Draft — this policy has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer.
Legal
Last updated [DATE]. These terms govern your use of PurrTrust.
PurrTrust is an online marketplace that connects cat buyers in the United States with independent breeders (catteries). PurrTrust does not breed, own, sell, ship, or take possession of any animal. Each sale is an agreement between the buyer and the breeder.
You must be at least 18 and give accurate information. You are responsible for activity on your account and for keeping your login secure.
Breeders must provide truthful identity and registry (TICA/CFA) information. Verification badges reflect our review of documents submitted to us; they are not a guarantee of an animal's health, temperament, or pedigree.
Breeders are independent sellers, not employees or agents of us. Breeders are responsible for their listings, the accuracy of health and pedigree claims, compliance with applicable animal-welfare and sales laws, and the care and delivery of each kitten.
Breeders receive payouts through Stripe Connect and must accept the Stripe Connected Account Agreement, which governs their relationship with Stripe.
Listing on PurrTrust is free. When a buyer pays a breeder through PurrTrust (a deposit or a final balance), we keep a success fee of 5% of that payment from the breeder's payout. There is no fee on money that never goes through PurrTrust.
Buyers pay no PurrTrust fee. Paying by bank transfer is free; paying by card adds a card processing fee of 3%, shown before you pay. If a payment is refunded, the card processing fee is refunded with it.
Payments are processed by Stripe and are subject to Stripe's own terms. Buyers can pay by card or by US bank transfer (ACH); bank transfers take a few business days to clear.
After a deposit is paid, it is held for up to 48 hours. If the buyer confirms the match during that window, the deposit is released to the breeder. If the buyer does not confirm, the deposit is automatically refunded. See our Refund Policy for details.
Breeders may also ask for the final balance through PurrTrust. We hold it until the buyer confirms pickup. If the breeder marks the kitten handed over and the buyer neither confirms nor reports a problem within 3 days, it is released to the breeder automatically. If the buyer reports a problem, the payment stays on hold until we review it and either release it or refund it.
Paying a final balance in person is still allowed, but it is not protected by us. Never pay by wire, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, gift cards, or crypto at a breeder's request.
Buyers and breeders who meet through PurrTrust agree to make the deposit for that kitten through PurrTrust. Asking for, or offering, a deposit outside the platform to avoid fees or protections is not allowed.
To keep everyone protected, messages that ask for payment through other apps are blocked, and phone numbers, emails, links and social handles are hidden in messages until the deposit is paid. After that you can share contact details to arrange pickup.
Repeated attempts to move payments off the platform may lead to listings being removed or accounts being suspended.
Messages and live video check-ins (provided by Daily.co) are for evaluating a placement. Don't harass anyone, share unlawful content, or use the service to steer payments off-platform. We may review flagged messages for safety.
No fraud, misrepresentation, stolen photos, fake listings, or attempts to get around verification or payment protections. We may remove listings, suspend accounts, or report suspected scams to authorities.
The service is provided "as is." To the extent the law allows, PurrTrust is not liable for the conduct of buyers or breeders, the health or condition of any animal, or indirect or consequential losses. Our total liability for any claim is limited to the fees we received from you, if any, in the 12 months before the claim.
We may update these terms; continued use after an update means you accept it. Questions: [CONTACT EMAIL].