Cat Rescuers

There are hundreds of cat rescue centres all over the country, including Battersea Dogs Home, so why spend hundreds of pounds on buying a pedigree cat when you could open your home (and your heart) to a homeless (even homeless pedigree) cat?

To increase the chances of finding your cat should the worst happen, always have it micro-chipped so that it can be traced back to you.  As an additional safeguard, a safety cat collar and tag will help trace you even quicker should your pet be found, however a collar and tag alone will be rendered totally useless if your cat is deliberately stolen.

Below is a list of just some of the cat rescue centres all over the UK. 

Cat Chat - the Cat Rescue Resource: Finding loving homes for thousands of homeless and abandoned cats and kittens every year from shelters across the UK.
If you are thinking of adopting a cat (including pedigrees), this is the place to start! UK Registered Charity no. 1100649.  For website click here:

Crescent Cat Rescue: Registered Charity caring for cats for the last 20 years in the Clacton area of Essex   For website click here:

In Essex

Chestnut Cat Sanctuary & Rescue: Epping, Essex:  One of the busiest Cat Rescue centres in the South. Over 700 homeless cats and kittens homed yearly. Open every day 363 days a year 10 -2 pm. No age limit to cats. No cats put to sleep. Their Boarding Centre helps to fund the Sanctuary Tel: 01992 560510, Fax: 01992 560369, Email: enquiries@chestnutcatsanctuary.co.uk For website click here:

Crescent Cat Rescue: Registered Charity caring for cats for the last 20 years in the Clacton area of Essex.  For website click here

PussyCat Lodge Trust: Brentwood, Essex: Cat rescue and rehoming in Brentwood, Essex, UK and surrounding area. Lost and found service. Care of feral cats.  For website click here:

Cats Protection Rayleigh:  Formed in 1927, Cats Protection has grown to become the UK's leading feline welfare charity. We now care for and find new homes for around 60,000 cats and kittens every year, through our network of 29 Adoption Centres and 260 voluntary-run Branches.  Our work doesn't stop there though: we also provide an array of cat care information via our publication, website and National Helpline, we promote the benefits of neutering for a happier pet and distribute education packs to a third of schools in the UK.   The area we cover includes Canvey Island, Benfleet, Thundersley, Hadleigh, Rayleigh, Hockley, Hullbridge and Lower Hockley. For website click here

Colchester Cat Rescue: (Colchester & District Cat Rescue and Homing Society). Colchester Cat Rescue cares for around 170 cats at any one time, and about 100 of these are long term as they have not been able to be rehomed. Cats are generally only rehomed in the local area, ie. from Chelmsford in the south to Ipswich in the north. The sanctuary is run entirely by volunteers, who organise various fund raising events.  For website click here

Pussycat Lodge Trust: PussyCat Lodge Trust is a small cat rescue centre run solely by volunteers from Jennie's back garden for cats in need, both domestic and feral, based in the Brentwood, Essex area. The Trust does not receive any funding other than private donations from individuals and the proceeds from various fundraising activities. Resources, especially space, are therefore limited and the Trust can only take in and care for a certain number of cats at any one time. Care is always taken to try and place each and every cat in need in a place of safety, whether at the Lodge or at another sanctuary.  General Enquiries: 07751 199037, Rehoming/Rescuing a cat: Tel: 01277 811904, Feral cat line: 01708 378452 Lost & Found line: 01277 231500, Email: info@pussycatlodge.co.uk.  For website click here

Cats Protection - Basildon, Brentwood & District:  Basildon CP helps over 600 cats every year, as well as finding homes for over 300 cats and kittens, usually having between 30 and 50 cats waiting for homes. They cover the whole of the Basildon & District Council area, including Wickford, Billericay, Stanford-Le-Hope and Corringham. They also assist across Thurrock and Brentwood. They would love to hear from anyone who could volunteer their time to help with fund-raising, fostering, driving etc. Some of the cats currently seeking a home are featured on their website

