If you want to buy a kitten in Slovenia, you'll find one fastest from a private seller through online classifieds or at a shelter, with prices ranging from a symbolic contribution to several hundred euros for pedigree cats from breeders. Before you pay, check the seller, the kitten's health and the pickup terms.
Cats in Slovenia are sold and rehomed in several ways, so both price and risk vary widely. Shelters, such as those in Ljubljana, Maribor and Celje, rehome kittens for a contribution covering vaccination and neutering costs. Private sellers post ads all over the country, from Kranj to Koper. Registered breeders sell cats with a pedigree and a contract. Each route has its own rules, costs and pitfalls. Below is a step-by-step process, from finding an ad to picking up the kitten and the first days at home.
- Private ads are the cheapest, but require the most checking of the seller and the kitten's health.
- Shelters and registered breeders provide more paperwork, but the process is slower and often more expensive.
- Never transfer money in advance to an unknown seller who hasn't shown you the kitten in person.
- Take a list of questions to the viewing and see the kitten together with its mother if possible.
Where to buy a kitten from private sellers
Private sellers in Slovenia most often post ads on online classified platforms, where buyers can filter by city and category. On EX & GO, ads are sorted by category, including one for small animals and pets. Filtering by city and area is key, since few people want to drive a kitten across half the country.
A practical approach is to enter your town in the search box and set a radius around it. If you live in Ljubljana, you'll find more ads than in smaller towns, but the selection in Maribor, Celje, Kranj and Koper also changes every month. With each ad, check whether the seller has listed the kitten's age, date of birth, vaccinations and any neutering. If that information is missing, ask for it before the viewing.
How to read an ad and spot a scam
Scams in cat sales have a few recurring patterns. The first is a demand for an advance payment without a viewing. The second is a story about moving abroad, which supposedly forces the seller to sell the kitten urgently and cheaply. The third is stolen photos that you can also find in other ads or on foreign websites.
Check photos by doing a reverse image search. If the same cat appears in an ad from another country or under a different name, that's a clear sign to walk away. Also watch out for sellers who communicate only through foreign apps and refuse to talk on the phone. On platforms like EX & GO, you can send messages within the site and see the seller's history and other buyers' reviews. That's an extra filter you don't get when transferring money to an unknown account.
Before you go to a viewing, ask the seller for a video of the kitten filmed the same day and a photo of the vaccination record. A seller who refuses saves you the trip.
How much does a kitten cost: prices from private sellers, shelters and breeders
The price of a kitten in Slovenia is not uniform. Shelters usually charge a contribution to cover vaccination, microchipping and neutering, which runs to a few tens of euros. Private sellers often sell kittens without documentation for a lower amount, sometimes under a hundred euros. Registered breeders with pedigrees set prices much higher, from a few hundred euros upwards, depending on breed and lineage.
With a low price, ask yourself what isn't included. Vaccination, microchipping and neutering are costs you'll pay later if the seller hasn't arranged them. For reference: vaccination against feline panleukopenia, cat flu and herpesvirus, plus microchipping at a vet in Slovenia, represent a real cost that's worth including in your total calculation. If you want to compare prices between sellers, it helps to look at several ads at once and check the range, not just the lowest offers. kittens and cats
What affects the price
Breed, age, documentation and location all affect the price. A cat without a pedigree is generally cheaper than one with a pedigree. A kitten that's already vaccinated and microchipped is more expensive than one without these services, but it saves you vet visits. In larger cities like Ljubljana and Maribor, supply is greater, but prices can be higher than in smaller towns. In Koper and Kranj, supply changes seasonally, as there are more kittens in spring and summer.
Private seller, shelter or a platform with verified sellers?
Each route has pros and cons that are easiest to compare in a table. The key difference is how much information about the seller and kitten you get before the viewing and how much risk you take on yourself.
| Route | Price | Documentation | Seller verification | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private seller | Low to medium | Often none | Depends on the platform | Buyers willing to do their own checks |
| Shelter | Contribution to costs | Vaccination, microchip, often neutering | High, the shelter knows the animal | Buyers who want proper paperwork |
| Registered breeder | High | Pedigree and contract | High, the breeder is known | Buyers looking for a specific breed |
| Platform with seller history | Varies | Depends on the ad | Medium to high, visible reviews and messages | Buyers who want to compare several offers |
On a platform where seller reviews and history are visible, it's easier to judge whether someone is serious. This doesn't replace a live viewing, but it reduces the chance of running into someone who disappears after you transfer money. kittens and cats in Ljubljana
What to check at the viewing: a checklist
The viewing is the decisive step. See the kitten in its own environment, not in a neutral place, if possible. If you can see the mother, you'll learn a lot about the size, temperament and health of the litter. Ask what the kitten has eaten so far, how old it is and whether it has been vaccinated.
The eyes should be clean and free of discharge, the ears free of dark discharge, the coat free of bald patches. A kitten that hides the whole time and won't let itself be held may be scared, but it may also be ill. Take your time and observe it for at least fifteen minutes. Ask about any health issues in the litter and whether any of the kittens have already seen a vet.
