Cat rehoming FAQ

You can start the process by register online.

We’ll ask you questions to find out more about your life and household, and to help us determine the sort of cat you’re looking for. This information will help us match you up with the right cat for you

We have a simple four-step rehoming process that explains every stage in the journey to finding a pet – learn more about our rehoming process here.

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

Please register your details so we can see if you match up with the cat. Here at Battersea, we assess all of our cats individually and create a rehoming profile for them. We’ll then use this profile and the information you give us during your registration to match you up with a cat that we think would be best for you.

It may not always be the cat you thought it would be. That’s why we ask that you see the registration form as a way of registering your interest in rehoming, not an application for a specific animal. We’re experts in making sure we find the right homes for our cats and the right cat for your home.

If the cat you like 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 new homes as swiftly as they can.

Once you’re registered we’ll have a better idea of any cats we have that could be a good fit for you and your home.

Our rehoming fee is £95 for cats (over six months), £125 for kittens (under six months) or £170 for a pair of cats and £225 for a pair of kittens. The fees include 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 and fees at your local veterinary centre so that you are fully prepared for the financial implications of owning a cat.

It all depends on your individual circumstances and the cat you are looking for – but rescue pets are always worth the wait.

At the moment, we have fewer animals than usual and reduced staff, so there may be some delay while we work through rehoming applications. We are also prioritising people who live within a short distance of our three centres. Please register your details with us so we can start looking for your new pet.

We’d also recommend registering with other local rescue centres in addition to Battersea. You can find a list of alternative UK rescue centres here.

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.

Yes, we often have cats available for rehoming who would fit perfectly into a family home with children.

Saying that, we take your safety, and our animals’ safety very seriously, so we can be cautious about rehoming to families with young children. This doesn’t mean we won’t have a cat that’s suitable for you, but unfortunately, it might be harder for us to find you one.

But don’t worry, if we can’t find the right cat for your family, we’ll direct you to other ways to continue your search beyond Battersea.

Congratulations! We do rehome cats to people who are expecting a baby, however please bear in mind that we can be cautious about rehoming to families with young children. We take your safety, and our animals’ safety very seriously, so it might be harder for us to find you an animal.

A lot of the animals we rehome need owners with first-hand experience as they have unique needs, and in some cases, require specialist care. Matching you to the right animal is important to us, so it can mean that if you haven’t owned a pet before it might take us longer to find you a perfect match.

If we can’t find the right cat for you, we’ll be happy to direct you to other ways to continue your search beyond Battersea.

Depending on when you plan to move, we may recommend you wait until after you have moved and settled in before rehoming a cat. This is because moving to a new home is a very unsettling time for a cat. The fewer changes in the settling-in period, the better in terms of making a new cat feel at ease.

You are still welcome to register now, and continue the next steps after you've moved.

Depending on how soon your holiday is, we may recommend you wait until you return before bringing 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 breeds of cat are hypoallergenic, but the protein responsible for causing cat allergies is found in a cat’s saliva. This means 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 don't rehome animals as surprise gifts for family members or friends.

Adding a new cat as a member to your family is a big commitment, so it’s important that every member of the household is fully on board with the reality of having a cat and the personality of the cat itself, including any behavioural or medical challenges it could have.

We generally like to place cats in homes where they have access to a garden or another form of outside space because we feel it’s important they have the chance to explore the great outdoors.

There are some exceptions to this because we do treat each case individually, but we want to be honest that it’d be likely to take us longer to find you a cat.

After registering, we might ask for photos or videos of your home or garden. This is decided on a case-by-case basis. If you live in rented accommodation, we may ask you to provide written permission from your landlord or housing authority, confirming that they are happy for you to keep a pet in the property.

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, but many are happier with the home to themselves. This may apply to your existing cat as well as the new cat you'd be bringing home. Each animal that comes into Battersea is different, so it doesn’t mean we wouldn’t find a cat for you, but it might take us longer. In some cases, it might not be possible at all. We always want to ensure the health and happiness of all the animals involved, including your current pets.

If we’re unable to find you a cat that’s happy to live with other cats, please consider another rescue centre. You’ll find a list of other rescue centres here.

Many of the animals we see at Battersea thrive in homes where they’re the only pet so it could take us longer to match you with a cat to suit your home environment and your dog. We always want to ensure the health and happiness of all the animals involved, including your current pets.

Rescue pets are the best pets, so if you’d like to expand your search, you’ll find a list of other rescue centres who may be able to find you an animal here.

We do have kittens available for rehoming from time to time, but once they are ready to go home they are adopted very quickly. We often have 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.

But if you have your heart set on a kitten, we need to let you know that we don’t get many kittens brought into Battersea, so we might not find your perfect pet. You may find a kitten from another rescue centre – you can find a list of other rescue centres who may be able to find you an animal here.

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

Please bear in mind that even if you fall in love with a breed cat you’ve spotted on our website, there is a chance we will think you’re not quite right for each other. At Battersea, we use our extensive rehoming experience to match you up with a cat that we think would be best for you.

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.