How to adopt a cat
Learn how to adopt a rescue cat from the RSPCA. Discover how we match people with the right cat or kitten and what you should consider before you rehome a cat. We’ll support and guide you at every stage.
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Cat adoption process
Find a rescue cat or kitten
Start by using our Find a Pet search to find a rescue cat or kitten near you. You can filter cats by location as well as age, temperament and whether they can live with children or other pets.
Some people hope to adopt a kitten, while others prefer to rehome a cat who may be calmer or more independent. Taking time to read each pet profile carefully helps you understand how to adopt a cat that’s a good match for your home and lifestyle.
Apply to adopt a cat near you
Once you've found a cat you're interested in, you can apply to adopt a cat or rehome a kitten from the RSPCA. Our teams review each application carefully to make sure you can meet the cat's needs, and you should hear back within 48 hours. If the cat you applied for isn't suitable for your home, we’ll help you find another cat who may be a better fit.
You don’t need an RSPCA account to apply, but having one makes it easier for you to add cats to your favourites and track your application.
Meet and get to know each other
If your application is suitable, our team will invite you to meet your selected cat at the animal centre. This visit gives you the chance to spend time getting to know them and ask questions about their personality, behaviour and care needs. Some cats may need more than one visit before adoption is finalised.
Getting to know one another helps everyone feel confident before any final decision is made.
Prepare your home
The centre may arrange a home visit or discussion to help you prepare for your new cat.
Our teams can advise on creating a safe environment, choosing food and enrichment, and helping your cat settle in comfortably when they arrive.
This is especially important if you plan to rehome a kitten, as young cats can need extra patience, supervision and time to settle into a new environment.
Complete the adoption
Once everything is agreed, we’ll guide you, if you’re the lead adopter, through the final paperwork and adoption fee. Your cat will be microchipped, vaccinated and neutered where possible (or provided with a neutering voucher if they’re too young), and treated for fleas and worms. We’ll make sure you have everything you need and help you to the car. If you’re happy to, we may take a photo with you and your new cat. You’ll receive their veterinary history, settling-in advice and ongoing support if you need it.
Find a pet
Meet our rescue cats
What pet is right for me?
Answer a few questions and discover which rescue pet may suit you best based on your lifestyle, home and family.
We’ll provide you with a recommendation on the pets who might be right for you along with advice and any changes that could make you a better match.
Before you apply
What we need from you
Before applying to rehome a cat, it’s important to think about whether your home and lifestyle are a good fit. Our teams review each application carefully to make sure the cat’s needs can be met. Cats can live 15 years or more and need ongoing care, attention and veterinary support, so adoption is a long-term commitment.
Before you apply to rehome a cat, we ask that you:
- Are aged 18 or over
- Have permission from your landlord if you rent
- Can provide a safe and suitable home environment
- Can meet the cat’s needs for companionship, care and enrichment
- Can cover ongoing veterinary care and wellbeing
- Understand the long-term commitment of cat ownership
If the cat you apply for isn’t the right match, we’ll help you explore others who may suit your home better.
If the cat you apply for isn’t the right match, we’ll help you explore others who may suit your home better.
Cat adoption fees
If you’re wondering how much it is to adopt a cat from the RSPCA, adoption fees vary by centre and by the age of the cat. The fee helps cover the cost of preparing each cat for rehoming, although the care they receive from us often costs much more.
Adoption fees also help support our rescue work, allowing us to continue caring for cats in need and helping more animals find safe, loving homes.
Your fee contributes towards:
Microchipping
Vaccinations
Neutering where possible (or a neutering voucher if the kitten is too young)
Flea and worm treatment
Veterinary checks and any care needed before rehoming
Understanding the cost of owning a cat
Owning a cat involves ongoing costs such as food, insurance and veterinary care. Our pet cost calculator can help you understand what to budget for before adopting a cat.
Frequently asked questions
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Some cats prefer to live alone, while others may already be bonded with another cat and should be adopted together. Our teams will help you find the right match.
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Possibly. Our centres will consider the needs and temperament of all animals in the household when assessing applications.
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Some cats are suitable for indoor-only homes. The centre will advise whether a particular cat’s needs can be met in your environment.
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We’ll share everything we know about your cat, including their history before they came to us (if we know) and any behaviour or medical assessments they’ve had. If your cat has been under the care of one of our behaviour specialists, you’ll receive a bespoke behaviour report. We pride ourselves on knowing the animals in our care and we’ll share that with you too.
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Our team can guide you through necessities. Most of our centres sell the essentials in our on-site shops and your purchases directly support our centres. We recommend all pet owners have pet insurance.
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We provide a full medical history and it's good practice to arrange a routine vet check post-adoption. In some cases, you may wish to discuss veterinary details with your vet prior to adoption.
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Most of our centres are not on public transport routes so you’ll need a car and a secure, well ventilated pet carrier. You should travel directly home and avoid getting your cat out of the car until you arrive.
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There’s no set time frame for a cat to settle into their new home. Every animal is an individual, and some may feel comfortable quickly, while others may need more time and patience.
It's normal for your cat’s behaviour to change as they become more familiar with their new surroundings. Every animal will respond differently, so give them time to settle and don’t expect too much from them initially.
If you have concerns about your cat or need support, contact your centre.
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Centres may provide food if your cat needs a special diet (such as hypoallergenic). Generally, the centre will let you know what food the animal has been eating, so you have time to get the right food.
Familiar belongings will depend on the centre and animal. Some will provide a blanket with the animal's scent on it or their favourite toy.
If your cat is on ongoing medication, the centre will provide an appropriate supply to allow adopters time to register with a vet and arrange prescriptions or treatment. Your cat should be up to date on preventative parasite treatments, so these will not usually be given.
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Some feral or semi-feral cats may be rehomed to suitable outdoor environments where they can live safely.
