 2021 the government announced that they are set to introduce new rules saying that all pet cats over 20 weeks need to be microchipped. No dates when this is coming into effect have yet been announced.

Is the cat/kitten registered with the GCCF, TICA or FIFe? If they are, then check to make sure you are given the correct documents BEFORE you decide to take the cat home. It may also be worth phoning the organisation to check if the information provided is correct.

If you believe a kitten may be subject to irresponsible breeding, do not “rescue” the kitten by rehoming it. Walk away and report the seller to us immediately. You should also report your concerns directly to the local council as they have the authority to inspect the premises if there are any welfare concerns, and can take further action if required. We work closely with several local councils, trading standards and police forces and we are able to provide any account or advert details if requested and if a data protection request is sent to us. Find contact details to your local council.

For serious welfare and / or cruelty issues, please contact the RSPCA (England & Wales) on 0300 1234 999, or SSPCA (Scotland) on 03000 999 999 immediately.

Never send money outside of Pets4Homes unless you have viewed the pet (in person or virtually) and are confident that the seller is genuine. We strongly recommend you pay through Pets4Homes’ own payment service as you’ll be covered by the Pets4Homes Guarantee.

If you do decide to pay offline, always know you can walk away at any time if something sounds suspicious. And report the seller to us.

Kittens must be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned before they can leave their mothers. Please make sure to check the paperwork to ensure the kitten is old enough. Most responsible sellers will keep their kittens longer than this before they let them go to new homes. Read further information on the minimum age kittens should be before leaving their mothers.

It’s worth looking into pet insurance before your pet arrives. Millions of pet owners get peace of mind from having insurance that can cover the cost of unexpected vet bills to treat accidents and illness.

Premiums can be less expensive for younger pets, and getting pet insurance early in their lives means they’re covered for conditions before they develop. If your pet develops an illness before you have insurance, it’s likely to be excluded, and you’d never be able to claim for it.