Animal Welfare Rules

Animal Welfare Rules

Animal Welfare Rules

Effective Date: 1 December 2025

Operated by: MEOWOOF LIMITED
Company Registration Number (CRN): 755310
Business Name Registration Number (RBN): 775452
Registered Address: 13 Adelaide Road, Dublin D02 P950, Ireland

Contact Email: privacy@cats.ie

1. Purpose

Cats.ie is committed to protecting animal welfare and promoting responsible pet ownership across Ireland.

These rules ensure that all listings and advertisements on Cats.ie meet the standards required by:

  • The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (Ireland),
  • The Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011,
  • IPAAG (Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group) Pet Advertising Guidelines
  • The Consumer Protection Act 2007
  • The Criminal Justice (Harassment and Harmful Communications) Act 2020

Compliance with these rules is mandatory for everyone posting on Cats.ie.
Listings that do not meet these standards may be removed without notice.

2. General Principles

Every listing on Cats.ie must support:

  1. Respect for animal welfare – Cats and Kittens must always be healthy, safe, and treated humanely.
  2. Transparency – information about animals must be accurate, complete, and not misleading.
  3. Traceability – advertisers must be identifiable and contactable.
  4. Legality – no listing may breach Irish, Northern Irish, or EU law.
  5. Responsibility – rehoming and sales must prioritise the cat’s long-term wellbeing.

Cats.ie works with welfare organisations and authorities to uphold these principles.

3. Legal Age & Health Requirements

  • Kittens must be at least 8 weeks old before being advertised or rehomed.
  • Kittens must be fully weaned and in good health.
  • Advertisers must provide honest information about:
  • Vaccination status
  • Microchipping (optional for cats, but encouraged)
  • Neutering (if applicable)
  • health testing (e.g. FeLV/FIV, where relevant).

Sick, injured, or pregnant animals must not be sold or adopted through Cats.ie.

4. Breeder & Seller Responsibilities

Private sellers and breeders must:

  • provide accurate breed information (no misleading “rare” claims);
  • include clear photos of the actual cat or kitten being offered;
  • disclose any known health or behavioural issues;
  • ensure the kitten’s age and date of birth are correct;
  • allow potential buyers to see the kitten with its mother whenever possible;
  • never advertise animals purely for breeding without clear welfare justification.

IYou may not sell more than 5 animals per year unless registered as a Registered Seller of Pets with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

If you sell 6 or more animals per year, you must:

  • register with DAFM, and
  • display your registration number when advertising.

5. Rescue & Adoption Standards

All rescue and rehoming organisations must:

  • be registered charities with the Charities Regulator (Ireland) or the Northern Ireland equivalent;
  • display their Charity Registration Number on their profile and listings;
  • ensure cats are vet-checked, vaccinated, and neutered (where possible) before adoption;
  • charge only reasonable adoption fees (typically €20–€80);
  • provide an adoption agreement to new owners;
  • accurately describe each cat’s temperament and any special needs;
  • never misrepresent a rehomed cat as “free” where fees apply.

Cats.ie reserves the right to verify rescue credentials and remove unverified rescue listings.

6. Prohibited Practices

The following are strictly prohibited on Cats.ie:

  1. Advertising animals under 8 weeks of age.
  2. Selling or transferring animals as gifts or prizes.
  3. Advertising banned or prohibited species.
  4. Offering sick, injured, or sedated cats for sale or display.
  5. Misusing terms like “pedigree” or “registered” without valid proof.
  6. Offering animals for experimentation, research, or fighting.
  7. Posting stock images or false photos of unrelated cats.
  8. Misleading buyers about location or origin.
  9. “Backyard breeding” without proper care or registration.

Any listings or accounts found engaging in these practices will be immediately removed and reported to the appropriate authorities.

7. Animal Welfare in Imagery

All photos and videos must:

  • Show cats in a safe, clean, and comfortable environment.
  • avoid collars, harnesses, or accessories that could cause harm;
  • not depict kittens with eyes closed (indicating extreme youth);
  • avoid excessive filters or edits that misrepresent appearance;
  • never show animals in distress or unsafe conditions.

Media that violates these standards will be rejected.

8. Buyer & Adopter Advice

Cats.ie encourages responsible behaviour when adopting or rehoming:

  • always view the cat in person whenever possible;
  • request vaccination records and veterinary documentation;
  • never hand over money before seeing the cat;
  • trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, walk away;
  • report suspicious listings to Cats.ie or appropriate welfare bodies.

For guidance, please visit our Adopting or Buying Advice.

9. Reporting Concerns

If you believe a listing breaches animal welfare law or Cats.ie rules:

  • Use the “Report Concern” button on the site, or.
  • email privacy@cats.ie with details (include screenshots if possible).

Reports are reviewed promptly and confidentially.
Serious cases are referred to authorities such as the ISPCA, DSPCA, Gardaí, or DAFM.

10. Moderation & Enforcement

Cats.ie reviews listings and reserves the right to:

  • Request proof of vaccination or welfare compliance;
  • Edit listings for accuracy or clarity;
  • Reject or remove listings that fail to meet welfare standards;
  • uspend or ban users who repeatedly breach these rules.

Moderation decisions are final and made in the interest of animal welfare and platform safety.

For broader behaviour standards, please refer to our Community Guidelines.

11. Education & Partnership

Cats.ie actively supports responsible ownership and works with welfare partners, including:

  • IPAAG – Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group
  • ISPCA – Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  • DSPCA – Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  • DAFM – Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
  • Registered rescues and veterinary professionals across Ireland

We regularly publish educational content promoting adoption, neutering, and welfare awareness.

12. Legal Basis & Enforcement

These rules are enforceable under:

  • Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013 (Ireland)
  • Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
  • Consumer Protection Act 2007
  • Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Commercial Practices
  • IPAAG Pet Advertising Standards

Breaches may result in account termination and referral to relevant authorities.

13. Updates

These Animal Welfare Rules may be updated to reflect legal or welfare developments.
The effective date will always appear at the top of this page.
Users are encouraged to review them regularly.

Contact

For animal welfare or advertising compliance queries, please contact:

Cats.ie Welfare & Compliance Team
Email : privacy@cats.ie
Address: MEOWOOF LIMITED, 13 Adelaide Road, Dublin D02 P950, Ireland