We're animal lovers ourselves, and animal welfare is hugely important to us.

We work with PAAG and similar organisation, and follow their standards and guidelines for pet advertising. We have plenty of advice to offer users thinking of welcoming a new pet into their home (read our blog), and we've worked hard to develop sophisticated ad moderation tools to ensure scammers and puppy farmers cannot use Friday-Ad to advertise.  

Remember that buying a pet is a BIG commitment, and takes careful consideration. An animal can live for up to 15-20 years depending on the type and breed, so you should never rush into buying one without putting proper thought into the decision.

Do you have the right kind of home for the pet you are considering? For instance unless there is a welfare reason for keeping a cat indoors, most cats should have plenty of access to the outdoors. So if your living space doesn’t have access to the outdoors, then you may need to consider a different pet.

You should always carry out plenty of research into the animal you are buying, as different pets and breeds have different temperaments, and some have very specific requirements.

To ensure that the pet ad you are looking at is genuine, you should always make sure that the photo displayed is that of the animal being advertised.

If you are looking into buying a pet then you should always try and buy locally to avoid distressing long journeys for the animal.

Before you make a final decision and buy the animal, you should always check that it is in good health and ask for a copy of all of its medical records.

Never buy a kitten or a puppy that is under 8 weeks old. If you are buying either of these then you should ensure that you see the kitten or puppy with its mother.

If you are buying a cat that is over four months old then you should check to see that it is neutered or spayed.

Make sure that if you are buying a cat, it is microchipped, and ask for the relevant paperwork. If the pet you are looking at is a pedigree breed, then you should make sure that all of the registration papers are available.

For more information regarding buying a pet, or advice on looking after your pets, check out https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-a-cat-or-dog.