Welcome to the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy

Any person who incurs a fixed penalty may request in writing within 28 days of the date of the letter from the GCCF Office advising of the breach of rule(s) that the complaint be preferred to the Disciplinary Committee as an alternative to accepting the fixed penalty, but must understand that, if the case is found proved, the penalty may be higher and costs may be applied.

Whenever a formal complaint has been proved in whole or in part (including the imposition of a fixed penalty) the order shall, subject to paragraph 12 (12) (d) of the GCCF Constitution, be published as soon as practicable in the official journal of the Council.

Failure to supply Certificate of Entirety to GCCF Office
Section 1, rule 1 a. Only cats/kittens required for breeding purposes should be registered on the Active Register. All male cats used at stud must have a Certificate of Entirety deposited with the GCCF prior to registration of their first litter of kittens.
Also applies where stud is not owned by the person who is registering the kittens.
Penalty: Stud owner informed in writing that unless Certificate of Entirety is supplied to GCCF Office within 28 days the following shall apply: Fine £50, suspension until Certificate of Entirety supplied and fine paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to declare a kitten
Section 1, rule 3a. When the first kitten of any litter is registered by the breeder a declaration shall be completed giving the following information:
The number of kittens in the litter
The breed and apparent colour of each kitten
The sex of each kitten
This information must be provided for each kitten alive when the first kitten is registered.
Penalty: First offence: Fine £10, suspension until paid, second breach £25 and suspension until paid.
Subsequent offences will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

Failure to supply a properly completed Certificate of Mating
Section 1, rules 3d. When a litter is registered, the application to register must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of mating unless the person registering the kitten(s) is also the registered owner of the sire. The owner of the stud cat must provide a Certificate of Mating to the owner of the queen upon collection of the queen.
3e. A certificate of mating must state the registered name, breed name/breed description and registration number of the sire, together with the registered name, breed name/breed description and registration number of the dam and the dates of mating, and must be signed by the registered owner(s) or specified keeper of the sire. If a stud cat is loaned without transfer of registered ownership, the registered owner(s) must notify the GCCF Office in writing, giving the name and address of the specified keeper and authorisation for that person to sign mating certificates relating to that cat. A copy of this letter must accompany each mating certificate when application to register is made.
3f. If a kitten is sold unregistered, in addition to the pedigree (see Rule 10a) the seller shall supply a copy of the certificate of mating whether or not the seller is the registered owner of the sire. Any application to register the kitten at a later date must be accompanied by this certificate.
Penalty: Stud owner (rule 3d) or seller of kitten (rule 3f) informed in writing that unless properly completed Certificate of Mating supplied to Office within 28 days the following shall apply: Fine £50, suspension until Certificate of mating supplied to Office and fine paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Acceptance to stud of a queen registered on the Non-Active register
Section 1, Rule 3g. Prior to accepting a queen for mating, the owner of the stud shall establish that the queen is not registered on the Non-Active register. Note: Queens which are not registered with GCCF may be accepted for mating. A queen whose registration with another bona fide organisation is endorsed "not for breeding" should not be accepted.
Penalty: Stud owner: Fine £50, suspension until paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Taking to stud a queen registered on the Non-Active register or endorsed "not for breeding" by another organisation (see Section 1, Rule 3g above)
Penalty: Queen owner: fine £50, suspension until paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty, etc.

