How to check a breeder and buy a puppy or kitten safely in England

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Buy from a verifiable breeder or approach a reputable rescue. Do not accept a car-park handover or pay before establishing the animal's origin. Follow the checks in GOV.UK: buying a cat or dog ↗.

Meet where the animal was raised

See the youngster with its mother and litter in its usual home. Ask about age, conditions and history. Puppies and kittens should not leave before eight weeks. Refusal to show the mother, urgent delivery offers or changing explanations are reasons to pause rather than transfer money faster.

A visit does not replace other checks. The seller should give consistent answers and provide records relating to this particular animal.

Check the seller and any licence

Obtain the seller's full name or business name, address and agreement. Where the activity requires licensing, request the number and issuing council and verify them with that council. Do not treat every private seller's lack of a licence as proof of an offence: applicability depends on the activity. GOV.UK: responsible seller checks ↗.

For an imported animal, check origin and lawful import documentation. “It has a European passport” does not answer every question.

Obtain health records

Request veterinary examination, vaccination, parasite-treatment and inherited-condition screening records, plus known health problems. Match the birth date, microchip and description. Ask an independent vet to explain unclear results before buying, particularly where long-term treatment is possible.

Dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks. Cats in England have a 20-week deadline, so a young kitten may not yet be chipped. Correct keeper records are needed when ownership changes. GOV.UK: microchipping ↗.

Record payment and future care terms

Read deposit, refund, health-obligation and support terms and obtain a receipt or payment confirmation. The purchase price is only the start: budget for food, equipment, insurance or a reserve and veterinary care. RCVS: veterinary fees ↗.

Do not skip checks because someone threatens that another buyer will take the animal today. If concerned, save the advertisement and contact the relevant council or welfare organisation through its official channel.