Cat rehoming FAQ

The quickest way to rehome is to register online and then visit one of our centres. You may register over the phone, though we ask that you allow us five working days to complete this service.

Firstly, thank you for your interest in offering a cat a home!

We're not able to discuss individual cats until you have registered to rehome, but once you're registered, you'll be able to move on to the next step – which is talking everything through with our Rehoming Advisors.

If your chosen cat isn't marked as rehomed or reserved on the website, this means they are available for rehoming, but may already be in the process of meeting a new owner who has already registered. We do everything to ensure our animals have a short stay in our cattery and get out to their forever homes as swiftly as they can.

Our rehoming fee is £75 for cats (over six months) or £85 for kittens (under six months), which includes a full vet and behaviour assessment, microchipping, flea and worm treatment, neutering, initial vaccinations, starter pack of food and four weeks of free Petplan insurance. Each cat also goes to their new home with their own blankets and a favourite toy, such as a knitted mouse.

It’s important to consider not just the initial cost of getting a cat or kitten, but the regular cost of insurance, food, equipment etc. If you’d like to know more about what to expect, give us a call on 0800 001 4444.

It is possible to rehome a cat on the same day you visit one of our three centres, depending on your individual circumstances and the cat you are looking for.

Battersea centres are very busy at weekends – so if you can come in during the week, there may be a shorter wait to meet a Rehoming Advisor. Mornings also tend to be less busy than afternoons.

Yes, working cats are not featured on our website. If you are interested in rehoming a working cat, please email animalpartners@battersea.org.uk or call our team on 0207 6277886.

From the 11th of November 2019, the London Cattery will be running an appointment system for all rehoming customers. Please get in touch with the Cattery at cat.rehoming@battersea.org.uk or call 0207 627 9279 to book your appointment

Our other centres run a drop-in service rather than an appointment system, and you are very welcome to visit a centre at any time within our opening hours.

At busy times, you may have to wait to be seen. It can help if you arrive earlier in the day, as we are likely to be less busy in the mornings, and this also allows more time to complete the rehoming process should there be one or more suitable cats to discuss and meet on the day.

Please bring along some form of ID with your address printed on it.

Examples of acceptable documents include a driving licence, utility bill, or letter from a local authority. Please don’t worry about bringing the wrong thing – we will just need to make sure we’ve checked your ID at some point before the cat goes home.

It is possible to rehome a cat on the same day you visit one of our three centres, depending on your individual circumstances and the cat you are looking for.

Battersea centres are very busy at weekends – so if you can come in during the week, there may be a shorter wait to meet a Rehoming Advisor. Mornings also tend to be less busy than afternoons.

Yes, we frequently have cats available for rehoming who would fit perfectly into a family home with children. We do require all children in the home to meet potential cats so that we can best match you with your ideal family pet.

We do rehome cats to customers who are pregnant. We will discuss your options and give you advice upon registering.

Depending on when you plan to move, we may recommend you wait until after you have moved and settled in before rehoming a cat. You are still welcome to register now, and continue the next steps after you've moved.

This is because moving to a new home is a very unsettling time for a cat and the fewer changes in the settling-in period, the better in terms of making a new cat feel at ease.

Depending on how soon your holiday is, we may recommend you wait until after you return before taking a new cat home. You are still welcome to register now, and continue the next steps after you return.

We rarely rehome to people with cat allergies unless these are very mild, as allergies are one of the most common reasons why cats are brought in to us for rehoming.

Truly hypoallergenic cats are a myth. There is a common misconception that some breed cats are hypoallergenic, but the protein responsible for causing cat allergies is found in a cat’s saliva, so a hairless cat could still cause an allergic reaction in someone who has allergies to cats.

Battersea does have Foster Carers who can provide a safe and calm foster home for our cats, including pregnant mums and their kittens.

Find out how to become a cat foster carer

We require all household members to meet a cat before they go home. This is to ensure that the cat is the best match for all of you, so we don't rehome animals as surprise gifts for family members or friends.

Of course, if you would like to bring your loved one on a surprise visit to Battersea with a view to rehoming a cat, we would be happy to help them find their perfect feline friend!

Yes, Battersea does rehome some cats to live in homes without outside access. This is something you can discuss in more detail with a Rehoming Advisor once you are registered to rehome.

Not necessarily. Upon registering with us, we will discuss details about your property and inform you if a home visit is required.

Home visits help us to gather more information about the environment and location if needed – but there are many people who go on to rehome from us without the need for a home visit.

The home visit, if required, will be discussed with you to find a convenient time and we aim to complete these within the following week or so.

From experience, we’ve found that this gives you all the best chance of success. Everyone in the household will be happy and at ease with the new arrival, who may be with you for the next ten to twenty years. We can be flexible with this depending on the circumstances. It is best to discuss with a rehomer. It is particularly important that all children in the household meet potential cats, so that we can ensure that we match you with a child-friendly cat who will be a sociable, affectionate part of your family.

Yes, Battersea is appealing to landowners, farmers, stables, garden centres, and rural homes with outbuildings to come forward to help provide a safe home for cats that wouldn’t be able to cope in a traditional pet home.

Visit our Working Cats article page for more information.

If you are interested in rehoming a working cat, please email animalpartners@battersea.org.uk or call our team on 0207 6277886.

We do rehome some cats to live with existing cats in the home.

Some cats are happy to live with other cats, while many are happier with the home to themselves. This may apply to your own cat as well as the cat you'd be bringing home.

Battersea often rehomes cats to homes with a dog in residence, but it can take time to best match you with a cat to suit your home environment and your dog.

We do have kittens available for rehoming from time to time, and once they are ready to go home, they are rehomed very quickly. We have lots of young, playful cats in their 'teenage' years - and don’t forget that older cats can be particularly friendly and fond of a lap to sit on.

Kittens appear on the website along with all the other cats when they are ready for rehoming. Once you are registered and have had your first chat with a Rehoming Advisor, we will be able to tell you about the kittens we have available in the centre at that specific time.

Battersea does sometimes have breed cats available for rehoming, though most of our cats are regular domestic short-haired or longer-haired cats.

Yes, some of our most famous ex-residents (such as Larry the No. 10 Downing Street cat) hold or have held important government positions as chief mousers.

We would of course first need to check that your home matches the cat's needs. And as we don't test for mousing ability, we can't guarantee any cat's success in actually catching mice.

Yes. Hundreds of cats that are not well socialised to people come through our gates every year. These cats are so used to fending for themselves they’re not well suited to being a traditional pet.

Rural homes, including farms and stables, can make a good alternative for these cats as it gives them the space they need to roam, hunt, and exhibit their natural behaviour. It also gives them the choice and control over how they live their lives, whilst providing a safe environment for them to live in.

Please note, these cats are not featured on our website. If you are interested in rehoming a working cat, please email animalpartners@battersea.org.uk or call our team on 0207 6277886.