Failure to supply correctly completed pedigree
Section 1, rule 10a. When a cat or kitten is advertised or sold as a pedigree cat or kitten the breeder shall, at the time of sale, provide the purchaser with a properly completed pedigree signed by the breeder, carrying 3 generations at least, showing all the breed numbers and registration numbers, also the breeder's name and address. If the cat/kitten is not registered, a copy of the mating certificate (Rule 3d) shall be supplied by the breeder to the new owner.
Penalty: Supplier of cat/kitten informed in writing that unless correct pedigree supplied to Office within 28 days the following shall apply: Fine £50 (which includes £25 cost of 4 generation certified pedigree), suspension until fine paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to supply correctly completed transfer form
Section 1, rule 10b. If, at the time of sale, the cat or kitten is registered the seller shall provide the purchaser with a transfer form, duly completed and signed by the seller, unless it is jointly agreed in writing by both parties at the the time of sale not to do so.
Penalty: Supplier of cat/kitten informed in writing that unless properly completed transfer form supplied to Office within 28 days the following shall apply: Fine £50 + transfer fee, suspension until correct properly completed transfer form supplied to Office and fine paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to supply Certified Pedigree
Section 1, rule 10c. All persons exporting any registered cat or kitten shall upon despatch apply for a registration/transfer and, if required, a Certified Pedigree of such cat or kitten. Failure to do so shall be an offence under Article 12 of the Constitution.
Penalty: Supplier of cat/kitten informed in writing that unless Certified Pedigree applied for, with correct payment, within 28 days the following shall apply: Fine £60, suspension until Certified Pedigree applied for and fine paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to supply schedule to GCCF Office and/or BAC Secretaries
Section 2, rule 4. The show management shall issue a schedule a copy of which, together with a copy of the entry form, must be sent to the GCCF ...
Section 2, rule 4i. The schedule, with the exception of the Supreme show, must be issued not more than three months before the show. A copy must be sent to the secretaries of all relevant Breed Advisory Committees.
Penalty: Show Manager informed in writing that unless schedule supplied within three weeks the following shall apply: Fine £20, official show manager's warning. Disqualification from future show management until fine paid.
Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Failure to include correct information in schedule
Section 2, rules 4a. The name(s) of the show manager(s), assistant show manager(s), section managers and the names of the members of the show committee. The latter shall include not fewer than three people who must be members of the club concerned or may be the full club committee.
4b. The names of the judges engaged, including those appointed to judge Best-in-Show, Best of Variety or Best Exhibit, shall be listed. When Best-in-Show Panels are needed, they shall consist of not less than three and not more than five judges, whose names shall also be listed.
4c. A list of classes offered to exhibitors, with the judge engaged for each class.
4d. The date and venue of the show and the closing date for entries. No show shall be of more than one day's duration.
4e. The entry fees required and the prizes to be offered.
4f. The instruction that exhibitors should possess a current copy of the GCCF Rules, plus such extracts from the GCCF Rules and/or Constitution as may be required from time to time.
Penalty: Official show manager's warning.
Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Failure to include correct declaration on entry form
Section 2, rule 4h. Entry forms must include the name of the cat, the names of its sire and dam, its sex, its registered breed number, date of birth, the GCCF registration number, the names of the registered owner and breeder in the GCCF register and the numbers of the classes in which it is to be entered. The form must include the declaration, Rule 3, Section 4.
Penalty: Official show manager's warning.
Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Scheduling judges to classes for which they are ineligible
Section 2, rule 5f. At Championship and Sanction shows, classes restricted to particular breed(s), colours or patterns (e.g. self/non-self) may be judged only by judges appointed to a list which includes cats eligible to enter the class in question. At Exemption shows any GCCF full or probationer judge may judge any class.
Penalty: Official show manager's warning.
Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.
A refund of show entry fees to all exhibitors in an Open class that have been allocated and judged by a GCCF judge not eligible to judge the class.

Failure to confirm details of engagement in writing
Section 2, rule 8a. Show managements must obtain the written consent to officiate of all judges and must acknowledge them in writing before announcing their names in the schedule. This written consent must include the Open, Grand, Imperial Grand and Assessment classes for which they are to be scheduled. Judges should not be booked more than one year in advance of the show. If for any reason a judge is unable to fulfil his engagement in Imperial Grand, Open Grand or Assessment classes, the fact is to be announced, together with consequential changes in the judging list, on a board prominently placed at the entrance to the show hall. (See section 3, Rule 4a).

Penalty: Official show manager's warning. Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Failure to supply "non-GCCF judge" form to GCCF Office
Section 2, rule 9a, Clubs must notify the Office of all invitations and a completed "non-GCCF judge" form must be supplied to the Office, with the schedule, for each engagement.

