Being asked to fill in a form to buy a cat can feel intrusive, and some buyers resent it. It is worth understanding what the form is for, because it tells you a great deal about the breeder – and answering it well materially improves your chances.
Quick answer: Kitten application form — here’s the short version. Always verify registration and meet the kitten (or video call) before paying — our Russian Blue kittens for sale come with full health records.
Why breeders screen
- The cat will outlive the impulse. A Russian Blue commonly lives fifteen years or more. Breeders are placing a cat through house moves, relationship changes, new babies, new jobs and relocations.
- They are accountable for the placement. Registered breeders operate under codes of practice, and a cat that ends up in a shelter reflects on them.
- Most contracts require return. Ethical breeders require that the cat come back to them if the owner cannot keep it. Screening reduces how often that happens.
- Some homes genuinely do not suit the breed. Russian Blues are reserved and bond strongly. A household with constant traffic, frequent long absences and no interest in a quiet companion may suit a different breed better.
- Supply is limited. With a few kittens a year and a long waitlist, breeders can afford to be selective. How long waitlists run.
The questions, and what they are really assessing
| Question | What the breeder is really asking |
|---|---|
| Who lives in the household? | Are there people who have not agreed to this? Is anyone allergic? |
| Do you have children, and how old? | Will the cat be handled roughly? Are the children old enough to respect a cat? |
| Do you have other pets? | Introduction risk. Are existing animals vaccinated and desexed? |
| Renting or owned? If renting, does your lease allow cats? | The most common cause of unplanned rehoming in Australia is a landlord saying no |
| Will the cat be indoors only? | Welfare and lifespan. Indoor cats live substantially longer |
| How long will the cat be alone each day? | Russian Blues are social; very long daily absences suit some cats badly |
| Have you had cats before? What happened to them? | Experience, and whether previous cats were rehomed or lost |
| Who is your vet? | Do you actually have one? Are you a person who uses veterinary care? |
| Why a Russian Blue specifically? | Have you researched, or do you like the colour? |
| What would you do if the cat developed a health problem? | Financial readiness and commitment |
| What would you do if your circumstances changed? | Will the cat be surrendered, or returned to the breeder? |
| Are you prepared for the cat to be returned to us if you cannot keep it? | Do you accept the contract clause? |
How to answer well
The consistent mistake buyers make is answering with what they think the breeder wants to hear. Experienced breeders have read hundreds of forms and spot idealised answers immediately. Specific and honest beats polished.
- Be specific. “Two adults, one child aged seven, a nine-year-old desexed female domestic cat, three-bedroom owned home with a secured courtyard” is far more useful than “a loving family”.
- Be honest about gaps. “We work full time and the cat would be alone about eight hours on weekdays – we are considering a companion cat for that reason” reads as thoughtful. Claiming constant presence when it is not true will come out later.
- Show you have researched. Referencing something specific – the breed’s reserve nature, the twelve-week age, the indoor recommendation – demonstrates you have read. Temperament, indoor versus outdoor, one kitten or two.
- Answer the vet question with a real practice. If you do not have one yet, say you have researched local clinics and will register before collection. That is a good answer.
- Address the lease question directly. If renting, state that your lease permits pets, or that you have written landlord permission. This is the single most common reason placements fail.
- Be straightforward about why you want this breed. “I have read that Russian Blues are quiet and bond closely, which suits our apartment and our working hours” is honest and specific.
What the form tells you about the breeder
Screening runs both ways. A good application form tells you:
- The breeder cares where their cats end up – which means they will also care about you afterwards
- They have thought about the failure modes of cat ownership, which correlates with having thought about breeding
- They intend to say no to some buyers, which means they are not simply selling
- They will likely be a genuine resource to you for the cat’s life
Conversely:
- No questions at all is a red flag. A seller who does not care where the kitten goes is a seller who has not thought carefully about breeding it either. 12 breeder red flags.
- An extremely intrusive form demanding income evidence, home inspections or references from three people, with no willingness to explain why, can indicate control rather than care. Reasonable screening is proportionate.
- A form but no contract. Screening without a written agreement is theatre. What to look for in a contract.
What we ask
Our enquiry process is deliberately conversational rather than a long form, but we do need to know the substance of the above: who is in your household, other pets and their ages, children, whether you rent and whether cats are permitted, whether the cat will be indoors, your working hours, your experience with cats, your location and whether you need delivery, and your timing.
Send that in your first message and you will get a substantive reply quickly. See contact us and our adoption process, and how to reserve a kitten for the full sequence.
If you are declined
It happens to good people. Common reasons:
- The household does not suit this breed at this time – often a timing issue rather than a judgement
- An existing pet or very young children create an introduction risk the breeder is not comfortable with
- The lease does not permit cats
- The breeder has committed kittens to families already on the list
- The kitten the buyer wants is not the kitten that suits them
Ask what specifically did not work. A thoughtful breeder will tell you, and sometimes will suggest a different age, a different kitten, or a future litter. Being declined by one cattery is not a verdict on you as an owner.
The framing that helps
Treat the form as the first half of a conversation rather than a hurdle. Breeders who screen are breeders who will answer your phone call in three years when you have a question about your cat’s weight.
Quick answers
Why do breeders make me fill in an application form?
They are assessing whether your home will suit the cat for its whole life, which is often fifteen years or more, and they are usually contractually responsible for the cat if you cannot keep it.
What is the most important question on a kitten application?
Usually the housing one – whether you rent and whether your lease permits cats. Landlord objections are among the most common causes of unplanned rehoming.
Should I answer honestly if something is not ideal?
Yes. Breeders have read hundreds of forms and spot idealised answers. Honest specifics, with your plan to address them, read as maturity rather than as a problem.
What if my application is declined?
Ask what specifically did not work. It is often timing or a mismatch with that particular kitten rather than a judgement on you, and another cattery or litter may suit well.
Related reading
Kitten Application Form: FAQs
How much does it cost to act on this?
When readers ask about kitten application form, the budget question comes first: our Russian Blue kittens are $2,500 with a $250 deposit, vet-checked and fully documented — see current Russian Blue kittens for sale.
Should I visit the cattery?
Yes — kitten application form always goes better when you see where kittens are raised. If distance prevents a visit, insist on a live video call; see what a good cattery visit looks like.
What should I do next about kitten application form?
Read our 99 kitten-buying FAQs, then enquire — we reply within 24 hours and will happily talk through kitten application form for your situation.
Independent guidance: Verify pedigree and registration standards through TICA, The International Cat Association before you pay a deposit.
Ready to meet your kitten?
Our Russian Blue kittens are raised in our family home, vet-checked, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and socialised before they travel. We reserve with a $250 deposit and deliver Australia-wide.