Cat Rescue & Adoption Centres: Essex

Based in Romford, finding loving homes for stray and unwanted cats and kittens in Havering. All cats and kittens are neutered, health checked, treated for worms and fleas, microchipped and given their first vaccination before rehoming. The rescue also supports and encourages the neutering of cats, and offers advice on cat care.

Based in Bishop's Stortford, rehoming in Hertfordshire and Essex (and occasionally London and further afield). Providing a safe haven for neglected, unwanted or abandoned cats, dogs and other small animals. Also assisting with the rescue and welfare of wild animals. All animals for rehoming will be neutered or spayed before adoption, unless this cannot be done for medical reasons.

Based in Hornchurch. Ann & Bill's is a small, dedicated rescue taking in cats and kittens in Barking, Dagenham, Romford & Hornchurch. All ages and breeds are cared for, and prospective owners and cats are carefully matched before homing. Kittens that come into season before rehoming will be spayed, and all adult cats are neutered prior to rehoming.

Covering Suffolk, Essex, parts of Cambridge, and parts of Norfolk. The new Blue Cross rehoming centre on Bourne Hill has allowed the Suffolk centre to double the number of animals they can help and rehome. They offer a matching service to ensure the right pet goes to the right home.

Covering Thurrock and Kent. This is a small, self funded cat rescue. Cats are neutered and treated for fleas and worms before being rehomed. An adoption donation is required to help towards the running costs. Homechecks apply.

Based in Grays, Essex. Offering a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) programme to help control and contain the local feral cat population. If it's unsafe for the cats to be returned, they will be relocated. The friendlier, sociable cats are adopted to loving homes. All cats will be neutered, microchipped, treated for worms and fleas and health checked before rehoming. Lifelong rescue back-up provided.

Please Note: This is A small charitable organisation based in Southend-on-Sea, covering Essex and East London. Stray cats are taken into care and rehabilitated by caring foster parents, until they are ready for rehoming. All cats are vet treated, neutered and microchipped before rehoming. Please Note: This is a small organisation, with limited spaces available. Only stray cats without owners can be taken in.

Covering the whole of the Basildon & District Council area, including Wickford, Billericay, the whole of the Brentwood Council area and Stanford-Le-Hope and Corringham (Post codes SS11 to SS17, CM11 to CM15). Rehoming unwanted cats and kittens, promoting responsible cat ownership and neutering. All cats over 4 months old are neutered prior to rehoming. Home visits apply.

Covering postcode areas: CM7, CM77, CO6 and CO9. Colne Valley Cats Protection rescue and rehome cats and kittens, they also provide advice on cat care. All cats over 4 months old will be neutered prior to adoption. Home checks will be carried out prior to adoption to ensure they find the right home for each cat in their care.

Covering the EN10, EN11, CM19, CM18, CM17, CM16, CM5, IG9, IG10, RM4 postcodes. Finding loving new homes for cats in the Epping area, and helping to reunite lost cats with their owners. The branch can also help with neutering, and providing information to help people's understanding of cats and their care.

Based in Chelmsford. Essex Cat Centre has been helping cats since 1963, at a rate of over 1,000 a year! They cover any area within a 10 - 15 mile radius of Chelmsford, and the shelter usually has around 50 cats awaiting new homes at any one time.

Covering CB9, CB10, and CO10 postcodes. Rescuing, caring for and rehoming cats in the local area. Cats are cared for by volunteer fosterers until a permanent home can be found. They also give advice on cat problems and help with feral colonies. They have a non-destruction policy, which means that no healthy animal is ever put to sleep.

Covering postcode areas: RM1 - RM3, RM5 - RM14. Rescuing and re-homing stray and unwanted cats since 2001. All cats & kittens receive a full veterinary check, including blood tests and any treatment needed to ensure a clean bill of health prior to rehoming. Become a member of the Hornchurch and District branch, and you will receive their excellent quarterly newsletter.

