Signing over Cat

Rummer

We have four cats and one of them has been living with our lovely neighbour for the last year and only pops in to our house occasionally. We have discussed with her signing over our cat so she is her legal owner. Our neighbour is keen for this to happen as are we but I just wondered how we go about it so that it is clear on both sides that the cat is hers? I can get her microchip details changed over but is there anything else we need to do?

McKneff

You need to do absolutley nothing else, as long as you both know and you change her chip so that if she's lost, her owner is found quickly then everything will be fine.

Shake hands on it if it helps :D

Rummer

I thought that would be the case, guess I am just worried that something will happen and I will have to pay the bills even though they will own her. I guess though if she is chipped to them then she will be theirs. Thank you for that response I just want everything to be clear.


Who do I contact the get the details changed is it the vet?

Gloomendoom

The vet would be my first port of call. If they can't do it then they will probably know who can.

I acquired a cat off a neighbour in similar circumstances just before I moved house. There was nothing more than a verbal "Would you like to take him with you?" followed by a "Oh, yes please".

dizziblonde

Very little to do really - we've had cats sign themselves over to us so to speak (showed up, refused to leave and his "owners" moved and left him so we didn't have much of a choice but to feed the little chap).

Microchipping is the main thing really.

Rummer

I just want to make sure that if she takes ill then they take responsibility. Not that she is likely too, I just don't want them to have all the perks and for me to foot the bill which is why we approached them in the first place as our cat clearly loves them to bits.

tankgirl1

Rummer wrote: »

I just want to make sure that if she takes ill then they take responsibility. Not that she is likely too, I just don't want them to have all the perks and for me to foot the bill which is why we approached them in the first place as our cat clearly loves them to bits.

I would create some sort of form, signing ownership, and all the costs that entails (vacc, worming, fleas, illness, accidents, ins etc etc) over from you to your neighbour, to be signed by both, and with a mention that they agree to microchip details changing.

If you are REALLY worried, I would ask your vet if they would be happy to both witness, and countersign this change of ownership, but I don't know if they will be happy to do that, and if they do agree, they would probably want proof of ID and address etc from both parties.

In reality it probably won't be a problem to change ownership with just a verbal agreement and a change of chip details, but just in case, it's good to be covered.

There_Goes_Trouble

If you dig out the microchip paperwork it will tell you how to transfer ownership. You just have to fill in the right bits and send the paperwork back to them, they will then issue a new set of documents to the new owner. There may be a fee for this.

Ownership is as simple as buying and selling anything else. Charge a nominal fee, even just £1 will do. Write a receipt and both sign it and the sale is complete. Get a witness to sign it too if you're worried. It might sound grim to think you are 'selling' your pet, but in reality if money has changed hands and you have a written signed receipt then that will go a long way to proving ownership if it should be needed.