Rescue cats for adoption and rehoming in and around Carlisle

Most cats listed near Carlisle are at Eden Animal Rescue, whose centre is at Moorlands Head Farm near Temple Sowerby, about 17 miles south, and which had several kitten litters listed on 2 November 2026. Oak Tree Animals' Charity at Wetheral Shields, about 4 miles east of the city, rehomes cats too. Each profile here links to the rescue that cares for the cat, and you apply with them.

Oak Tree Animals' Charity asks a standard donation of £155 for a cat or £170 for a kitten, and may change it for a very old cat or one likely to need costly treatment soon.

Eden Animal Rescue asks a minimum donation of £110 for a cat or kitten, or £180 for a pair, and says the donation is not refundable. Every animal is neutered unless too young or there is a medical reason to wait, vaccinated, microchipped and treated for worms and fleas.

Each rescue sets its own adoption fee. 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.

Both rescues start with a questionnaire, and both see adopters by appointment (Eden's contact page says "appointment only").

• Questionnaire and photos. Eden Animal Rescue asks for photos of your home and garden with its questionnaire, where the cat will sleep and eat, and your landlord's written permission if you rent. If you already have pets, it may ask to contact your vet.
• A quick reply. Oak Tree Animals' Charity aims to reply within 72 hours, and you can sometimes reserve a cat the same day. It will always take a cat back if things don't work out.
• Cumbria only. Eden doesn't rehome animals out of Cumbria.

Cats Protection rehomes cats through local branches across the UK. We don't list its cats, so search its own site for cats near Carlisle.

In England a pet cat must now be microchipped, so a vet's scan is the quickest way to find the owner. The council stray service is for dogs: section 149 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 deals with stray dogs, not cats.

Oak Tree Animals' Charity can't take in a found cat until it has been advertised as lost for at least 7 days, so ask neighbours and put up notices first.

Our guide to cat rescues in Carlisle and Cumbria compares the rescues, and our rescue kittens guide covers kittens. The kittens, older cats and bonded pairs pages list the cats near Carlisle today.

Need to rehome your own cat instead? Our Carlisle rehoming page covers Oak Tree's cat intake form.