Covering postcodes: EN1, EN2, EN3, EN4, EN6, EN7, EN8, EN9, N9, N18, N21 and CM20. Lea Valley Cats Protection helps to home around 200 cats every year. The branch is staffed entirely by volunteers.

Covering Canvey Island, Benfleet, Thundersley, Hadleigh, Rayleigh, Hockley, Hullbridge and Hawkwell. This branch is run entirely by volunteers and in 2016 they re-homed 256 cats and kittens from this area, as well as providing advice and practical assistance. Cats are placed in foster homes until their ideal home can be found.

Covering postcode areas SS0-SS4 and SS9. This branch helps find new homes cats & kittens, and re-unites cats with their owners through a lost & found register. All cats are neutered, microchipped and treated for fleas and worms prior to rehoming.

Covering postcodes: C07 & CO11 - CO16. An area from the River Stour in the north, to the coast and the River Colne in the south, with the coast to the East and the town of Colchester to the west. Caring for unwanted cats and kittens in the Tendring area. The main aim is to provide new homes for cats that come into their care. They also have an ongoing neutering programme to try to reduce the number of stray and feral cats in the area.

Covering postcodes E4, E10, E11, E17, E18 and IG8. Within this area, Cats Protection - Waltham Forest & Redbridge help with adoption, neutering and information. They also help with feral cats in their area by neutering them.

Covering Essex, West Kent and East London. The Celia Hammond Animal Trust run low cost neuter clinics, for those on a low income, as well as an extensive rehabilitation and rehoming service for stray and unwanted animals in London and throughout the South East. They also run a sponsorship scheme for their un-homeable cats.

Based in Hockley, covering Southend On Sea. Rescuing and rehoming dogs and cats in need. All cats will be vet checked, tested for FIV & FELV, vaccinated, microchipped, and treated for fleas and worms. Cats will also be neutered prior to rehoming, and kittens are homed on a strict neutering contract. Full rescue back up is provided for life.

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Covering N.E. Essex and S.E. Suffolk. Rescuing and providing sanctuary and re-homing centre for cats and dogs looking for caring, loving homes.

Based in Colchester. Providing foster care for stray and unwanted cats and kittens in Colchester and surrounding areas. All cats and kittens are neutered prior to rehoming. All are microchipped and treated for fleas and worms. Colchester Caring for Our Cats strives to match the right cat to the right home, and offer full rescue back up.

Covering Colchester, Clacton, Chelmsford and Ipswich. Colchester Cat Rescue cares for around 70 cats at any one time. Many of these are long term and haven't been able to be rehomed. All cats are neutered, fully vaccinated, microchipped and flea & worming treated. Adult cats have also had a dental if required. Cats are generally only rehomed in the local area.

Based in Tendring. Crescent Cat Rescue is a small, friendly cat rescue, who have been caring for cats for over 20 years. Their centre is situated in the Tendring area of Essex. If you'd like to adopt a cat, they have some super characters just waiting for the right home to come along!

Based in South Ockendon, covering Basildon, Chelmsford, Harlow, Thurrock. Cuddly Critters takes in unwanted and neglected animals. All cats are health checked, vaccinated, neutered and treated for fleas and worms. All cats over 6 months of age will be neutered prior to rehoming and for kittens a neutering agreement must be signed by potential adopters. Home checks apply.

Based in Halstead, North Essex. Rescuing and rehoming lost, abandoned, sick and homeless cats. All cats & kittens will be neutered where old enough and home checks will be carried out prior to adoption.

A small, self funded rescue & rehoming service covering Frinton-on-Sea and the local area. Frinton Feline Aid specialises in Birman cats but will assist all pedigree cats. They can also help with rehoming stray and feral cats for other rescue shelters. All cats will be neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, flea treated and wormed and rehomed with 5 weeks free insurance.

Logged in via FRONT END as a shelter - Adding a new cat:
The font in the "Main Cat Description" box is smaller - more difficult to read. 

