Australian cat council kitten rehoming standards
Australia's three cat fancy council's — the Australian Cat Federation (ACF), the Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia (CCCA), and Australian National Cats Inc. (ANCATS) — collectively cover 18 active member bodies across every state and territory. All require kittens to stay with their mother and littermates well beyond the 8-week legal minimum set by state and territory governments.
This page is the verified body-by-body reference. Use the state and territory sections below to see the minimum kitten rehoming age, vaccination, microchipping and desexing requirements set by each body's own published code. State and territory government requirements are also included.
- 18 active Australian cat fancy bodies set codes of ethics governing kitten rehoming. Seven require 12 weeks outright. The remaining eleven set 10 weeks as the minimum, with several explicitly preferring 12.
- No active body permits rehoming below 10 weeks. State law generally sets 8 weeks as the legal floor where one exists.
- The body's own code is one part of the picture. State law also reinforces requirements — in several states that means desexing, microchipping or full vaccination must happen before a kitten goes to its new home.
- For the welfare case behind the 12-week standard, see How old should a kitten be before going to its new home? For the legal context, see Australian animal welfare legislation.
How to use this reference
The 18 active cat fancy member bodies are listed below by state and territory. Tap the councils name to expand the detail. Each entry shows the body's umbrella affiliation (ACF, CCCA or ANCATS), what its own code requires, and any further requirements according to state law.
New South Wales
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: NSW (also covers ACT residents).
Minimum age: Kittens must not leave the breeder before 10 weeks of age.
Desexing: Required before sale. Cats and kittens must be desexed before being transferred from the breeder. A vet exemption pathway is available where a kitten is medically unfit for early desexing.
Microchipping: Required. Kittens must be microchipped at the time of registration or transfer.
Vaccinations: An F3 vaccination must be administered by a vet at least two weeks before sale, and the kitten must have a vet health check.
State law: NSW Animal Welfare Code of Practice — Breeding Dogs and Cats sets 8 weeks as the minimum. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Puppy Farming) Act 2024 commenced 1 December 2025 and has tightened breeder requirements.
Umbrella: Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia. Coverage: New South Wales.
Minimum age: A kitten shall not be transferred or sold under 10 weeks of age.
Desexing: Recommended before sale. If not desexed before sale, the breeder must instruct the purchaser to have it done by 6 months of age, and follow up.
Microchipping: Required before sale. Each kitten must be fully weaned, healthy, vaccinated, microchipped and litter-trained before sale.
Vaccinations: At least one vaccination, commenced at least 14 days before the new owner takes possession.
State law: NSW Animal Welfare Code of Practice — Breeding Dogs and Cats sets 8 weeks as the minimum. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Puppy Farming) Act 2024 commenced 1 December 2025 and has tightened breeder requirements.
Australian Capital Territory
Umbrella: Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia. Coverage: Australian Capital Territory.
Minimum age: All kittens sold by a member must be at least 10 weeks of age.
Desexing: Not specifically addressed by the CCI code — but ACT law fills the gap (see below).
Microchipping: Not specifically addressed by the CCI code — but ACT law fills the gap (see below).
Vaccinations: At least one F3 vaccination is required if administered after 8 weeks of age, or two if administered before 8 weeks. A vaccination certificate signed by a vet must be provided to the buyer.
State law: ACT law requires microchipping for all cats over 8 weeks and desexing by 3 months.
Note: Cats NSW also covers ACT residents under its ACF affiliation; see the New South Wales section above.
Victoria
Umbrella: Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia. Coverage: Victoria.
Minimum age: Kittens must not be separated from their mother before 7 weeks (except under veterinary advice) and not rehomed before 10 weeks of age, preferably 12 weeks.
Desexing: Required before sale. Required by both the FCCV code and the Victorian Code of Practice for Breeding and Rearing Businesses.
Microchipping: Required before sale, under both the FCCV code and Victorian law.
Vaccinations: At least one vaccination, given at least 8 days prior to sale.
State law: Victoria's Domestic Animals Act 1994 and Code of Practice for the Operation of Breeding and Rearing Businesses set the legal floor. The FCCV is recognised as an Applicable Organisation under both the Domestic Animals Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Victoria.
Minimum age: Breeders shall not part with possession of a kitten before it is 10 weeks old, has commenced its recommended vaccination programme, and is microchipped.
Desexing: Required before sale. All cats or kittens sold or rehomed must be desexed prior to leaving the breeder.
Microchipping: Required before sale.
Vaccinations: Current vaccinations required per manufacturer's recommendations, covering Feline Infectious Enteritis and Feline Respiratory Disease (calici and herpes).
State law: Victoria's Domestic Animals Act 1994 and Code of Practice for the Operation of Breeding and Rearing Businesses set the legal floor.
Queensland
Umbrella: Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia. Coverage: Queensland.