Penalty: Fine £20, official show mangers warning. Disqualification from future show management until fine paid. Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Overseas Judges
Section 2, rule 9e. An overseas judge must not judge Open classes (including Grand, Imperial Grand and Assessment classes) which include breeds, colours or patterns which are not recognised by the organisation for which he/she is currently a full judge.
Penalty: Official show manager's warning.
Official show manager's warning will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Failure to include correct information in catalogue
Section 2, rule 11. After the closing date for entries the Show Managements shall prepare a show catalogue which shall include:
11a. The name of persons comprising the show management, judges, Best-in-Show Panels, Best of Variety judges and duty veterinary surgeon(s) (see Rule 13 below) plus the date and venue of the show and the address of the show manager.
11b. A list of the names and addresses of all exhibitors together with the numbers of the pens allotted to them.
11c. The classes with the names of the entries and exhibitors. Details of breeding, the names of the sire and dam, the date of birth and the sex of the cat if the class is for exhibits of both sexes. The full breed number as on the entry form shall also be included where cats of more than one colour appear in the same class.
11e. An acknowledgment that the show is being held under licence of the GCCF.
11f. Manuscript additions to show catalogues are not permissible, but printers' errors may be corrected. Any such correction must not be an addition or substitution of any exhibit for which proof of entry cannot be validated, or a change of exhibitor/owner, with the exception of changes from single to joint ownership or vice-versa provided that in the case of joint ownership both owners have signed the declaration. Any such corrections must be incorporated in the marked catalogues sent to the GCCF, but need not be incorporated in any other catalogues.
Penalty: Official show manager's warning.
Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Failure to supply show returns, fully marked catalogue, rejection forms, biting certificates etc in the required time and/or failure to reply to queries in respect of these within 28 days
Section 2, rules 20a. The Show Management shall, within three working days of the closure of the show, send to the GCCF Office copies of the rejection forms for each cat rejected from the show and a catalogue. These are required for the production of the Rejection List.
20b. The show management shall, within three working days of the closure of the show, send to the GCCF Office copies of all biting/scratching certificates issued at the show, together with any explanatory paperwork.
20c. The show management shall, within seven days of the closure of the show, send to the GCCF Office one fully marked, certified copy of the catalogue complete with Open, Grand, Imperial Grand and Assessment class results. All Open, Grand, Imperial and Assessment class judge changes must be marked.
20d. The show management shall, within seven days of the closure of the show, submit to the Investigation Committee, in writing, all relevant details of any alleged breach of Section 4, Rule 22 of these Rules.
20e. The requested, relevant results shall be sent within 28 days to each of the secretaries (or other designated officials) of all clubs that supported the show by guaranteeing classes or offering special prizes.
Penalty: Fine £20, official show manager's warning. Disqualification from future show management until fine paid. Official show manager's warnings will be taken into consideration when show licences are considered.

Judging Open, Grand, Imperial Grand, Assessment miscellaneous classes restricted to breeds which they are ineligible to judge
Section 3, rule 4e. At Championship and Sanction shows, classes restricted to particular breed(s), colours or patterns (e.g. self/non-self) may be judged only by judges appointed to a list which includes cats eligible to enter the class in question. At Exemption shows any GCCF full or probationer judge may judge any class.
Penalty: An official warning on the first breach. A second breach of this rule within three years will result in a fine of £10, disqualification from judging until paid if not paid within 28 days of request. A third breach of this rule will result in double the penalty, a fourth breach three times the penalty, etc. A refund of show entry fees to all exhibitors in an Open class that have been allocated and judged by a GCCF judge not eligible to judge the class.

Section 3, Rule 10e. No person may steward at all for any judge under whom he or a member of his household is exhibiting in an Open, Grand, Imperial Grand, UK Grand or Assessment class. This shall also include cats not entered in the Open but to be considered for Best of Breed. This rule also applies to any person who is acting as an agent for the owner of a cat entered in a relevant class. “Agent” is defined and “any person given responsibility by the owner for the cat on show day”.

Penalty: An official warning on the first breach and disqualification from the show. A second breach of this rule within three years will result in a fine of £50 and disqualification from the show. A third breach of this rule will result in a fine of £100 and disqualification from the show.

Judging or stewarding before clearance from ringworm received by GCCF
Section 3, rule 14. Judges and stewards who have ringworm diagnosed in their catteries/household, must not attend shows until a Clearance Certificate as required by the GCCF has been obtained. (All cases of ringworm must be notified to the Veterinary Officer c/o the Office)
Penalty: Fine £100, suspension until paid. Disqualification from judging/stewarding for a period of six months after receipt of clearance certificate. A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Officiating at a show as described below (with the exception of confirmed ringworm)
Section 3, rule 15. Any person whose cats have been rejected under Sections C or D must not officiate as a judge or steward or in any other capacity which requires the handling of cats at shows until a Clearance Certificate as required by the GCCF has been obtained.
Penalty: Fine £75, suspension until paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Non submission of Judges show reports to the official GCCF website/publication.
Section 3, rule 4c. Acceptance of an engagement by a judge places that judge under an obligation to both the show management and prospective exhibitors to attend and officiate at the show in question and to send within the specified time a report to the GCCF official publication or website as determined from time to time by the Executive Committee.
Penalty: An official warning on the first breach. A second breach of this rule within three years will result in a £10 fine, disqualification from judging until fine paid if not paid within 28 days of request. A third breach of this rule will result in a £25 fine, disqualification from judging until fine paid if not paid within 28 days of request. Any subsequent breaches of this rule will result in the matter being referred to the GCCF Investigation Committee.

