A sale agreement is intended to protect you, me, the cattery, and the kittens.

Please feel free to reach out for clarification.

This version of the contract is posted for informational purposes only and is subject to change.

Always read your contract before signing.

Signatures are due at the time of transfer, before the kitten leaves the cattery, but I recommend reading it and asking questions before making a reservation deposit.

3.      PURCHASE PRICE, PAYMENT TERMS, and TRANSFER (in US Dollars)

3.1  Total purchase price of the cat/kitten:___________________________________________

3.2 All transactions must be cash or Zelle and cleared by banking institutions before the kitten will be transferred.

3.3 Waitlist Registration (if applicable): $100 will hold a place in the kitten reservation queue in the order it was received. A buyer may “pass” on all kittens in a litter and retain their place in the reservation queue a maximum of 3 times.

3.3 The Waitlist Registration is not refundable for any reason and is credited toward the total purchase price of the kitten.

3.4 Reservation Deposit: $1000 is due at the time of cat reservation and is not refundable for any reason. It is credited toward the total purchase price of the kitten.

3.5 Reservations are considered a good faith agreement between Buyer and Breeder: the Breeder agrees to hold the kitten for the Buyer until the balance due is paid in full to the Breeder and the kitten is placed into the Buyer’s care at the approximate age of 12 weeks.

3.6 Buyer’s place in the reservation queue is forfeited if:
A) Buyer has failed to sign and return the Jolly Good Cat Adoption contract and paid the Reservation Deposit within 24 hours of email notification by the Breeder that is it their turn to reserve a kitten.
OR
B) Buyer has failed to notify Jolly Good by email that they would like to “pass” on all kittens in the litter.

3.7 The kitten will leave the cattery into the care of Buyer on or after the kitten is 12 weeks old, or -- in the case of adoption of multiple kittens -- 10 weeks old.

Your pickup date:  ___________________at _______________________

3.8 The balance on the full purchase price must be paid prior to kitten’s departure from the cattery.

3.9 If Buyer fails to complete payment and/or take possession of the kitten within 24 hours of the agreed timeframe, without written agreement from Breeder, this constitutes abandonment of the reservation and all deposits paid shall be forfeited by Buyer.

3.10 The Breeder will meet the Buyer in a public place within 10 miles of the cattery at no additional cost to the Buyer. The buyer may request delivery of the kitten at an additional cost of $5.00 per mile driven by the Breeder from home will be charged to the Buyer, and doing so is at the sole discretion of the Breeder.

3.11 Once Buyer takes possession of the kittens, all rights and responsibilities of ownership are the sole responsibility of the Buyer. Under no circumstances shall Breeder be obligated to the Buyer for a cash refund, veterinarian costs, or any other costs, under any paragraph or subparagraph of this agreement.

3.12 If the kitten is to be delivered to the Buyer, it must be done by a registered private courier service or “pet nanny.”

3.13 All expenses associated with delivery are the responsibility of the Buyer.

3.14 Once the kitten is released to an airline, courier, transport service, or Buyer-designated representative, all risk of injury, illness, delay, loss, or death transfers to Buyer.

3.15 Breeder is not responsible for stress-related illness resulting from travel.

3.16 Buyer will notify the Breeder immediately upon receipt of the cat.

3.17 Breeder will deliver the kitten to a Buyer representative at the Charlottesville Airport (CHO) in Charlottesville, VA, free of charge.

3.18 If the kitten becomes unavailable prior to transfer due to severe illness, injury, death, or breeder decision, Buyer shall receive a credit transferred to a kitten of equal value from another litter at Buyer’s option as long as the Breeder is still breeding Maine coons, or be refunded the amounts paid, less any non-refundable fees if the Breeder is no longer breeding Maine coons.

3.19 Breeder reserves the right to refuse, cancel, or delay the transfer at any time prior to transfer if the kitten’s health changes, the Breeder believes the placement is unsafe or unsuitable, payment concerns arise, transportation conditions are unsafe, or circumstances outside the Breeder’s control prevent transfer (such as a global pandemic, airspace interruptions, buyer housing insecurity, etc).