Questions to ask the seller
How old is the kitten and when was it born? Is it vaccinated and microchipped, and can I see the vaccination record? What has it eaten so far and when was it last weaned from its mother? Has any of the kittens been ill? Why are you selling the kitten? Can I call your vet? A serious seller answers these questions without dodging.
Agree on the pickup and what you'll bring. A carrier, a towel and the food the kitten has been eating are the minimum. For the first days at home, keep the kitten in a quiet space, away from noise and other animals, until it settles in.
How the purchase works and what applies to buyer rights in Slovenia
A purchase between two private individuals in Slovenia is not the same as buying in a shop. When you buy from a private seller who isn't acting as a business, consumer protection legislation does not apply to the same extent as when buying from a company. This means you resolve any issues directly with the seller, without the right to withdraw from the contract that you have when shopping online from a trader.
If you buy from a registered breeder or a legal entity, consumer protection rules apply. In that case you have the right to information about the goods, to conformity and to claim for defects. That's why it's important to know in advance who you're dealing with. For general information about rights and procedures in Slovenia, check official sources such as gov.si.
Payment should take place on pickup, when you see and take the kitten. If you decide to transfer money, ask for a contract or at least written confirmation with the name, address and description of the kitten. Before you agree, read the posting rules on the platform where you found the ad, for example /sl/rules, so you know what's allowed and what isn't.
We see that most buyer questions in our category relate to whether the kitten is vaccinated and whether it's possible to see the mother.
How to negotiate the price
Negotiating is a normal part of buying from a private seller. The price in the ad is a starting point, not the final amount. Before you negotiate, gather information on similar ads in the same city or area, so you know the range. If the kitten isn't vaccinated or microchipped, that's a legitimate argument for a lower price, since you'll take on those costs yourself.
Don't negotiate at the expense of the animal's health. If the seller offers a kitten very cheaply because it's supposedly ill, don't accept that without clear information about the diagnosis and treatment costs. Keep the negotiation short and clear: state what you're prepared to pay and why. If the seller disagrees, that's perfectly fine, as there are plenty of other ads on the market.
Frequently asked questions about buying a kitten
Where can I buy a kitten in Slovenia?
You can buy or adopt a kitten from private sellers through online classifieds, at shelters, and from registered breeders. Private ads are the most common and can be filtered by city, such as Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Kranj or Koper. Shelters rehome cats for a contribution covering vaccination and neutering costs. With every route, check the documentation and the kitten's health.
How much does a kitten cost in Slovenia?
The price depends on where you buy. At a shelter it is usually a contribution of a few tens of euros covering vaccination, microchipping and often neutering. From a private seller, prices range from a symbolic amount to a few hundred euros, depending on documentation and breed. Registered breeders with pedigrees charge higher prices. Include the cost of the first vet check in your total.
How do I check if a seller is legitimate?
Ask for a video of the kitten filmed the same day and a photo of the vaccination record. Check that the photos don't appear in other ads or abroad. If the platform lets you see the seller's history and other buyers' reviews, use it. A serious seller agrees to a live viewing and answers questions about the kitten's age, diet and health. If they insist on an advance payment without a viewing, walk away.
What should I bring to a kitten viewing?
Take a carrier or bag, a towel and, if needed, the food the kitten has already been eating. Allow at least fifteen minutes at the viewing and watch the kitten's behaviour. Look at the eyes, ears and coat. Ask when the kitten last saw a vet and whether it has been vaccinated. If possible, ask to see the mother, as she says a lot about the health and temperament of the litter.
Can I buy a kitten without vaccinations?
Yes, but expect extra costs and vet visits. An unvaccinated kitten is more vulnerable to disease, so don't expose it to other cats in the first days. Before taking it home, find out whether it has been weaned and what it has been eating. Arrange vaccination and microchipping with your vet according to the current schedule. If the seller can't tell you anything about the kitten's health, that's a warning sign.
What are my rights if I buy from a private individual?
A purchase between two private individuals in Slovenia is not a consumer sale, so consumer protection law does not apply to the same extent. This means you resolve any issues directly with the seller and generally have no right to withdraw from the contract. If you buy from a registered breeder or a company, consumer protection rules apply. So check in advance who you are dealing with and ask for written confirmation of the purchase.
Before you decide
Buying a kitten isn't a one-off act, but the start of a long relationship. So take your time searching, checking and viewing, even if it means visiting several sellers. If you want to buy a kitten in Slovenia, compare at least three ads in your city or area, and check the price, documentation and seller history. Don't rush because of a low price and don't pay in advance to someone you haven't met.
When you bring the kitten home, give it peace and time to adjust. Do the first vet check in the first days, not weeks. If you run into problems with an ad or a seller, check the platform's rules and support, for example /sl/support, which describes reporting and help procedures. A responsibly chosen cat means less risk for you and a better life for it.