Minimum age: A kitten shall not leave the breeder's premises under 12 weeks of age, allowing vaccination to be commenced before sale.
Desexing: Required before sale. Pet kittens must be desexed before going to new home.
Microchipping: Required for all kittens in the litter.
Vaccinations: Required — kitten must be fully weaned, healthy, vaccinated and litter-trained before leaving.
State law: Queensland's Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 require all breeders to hold a Breeder Identification Number (BIN), and all cats to be microchipped before sale by 12 weeks.
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Queensland.
Minimum age: No kitten may be sold or given away under 10 weeks of age.
Desexing: Required before sale. All kittens must be altered (neutered or spayed) before going to their new homes.
Microchipping: Required before sale, with the chip number transferred into the new owner's name.
Vaccinations: At least one vaccination required before sale.
State law: Queensland's Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 require all breeders to hold a Breeder Identification Number (BIN), and all cats to be microchipped before sale by 12 weeks.
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Queensland.
Minimum age: No kitten may be sold under 10 weeks of age.
Desexing: Required before sale of pet kittens.
Microchipping: Required before sale, after a full veterinary examination.
Vaccinations: Vaccination certificate must be provided. Kittens under 12 weeks are acknowledged as not fully vaccinated, and breeders must ensure new owners are fully informed.
State law: Queensland's Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 require all breeders to hold a Breeder Identification Number (BIN), and all cats to be microchipped before sale by 12 weeks.
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Queensland.
Minimum age: No kitten may be sold under 10 weeks of age, and preferably not until 12 weeks.
Desexing: Handled through pet-only registration status — for "PET ONLY" registrations, pedigree papers may be withheld until proof of desexing is supplied to the breeder.
Microchipping: Not specifically addressed pre-sale by the QICC code — but Queensland law requires it (see below).
Vaccinations: Required, per current veterinary advice. Kittens sold under 10–12 weeks are acknowledged as not fully vaccinated.
State law: Queensland law requires all cats to be microchipped before sale by 12 weeks.
South Australia
Umbrella: Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia. Coverage: South Australia.
Minimum age: Kittens must not go to new homes unless they are at least 12 weeks of age, double vaccinated, microchipped, desexed, and in general good health.
Desexing: Required before sale — from 12 weeks of age or 1 kg body weight.
Microchipping: Required before sale.
Vaccinations: Two vaccinations required before sale, signed by a registered vet.
State law: SA's Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 requires microchipping by 12 weeks or before transfer, with breeder identification through Dogs and Cats Online (DACO). The Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Act 2025 was passed on 18 June 2025; the first tranche commenced 17 November 2025, and a new breeder licensing scheme is expected to commence in 2027.
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: South Australia.
Minimum age: No kitten should be sold at less than 12 weeks of age.
Desexing: Handled through "Non-breeding" transfer status.
Microchipping: Not specifically addressed by the GCCFSA code — but SA law requires it (see below).
Vaccinations: Required — immunisation against Feline Infectious Enteritis and Feline Respiratory Diseases, with the final effective FIE injection given at not less than 12 weeks of age.
State law: SA's Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 requires microchipping by 12 weeks or before transfer, and desexing by 6 months for cats born after July 2018 (registered breeders are exempt). The Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Act 2025 was passed on 18 June 2025; the first tranche commenced 17 November 2025, and a new breeder licensing scheme is expected to commence in 2027.
Western Australia
Umbrella: Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia. Coverage: Western Australia.
Minimum age: Kittens may not go to new homes unless they are vaccinated, in general good health, and at least 12 weeks of age.
Desexing: Required before sale. In line with WA legislation, all kittens must be desexed prior to sale to a new owner. A voucher option applies in limited circumstances.
Microchipping: Required before sale, with the breeder responsible for registering the new owner against the chip's details.
Vaccinations: At least two vaccinations required, following vet recommendations — minimum F3.
State law: WA's Cat Act 2011 prohibits the sale or transfer of cats unless microchipped and sterilised (or with a prepaid sterilisation voucher). In practice, this pushes the rehoming age above 8 weeks regardless of the council's age clause.
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Western Australia.
Minimum age: No kitten should be sold until at least 10/12 weeks of age. The breeder must ensure the kitten is of sufficient maturity to cope with the move to a new home.
Desexing: Handled contractually — transfer is made for either "Breeding" or "Non-Breeding" status. Signing the transfer form is a contract to have the kitten desexed.
Microchipping: Required — "microchip all cats and kittens as soon as practical."
Vaccinations: Required — immunisation against Feline Infectious Enteritis, Feline Rhinotracheitis and Feline Calicivirus (Fe3 vaccination).
State law: WA's Cat Act 2011 prohibits the sale or transfer of cats unless microchipped and sterilised (or with a prepaid sterilisation voucher).
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Western Australia.
