CODE OF ETHICS

 

1. Selection Of Breeding Stock

Animals should be:

  • Healthy
  • Of good temperament
  • Of lines free from any known genetic fault
  • Not displaying any generally accepted genetic fault

 

2. General Care of Breeding Stock

  • Entire female cats must NOT roam free unless under supervision.
  • Calling females must NOT roam free
  • Entire male cats must NOT roam free

All cats must:

  • Be groomed and handled daily
  • Be given a balanced and varied diet
  • Be housed in hygienic conditions
  • Be provided with hygienic toilet facilities which are kept clean and disinfected regularly
  • Have food and water bowls which are changed at least once daily
  • Receive prompt veterinary attention if and when required
  • Be vaccinated in accordance with the current veterinary advice
  • Be treated on a regular basis for internal and external parasites, in accordance with the current veterinary advice

 

3. Minimum Dietary Requirements

Cats should be fed a varied diet except on veterinary advice to the contrary.
Guidelines are:

  • Raw meat (no preservatives)
  • Kidney, heart, raw liver (nor more than once per week)
  • Cooked and boned fish, chicken, rabbit
  • Tinned food
  • Cheese, cottage cheese, egg yolk
  • Dried food
  • FRESH WATER MUST ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE
  • Adult cats should be offered food twice per day

 

4. Minimum Housing Requirements

  • Outdoor units must protect cats from rain, wind, extreme heat and cold and must be partially enclosed to provide sheltered sleeping area.
  • Units must be escape proof and maintained to avoid injury
  • The structure to be non-porous or coated with non-toxic materials to facilitate proper cleaning
  • Units must be kept clean
  • Cleaning and disinfecting agents should be used only in the recommended concentrations. Where a disinfectant solutions has been applied, the area should be allowed to dry before the cat is allowed to return, as some solutions can be absorbed through the skin/paw pads. PHENOLS MUST NEVER BE USED
  • Minimum cage size for a single cat confined at night time only, or for no longer than 8 hours is 1200mm x 400mm x 600mm
  • Minimum permanent unit size for a single adult cat is 1600mm x 1600mm x 1950mm
  • Minimum permanent unit size for 2 to 4 cats is 3600mm x 2400mm x 1950mm, no more than 4 cats to be housed on a permanent basis in a unit this size, as cats are territorial animals and overcrowding causes undue stress
  • Cats housed in units within homes, garages, etc must have access to sunshine and such areas must be well ventilated
  • Where cats are permanently confined to units, adequate scratching facilities and high level shelving must be provided

 

5. Care Of The Pregnant Queen and Kittening

  • Queens shall not be overbred. A maximum of two (2) litters per twelve (12) months is recommended.
  • All breeders must familiarize themselves with kittening process prior to breeding a litter
  • Food amounts must be increased to the queen as pregnancy progresses or as the queen requires
  • Ensure an adequate supply of calcium during pregnancy and lactation
  • Provide a clean, adequately sized box and bedding at least 1 week prior to expected kittening
  • Assist the kittening process where necessary
  • Queens must not be left in unproductive labour for more than 2 hours before seeking veterinary advice
  • Once all kittens are born, replace bedding/box and change bedding at least every 2 days
  • Queen and kittens must be kept in a draught free but well ventilated area
  • Check the queen daily for undue bleeding and signs of mastitis
  • Seek veterinary advice on sickly or deformed kittens
  • Eyes should be checked daily in small kittens and if eye infections occur, veterinary treatment must be sought

 

6. Kitten Care and Weaning

  • Kittens shall not be taken away from their mother until such time as they are fully weaned, or upon veterinary advice
  • Between 4 to 6 weeks kittens may be introduced to suitable solid foods such as cereal, baby food (chicken, fish broth), specially prepared commercial kitten food
  • Between 6-12 weeks kittens may be introduced to finely chopped or minced meat (not hamburger mince), chicken or rabbit, grated cheese, cottage cheese, egg yolk, tinned food
  • Provide litter trays suitable for kittens, i.e. shallow as soon as kittens are mobile
  • Kittens shall be fed a minimum of 3 times per day until 3-4 months of age and thereafter twice per day
  • Kitten quarters shall be safe to avoid injury from falling
  • Kittens shall be vaccinated in accordance with current veterinary advice
  • Kittens must be treated on a regular basis for internal parasites in accordance with current veterinary advice

 

7. Sale Of Kittens

  • No Kitten may be sold under the age of 10 weeks and preferably not until 12 weeks of age
  • Kittens sold under 10-12 weeks cannot be fully vaccinated and it is the breeder’s responsibility to ensure that the new owners are provided with current vaccination records and fully informed of the requirements
  • Kittens shall be healthy, fully weaned and litter trained
  • No kitten with an infectious disease shall be sold or placed
  • Breeder shall provide purchasers with a diet, grooming and care information
  • Pedigree may be supplied but in the case of PET ONLY this may be with-held until proof of desexing is supplied to the breeder’s satisfaction
  • It is not recommended that cats/kittens be sold to commercial cat wholesalers or retail pet dealers.
  • Cats/Kittens may not be given as a prize or donation for a contest of any kind, or be advertised as a giveaway
  • A breeder shall not misrepresent the characteristics of the breed, nor falsely advertise or mislead any person regarding the pedigree or performance of any kitten on the show bench or as a pet
  • Any kitten sold as breeding stock shall only be sold to a registered breeder

 

8. Care Of the Stud Cat

  • Quarters must be a roomy as possible with the minimum size being 2100mm x 2100mm x 1950mm with an area set aside within the enclosure for the introduction of visiting queens
  • Quarters shall be kept clean in order to keep odour to a minimum
  • Climbing and scratching facilities must be provided, plus a high shelf for the stud to retreat to after a mating. Studs require plenty of companionship both human and feline. On a daily basis, some time should be spent grooming and handling the stud. A feline companion such as a desexed cat mat be beneficial
  • Each stud must have individual quarters
  • Current vaccination certificates must be sighted before accepting a visiting queen
  • Visiting queens should be examined for cleanliness and state of health prior to introduction to the stud
  • Matings shall only be accepted for cats owned by registered breeders
  • Queens should be permitted to remain with the stud for a reasonable time after mating and not be removed from the stud quarters before a minimum of three (3) matings have been witnessed

 

9. Disposal Of Stock

  • It is the breeder’s responsibility to desex all stock on longer required for breeding. Desexed former breeding stock may be found homes. Creating overcrowding within the cattery should be avoided
  • No cat or kitten shall be excessively passed around. They may not be leased, loaned or sold in total more than 3 times. It is the owner’s responsibility to ascertain the acceptability of the new owner’s (lessee, borrower, buyer) premises and standard of care before the cat is relocated
  • No person may advertise a cattery sell-out
  • All breeders must be registered with an approved Governing Cat Control Body
  • No person may knowingly intermate two breed groups without having applied to a recognized governing body and having been granted an experimental license to do so.

 

This Code of Ethics is also available for download in .doc format here