Adoption hub
Adopting a cat
What a shelter will actually ask you, what the fee really pays for, what the law requires where you live, and what the first week looks like from the cat's side of the room.
Shelters and rescues near you
The directory, free forever for the organisations listed in it.
Shelter alerts
Cats who need a home quickly, lost cats, and donation drives.
Explore by topic
How adopting works
What a shelter asks, what a home check is, and what the contract will say.
Costs and paperwork
What the fee covers, what is done to the cat first, and what the law requires where you live.
Kittens
Where to find one, at what age it should leave its mother, and what to ask for in writing.
The first days
One room, no visitors, and how long a new cat really takes to come out from under the bed.
Our adoption guides
Costs and paperwork
Kittens
The first days
Frequently asked questions about adopting a cat
Is it cheaper to adopt a cat or buy one?
Adopting, and by a wider margin than the fee suggests. A shelter fee typically covers neutering, vaccination, microchipping and a health check that would each cost more separately, so the fee is closer to a contribution than a price. Figures differ by country, and our cost guide gives them per market.
Will a shelter come and inspect my home?
Sometimes, and it varies enormously by country and by organisation. Home visits are much more common with UK rescues than with US shelters, and a small rescue is often stricter than a large one. It is a conversation rather than an inspection.
Should I adopt a kitten or an adult cat?
An adult cat's personality is already formed and visible, which is a real advantage nobody selling you a kitten will mention. Adults are also harder to rehome, so they wait longer. A kitten is a bigger unknown and a lot more work in the first year.
How long does a new cat take to settle in?
Longer than most people expect, and hiding for the first days is normal rather than a bad sign. The one-room start exists precisely so a frightened cat has somewhere small to be brave in.