Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 12/04/2026

This Privacy Policy explains how The Cat Store (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you use our website, contact us, or purchase from us. We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

By using our website, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Who we are

This website is operated by The Cat Store, a UK-based online store offering a variety of products for cats. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal data is handled securely and transparently. If you have any questions, you can contact us at hello@thecatstore.co.uk.

What data we collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

  1. Information you provide directly
    • Name
    • Email address
    • Phone number
    • Billing and shipping address
    • Account login details (if you create an account)
    • Any information you submit via:
      • Contact forms
      • Customer service enquiries
  2. Order and transaction data
    • Purchase history
    • Delivery details
    • Order value and items purchased
      Note: Payment details are not stored by us and are processed securely by our payment provider (e.g. Stripe).
  3. Marketing and communication data
    • Email preferences
    • Newsletter subscription status
    • Responses to marketing emails
  4. Feature-specific data
    • Contact forms: information you include in your message
    • Newsletter sign-up: email address and consent record
    • Back-in-stock notifications: email address and selected product
  5. Technical and usage data
    • IP address
    • Browser type and device information
    • Pages visited and time spent on site
    • Referral sources
      This data is collected using cookies and analytics tools (e.g. Google Analytics).

How we use your data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

    • To process and deliver orders
    • To communicate with you about orders or enquiries
    • To manage your account and preferences
    • To respond to messages submitted via contact forms
    • To send service-related communications (e.g. order updates)
    • To send marketing emails (only where you have opted in)
    • To send back-in-stock notifications you have requested
    • To improve our website, products, and services
    • To prevent fraud and ensure site security

Legal basis for processing

  • We rely on the following lawful bases:

    • Contract: To fulfil orders and provide services
    • Consent: For marketing emails, cookies (where required), and stock alerts
    • Legal obligation: For tax, accounting, and regulatory compliance
    • Legitimate interests: To improve our website, prevent fraud, and analyse usage

Marketing Communications

If you opt in to receive marketing, we may send you emails about products, offers, and updates.

  • You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in any email
  • You can also contact us to withdraw consent

We will never send marketing communications without your consent.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Ensure the website functions properly
  • Improve user experience
  • Analyse website traffic
  • Support marketing and advertising

Where required by law, we will request your consent before placing non-essential cookies.

For more details, please see our Cookies Policy.

Sharing your data

We only share your data with trusted third parties where necessary, including:

  • Payment processors (e.g. Stripe)
  • Delivery providers (e.g. Evri, Royal Mail, DPD, InPost)
  • Email marketing platforms (e.g. MailerLite)
  • Website analytics providers (e.g. Google Analytics)
  • IT and website hosting providers

All third parties are required to respect your data and comply with data protection laws.

International transfers

Some of our service providers may process your data outside the UK.

Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
  • Transfers to countries with adequate protection decisions

Data retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary:

  • Order data: retained for legal and tax purposes (typically 6 years)
  • Account data: retained while your account is active
  • Marketing data: retained until you withdraw consent
  • Contact form enquiries: retained only as long as necessary to resolve your query
  • Stock notification data: deleted after notification is sent or within a reasonable period

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Restrict or object to processing
  • Withdraw consent at any time
  • Request data portability

To exercise your rights, contact us at hello@thecatstore.co.uk.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Data security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including secure payment processing, encryption, and access controls.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Effective Date”.

Contact

If you have any questions about this policy or your data, please contact: hello@thecatstore.co.uk.

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