Cats Protection - Southend & District:  In addition to finding good loving homes for many stray & unwanted cats, Southend CPL run a sponsorship scheme for their long-term feline residents, & a lost & found register for missing cats.  Current phone numbers can be obtained from the 'Contacts' page on their web site. General Tel. No: 01702 202222, E-mail: mailto:catsprotectionsouthend@blueyonder.co.uk,  For their website click here

Cats Protection - Thurrock & District: Branch Tel: 01375 892 806, Email: cpl@cats.org.uk.  For their website click here: 

Cats Protection - Hornchurch & District: Covering postcode areas: RM11, RM12, RM13, RM14 and certain parts of RM15.  Rescuing and re-homing stray and unwanted cats since 2001. All cats & kittens receive a full veterinary check, including blood tests and any treatment needed to ensure a clean bill of health prior to rehoming.  Become a member of the Hornchurch & District branch, & you will receive their excellent quarterly newsletter.  Many cats currently seeking a home are featured on their website. Address: PO Box 4199, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 6XQ.  Tel: 01708 755211, E-mail: hornchurchcats@yahoo.co.uk.  For their website click here

Caring for Animals - this busy rescue always has many and various cats needing homes, often over 100!  If you could offer a loving, permanent home to a cat (or two) please give them a call, you will be spoilt for choice! Irvine Gardens, South Ockenden, Essex, RM15 5JP.  Tel: 01708 854567

RSPCA - Stort Valley

Adopting a Cat - the cats that are available for homing are housed in heated cat pens in the gardens of our two fosterers' homes. Kittens when available can be seen at a third fosterer and are housed inside her home. The cats that come into our care are first checked by a vet, treated for fleas and worms, given their first vaccination and neutered. Un neutered tom cats are tested for the FIV/FELV virus (these are the highest risk category).

All cats must be given time to settle into their new home therefore patience can be required. Cats must be kept indoors with a litter tray for the first three to four weeks. Annual vaccinations are required as are regular flea and worming treatments. With milder winters and central heating fleas are becoming resistant to products, therefore we recommend only products supplied by vets. These include Frontline,Advantage, Stronghold and Programme for fleas. Drontal and Panacur paste for worms.

Adoption Fees

Kittens are microchipped at four months and vouchers are issued for selected vets for neutering at six months. If you wish to use your own vet for neutering a voucher will be issued towards the cost.

Please click here for information about the cats we currently have available for adoption.  National RSPCA Enquiries: 0870 333 5999 / Cruelty Line: 0870 55 55 999.

Siamese Cat Club Welfare Trust (Billericay Branch) R.egistered Charity number: 1072366
The SCCWT operates a rescue and re-homing service for unwanted adult siamese cats. Permanent, loving homes are often needed for adult cats. Please note, they do not have kittens for rehoming. They also operate a lost and found register, and a sponsorship scheme for un-homeable cats. See our web site for more details.

In London

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home:  A rescue charity that aims to rescue, reunite, rehabilitate and re-home lost and abandoned cats and dogs.  They give information and advice on all aspects of cat and dog behaviour and training - they do fabulous work.  To access their website click here:

In Kent

THE PERSIAN CHINCHILLA RESCUE - Established in early 2001, they offer a safe haven for all breeds of Persian and are currently full with many needing homes. All of the cats receive veterinary attention as necessary plus full vaccinations, grooming etc. They are also tested for FELV/FIV before rehoming. This small independent rescue group relies totally on voluntary contributions. They are often so full that they cannot take any more cats in, and desperately need homes for some who are now ready to leave them.  Based in Larkfield, Kent, they cover the whole of South East England.  Tel: 01732 321416  Fax: 01732 321416.  E-mail: pc006c7564@blueyonder.co.uk

And also, in Kent - Foal Farm Rescue Animal Rescue Centre, Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Kent, TN16 3AX.  Tel:  01959 572386,  E-mail: info@foalfarm.org.uk.

To look at gorgeous cats that Foal Farm currently have up for loving adoption click here