3.20 Refusal or cancellation of the sale based on a change in the kitten’s health condition will result in a credit towards a healthy kitten of equal value as long as Breeder is still breeding Maine coons.

3.21 If Breeder cancels the sale due to suspected fraud, chargeback risk, unsafe placement conditions, or Buyer misrepresentation, all deposits may be retained as liquidated damages.

4.      BREEDER’S OBLIGATIONS

4.1 Breeder will endeavor to post at least two pictures and one video under 1 minute long to the Jolly Good Family private Facebook group each week after the kitten is 4 weeks old. If Buyer does not have access to Facebook, Breeder will send two pictures and one video up to 1 minute long to the Buyer’s email or by text message. Breeder reserves the right to pause posting for any reason.

4.2 Breeder confirms that at the time of transfer, the kitten is, to the best of the breeder’s knowledge, free from genetic diseases and congenital defects, in good health, treated for internal parasites, fully vaccinated according to age, microchipped, and accompanied by breeder care and veterinary records.

4.3 The kitten must be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian within 24 hours of leaving the cattery. Breeder is not responsible for any veterinary costs once the kitten has departed the cattery.

4.4 Breeder will offer Buyer helpful information for making the kitten’s transition to their home smooth and successful, including a blanket with familiar smells and recommended practices for helping the kitten acclimate to their new surroundings. Breeder will offer helpful resources and emotional support for the lifetime of the kitten or as long as Breeder is breeding Maine coons.

4.5 While in the care of Breeder, the dam, sire, and kittens are kept in humane and hygienic conditions, are given high quality food, water, stimulation, affection, socialization, and have access to a window to the outdoors. They are provided access to a safe outdoor space as often as possible.

4.6 While in the care of Breeder, the dam, sire, and kittens receive veterinary care by a licensed veterinarian including examination, applicable vaccination, parasite prevention, and treatment as appropriate.

4.7 The dam and sire have undergone health examinations and testing prior to breeding including genetic testing for known mutations by Wisdom Panel. Those results are available for the Buyer to view.

4.8 Dam and sire have had normal echocardiograms and results are available for the Buyer to view.

4.9 Breeder can not guarantee that the kitten will never develop a hereditary or genetic disease. Breeder only guarantees that, to the best of Breeder’s knowledge, the kitten showed no signs of the covered conditions at the time of sale.

4.10 The Breeder guarantees absence of known genetic diseases at the time of the sale. Genetic diseases are limited to the following: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney disease, erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency, spinal muscular atrophy, and hip dysplasia. This guarantee does not cover health conditions resulting from injury, infection, parasites, viruses, toxins, obesity, poor nutrition, environmental factors, stress, improper veterinary care, breeding by Buyer, or other non-hereditary causes.

4.11 If a serious genetic disease or congenital defect is confirmed by a licensed veterinarian, the Buyer must notify the Breeder immediately. Documentation of the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and approximate cost to treat must be sent to the Breeder. For the purposes of this agreement, a “serious genetic disease or congenital defect” means a condition that is scientifically proven to be hereditary in origin, confirmed through appropriate diagnostic testing, clinically significant, and expected to substantially impair the cat’s quality of life and/or lifespan.

4.12 Suspected conditions and/or inconclusive tests shall not be considered as confirmation by a licensed veterinarian.

4.13 Breeder may require a second licensed veterinary opinion, at Buyer’s expense.

4.14 If a covered genetic disease is diagnosed before the kitten’s first birthday, the Buyer may keep the kitten, or return the kitten to the Breeder and Breeder may offer a replacement kitten of equal value from a future litter. No cash refunds will be made for a kitten with a genetic disease or congenital defect.

4.15 In the event that the cat must be returned to the Breeder due to hereditary disease or congenital defect, all transportation costs are the Buyer’s responsibility.

