Importing Cats into the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Registry

CHANGES DUE TO BREXIT AFTER 31st DECEMBER 2020 - please see information on General Notices page of the website

PLEASE NOTE THAT WITH EFFECT FROM MONDAY 20TH JULY 2020 WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING CERTIFIED PEDIGREES FOR IMPORTS BY EMAIL. THIS WAS A TEMPORARY MEASURE DUE TO CORONAVIRUS. THESE NOW NEED TO BE SENT TO THE OFFICE.  WE WILL HOWEVER ACCEPT THEM BY EMAIL IF THEY COME DIRECTLY FROM THE OVERSEAS REGISTRATION BODY. ALL OTHER IMPORT DOCUMENTS WILL STILL BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. THANK YOU.

BEFORE CONTEMPLATING IMPORTING A CAT PLEASE TAKE TIME TO MAKE THESE IMPORTANT CHECKS:

Check the Registration Policy for the breed you are importing - an overseas registration organisation may allow breeds/colours not allowed by the GCCF Registration Policy for your chosen breed.

Check the following important GCCF Rule:   

GCCF Rules, section 1: 1d

Kittens resulting from matings between i) mother to son, ii) father to daughter and iii) full siblings will be registered on the Non-Active Register unless dispensation for Active Registration has been granted by the relevant BAC and/or approved by Board of Directors. This must be supplied when applying for registration or at any other time the breeder makes an application to transfer the cat from the Non- Active to the Active Register NOTE: Details on dispensation can be found in the GCCF Breeding Policy Document 4:10. (Existing rules 1d & 1e become 1e & 1f respectively) (added / amended 02.03.11).

T.R.A.C.E.S.

APHA (the arm of DEFRA dealing with animal imports/exports) are now rigourously enforcing T.R.A.C.E.S for movement of cats/dogs via APHA officers checking paperwork at the ports/Eurotunnel.

Cats/dogs traveling within the EU, to or from the UK and who are changing ownership MUST be registered for TRACES (an inter-governmental pan European online system) by the breeder's vet in the country of export - this generates an ITAHC (health certificate) which must accompany the animal, along with its EU Pet Passport.  The animal must be declared to the new owner's APHA office, on the appropriate paperwork, within no less than 24 hours of its arrival within the UK.

Cats, dogs and ferrets traveling into the UK from the EU where there is a change of ownership may not use PETS (pet passport scheme) and to do so in these circumstances is a breach of UK legislation.  Over the last few months, animals have been seized and quarantined and/or returned to the country of origin due to the sudden enforcement of this at the ports.  These animals are also liable to euthanasia if the importing/exporting parties are unable to meet the huge cost of quarantine/fines for seized animals.

In order to register an imported cat with the GCCF, whether from overseas or within the UK from another registering body, the relevant documents listed below will be required, together with the appropriate fee:-

NEW - To have a personalised list for your particular breed emailed to you, please complete the form on this link 

ALL IMPORTED CATS WILL REQUIRE a completed GCCF Import Registration Application form, which can be printed from the Form and Downloads page, or is available from the GCCF Office at 5 King’s Castle Business Park, The Drove, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4AG. Proof of ownership that the cat is yours (Transfer or ownership certificate in your name).

GCCFI registered cats: a fee of only £12 is payable for these cats. Please check with a registrar at the office before applying as in many cases a certified pedigree may not be necessary.

Certified Pedigrees – Certified pedigrees will only be accepted from Bona Fide Registration bodies a list of which can be found by clicking here. Certified pedigrees must be ORIGINAL signed pedigrees and not copies (a photocopy is not acceptable) and will be returned when the registration is complete, the GCCF will keep copies. It is strongly advised that original documents are sent by tracked post of minimum RECORDED DELIVERY. GCCF will return originals by recorded delivery. The GCCF cannot accept responsibility for articles lost in the post.

All imports to the GCCF register must be microchipped and the number shown on the import's paperwork. (Rule introduced 26 June 2013)

If the registration of the cat has been endorsed "not for breeding" by the original registering organisation it shall be registered on the Non-Active Register.

PLEASE NOTE that names need to be restricted to 30 characters including spaces for the GCCF system. This means cats with names in excess of 30 characters will be truncated. Spaces can be omitted but not letters. For example:

MYFAVOURITEPUSS MR ENORMOUS WHISKERS would become MYFAVOURITEPUSS MR ENORMOUS WH or MYFAVOURITEPUSS MRENORMOUSWHIS. A space is always needed between the prefix and the name.

IF THE CAT IS NOT REGISTERED WITH ANY OTHER REGISTERING ORGANISATION AND THE PARENTS ARE NOT REGISTERED WITH THE GCCF:

It will be eligible for registration by the GCCF on receipt of the appropriate fee together with the following documentation:

IF THE CAT IS ALREADY REGISTERED WITH ANOTHER BONA FIDE REGISTERING ORGANISATION: 

It will be eligible for registration with the GCCF on receipt of the appropriate fee together with the following documentation:

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS THE FOLLOWING ARE NEEDED AS APPROPRIATE:

For cats entering England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands under Quarantine regulations, a copy of the clearance papers supplied when the cat leaves Quarantine, importation/quarantine certification as currently required by DEFRA, together with the microchip number.

For cats entering England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands under the Balai Directive, copies of all clearance papers are required including the Health Certificate (where appropriate) as currently required by DEFRA, evidence of rabies vaccination, and the microchip number.

For cats entering England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands under the Pet Passport Scheme, copies of all clearance papers are required including the Health Certificate (where appropriate), evidence of rabies vaccination, and the microchip number.

For cats entering the UK for showing purposes only, a Certified Pedigree in accordance with the  current GCCF Registration Policy for that breed, microchip number, a Certificate of Entirety if the cat is Male (required because Monorchid or Cryptorchidadult males are not eligible to be shown at GCCF shows), together with a letter stating the reason for registering with the GCCF i.e. wishing to show at GCCF shows.

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE CAT FANCY RECOMMENDS ALL CATS USED FOR BREEDING ARE MICROCHIPPED AND THUS IDENTIFIED ON REGISTRATION FORMS.

FEES FOR IMPORTING CATS INTO THE GCCF:

Exporting Cats from the United Kingdom

 The GCCF's requirements for exporting cats are:

To apply for a Certified Pedigree, please send the above mentioned documents and the appropriate fee. Certified pedigrees are available on A3 or A4 paper and can be laminated if required. Please check latest prices on the website or by calling the office on the number given below.

Please consult a Veterinary Surgeon or the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for advice on export regulations, inoculations, quarantine etc.

Please send all the necessary documents and fees to the GCCF Office, 5 King's Castle Business Park, The Drove, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4AG.

If you have any queries, please email, write to the GCCF Office or telephone: +44 (0)1278 427 575

A printable information sheet is available in .pdf format for you to download and print out - you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader