Going to Sell a Cat or Kitten? New Regulation in Victoria

A kitten is sleeping on a bed

I  If you are going to sell a cat or a kitten, Victoria has a new regulation in place you might be interested in.

According to Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, if you have kittens you want to sell or you have a cat who you want to be adopted and you want money for that, then your cats must have a microchip and the microchip number must appear in the advertisement.

The legislation applies to both breeders and non breeders who advertise their cats for sale.

For registered businesses, such as pet shops, shelters or breeders, instead of displaying microchip numbers it is allowed to provide their council registered premises number along with the name of the issuing council.

A foster which is not registered as domestic animal business must include microchip numbers in cat sale advertisements.

If you offer kittens or cats for free, or your kittens have not been born yet, then you are not required to mention their microchip number in the advertisement.

If a veterinarian issues a certificate in which he states that your cat cannot be microchipped due to a high risk to cat’s health. In this case you do not need to mention the microchip number in the advertisement.

When buying a kitten or a cat, obtain a Microchip Certificate from a buyer so an ownership details change can be arranged. Make sure the microchip number in the certificate is the one the cat has (you can check it in a veterinary clinic).

If you are based in Victoria and if the cat sale advertisement will be viewed by prospective purchasers in Victoria, then you must mention a microchip number even you advertise not in a local newspaper or a local web site.

Penalty for advertising cats for sale without a microchip number is up to 5 penalty units (around $600). The penalty can be issued by Authorised Officers of Council, RSPCA or Department of Primary Industries. Your advertising may also be withdrawn from the publication by the publishing house.

See Microchip Details now needed in Cat/Dog Sale Advertisements (prepared by Department of Primary Industries, Victoria) for any other details.

Tagged Australia, cat, kitten, regulation, sell, Victoria