Cat Rescue & Adoption Centres: County Durham

Based in Sunderland. Rescuing and rehoming lost and abandoned cats and kittens in Tyne & Wear and Durham. All cats are vet checked, neutered and vaccinated before rehoming. Open 7 days a week, from 10am - 4pm.

Covering Teesdale and surrounding areas. Rescuing rehoming domestic animals and wildlife. A home-check is always carried out before homing, and follow-up contact is made after homing. The Ark is unable to house dogs but they do run a database to assist with direct homing. Permanent sanctuary is given to those animals which cannot be released or rehomed.

A facility for cat lovers and potential adopters in Wallsend, rehoming to Northumberland, North Tyneside, County Durham and Newcastle. All adoptable cats are spayed / neutered, microchipped and treated for fleas and worms before rehoming. They will also be socialised and receive any necessary vet treatment whilst at the Cafe. Bad Cat Cafe also offer a direct rehoming (home-to-home) service.

Covering: North Yorkshire, Teesside, Wakefield and parts of West Yorkshire. The Blue Cross Thirsk centre has facilities for 25 dogs and 40 cats, with additional and puppy and kitten facilities, they always have animals looking for good homes.

Covering Billingham, Middlesbrough and Stockton. Rescuing and rehoming cats and kittens through dedicated foster homes. All adult cats are neutered prior to homing, and provision is made for kittens to be neutered by the time they are 6 months old. Home checks apply.

Based in Gateshead. Working tirelessly to help unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens, rehabilitating and rehoming them where possible. The centre matches cats to prospective adopters. Cats come with 4 weeks free pet plan insurance, they are neutered (where old enough), vaccinated and microchipped. Adoption fees apply.

Based in Consett. This is a small independent cat rescue that rescues and rehabilitates feral and stray cats & kittens. All cats will be neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and socialised, ready for loving homes. All adoption visits must be by appointment only as cats live with fosterers in private homes.

Based in Coundon, Bishop Auckland, covering County Durham. Dedicated to helping the feral and stray cat population in the area, whether that's through trap, neuter and return or rescuing and rehoming cats and kittens. All cats are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before rehoming.

Based in Westgate. Farplace rescues mainly farm animals, smaller pets like chinchillas, and injured wildlife. Farplace does take in some cats through foster homes and provides a permanent home for many feral cats that are not rehomeable.
Please Note: Farplace Animal Rescue is unable to take cats in during 2025, but do have cats available for adoption. Please contact them if you wish to adopt a cat.

Covering Stockton, Norton, Thornaby, Middlesbrough, Redcar and surrounding area. Rescuing and rehoming abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens. All will be neutered before rehoming, and those that are too young will be homed with a neutering agreement.

Based in Newcastle. A small, foster based rescue covering Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and County Durham. All animals are assessed neutered, microchipped and flea/worm treated before being rehomed. Helping Pets also offer help and advice whenever possible, with the aim of hopefully preventing pets needing to be rehomed. Please get in touch if you would like to adopt a pet - home check required.

Based in Bishop Auckland. Taking in and rehoming stray or unwanted cats (and dogs) within Co.Durham and Northumberland. All cats will be neutered before rehoming.

Based in Darlington, covering North East England. The National Animal Sanctuaries Support League is a charity dedicated to the welfare of domestic animals and injured wildlife. They work with a lot of cats and kittens, both domesticated and feral. All cats are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before rehoming. Kittens are microchipped, have had their first vaccination, and rehomed under contract that they will be neutered when old enough.

Covering Northumberland, Gateshead and Newcastle. A small group with a wealth of experience in cat rescue and rehoming. All cats are neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped before rehoming. New Beginnings are totally self funded, so an adoption fee is required to cover this.
Please Note: This Shelter is currently full. Please contact them if you wish to adopt a cat.

Covering Northumberland, Gateshead and Newcastle. A small group with a wealth of experience in cat rescue and rehoming. All cats are neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped before rehoming. New Beginnings are totally self funded, so an adoption fee is required to cover this.
Please Note: This Shelter is currently full. Please contact them if you wish to adopt a cat.