Covering Essex and surrounding counties, operating from bases in Basildon & Upminster. Goldie's give priority to senior cats of 12 years plus, and to sick and FIV+ cats. All cats are neutered, vaccinated, health checked by a vet, flea and worm treated and microchipped prior to rehoming. Senior cats also have a general wellbeing blood test. Homecheck and adoption fees apply. Goldie's run a ‘forever fostering’ program, where they continue to pay any vet bill for cats over 18, after rehoming. 

Based in Braintree. Covering Braintree, Chelmsford and Halstead. A small rescue providing space and care until new appropriate homes are found. Cats and kittens are vet checked, deflead, wormed and microchipped before rehoming. All cats/kittens are neutered before adoption. Those who are too young are rehomed with an agreement for the owner to neuter. Kims Kitties can also provide support with direct rehoming.

Based in Grays. All cats taken in at this small shelter are neutered before rehoming. Microchip and vaccinations to be agreed on adoption. Home checks apply.

Based in North Essex. Kozy Katz Rescue and Rehoming Centre rescues unwanted cats and kittens, and rehomes them in suitable homes and environments. All cats are neutered before homing, and home checks apply.

Covering East Anglia. Mel's is a small independent rescue, providing cats with all the love and care they need, until their forever home is found. All cats/kittens are neutered, vet checked, deflead, dewormed, and microchipped before rehoming. For kittens too young to be neutered before adoption, a neutering voucher will be issued. Cats are fostered in private homes. Location checks and virtual video home checks apply, prior to in-person meetings for potential adopters.

Based in Harlow, covering Essex. Meowcat Rescue's mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home cats in need. They will try to help in all cases, and offer advice to anyone who needs it. All cats are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before re-homing. A home check is carried out prior to adoption, to ensure mutual suitability of cat and home. Registered with HMRC.

Rescuing and rehoming cats and kittens throughout Essex. All cats are lovingly cared for in foster homes, and will be neutered, fully vaccinated, treated for fleas and worms, vet checked and microchipped before rehoming.

Based in Thurrock, the branch rescues and rehomes unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens. All cats, where old enough, have been vaccinated, neutered, microchipped and treated for fleas and worms. They will also be homed with 4 weeks’ free pet insurance. The charity relies totally on donations and their own fund raising efforts. Good loving homes urgently needed.
Please Note: This branch is not currently taking in or rehoming cats. Please contact NAWT Head Office as below.

Based in Basildon.The shelter focuses on socialising and rehoming cats in Essex. All cats in their care will be neutered (where age appropriate), microchipped, treated for fleas and worms before rehoming. Home checks apply.
Please Note: This Shelter is currently unable to take cats in. Please contact them if you wish to adopt a cat.

Covering Essex. This is a small friendly self run rescue that helps to rescue and rehome cats and kittens. They run a purpose built kitty haven where the cats can stay, progress and play until a suitable forever home is found. Every cat rehomed is neutered, micro-chipped, flea and worm treated and vaccinated if required. Paws & Mittens is run purely on donations.

Based in Grays, covering Havering & Thurrock. Rehoming cats that have been found homeless throughout Havering & Thurrock. They neuter any cats that come into their care, and all cat / kitten rehomings will be subject to a home check and a donation to Pippa’s Army.
Please Note: This Shelter is currently unable to take cats in. Please contact them if you wish to adopt a cat.

Based in Hornchurch. Purrs is a small dedicated charity in Essex aiming to rescue stray and abandoned cats and find their forever homes. All cats are cared for in foster homes, and are fully vaccinated, treated for fleas and worms, health checked by a vet, neutered and micro-chipped before they are rehomed. If a kitten is too young neutering is arranged by their adopters with guidance when needed.

