How to Post a Cat Wanted Ad and Get Replies in Canada

What kind of cat should you ask for?

Be specific, but not so narrow that no cat fits. Think about your household first.

• Kitten or adult: a kitten needs time, supervision and training; an adult's personality, litter habits and health are already known, which often suits first-time owners and families with young children.
• Coat: long-haired cats need regular combing to prevent mats; short-haired cats need less grooming.
• Breed or mix: if you want a pedigree breed, name it and say whether you need registration papers from the Canadian Cat Association (CCA-AFC), TICA or CFA. Avoid asking for extreme features: International Cat Care says breeding for folded ears, very short legs, hairlessness and extreme flat faces should be actively discouraged.
• Temperament: calm lap cat, playful companion for another young cat, or a cat used to dogs.

What should a cat wanted ad include?

• Title: what you want and where, for example: Wanted, adult indoor cat, Winnipeg area.
• The cat: age range, sex, coat, breed or mix, and any must-haves.
• Your home: house or apartment, owned or rented with landlord permission, children's ages, other pets.
• Care: indoor only or a secure outdoor enclosure, your vet, and your plan for spay or neuter.
• Budget: what you can pay, and that you will pay at the handover.
• Area: your city and how far you can travel to meet a cat.

When it is ready, post your cat wanted ad and watch cat wanted ads near you to see what other people ask for. Owners can reply through PetzLover's messages; keep your phone number out of the ad text.

Can you keep a cat where you live?

Check before you post, so you can promise owners a home that will last.

• Lease or condo rules: get your landlord's permission in writing if you rent.
• City limits: Toronto and Calgary each allow no more than six cats in a home.
• Roaming: Calgary requires cats to stay on their owner's property; Toronto permits cats to roam but warns of cars, wildlife and disease. An indoor home is the safest offer to make.
• Licences: Toronto requires every cat to be licensed and wear its tag, Calgary requires a licence from three months of age, and Montreal requires one for every cat, indoor or outdoor.
• Spay, neuter and microchip: Montreal requires both for cats over six months, unless a vet gives a written medical reason.

How much should you budget for a cat in Canada?

Pedigree kittens cost much more than adoption, and prices vary by breed and region; for the Maine Coon, Dial A Vet puts kittens from reputable breeders at about C$1,000 to C$3,000. Stating a fair budget in your ad shows owners you are serious.

How do you avoid scams after posting a cat wanted ad?

Wanted ads attract fake sellers. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says animal frauds often begin with ads for lower-priced or free animals, most of them puppies or kittens, followed by one payment after another for shipping, vaccinations, certificates or insurance, and no animal at the end. The centre recorded 507 victims of pet scams in 2021, who lost more than C$700,000.

• Never pay a deposit by e-transfer, gift card, wire or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met.
• Be wary of a cat that must be shipped from another province or from abroad.
• Ask for a live video call with the cat, and run a reverse image search on the photos.
• Treat customs or permit fees as a warning sign: the CFIA sets no import restrictions on domestic cats under three months, and older cats need only a vet certificate showing rabies vaccination.

How do you check replies to your cat wanted ad?

1. Ask the owner why they are placing the cat, and for its age, health, litter habits and behaviour with people and pets.
2. Ask for the vet records, microchip number and, for a pedigree cat, registration papers.
3. For kittens, confirm they are at least 8 weeks old; Quebec prohibits separating a kitten from its mother earlier.
4. Arrange a live video call, then meet the cat where it lives.
5. Agree the price and terms in writing, pay at the handover, and transfer the microchip on the day.

Owners answering your ad may read how to respond to a cat wanted ad, so expect them to ask about your home too. If no private owner replies, how to adopt a kitten or cat and how to buy a kitten or cat cover the other routes.