Where can you get a cat?

Where can you get a cat?

Cats are mainly found in shelters and with private individuals. For a specific breed you can contact breeders, but also large-scale dealers and occasionally even shelters.

In a shelter you can adopt cats of all ages and types. Cats in a shelter have been found, surrendered by the owner or confiscated. Choosing a shelter cat means opting for a well-cared-for, chipped and sterilised cat.

Download the list of recognised shelters.

Breeders and private individuals

Anyone with fewer than three litters per year falls under the legal regulations for private individuals. This also includes small-scale breeders of pedigree cats. In the long run, anyone wanting a litter will need to apply for a registration number.

Private individuals may only offer cats for sale via specialised media or via an advertisement in a pet shop, provided the chip number is stated. Selling or giving away cats for free via sales websites or social media is not permitted.

Registered breeders

In Belgium, cats may not be sold in a pet shop. The law distinguishes three types of registered breeders: hobby breeders, professional breeders and breeder-dealers.

Registered breeders receive a registration number, the HK number. A registration number indicates that the breeder complies with the legislation, but it is not a quality label. Advertisements must always state the HK number.

If you buy a cat from a registered breeder, you receive a guarantee certificate and often a passport. The passport tells you whether the cat was born in Belgium (the passport number starts with BE). If the cat was imported from abroad, the animal must be at least 15 weeks old and vaccinated against rabies at the time of sale.

If the cat becomes ill a few days after purchase, you may in some cases invoke the guarantee certificate or consumer legislation. If there is a problem, you can report it to the Animal Welfare Service.

Download the list of registered breeders.

Regardless of where you get your cat, do not be misled by a pitiful-looking kitten or a smooth-talking seller. Critically assess the state of the animals: are all the cats healthy? Is the environment in order and are the litter boxes clean? Be wary if many breeds and litters are being sold. If you see abuses, be sure to report them to the Animal Welfare Service.