Based in Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees. Rescuing and rehoming abandoned, stray and unwanted cats & kittens in Yarm and the Teesside Area. All cats of applicable age / health are neutered, vet-checked and fully vaccinated before rehoming, as well as being litter-trained, up to date with flea and worm treatment and having been socialised with other cats and dogs. Adopter suitability checks apply.

Based in Sunderland, covering Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and County Durham. Pawz for Thought have been rescuing and rehoming since April 2003, during which time they have helped thousands of cats and kittens to find new homes. They are also involved with the rescue of other animals. The rescue is funded by a support shop, selling donated goods.

Based in Darlington. RSPCA Cat Rehoming Hub rehomes cats rescued by RSPCA Inspectors across the Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, County Durham, Northallerton and North Yorkshire areas. All cats will be neutered before rehoming. Neutering vouchers accompany kittens which are too young to be neutered when rehomed.

Based in Darlington. The priority of the branch is to support the Inspectorate in assisting rescued animals, by helping financially with veterinary bills. They also fund emergency boarding until a place becomes available at either Felledge or Great Ayton RSPCA.
RSPCA - Darlington & District do not have any animals available for adoption.

Based in Chester le Street. RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre provide specialist treatment and rehabilitation to give the animals a happy second start in life. Together with the help of their volunteers they work to meet the animals' physical and mental needs until they are ready to be adopted.

Covering Durham. This branch prioritises in animals they have rescued from cruelty & neglect, which may mean they cannot take in unwanted pets.
Please Note: All adoptions are currently through the Cat Hub

Covering Sunderland and Hartlepool.
Please Note: This branch does not take in or rehome animals, but can provide trap, neuter and return to site of feral cats.

Based in Redcar. An organisation dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and re-homing stray and abandoned animals in the north east of England. Also advising the general public regarding responsible pet ownership, general animal care and welfare.

Based in Hartlepool. Rescuing and rehoming stray and abandoned cats in County Durham, North Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear (can travel further for the right home). Adult cats will be neutered, flea'd and wormed before adoption. Kittens must be neutered by 6 months of age.

Rehoming indoor only, pedigree-looking cats in England & Wales (usually around Worcs, Essex, East London, Durham and West Midlands). This small specialist, volunteer run rescue isn’t concerned about pedigree papers, but about the cats themselves. They help all breeds, including Persians, Persian Exotics, Maine Coons, NFC, Ragdolls, Birmans, Burmese, Siberian, Siamese, British Blue and other colours of British Shorthair, and others (no longer taking in Bengal cats). All cats are cared for in foster homes, as opposed to catteries. Please email in the first instance.

Based in Durham. Tendercare Cattery Rescue Centre has lots of cats waiting for loving, permanent homes. All cats are neutered, treated for fleas and worms and ready for adoption.

Based in Newcastle. An independent cat rescue and rehoming organisation covering Co.Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear. Westgate Ark Cat Homing Centre is run by a small but dedicated band of Volunteers, rescuing and re-homing all cats who need a second chance. They neuter most cats before adoption, or require neutering as part of the homing agreement.

Based in South Shields, covering Tyne & Wear including Sunderland, Co. Durham and Northumberland. Purrfectly formed dedicated shelter that's been helping cats get back on their paws since 1972. All their rescue cats are treated for fleas and worms, and when five months old they're also neutered before rehoming. If you have space in your home and your heart for a cat companion, take a look at their cats for homing, and get in touch. Willows pride themselves on matching their fabulous felines with your family before adoption.

Covering Teesside and surrounding areas. Yarm Cat Rescue is an independent rescue working from home, along with dedicated foster homes. All adult cats are neutered before leaving, all kittens must be neutered by 6 month of age as part of the adoption agreement.

Based in Bishop Auckland. Rescuing and rehoming abandoned, abused and unwanted cats in County Durham and throughout the UK. All cats will be neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, flea and worm treated before rehoming, and have 5 weeks free insurance and lifetime rescue backup guarantee.