The Contract and Proof of Sale
A reputable breeder hands over a written contract or receipt that names the kitten, the parents where relevant, the price agreed, and any conditions such as a health guarantee period or a return clause if you cannot keep the cat. Read the return clause carefully, because a breeder who will take a kitten back at any age is showing you something important about their priorities. If breeding restrictions, neutering expectations, or a first vet check within a set window are part of the deal, they should be written here rather than mentioned in passing on collection day.
Health and Vaccination Records You Can Show a Vet
You should receive a record of every vaccination already given, with dates and the product details recorded by the veterinarian who gave them, plus notes on worming and any other preventive care the kitten has had. A brief health summary from the breeder's vet, or a note of a recent examination, helps your own vet continue care without repeating work or guessing what is still due. If the kitten had any early issue, even something minor like a mild stomach upset that resolved, that belongs in writing too rather than being smoothed over.
Microchip, Registration Papers, and Parent Health Information
If the kitten is microchipped, you need the chip number and clear instructions for transferring the registration into your name and address, because an untransferred chip still points to the breeder if your cat is ever found. Registration or ancestry papers should match what was promised when you reserved the kitten, including the registered names of the parents. Where health testing of the parents was part of your decision, ask for copies or written results you can keep, not just a verbal assurance that testing happened.
The Everyday Handover Notes That Prevent a Rough First Week
Good paperwork is not only official documents. A written note of the exact food the kitten is eating, how much and how often, the litter type used, and the routine the litter has been following helps you keep everything familiar while the home itself is new. Sudden food changes on top of a move are a common recipe for loose stools and a miserable first week, so this sheet matters more than it looks. If the breeder includes a small supply of the current food, the note tells you what to buy when it runs out.
What to Do If Something Is Missing
Ask before the balance is paid, while the breeder can still print, copy, or request the document. A missing vaccination record can usually be confirmed with the breeder's practice, and a missing chip transfer form can be sorted on the spot. Reluctance to provide any paperwork at all, or pressure to take the kitten before records are ready, is information worth taking seriously. File everything together the moment you get home, because loose papers in a kitchen drawer vanish exactly when a vet asks for them. Storing the contract, chip details, and health record in KinsLe's Pet Passport means your kitten's documents travel as one ready packet to vet visits, boarding, and future handoffs.