As a condition of membership, members agree to abide by the FASA Constitution and Rules. Members who breed cats must also follow the FASA Cat Breeding Rules and Code of Conduct.
Code of Conduct and Rules for Breeders
New breeders applying for a cattery prefix, and existing breeders joining FASA, must be FASA members and hold a Dog and Cat Management Board breeder registration number that is renewed annually. They must read, understand, and agree to these rules.
Breeding
- The breeder or cattery must hold a registered FASA prefix and a current Dog and Cat Management Board Breeder Registration Number, applied for through FASA.
- The cattery or cat-housing area must be clean, free from undue odour (apart from the possible odour where a stud cat is housed), and comply with the South Australian Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals.
- Cats and kittens must be healthy, happy, and active, with no more animals than the breeder and family can effectively care for.
- Cats and kittens must be raised with physical and mental stimulation, and kittens should be handled regularly and individually.
- Kittens should be placed only where the breeder genuinely believes the new owner will provide a life-long commitment to responsible pet ownership.
- Breeders must aim to improve or maintain the breed standard, not breed solely for commercial purposes, and remain familiar with relevant South Australian standards and guidelines.
- Breeders must not knowingly sell cats or kittens to commercial wholesalers or retail pet dealers, or allow them to be given as prizes or competition donations. Relinquishment to a shelter is a last resort.
- Female cats under 10 months of age must not normally be mated unless veterinary advice has been sought.
- Matings must be planned so that no queen produces more than two litters in a calendar year or more than eight litters in her lifetime.
- Cats must not intentionally be mated to a different breed or a domestic cat, except in a recognised FASA experimental breeding program or a CCCA-permitted outcross.
- Breeders must not knowingly misrepresent breed characteristics, falsely advertise, or mislead people about a cat's showing performance.
- Kittens sent interstate or overseas must be at least 12 weeks old.
- Breeders must not knowingly breed from cats carrying a genetically transmitted trait or defect that may affect breed health. They should know their breed's potential problems, test cats where possible, and remove carriers from breeding programs.
Sale of Kittens
The legacy rules note that South Australian legislation requires animals to be microchipped before sale and desexed by six months of age or within 28 days of the new owner taking possession. Registered breeders are exempt from mandatory desexing, but not mandatory microchipping.
- Kittens must not leave for a new home unless they are vaccinated, microchipped, in general good health, and at least 12 weeks old.
- Each kitten must have received at least two vaccinations before sale, generally at eight and 12 weeks, although another protocol is acceptable where two vaccinations occur before sale. The core F3 vaccination protects against Feline Enteritis, Feline Herpesvirus, and Feline Calicivirus. The breeder must give the new owner a current vaccination certificate signed by the registered veterinary surgeon who performed the vaccinations and health checks.
- Breeders are strongly encouraged to desex kittens before sale. If a kitten is not sold desexed, the new owner must arrange desexing within 28 days unless it is purchased by a registered breeder under a breeding arrangement.
- Breeders should provide continuing advice and support, not only advice at the time of sale.
- Breeders must provide their contact details in writing, written dietary information, and the signed vaccination certificate.
- Breeders should discuss responsible cat ownership, including identification, desexing, confinement, housing, stimulation, litter training, integration with other pets, and common behavioural problems.
- A sales contract should state the kitten or cat is in good health at sale. If illness occurs within seven days, the breeder should discuss options, which may include contributing to veterinary bills or accepting the kitten back and providing a full refund. The contract should cover desexing within 28 days if not already desexed, prevention of offspring unless a breeding arrangement applies, and whether the cat is a neutered pet, neutered show cat, or intact breeding cat.
- Where applicable, provide a FASA registered pedigree showing at least three generations, colours, registration numbers, and the breeder's name and address. When the kitten is registered, the FASA pedigree is posted to the new owner by the FASA Registrar. Provide FASA and club membership information or a link to the FASA website.
- Breeders should encourage purchasers to make contact with questions or concerns and respond in a timely manner.
- When selling a stud male, the breeder must ensure the purchaser understands the care, responsibility, and facilities required. The purchaser must be a registered breeder with facilities that meet the breeding guidelines.
- Breeders must not knowingly misrepresent a breed's characteristics, falsely advertise cats, or mislead people about the health or quality of any cat or kitten.
Registration
- All litters must be litter registered and all kittens individually registered.
- Where a cat or kitten is registered to the new owner, the paperwork must be sent to the Registrar as soon as practical and within two months of sale.
- Breeders must explain the meaning of breeding, non-breeding, pet, show, and not-for-show registration status. Non-breeding or pet status means the cat is to be desexed and that any progeny cannot be registered. New owners must sign the relevant registration agreement, and both parties should retain signed copies of any other agreements.
Penalties
Failure to comply with these rules results in a first warning. Further offences may suspend a breeder from registering cats and kittens with FASA for up to 12 months. A further contravention after suspension may result in a permanent ban; the Dog and Cat Management Board will be advised of suspensions.
By completing the declaration below, the applicant agrees to abide by the FASA Cat Breeding Rules and Code of Conduct and acknowledges the stated penalties for non-compliance.