Adopting a rescue kitten in Middlesbrough: rescues, rules and costs

The count under the short answer is live, and our Middlesbrough kittens page links each kitten to its rescue. If the list is short, check back, or ask the rescues to tell you when kittens are ready.

Care4Cats Rescue says: "We have a policy of adopting kittens in pairs, as kittens need interaction with other kittens for healthy social development." It asks that young kittens go in pairs unless you have an existing kitten or young cat at home, so if you want a single kitten, say so before you apply; an older cat may suit you better. S.A.R.A.'s £200 pair fee makes two cats cheaper each than one.

Expect a home check. Care4Cats Rescue asks to see ID and, if you rent, proof that pets are allowed; S.A.R.A. does a home check before its one-week trial.

At S.A.R.A. every cat is vaccinated, microchipped, treated for fleas and worms, tested for FIV and FeLV and neutered unless there is a medical reason not to, for £150. Care4Cats Rescue neuters, microchips, vaccinates and treats every cat for parasites, snap tests for FIV and FeLV, and offers 5 weeks' free Agria insurance.

A kitten bought from an advert may come with none of that done, so neutering, a full course of vaccinations and the microchip are extra bills on top of the price.

Ask the rescue what has been done and what you agree to do. This is what the rescues around Middlesbrough say on their own pages:

• Vaccinated and neutered. S.A.R.A. and Care4Cats Rescue both vaccinate, microchip and neuter before adoption. A kitten too young to be neutered may need it done later, so ask. In England the law also requires a cat to be microchipped before it is 20 weeks old (see the law section below).
• Indoors at first. Care4Cats Rescue recommends keeping a new cat inside for at least two weeks, and says kittens are not sensible enough to be let outside until one year old (if unsupervised); before then, supervised trips into a secure garden or on a harness are an option.

Rescue kittens are adopted, not sold: you apply, the rescue matches you, and you pay its adoption fee or donation. Every kitten on our Middlesbrough kittens page is adopted that way. The same goes for "free kittens": a rescue asks a fee towards vet work, and a "free to good home" advert has no rescue behind it.

If you decide to buy a pedigree, Cats Protection suggests a breeder registered with a breed association such as the GCCF, and seeing the kitten with its mother at home. If an advert looks like a scam, report it to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.