Kittens.....available in mid-May

[KBCraig]

In case there was some double-secret regulation not contained within the law itself, I decided to ask the folks in charge of these licenses, the NH Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industry. Here's my question to them:

To settle a friendly disagreement, I hope you can direct my query to whomever can give a definitive answer.

Here is the question at issue: Is a license required to sell a cat in NH?

Here are the two positions:
One party believes that RSA 437:1 makes it illegal for anyone to sell a cat or kitten in NH without a license, and that this explains the dearth of classified ads for cats.

The other party believes that RSA 437:1 only requires licenses for those "engaged in business", and once that threshold is met, it applies not just to cats, but also dogs and all other common pets, and applies whether the animal is sold or given without cost.

To sum up: are cats treated differently from dogs? And is a license required to sell or give away cats (or any other pets) on the part of a private individual who is not engaged in the business of pet sales or adoption?

Thanks for your time,

Kevin Craig

And here is the reply. As you see, cats are actually less restricted than dogs.

Hi Kevin,

1) Are cats treated differently from dogs?

The only difference in the treatment of cats and dogs is cat breeders do not have to abide by the Commercial Kennel licensing requirement.

2) Is a license required to sell or give away cats (or any other pets) on the part of  a private individual who is not engaged in the business of pet sales or adoption?

A license is not required to sell or give away cats, or any other pets as long as they are the original "stock" of the individual, such as in the breeder.

Cindy
Cynthia M. Heisler
Administrative Secretary
NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food
Division of Animal Industry
State House Annex - 25 Capitol St
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-2404; Fax: 271-1109
Web Site: www.agriculture.nh.gov

[KBCraig]

Hey, Sandy...

I wanted to follow up, to make it clear that I wasn't posting the "official state answer" in some kind of BOO-yah, in yo face kind of way. I'm glad you're wrong, but only because cats can be sold freely, not in a "I'm right, you're wrong" kind of way.

There are lots of urban legends out there about what is legal and what is not. Most of them are wrong.

Kevin

[Friday]

Hey Kevin,

I didn't even care enough to check back on this thread until now.  I'm amazed that it meant so much to you, you had to post three different times that you feel I'm wrong.  Hope it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[Friday]

My cat had 5 adorable kittens 3 weeks ago. I figure I need to start finding homes for them!

I will take individual pictures of them when my battery has re-charged. In the meantime, this is a picture of them when they were a day old.

They will be social cats....as all of my cats are very social creatures. They've been ahndles from day one.

It looks like you've got an orange one there.  Is it a boy or a girl?

[KBCraig]

Hey Kevin,

I didn't even care enough to check back on this thread until now.  I'm amazed that it meant so much to you, you had to post three different times that you feel I'm wrong.

I guess that makes us even, since you posted three times that it's illegal to sell cats without a license.

Hope it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

You always do, Sandy. 

[Friday]

So... is the gender of the orange one a secret?  Or has he/she found a home already?

[ny2nh]

Sorry to take a bit to post a reply....been really busy with more time-sensitive things than the kittens!

The cream colored one is definitely cream colored - he's not orange by any means. And he's a boy from what I can tell!

I really will post new pics - but for some reason either my camera battery isnlt hodling a charge or my camera is draining it while it is off....everytime I go to take a picture, it won't turn on and I have to re-charge the battery. Ugh!

They are so damned cute - running all over the place, easting solid food and I think learning the concept of the litter box!

[ny2nh]

The black one and the gray one with the cream spot are females. The tweo gray ones in front and the cream one are males. They are now 4 weeks old.....eating food and using the litter box....and crawling all over the place!!!!

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[TackleTheWorld]

<baby talk>
ooh so cute.
such lido paws,
such lido toes,
iddy biddy kitties!
</baby talk>

[JonM]

Hey any of those kittens unspoken for? 

Of course, one of the reasons I would like a cat or two is the various little woodland creatures which want to make my home their home.  Found a vole in the basement last night . . . captured and released it outside, hope my plants don't regret that.

[Kat Kanning]

Is the mama kitty a mouser?

[Lloyd Danforth]

My sister had to move the cat food off of the floor due to her two, clueless cats, apparently, entertaining themselves watching mice eat their food.

[ny2nh]

All of the kittens are settled in their new homes.

The mom kitty likes to chase butterflies and bugs....don't know about mice.....as I don't have any.

Thanks for the inquiry anyways.

[JonM]

I have a line on a white cat that likes to go outside and has, so I am told, confirmed kills.  Death to chipmunks!  Or is that not a good name for a cat?