The GCCF Breeders Scheme

‘ The GCCF was established as an independent body in 1910, and health and welfare is at the heart of everything we do.  A principle aim is to encourage Responsible Breeding of pedigree cats and Responsible Owning of all cats, pedigree or otherwise – that is why we set up the original GCCF Breeder Scheme in 2013, to help us achieve that objective.

St-Elmo

“Breeders who have signed up to the GCCF Breeder Scheme have shown their commitment to the standards required by the scheme’s code of ethics.”

“In April 2021, a small review group was set up to look at the Scheme in depth, and how it could be improved and strengthened, and the views of the wider Cat Fancy were surveyed to gain insight into how breeders felt about the original scheme. Following the feedback, the review group decided to seek guidance from Kennel Club on how they set up their scheme, which includes inspection. The review group has since re-written the guidance for the new scheme, for both Members and Assessors, as the scheme will now include inspection of breeders’ premises. Some aspects of the original scheme are kept, including provision of correct paperwork to new kitten owners, immunisation, details of diet, worming regime, copies of any health testing undertaken for the parents of the kitten, and correct breeding records kept. The scheme lays down minimum requirements which must be met such as size of cattery and runs, lighting and heating, and suitable requirements for queens and kittens. “

During the review of the Breeders Scheme the scheme was closed to new to members. The new scheme launched in January 2023 but due to a shortage of inspectors St-Elmo was not visited until September 2023.

Following the visit the inspector stated

Summary – “This is somewhere I’d love to live if I was a cat. The house is definitely a people/cat partnership, very well thought out from the cats’ perspective. Jo is knowledgeable about her breed and cat welfare generally and striving for best practice at all times.”