Based in Ingrave, Brentwood, Essex. Areas covered: Havering, Redbridge, Barking, Dagenham, Brentwood. Pussycat Lodge has been helping cats for over 20 years. They care for and re-home domestic cats and are keenly involved in the management of the feral population. No healthy animal is ever destroyed. Loving homes are always needed for cats in their care, and they would also love to hear from anyone wishing to offer help. They also run a sponsorship scheme for un-homeable cats and produce a newsletter for members.

Based in Braintree. The Home takes in unwanted animals (principally cats, dogs and small domestic animals) from the general public in Essex normally via the RSPCA branches and animal homes in London. They provide temporary refuge and veterinary care for the animals, all of which will be neutered and microchipped before adoption.

This RSPCA branch is run by a committee who make decisions about how they can best carry out animal welfare work in the area. They often have cats available for re-homing. All cats will be neutered and microchipped prior to adoption. They require a small donation for each animal adopted. All funds are raised locally from individual donations with no government or lottery funding. They also have a charity shop in Chelmsford town centre offering a range of goods for sale.

Covering from Dagenham & Barking in the South to Epping & Nazeing in the North, Waltham Abbey to the West and Abridge to the East. As with all RSPCA branches, Essex South West is an independent charitable trust, relying on it's own fundraising to support their animal welfare activities.

Covering Southend, Canvey, Maldon, Heybridge, Dengie & South Woodham Ferrers. This busy branch regularly cares for between 30 and 40 cats at any one time, all looking for loving new homes. Also seeking homes are dogs and rabbits. All animals are neutered, microchipped and vaccinated (where appropriate) before they are rehomed.

Covering from Saffron Walden, Essex to Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, including Bishop’s Stortford, Harlow and surrounding villages. RSPCA Stort Valley provide a clinic staffed by a qualified Veterinary Surgeon for people on a means tested benefit. They also have an advice centre that you can telephone or call in to obtain advice on the care of animals.

Based in Waltham Abbey, covering Essex, Hertfordshire and Greater London. The Scratching Post rely solely on charitable donations to help with their rescue and rehoming work. Their policy is to ensure that no cat is ever kept in unsuitable accommodation while it is waiting for a home. All cats are vet checked, vaccinated, treated for fleas and worms, given any other necessary veterinary treatment, and neutered if old enough (kittens homed with a neutering agreement). Microchipping on adoption.

The SCWT operates a rescue, foster and re-homing service for unwanted adult siamese cats throughout the UK. Permanent, loving homes are often needed for adult cats. Please note, they do not have kittens for rehoming. The trust runs a sponsorship scheme for un-homeable cats. See their website for more details.

Based in Chelmsford, Essex. Springfield is a small organisation which rescues and rehomes abandoned cats. All cats rehomed are neutered and microchipped if they are old enough (those too young are rehomed with a an agreement for the new owners to neuter). Home check and follow-up carried out. Springfield also offer a full rescue back up service for the life time of the pet.
Please note: This Shelter is currently full. Please contact them if you wish to adopt a cat.

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.

This is a small foster-based rescue based in Islington. Caring for and rehoming abandoned, abused and unwanted cats and kittens in London and the surrounding areas. They also rehome pedigree cats, pedigree mixed cats and pedigree looking cats. Prior to rehoming, all cats are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and vet treated when necessary. Kittens will not be rehomed until they are old enough to be neutered.

Covering Uttlesford District. Rescuing and rehoming cats and kittens in Saffron Walden, Dunmow, Thaxted, Stansted Mountfitchet, Elsenham, Henham and surrounding areas. Cats and kittens are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before rehoming, and come with 5 weeks' free insurance. Potential adopters are asked to complete an adoption form, to help match you with cats who are likely to thrive in your home. Adoption donation requested.

Based in Upminster. Rescuing and finding homes for animals in need throughout Essex and the South East. Contact the sanctuary if you can offer a permanent, loving home to an animal, or if you would like to sponsor one of their permanent residents. All cats are neutered before adoption (those too young are rehomed with a neutering agreement).