Older rescue cats for adoption and rehoming in and around London

Most older cats on this page are with London cat charities rather than big rehoming centres: Celia Hammond Animal Trust, with centres at Lewisham and Canning Town, London Inner City Kitties, which fosters in east and north London, Protected Paws Animal Rescue and Hounslow Animal Welfare Society in west London. Celia Hammond Animal Trust says elderly cats, even ones used to a garden, are usually happy indoors on a sofa, which suits a London flat.

Celia Hammond Animal Trust runs long term or "Retirement" fostering: you take in an elderly or ill cat for the rest of its life, and the charity provides its vet care through one of its own clinics (the details are agreed for each cat). It doesn't usually supply food and litter for these cats.

Hounslow Animal Welfare Society lets you ask for a senior cat of 10 or over on its application, and will still consider you from just outside its area if you want an elderly, disabled or FIV cat. London Inner City Kitties fosters only in listed east and north London postcodes, but makes exceptions for cats that need long term fostering.

Neither charity charges less by age: Celia Hammond Animal Trust suggests a donation of £85 for any cat, and Hounslow Animal Welfare Society asks a minimum of £100 for a cat over 6 months.

Each rescue sets its own fee, and some charge less for older cats. Blue Cross fees start from £100 for cats aged 8 or over, against £150 for cats aged 4 months to 7 years. Battersea charges £100 for a cat over six months, and 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. The fee usually covers neutering, microchipping and first vaccinations, and each rescue confirms its own fee.