Rescue guide
Cat rescues in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, compared
Lincoln has one cat rescue of its own on our list, Cats in Crisis Lincoln at Harmston, and two more further out, over the Nottinghamshire border. This guide compares them: where each one is, what it charges, how it chooses homes, and what to do when its website lags behind the cats it really has.
By the LocalPetFinder Team · Checked 5 November 2026
The short answer
For a cat in Lincoln, start with Cats in Crisis Lincoln, a small charity at Harmston, about 5 miles south, that homes cats only in Lincoln and nearby villages for £100. It visits your home first and won't place a cat on a busy road. Further out, RAIN Rescue at Misson generally asks £100 to £185, and Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham places cats from foster homes.
- Rescue adoption fees
- 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.
- Cats in Crisis Lincoln
- £100 per cat or kitten, neutered, microchipped, wormed and flea treated.
- RAIN Rescue
- Generally £100 to £185, shown on each cat's profile; a £50 fee holds a cat for up to 7 days after a meet and greet.
- Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham
- An adoption fee and a home check apply; no amount is published.
- Owning a cat
- PDSA puts a cat's lifetime cost at £11,400 to £13,600 or more, far above any adoption fee.
Cat rescues for Lincoln and Lincolnshire compared
RAIN Rescue and Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham had cats listed with us on 5 November 2026; Cats in Crisis Lincoln joins them as this page goes live. Each rescue takes the application and does its own checks.
| Rescue | Where | Cats | How you adopt | Cat fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cats in Crisis Lincoln | Harmston (about 5 miles) | Adults and pairs; kittens when it has them | Contact, viewing by appointment, home visit | £100 |
| RAIN Rescue | Misson, Nottinghamshire (about 23 miles) | Cats and kittens | Enquire, appointment, meet and greet | £100 to £185 usually |
| Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham | Foster homes in Nottinghamshire | Cats and kittens | Application form, home check | Not published |
How each cat rescue works
All three want to hear from you before any visit. The detail differs:
Cats in Crisis Lincoln, Harmston
Cats in Crisis Lincoln is run by local volunteers for abandoned, feral and injured cats in the Lincoln area, and says it never puts a healthy cat to sleep. Its adoption rules: viewings by appointment, a home visit, no main or busy roads, adults kept in for 3 months and kittens until 9 months, written landlord consent if you rent, and any dog in the home already cat tested.
On 5 November 2026 its list showed adults and bonded pairs, some needing a patient, quiet home and one on a special urinary diet, but no kittens. The page had last changed in July and says some cats in care aren't listed, so get in touch rather than rely on the page.
RAIN Rescue, Misson
RAIN Rescue is a closed centre: you enquire about a cat online or by phone, then book a time to meet. Fees are set per cat and shown on its profile. If you can't take the cat home straight away, a £50 reservation holds it for up to 7 days. Its cats are on our RAIN Rescue page.
Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham, foster homes
Set up by two registered veterinary nurses, Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham keeps its cats with more than twenty fosterers in Nottinghamshire and also rehabilitates wildlife. Its adoption page says a fee and home check apply, without an amount. Its cats are on our Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham page.
Which cat rescue suits your home
Look first at the cats on our Lincoln cats page, then weigh these:
- Living in Lincoln. Cats in Crisis homes only in Lincoln and the villages around it, so a city address is an advantage there.
- A road outside. Cats in Crisis turns down homes on main or busy roads.
- A dog at home. Cats in Crisis wants your dog cat tested before you get in touch.
- Patience. On 5 November 2026 three of the cats Cats in Crisis listed had been trapped, and it asked for time and patience while they settle.
Cat rescue across Lincolnshire
Our Sleaford and Grantham cats pages start from those towns and reach south and west. Grantham's takes in Meow and Furever Cat Rescue, which fosters across Nottinghamshire and charges £125 a cat. No rescue with its own list of rabbits sits within 25 miles of Lincoln, so we have no rabbits to show here.
Found a cat, or need to rehome one?
Pet cats in England must be microchipped by 20 weeks, so a vet can check a lost-looking cat for a chip before you decide it is a stray. If you need to give up your own cat, RAIN Rescue has a request form and a waiting list; for kittens, see our rescue kittens guide.
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 Lincoln?
Yes. Cats in Crisis Lincoln is a small volunteer charity at Harmston, about 5 miles south of the city, that rehomes cats only in Lincoln and the surrounding villages. Viewings are by appointment.
Which cat rescues cover Lincolnshire?
Near Lincoln, Cats in Crisis Lincoln at Harmston. RAIN Rescue at Misson, and Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham, both in Nottinghamshire, also list cats with us.
Where is Cats in Crisis Lincoln?
At Harmston, about 5 miles south of Lincoln. It sees adopters by appointment only, so contact it before you go.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat in Lincoln?
Cats in Crisis Lincoln charges £100 per cat or kitten. RAIN Rescue generally asks £100 to £185, and Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham doesn't publish its fee.
Can I adopt a cat near Lincoln if I rent?
Yes, with your landlord's written permission: Cats in Crisis Lincoln says it can't let you adopt without it.
Why isn't a cat I saw on the Cats in Crisis site available?
Its list may lag behind. On 5 November 2026 the page had last changed in July, and the charity says it is a small group of volunteers, so ring or email to check a cat first.
Are there rabbit rescues near Lincoln?
None that we list. No rescue with its own list of rabbits sits within 25 miles of Lincoln, so our Lincoln pages have no rabbits for adoption today.
Keep reading
For rescues and rehoming centres
Are you a rescue near Lincoln? 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: Cats in Crisis Lincoln: home page · Cats in Crisis Lincoln: adopt (fee, rules) · Cats in Crisis Lincoln: our cats (dated snapshot) · Cats in Crisis Lincoln: contact · RAIN Rescue: cat adoption FAQs (fees, reservation) · RAIN Rescue: request to rehome · Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham: home page · Feline and Wildlife Rescue Nottingham: adopt a cat · Meow and Furever Cat Rescue: adoption (fee) · City of Lincoln Council: microchipping · 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 · gov.uk: microchipping for cats becomes compulsory