Minimum age: A kitten should be no less than 10 weeks of age when the new owners take it home.
Desexing: Handled contractually — the breeder must ensure the new owner understands a non-breeding pet is to be desexed at the appropriate age, and follow up.
Microchipping: Not specifically addressed by the COAWA code — but WA law requires it (see below).
Vaccinations: A first vaccination must be given between 6 and 8 weeks if the kitten is going to its new home at 10 weeks. The owner must be told the kitten is not fully vaccinated and needs further injections at 12 and 16 weeks.
State law: WA's Cat Act 2011 prohibits the sale or transfer of cats unless microchipped and sterilised (or with a prepaid sterilisation voucher).
Tasmania
Umbrella: Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia. Coverage: Tasmania.
Minimum age: Except in exceptional circumstances, no kitten shall be sold or transferred under 12 weeks of age, allowing for vaccination and the necessary period for the vaccine to take effect.
Desexing: Not specifically addressed by the CCCT code — but Tasmanian law requires it (see below).
Microchipping: Not specifically addressed by the CCCT code — but Tasmanian law requires it (see below).
Vaccinations: Required — the 12-week minimum age explicitly allows for vaccination and the necessary period for the vaccine to take effect.
State law: Tasmania's Cat Management Act 2009 (with 2021–2022 amendments) requires cats to be desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, free of external parasites, treated for internal worms, and provided with a vet health check certificate before sale.
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Tasmania.
Minimum age: A kitten will be no less than 10 weeks of age when it leaves the breeder's care.
Desexing: Required before sale — all kittens sold as companion pets must be desexed prior to leaving the breeder's care.
Microchipping: Required — all kittens must be microchipped.
Vaccinations: A first vaccination must be given between 6 and 8 weeks if the kitten is going to its new home at 10 weeks.
State law: Tasmania's Cat Management Act 2009 (with 2021–2022 amendments) requires cats to be desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, free of external parasites, treated for internal worms, and provided with a vet health check certificate before sale.
Northern Territory
Umbrella: Australian Cat Federation. Coverage: Northern Territory.
Minimum age: No kitten should be sold until at least 12 weeks of age. The breeder must ensure the kitten is of sufficient maturity to cope with the move.
Vaccinations: Required — Fe3 (Feline Infectious Enteritis, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus), with the final effective injection given at not less than 12 weeks.
State law: The Northern Territory's Animal Protection Act 2018, with the Animal Protection and Related Legislation Amendment Act 2025, commenced 3 November 2025.
National — ANCATS
Umbrella: Standalone — not affiliated with ACF or CCCA. Internationally affiliated with the World Cat Federation. Coverage: National (single registry across all states and territories).
Minimum age: A member shall not sell or otherwise transfer any kitten under 12 weeks of age.
Desexing: Required before the kitten goes to it's new home.
Microchipping: Required before sale.
Vaccinations: Required before sale.
State law: ANCATS members are subject to the law of the state in which they breed. See Australian animal welfare legislation for state-by-state detail.
State and territory law
Cat council code of ethics and requirements are one part of the picture — state and territory laws then set the legal minimums - usually covering minimum age of rehoming, microchipping, and desexing.
This matters most in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, where state law independently requires desexing, microchipping, and (in some cases) vet health checks before sale. A breeder in those states must comply with both the code and the law where and if they differ.
For full detail on state and territory legislation, see Australian animal welfare legislation.
All cat breeders listed on Perfect Pets are verified members of ANCATS, or an ACF or CCCA affiliated body. Every new breeder application is manually reviewed by our team before any breeder profile or listing is published. Every new account is thoroughly checked, and none of this process is automated. The cat council standards on this page describe the framework Perfect Pets cat breeders work within.
For more on how membership works see Australian cat councils and information about our verification process.
Related pages
How old should a kitten be before going to its new home?
The welfare case behind the 12-week standard, the peer-reviewed research, what can go wrong when kittens go home too early, and what to look for in a kitten ready for a new home.
Australian cat councils
Overview of the three Australian cat fancy councils — ACF, CCCA and ANCATS — how they're structured, what they do, and why Perfect Pets requires registered breeder membership.
Australian animal welfare legislation
Verified state-by-state reference to current animal welfare Acts, Regulations and administering departments across all Australian states and territories.
How to verify a breeder in Australia — state-by-state checklist
The definitive guide to mandatory breeder ID numbers (BIN, Source Number, DACO) across every state and territory, with direct links to official government registers.
Sources
Information on this page is sourced from each body's own published code of ethics, the umbrella codes of the Australian Cat Federation and the Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia, and the ANCATS Code of Ethics. State and territory law references are drawn from current Acts and Regulations — see Australian animal welfare legislation for the full reference.
For the Codes of ethics for the Australian cat councils - visit the ACF, the CCCA, and ANCATS websites, and the individual member bodies directly.