Verification
How we verify every breeder
A breeder cannot advertise on Registered Breeders Only until they have passed three checks. A fourth, the council licence, is shown when a breeder holds one. Each badge carries the date we checked it, and every check is repeated each year.
Photo ID matched to a live selfie by our identity-check partner. We never see or store a copy of the document.
We confirm the address where the cats live. Buyers only ever see the town and county.
The breeder's registered prefix is checked with the registry that issued it.
We check the council's public register and show the licence number and expiry date.
Registries
Registries we accept
Breeders can hold registrations with more than one body; each is checked and shown separately.
| Registry | Based in | In the UK |
|---|---|---|
| GCCF Governing Council of the Cat Fancy |
United Kingdom | The main UK registry. |
| TICA The International Cat Association |
United States | Active in the UK through its UK regions. |
| FIFe Fédération Internationale Féline |
Europe | Registers in the UK through Felis Britannica. |
| FB Felis Britannica |
United Kingdom | The UK member of FIFe. |
| WCF World Cat Federation |
Germany | Registers through member clubs, including some in the UK. |
| CFA The Cat Fanciers' Association |
United States | Small UK presence through its International Division. |
| ACF Australian Cat Federation |
Australia | For imported cats |
| CCCA Coordinating Cat Council of Australia |
Australia | For imported cats |
| NZCF New Zealand Cat Fancy |
New Zealand | For imported cats |
| SACC Southern Africa Cat Council |
South Africa | For imported cats |
| CCA-AFC Canadian Cat Association |
Canada | For imported cats |
| ACFA American Cat Fanciers Association |
United States | For imported cats |
| CAA Cat Aficionado Association |
China | For imported cats |
| LOOF Livre Officiel des Origines Félines |
France | For imported cats |
Licensing
About council licences
Licensing rules differ across the UK, so a licence is not required to list on Registered Breeders Only. When a breeder holds one, we check it and show it.
- England: cat breeders usually need no breeding licence, but those selling as a business may need a licence for selling animals as pets.
- Scotland: breeding licences cover cats as well as dogs and rabbits.
- Wales: breeding licences apply to dogs only.
This is a summary, not legal advice. Your local council can tell you what applies to you.
Buying safely
Four rules worth keeping
- See the kitten with its mother, in person or on a live video call.
- Never pay anything before you have done that, however keen the price.
- Kittens should not leave their mother before 13 weeks.
- Ask for the registration papers, vaccination record and microchip number.
Registered Breeders Only never takes payments or deposits. If anyone asks you to pay through us, it is a scam: please tell us.