Cat ownership is more popular than ever. The 2023 Cats Protection CATS Report found that over one in four households own a cat and 92% of owners consider their feline friend to be part of the family. The number of people getting cats in recent years has remained constant. But why aren’t we rehoming more cats? 

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Adoption rates from rescue and rehoming charities are in decline. Stats from the CATS Report showed that over a twelve-month period in 2022-23, only 15% of cats acquired were adopted from a rescue and rehoming charity. Increasingly, prospective cat owners appear to be looking to purchase their cat, and many are now looking for pedigree cats rather than moggies. The percentage of pedigree cats obtained has increased over time, from 17% over five years ago, to 42% of cats obtained in the last 12 months. This trend has potential welfare impacts for cats, with more cats being bred for physical characteristics that are detrimental to their health and increasing the risk that cats will be exploited for profit.

What is putting potential owners off adoption?

This move away from adoption suggests that those looking to obtain cats are simply not seeing adoption as a good option for them. Further research is needed to investigate this. Do potential owners view adoption as too arduous a process? Is it that the rehoming sector cannot offer the types of cats that people want? 

There are plenty of unwanted cats to choose from. Cats Protection alone rehomes around 30,000 cats each year but another 100,000 cats are thought to be living in rescue care awaiting adoption across the country. 

What sort of cats end up needing to be rehomed?

Cats arrive in rescue care for a variety of reasons. About 60% have been surrendered by their owners. The rest are stray cats for whom no owner has been located. Unwanted kittens make up a large proportion of the surrendered cat population. The timely neutering of cats before they are reproductively active (at or before four months of age) plays a crucial role in reducing the number of cats in rescue care. 

The rest of the surrendered cat population includes cats given up because:

  • Their owners can no longer afford to keep them.
  • The owner has cited ‘behavioural reasons’ (e.g., not getting on with other pets or children, scratching furniture). 
  • The owner has become overwhelmed by too many cats.
  • There have been problems with housing (e.g., emigration or a move to rented accommodation).
  • There has been a change in family circumstances (e.g., a new baby or divorce).
  • The owner has health issues (e.g., illness, hospital stays, deaths or allergies). 

Cats of all varieties find themselves in need of a new home. Older cats, pedigree cats, cats that need outdoor-only homes, cats that need indoor-only homes, and yes, a great many kittens. Many people looking for a cat feel they would prefer a kitten. While it is lovely to watch a kitten grow, it’s important to understand young kittens need almost constant supervision. It’s worth considering whether a fully grown cat might be a better fit, especially if you are older, have young children at home or lead a busy lifestyle. Older cats have an established personality, come ready housetrained and are likely to be a lot calmer and cuddlier. 

Are there any benefits of rehoming a cat from a charity?

Adopting a cat or kitten from a rescue organisation means you will be matched with a pet that will be the best fit for you and your family. Rescue organisations have a wealth of information to share with you about cat ownership, and following adoption, many charities also provide support to troubleshoot any concerns while your cat is settling in with you. Adopting a cat versus buying makes good financial sense too. For a nominal adoption fee, your cat will have been health checked, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and treated for fleas and worms. Many cat rescue charities also include temporary pet insurance cover, no matter the cat’s age or previous medical history. 

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How difficult is the adoption process?

Adopting a cat may have seemed convoluted in the past, with fussy home visits looking for very selected circumstances. However, most charities have replaced the home visit with a user-friendly online form or face-to-face conversation. You may get rejected a few times if the cat you like doesn’t quite match your circumstances, and it might take a little longer for your chosen cat to finally come home, but the time taken is well spent and ensures you and your new friend are going to get off to the best of starts together. 

Where can I go to adopt a cat?

If you would like to adopt a cat, here are a few of the major rehoming charities to contact:

You could also check this directory to find which cat rescue organisation is situated nearest to you. 

Are we heading into a cat rescue crisis?

Since 2021, waiting lists for people looking to relinquish their cats have been at capacity at Cats Protection, with requests to join the waiting lists rising. 

What is clear is that this trend towards buying and away from rehoming cannot be ignored. It is crucial that the public sees the rescue sector as accessible, trustworthy, and reliable. If waiting lists continue to grow without the adopters needed to relieve them, we could be looking at a perfect storm for the cat rescue sector in the UK over the coming years.

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