How It Works

How It Works

Simple, Safe, and Made for Cat Lovers

Cats.ie is built to make it easy for cat owners, adopters, breeders, rescues, and service providers across Ireland to connect safely, transparently, and responsibly. Whether you’re looking to adopt, post an ad, find a vet, or report a lost cat — everything on Cats.ie follows one simple promise: safe cats, happy homes, trusted connections.
🐱 Dot says: “Finding or rehoming a cat should always feel safe, simple, and kind.”

Find Services
Choose Your Role

When you join Cats.ie, you’ll pick one of four account types:

• Private Seller – For individual owners. Post occasional ads for sale or rehoming.
• Breeder – For registered breeders. List multiple kittens, use subscriptions, link to your cattery.
• Rescue – For charities or shelters. Post unlimited adoption ads free of charge.
• Service Provider – For vets, groomers, sitters, etc. Add your business to our Service Directory.

All accounts require email and phone verification for security. Optional profile photo or logo helps build trust.

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Post an Ad

You can post listings for:
• Cats/Kittens for Sale (private or breeder)
• Cats for Rehoming
• Cats for Adoption (rescues)
• Services (vets, catteries, transport, etc.)
• CatAlert (Lost or Found cats)

Each listing form guides you step-by-step.

Typical Ad Fields:
• Title, Breed, Age, Colour, Sex
• County & Town (always visible)
• Photos (1–8), optional video
• Health details (vaccinated, neutered, microchipped)
• Behaviour tags
• Price or Adoption Fee
• Description

Every listing must meet Cats.ie Welfare & Advertising Rules, following IPAAG standards.

🐾 Dot tip: “If you wouldn’t tell a friend a lie, don’t post one here.”

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Free & Paid Options

Cats.ie offers three listing tiers (plus a boost option):

• Curious Cat (Free) – Standard listing, visible in all searches. Ideal for general ads — all free until 1 Jan 2026.
• Pawsome Pick (Featured) – Highlighted card + top of category. Ideal for more visibility and faster responses.
• Top Cat (Premium) – Priority placement + homepage feature. Ideal for maximum reach and engagement.
• Pounce (Boost) – Bumps ad to the top again. Ideal for quick re-exposure during a campaign.

From Launch (31 Oct 2025) – 31 Dec 2025, all basic listings are free. Premium upgrades and boosts are optional and active from day one.

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Duration and Renewal

• Each listing runs for 30 days.
• You can renew or boost anytime from your dashboard.
• Breeder and Rescue accounts can auto-renew ads if they wish.

Expired listings can be reactivated with one click.

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Safety First – User Verification

Cats.ie is a community, not a free-for-all marketplace.

To protect both users and animals, we require:
• Verified email and phone number before posting.
• Optional 2FA for breeders and businesses.
• Listing review by moderators (first-time users).

If an ad looks suspicious or non-compliant, it’s paused for review.

⚠ Users can report any suspicious listings directly — Cats.ie takes every report seriously.

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Cat Welfare & Legal Compliance

Cats.ie follows all Irish and EU animal welfare rules.

That means:
• Kittens must be at least 8 weeks old before sale or rehoming.
• Sellers must disclose health and vaccination info honestly.
• Anyone selling 6+ pets per year must register with DAFM.
• Breeders can declare membership with TICA, GCCFI, GCCF, FIFe, WCF, or others.

We work to ensure all ads align with IPAAG best practice for ethical advertising.

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Services & Businesses

• Vets (must include VCI Registered Premises number)
• Groomers
• Behaviourists
• Catteries / Boarding
• Pet Transport
• Pet Photographers
• Pet Insurance
• Cat Cafés

Each listing includes map, contact form, and optional website/social links. Featured and Top listings appear across the site — for example, when someone searches for kittens in a nearby county.

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CatAlert: Lost & Found

If your cat goes missing (or you find one):

  1. Post a CatAlert Lost or Found listing.

  2. Upload clear photos and location.

  3. Download an auto-generated poster (PDF) to share locally.

  4. Share directly on social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok).

  5. Update status anytime — “Found,” “Reunited,” or “Still Missing.”

CatAlert listings are always free with optional visibility boosts (€3–€6).

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Giveaways & Community

Cats.ie regularly hosts giveaways and fun campaigns using RafflePress. Join through your Cats.ie account or via our verified Facebook / Instagram / TikTok pages. Participation is always free, and winners are publicly announced.

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Dashboard & Account Tools

Once registered, you’ll have a personal dashboard to:
• View and manage your listings
• Edit or renew ads
• Track views and messages
• Download invoices (for paid ads)
• Manage subscriptions (breeders/services)

Everything is streamlined and mobile-friendly.

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Post an Ad

Payments & Subscriptions

All payments are securely handled via Stripe and PayPal (through WooCommerce). Cats.ie does not store payment details. Refunds apply automatically if listings are rejected during moderation. Breeder and Service subscriptions can be cancelled anytime before renewal.

Need Help?

Visit our Q&A / Help Centre for guides and FAQs.

Or reach us directly: support@cats.ie — we reply within 24–48 hours.

Contact Us