Rescue cats for adoption and rehoming in and around Ipswich
Rescue cats and kittens looking for new homes in and around Ipswich, listed for rehoming by rescues and rehoming centres.
All 22 are with rescues within about 25 miles of Ipswich, in places such as Debenham, Little Whelnetham and Suffolk. Each card shows the town and how far it is from the centre of Ipswich.
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Danny and Deidre
Domestic cat
Fatilda and Fabio
3 years • Domestic Shorthair
Hiss and Spit
1 year • Domestic Shorthair
Maple
3 years • Female • Domestic Shorthair
Mick and Pam
2 years • Domestic Shorthair
Adopting a cat in Ipswich
The cats on this page come from Suffolk Animal Rescue, which joins us with this update. Its head office and cattery are at Debenham, about 12 miles north, and it also keeps cats at its Pettistree site. The charity specialises in feral cats, so many of its adults are shy, trapped pairs that want a patient home.
Bury's Stray Cat Fund runs a sanctuary at Little Whelnetham, near Bury St Edmunds, about 19 miles away. Its cats appear on this page and on our Bury St Edmunds cats page, which measures from the town.
What adopting a cat costs near Ipswich
Suffolk Animal Rescue asks a minimum donation of £75 for a cat or a kitten. Bury's Stray Cat Fund charges £100 for one cat and £140 for two, or £120 for one kitten and £170 for two, with £20 of each fee going on a year's sanctuary membership.
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.
How cat rescues near Ipswich work
Expect an appointment before you meet any cat (Suffolk Animal Rescue, Bury's Stray Cat Fund):
- Suffolk Animal Rescue: email or form, then a visit. Some cards ask you to email about the cat, others link a form; then you book a visit and a home check may follow. It worms, flea treats and chips its cats and aims to test them for FIV and FeLV, but it doesn't vaccinate them, so you take that on with your vet.
- Bury's Stray Cat Fund: weekday appointments. It sees adopters by appointment from Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and rehomes only to permanent UK residents.
- Kittens and neutering. Both charities leave a kitten too young to neuter to you, and Bury's Stray Cat Fund doesn't help with the cost.
Blue Cross, the RSPCA and Cats Protection
The Blue Cross Suffolk rehoming centre at Wherstead and RSPCA Suffolk Central at Martlesham both rehome cats near Ipswich, and Cats Protection works across Suffolk too. We don't list their cats, so search Cats Protection's own site and theirs.
More help for Ipswich cat adopters
Typed "kittens for sale" in Ipswich, Colchester or Suffolk? Read our rescue kittens guide first. Current cats are grouped on our kittens, older cats and bonded pairs pages, and the Colchester page measures from that town.
Giving up a cat? Our Ipswich rehoming page lists who can help.
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.
Ipswich cat adoption FAQ
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Where can I adopt a rescue cat in Ipswich?
From Suffolk Animal Rescue, whose cattery is at Debenham, about 12 miles north, and which lists its cats with us from this update. Bury's Stray Cat Fund near Bury St Edmunds is about 19 miles away. Applications go to the charity itself, never through LocalPetFinder.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat near Ipswich?
Suffolk Animal Rescue asks a minimum donation of £75 for a cat or kitten. Bury's Stray Cat Fund charges £100 for one cat or £120 for one kitten, including a year's sanctuary membership.
Are rescue cats near Ipswich vaccinated?
Not all. Suffolk Animal Rescue doesn't vaccinate its cats and expects you to do it with your vet; they are wormed, flea treated and chipped first. Bury's Stray Cat Fund vaccinates its adult cats where possible, and its kittens at 12 weeks.
Can I visit a cat rescue near Ipswich without an appointment?
No. Suffolk Animal Rescue asks you to call before visiting its Debenham cattery, and Bury's Stray Cat Fund sees adopters by appointment on weekdays from 10am to 4pm.
How do I rehome my cat in Ipswich?
Suffolk Animal Rescue takes cats by email or phone. Our Ipswich rehoming page covers the options.
LocalPetFinder and other pet sites
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Is LocalPetFinder the same as Petfinder?
No. LocalPetFinder is an independent UK website and is not connected with Petfinder. We bring together dogs, cats and rabbits from UK rescues and rehoming centres, and every profile links to the rescue that cares for the animal, so you apply with them directly.
How is LocalPetFinder different from Pets4Homes?
Pets4Homes describes itself as the UK’s largest online pet marketplace, connecting buyers with breeders as well as shelters and charities. LocalPetFinder is for adoption: our listings come from rescues and rehoming centres and from owners rehoming their own pet, each checked by a reviewer before it goes live. We do not take adverts from breeders.
Can I find RSPCA animals on LocalPetFinder?
No. We do not list the RSPCA’s animals, at its national centres or its branches. To see them, use RSPCA Find a Pet, the RSPCA’s own search for animals in its centres and branches across England and Wales.