How To Complain About Your Breeder
Are you finding yourself struggling with an issue with your kitten or cat?
Sometimes, things just don’t work out how you imagined they would. You may have wanted a kitten, and you either did your homework and found a registered breeder, or like so many, you fell foul of a ‘Backyard Breeder’.
Sometimes it can be hard to know what to do next. Your kitten may be ill, or perhaps your cat doesn’t look anything like the breed that you were sold. Maybe you’ve been missold and you don’t know where you stand in terms of next steps.
Both unregistered and registered breeders can fall short when it comes to what you expected. Yes, that’s right, even registered! This will probably have come as a shock to you, as you will have put all your trust in the breeder that you chose. Perhaps you found them via the GCCF and therefore you assumed this meant they were a registered breeder, so you expect could possibly go wrong.
Unfortunately, even a registered breeder does not guarantee that you won’t find an unscrupulous person who has slipped through the cracks. This is why research before hand is so critical in the purchase of a kitten. (See our guide on buying Registered Kittens).
Before we go into the different procedures, we will advise that wherever possible, it is nearly always recommended to go back to your breeder with your issue first. Resolutions are always easier and less messy if it can be dealt with between the two of you. If you did purchase through a registered breeder, they will usually welcome this from you and be there to help.
However, if you unfortunately find yourself in a situation where this isn’t possible, there are routes that you can follow in order to find a resolution.
Registered Breeders
If you feel as though your breeder has not conformed to the code of ethics that ALL of the registered breeders have agreed to follow, you can voice a complaint to the Cat Registry of Breeders, their governing body; GCCF.
This kind of complaint MUST be in writing only, they will not discuss anything with you via the telephone. You can find their address on their website here.
The GCCF will investigate each and every complaint that is received this way, and is put forward to an Investigations Commitee. This will either result in a fine to the breeder, or if, the case is complex, will go to a Disciplinary Committee. This will result in them being investigated and appropriate action taken. If it is found that the breeder has broken ethics, it is possible they may be suspended or disqualified from breeding.
If your complaint has anything to do with the transference of money; ie, you want money back, you feel as though the money you paid does not justify the health/pedigree of the kitten you received etc, then you must involve either a solicitor and/or Trading Standards. GCCF will cannot award money to EITHER parties therefore it becomes a separate legal matter.
If you do not feel that the GCCF can help and would like to take further action, a small claims court maybe able to assist.
Unregistered Breeders
This can be a slightly harder avenue to pursue, as they are not regulated by a governing body. Having said that, it is not impossible to register a complaint and you can do it with the 5 following bodies;
1. Local council - Some council’s require all Pet Breeders to have a licence. It won’t hurt to call them and enquire about the ‘breeder’ and see if this applies to your area.
2. Trading Standards. Were the kittens advertised as ‘pedigree’ with no papers? Were the kittens younger than advertised? Poorly? Unvaccinated? Do you feel the money you were charged does not compare equally to the kitten sold? Call Trading Standards who will provide advice and guidance on where to go next.
3. HMRC. If the breeder is making more than £1,000, they should be registered as self employed and earning a living from breeding.
4. RSPCA. If you feel the kittens, queen, or stud were in poor health or kept in unsanitary conditions when you saw them in the breeders home, follow your gut and ask the RSPCA to check in on them. The RSPCA will take each complaint seriously and ensure that the breeder is putting the health, welfare and temperament of their animals first.
5. Small Claims Court. Something that you can investigate for a small fee as long as you have a strong case with evidence.
A Rescue Case - Ragdoll Rescue
2018
Making a complaint never feels easy and sometimes we can be put off, especially if the breeder was originally very friendly and helpful.
This is not recommended advice if you’ve had a slight squabble or sudden remorse for paying the proper amount for a registered, checked and a cared for kitten. This is to help those of you who have genuine concern or feel as though they need help, in what can be, a difficult to negotiate situation.
In summary, if you are thinking of getting a kitten, do your homework, find a registered breeder, look for recommendations and it’s highly likely you won’t even need this blog and will have many, uncomplicated years of companionship with your beautiful kitten.
*Please note: Any names you add on social media posts without strong evidence to back up allegations could make you liable for slander. We recommend you follow the routes above.
Written by a cat owner
Laura C