4.16 Behavioral problems are out of the control of the Breeder and refunds and replacement kittens will not be issued. Breeder will provide the Buyer with support and resources to help make the kitten’s transition to their new home as smooth as possible.

4.17 No cash refunds will be made for a deceased cat. A replacement kitten may be provided at the discretion of Breeder if and only if a qualified, licensed veterinarian performs a necropsy at the expense of the Buyer, and a report is provided to the Breeder stating that the cat died of a fatal and untreatable congenital defect. Necropsy must be performed within 48 hours of death.

4.18 Under no circumstances shall Breeder be liable for veterinary expenses, emotional distress, consequential damages, travel expenses, or other incidental costs once the kitten departs the cattery.

4.19 Breeder’s total liability under this agreement shall never exceed the original purchase price of the kitten.

5.      BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS

5.1  The buyer agrees to provide for the cat humane housing and living conditions, high quality nutrition, and regular veterinary care.

5.2  The buyer agrees their kitten will remain an indoor cat for the duration of its life, and will only be allowed outdoors in a “catio” or similarly fenced-in structure, or supervised on a leash or in another secure animal carrier.

5.3  Breeder may remain listed as a secondary emergency contact on the microchip registration. Breeder reserves the right to reclaim the cat in cases of neglect, abuse, abandonment, or material breach of this agreement, where permitted by applicable law.

5.4  The cat shall not be routinely or permanently confined in a cage or small enclosure except when reasonably necessary for transportation, veterinary treatment, recovery, grooming, safety, or temporary management.

5.5  Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the kitten is sold as a companion animal only and shall not be bred. The kitten is to be spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian before the age of 5 months. In the case of the sale of breeding rights, a separate breeding agreement will be created and signed by both parties.

5.6  Resale or transfer of the cat to third parties is strictly prohibited without the Breeder’s written consent. The cat may not under any circumstances be surrendered to shelters or pet stores.

5.7  If Buyer is no longer able or willing to keep the cat, Buyer agrees to notify Breeder first. Breeder shall have the first option to reclaim the cat for the price of $1.00.

5.8  From the moment of transfer, all responsibility for the cat’s health, care, and life rests solely with the Buyer.

5.9  The Buyer agrees to follow all recommendations for adjusting the cat to their new home as outlined by the Breeder and provided resources.

5.10 Buyer agrees to post monthly updates of the kitten or cat in the Jolly Good Family Facebook Page or send monthly updates to the Breeder by email or text messageS

5.11 Buyer grants Breeder permission to use photographs, videos, and updates of the cat for promotional, educational, and social media purposes. Breeder will limit identifying information and images as requested by the Buyer.

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6.      TICA REGISTRATION

6.1 Breeder represents that the cat is purebred Maine Coon and eligible for registration in TICA.

6.2. Breeder will provide the appropriate TICA documents.

6.3 Buyer is responsible for completing and submitting the TICA registration documents and for paying the TICA registration fee if desired.

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7.      DISPUTE RESOLUTION

7.1 Any disputes shall first be resolved through good-faith conversation, negotiation, and/or mediation between Breeder and Buyer. If unresolved, they shall be settled in the jurisdiction of the Breeder’s residence.

7.2 Buyer agrees to first contact Breeder directly and allow Breeder a reasonable opportunity to address concerns before posting public complaints or reviews.

7.3 In any dispute arising from this agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

8.      INTERNATIONAL SALES

8.1 Buyer is responsible for import permits, customs, quarantine laws, local vaccination requirements, airline compliance, broker fees, denied entry issues.

8.2 Breeder makes no guarantee that the kitten will qualify for import into the Buyer’s country after transfer.

9.      FINAL PROVISIONS

This agreement becomes effective upon signing by both parties. Amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties. The agreement is executed in two identical copies with equal legal force. This agreement shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. If any provision of this agreement is found unenforceable, the remainder shall remain in full force and effect. This document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes prior discussions or representations.