Failure to notify GCCF Office before exhibiting at unlicensed show
Section 4, rule 1c. No cat, kitten or neuter registered with the GCCF and resident in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, may be exhibited at any show not licensed by the GCCF except after prior notification to the GCCF Office.
Penalty: Fine £25, suspension until paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Entering two shows less than thirteen days apart and exhibiting at both of them
Section 4, rule 3b. No cat owned by me/us or living at the same address will be exhibited at or entered for any show or public exhibition held less than thirteen days prior to or following the date of this show/exhibition.
NB. The owner of a cat is the person so named in the GCCF register (Section 4 Rule 1b)
Penalty: Fine £100, suspension until paid. Disqualification from both shows.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Exhibiting at a show and a seminar less than thirteen days apart
Penalty: Fine £50, suspension until paid. Disqualification from the show.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Entering two shows less than thirteen days apart but not exhibiting at both of them
Section 4, rule 9. Exhibitors entering cats in two shows within 13 days but not exhibiting at both in contravention of Rule 3b shall be reported to the GCCF Office who shall disqualify all cats attending either show. Persistent or deliberate breaches of this rule may render exhibitor/s liable to disciplinary action.
Penalty: The penalty for the first offence is specified in the rule. Second and subsequent breaches within three years: Fine £50, suspension until paid.

Exhibiting queens who have kittened within the past 12 weeks
Section 4, rule 4a. Queens who are pregnant, lactating or who have kittened within the past 12 weeks may not compete and must not be exhibited at any show or exhibition and veterinary surgeons in attendance are instructed to reject any queen in these conditions.
Penalty: Fine £100, suspension until paid, disqualification from showing for six months thereafter.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

During the Show
Section 4, Rule 25. Exhibitors are forbidden to enter into conversation with any judge under whom they are exhibiting and deliberately draw attention to the fact that they are exhibiting under that judge until after the judge’s engagement is completed.

Penalty: The penalty for the first offence is an official warning and disqualification from the show. A second breach of this rule will result in a fine of £50 and disqualification from the show. A third breach of this rule will result in a fine of £100 and disqualification from the show.

Section 4, Rule 26. Exhibitors are reminded that the decisions of the judges are final. Any attempt to influence such decisions will render the offender liable to disciplinary action.
Penalty: Following complaint by show manager or judge: Fine £50, disqualification from showing until paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty, etc.

Early removal of exhibit from show hall without show manager's consent
Section 4, rule 28. Exhibits must not be removed from the exhibition before the declared time for closure of the show, except that exhibitors may apply for earlier removal when making their entry. Such early removal may be made at the direction of the show manager. The show manager shall disqualify from all classes at the show any exhibit so removed without his consent and all fees and awards shall be forfeited. The exhibitor may be subject to disciplinary action.
Penalty: Following complaint by show manager: Fine £50, disqualification from showing until paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to return certificates and awards
Section 4, rule 29. Show prize monies may be paid out on the day of the show on the declared and contingent liability of the exhibitor, that, in the event of disqualification, all prize monies and certificates shall be returned to the show manager concerned. Failure of any prize-winner to comply with this rule may result in disciplinary action.
Penalty: When owner has failed to respond to request to return prize monies/certificates to show manager, owner informed in writing that unless certificates/awards returned to GCCF Office within 28 days the following shall apply: £50 fine, suspension until paid, disqualification from showing for six months thereafter. A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty, etc.

Failure to pay show entry fees
Penalty: Following complaint by show manager: Fine £50, suspension until fine and entry fees paid.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to return club cup/trophy
Penalty: Following complaint by Club official or show manager: Fine £50, suspension until fine paid and cup/trophy returned or replaced.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to report ringworm
Section 6, rule 1. In the event of ringworm infection being diagnosed in a cattery/household by a veterinary surgeon, the cattery owner/householder will inform the GCCF Office and neither the cattery owner/householder nor any cat owned by them or living at the same address will attend any show until a Clearance Certificate, as required by the GCCF, has been obtained.
This rule applies to all cases of ringworm and not only to those detected as a result of rejection at a show.
Penalty: Fine £100, suspension until paid and thereafter until clearance certificate received by office.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

Failure to notify office of rejection from unlicensed show
Section 6, rule 2 In the event of a cat being rejected for veterinary reasons from a show not licensed by the GCCF, the owner/exhibitor will inform the GCCF Office within 3 working days of the closure of the show with all the details for any rejection for reasons similar to the GCCF Veterinary Sections B, C and D (see Notes on rejection at shows at the end of Section 4), no cat belonging to this exhibitor and/or living at the same address may be exhibited at future shows by this owner/exhibitor until an appropriate clearance has been received and acknowledged by the Office.
Penalty: Fine £100, suspension until paid. Disqualification from shows until clearance received by office.
A second breach of this rule within three years will result in double the penalty, a third breach three times the penalty etc.

GCCF Disciplinary Procedures - Fixed Penalties