Rescue guide
Cat rescues in Kent near Canterbury, compared
Canterbury's cat rescues are spread around the edge of East Kent: a long-running sanctuary in the hills south of the city, a small rescue near Cranbrook, a Thanet sanctuary and a centre at New Romney. This guide compares them, with fees, visiting rules and what each expects of your home.
By the LocalPetFinder Team · Checked 5 November 2026
The short answer
For a cat near Canterbury, start with Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary, south of the city, which opens daily without an appointment and asks £80 for an adult cat. TAG Pet Rescue near Margate charges £90 after a home visit, and Rolvenden Cat Rescue near Cranbrook sees adopters by appointment. All three list cats with us.
- Rescue adoption fees
- Each rescue sets its own adoption fee. Battersea charges £100 for a cat over six months and £130 for a kitten, Cats Protection says you can expect to pay £80 to £120 on average for an adult cat and £100 to £120 for a kitten, varying between its branches, and Blue Cross fees start from £150 for cats aged 4 months to 7 years. The fee usually covers neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations, and each rescue confirms its own fee.
- Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary
- £80 an adult cat, £100 a kitten.
- TAG Pet Rescue
- £90 a cat, £170 a pair, neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and flea and worm treated.
- Rolvenden Cat Rescue and Last Chance
- No fee published. Last Chance sends eligible cats home with 4 weeks of free insurance.
- Keeping a cat
- PDSA reckons at least £79 a month and £11,400 to £13,600 over a cat's life (its 2024 figures), before the cost of the cat.
Kent cat rescues near Canterbury compared
Rolvenden Cat Rescue and TAG Pet Rescue had cats listed with us on 5 November 2026; Rhodes Minnis and Last Chance's New Romney centre follow once this page is live. Each name opens that rescue's cats, and you apply to it directly.
| Rescue | Where | Visiting | Cat fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary | Rhodes Minnis, south of Canterbury | Daily, no appointment | £80 (kitten £100) |
| TAG Pet Rescue | Sanctuary near Margate (about 15 miles) | After a home visit, by appointment | £90 (pair £170) |
| Rolvenden Cat Rescue | Rolvenden, near Cranbrook (25 miles) | By appointment | Not published |
| Last Chance Animal Rescue | New Romney centre (about 21 miles) | Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm | Not published |
How each cat rescue near Canterbury works
Visiting rules differ more than fees do. Here is what each one asks.
Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary
Running since 1970, Rhodes Minnis takes in cats from a wide area with what it calls a non-selective intake policy, and welcomes visitors every day, even those not looking to adopt. Its cats page lists opening hours of 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm; there is no need to book, but ring first to check a cat is still there. Some of its cats are shy or semi-feral and suit a quiet home, and the page shows only part of the cats in its care.
TAG Pet Rescue, near Margate
TAG reads every form and contacts the ones that look like a match, visits your home, and only then books you into the sanctuary to meet suitable cats; the sanctuary admits no drop-in visitors. It homes within about an hour's drive and offers back-up for the cat's whole life. Some of its cats are matched to outdoor homes in a stable rather than a house.
Rolvenden Cat Rescue
A small, voluntary, no-kill rescue on Hastings Road, Rolvenden, Rolvenden Cat Rescue neuters cats over 5 months and vaccinates every cat. To adopt, download its homing form, email it back and book an appointment. Its "less bold" cats need a quiet, indoor-only home.
Last Chance Animal Rescue, New Romney
Last Chance's New Romney centre keeps cats alongside dogs. Its policy asks whether you will fit a cat flap, refuses homes on fast or busy roads, and notes some indoor cats would be happy in a flat. Check its cat page for which centre a cat is at.
Choosing a cat rescue from Canterbury
Start on our Canterbury cats page, then weigh these:
- Want to just turn up? Rhodes Minnis says no appointment is needed; Last Chance's New Romney centre has opening hours, so ring first.
- Live on a main road? Last Chance won't home a cat there; ask the others about the cat you like.
- Want two? TAG charges £170 for a pair, and Rolvenden prefers to home kittens in pairs.
- Live in a flat? Ask about indoor cats: Last Chance says some of its cats suit flats, and Rolvenden's shy cats need indoor homes.
Found a cat, or need to rehome one?
In England pet cats must now be microchipped, so a vet can scan a stray before you assume it has no owner. To give up a cat, TAG has a form and favours CT postcodes; Rolvenden said on 5 November 2026 that it was full. Our Canterbury rehoming page has the rest.
Kittens and older cats around Canterbury
On 5 November 2026 Rolvenden had pairs of kittens of 3 to 5 months listed with us; our rescue kittens guide has the details. For calmer company, our older cats and bonded pairs pages are worth a look.
The law in England
Microchipping cats
In England, cats must be microchipped before they are 20 weeks old and registered on a database, a rule in force since 10 June 2024. An owner found without one has 21 days to comply or may be fined up to £500. Free-living cats (farm, feral and community cats) are exempt.
Lucy's Law: buying a kitten
In England, Lucy's Law has meant since 6 April 2020 that kittens under six months can't be sold by a third party such as a pet shop or dealer: you buy direct from the breeder or adopt from a rehoming centre.
Questions
Tap a question to expand
Is there a cat rescue in Canterbury?
The nearest we list is Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary, south of the city, which has cared for cats since 1970 and opens to visitors every day. TAG Pet Rescue near Margate and Rolvenden Cat Rescue near Cranbrook list cats too.
Which cat rescues cover Kent?
Around Canterbury, Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary, TAG Pet Rescue, Rolvenden Cat Rescue and Last Chance Animal Rescue's New Romney centre all list cats with us. TAG homes within about an hour's drive of its sanctuary.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat in Kent?
Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary asks £80 for an adult cat and £100 for a kitten, and TAG Pet Rescue charges £90 a cat or £170 a pair. Rolvenden Cat Rescue and Last Chance publish no fee.
Can I visit cats near Canterbury without an appointment?
At Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary, yes: it opens 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm every day. TAG Pet Rescue and Rolvenden Cat Rescue see adopters by appointment only.
Do Canterbury cat rescues do home visits?
TAG Pet Rescue makes a home visit a mandatory step before you meet any cat. Last Chance home checks every new home and visits again afterwards.
Can I adopt a cat if I live on a busy road?
Not from Last Chance Animal Rescue, which won't home cats on fast or busy roads. Other rescues decide cat by cat, so ask.
Can I adopt a cat near Canterbury if I live in a flat?
Sometimes. Last Chance says some of its indoor cats would be happy in a flat, and Rolvenden's shyer cats need an indoor-only home.
Keep reading
For rescues and rehoming centres
Are you a rescue near Canterbury? Get your animals listed free.
Every animal links back to your own adoption page, and you can ask to be removed at any time.
Sources: Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary: home page · Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary: cats for rehoming (hours, fees) · Rolvenden Cat Rescue: home page · Rolvenden Cat Rescue: adopt a cat · Rolvenden Cat Rescue: kittens and very young cats · Rolvenden Cat Rescue: contact · TAG Pet Rescue: cat adoption · TAG Pet Rescue: contact · TAG Pet Rescue: give up your cat · Last Chance Animal Rescue: cats needing a home · Last Chance Animal Rescue: where to find us · Last Chance Animal Rescue: adoption policy · Last Chance Animal Rescue: about us · gov.uk: microchipping for cats becomes compulsory · PDSA: the cost of owning a cat · gov.uk: Get your dog microchipped · gov.uk: Banned dogs · gov.uk: Lucy's Law in England · legislation.gov.uk: Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023