Frequently asked questions

You can fill in our adoption enquiry form online for a particular cat or contact us directly to discuss which cats might be a good match. We will then invite you to the sanctuary to meet us and any suitable cats we have.

We will then discuss each cat’s needs and how you can meet them. If we feel like it is a good match, we will arrange with you a date to pick up your cat! 

All adoption decisions are made by Bury’s Stray Cat Fund and are final. While we understand you may be curious, we do not provide individual explanations for these decisions.

Our adoption fees are listed here and covers neutering (where possible), microchipping, vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, and a health check by our vet. 

It also allows us to continue our hard work of rescuing and rehoming the stray and unwanted cats in the area.

We will rehome healthy cats under 12 years old to anywhere in the country.
Cats on our foster scheme must be placed locally, as they need to use a vet practice within our network.

Yes, if you are a suitable match, we can place a cat on reserve for you while we arrange the next steps.

Also if you have booked an appointment to come and meet a cat, we will not show that cat to anyone until we have completed your appointment. If you leave your appointment without reserving a cat, we may show it to other interested parties after a period of time.

Yes, as long as the cat’s needs can be met. Some cats are more independent and can cope with longer periods alone, while others may need more company.

We do rehome to families with children, however it depends on the individual cat’s temperament and history. We will always advise on which cats are suitable for homes with children.

Possibly, this depends on the personalities and backgrounds of both your pets and the cat you’re interested in. We will always recommend gradual introductions and can offer advice to support you through the introduction process.

We will always take our cats back into our care if an adoption isn’t successful, no matter how long it has been. However, as space is limited you may need to wait a short while for us to be able to bring the cat back into our care.

Yes, all adult cats are neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped where possible before adoption.

All kittens will be microchipped and vaccinated at 12 weeks, but not neutered. Agreeing to neuter the kitten is part of the adoption agreement and we do not help with neutering costs so please make sure this is something you can commit to before taking on a kitten. If you want to take a kitten on before 12 weeks, you will also commit to taking on the cost of vaccinations.

Yes, some of our cats have ongoing health conditions. We will explain their needs fully before adoption, and some may be eligible for our foster scheme where we cover certain veterinary costs. Please click here to read more about our foster scheme.

This varies. Some cats are indoor-only due to health or temperament, while others will need safe access to the outdoors. We usually try to match a cat’s previous home experience to be similar to what a new owner can offer, so if a cat has been indoor-only before we would look for a home that is mostly indoor.

Yes, we provide guidance on introductions, settling nervous cats, and general care.

We are lucky to receive lots of food donations so we can’t always keep cats on specific brands. We usually feed a mix of wet and dry food, but the brands vary. If a cat is on a specific diet we will advise this at your appointment.

All of our cats have constant access to dry food and water, and are fed two meals of wet food a day.

We believe there is the right home out there for every cat and we won’t stop searching, even if a cat has some more difficult requirements. We will keep cats with us until we can find them a suitable home.

We only ever euthanise cats where it is medically necessary, and under the guidance of our vets.

Yes, visits are by appointment only so we can ensure you meet the cats best suited to your home. Please get in contact to arrange an appointment.

We are open for appointments to the public Mon – Fri between 10am and 4pm. Please get in contact to arrange your appointment.

Yes, well behaved children are welcome under your supervision. Please note that we do not have access for pushchairs or prams.

We have limited accessibility due to the size of our pens. We are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or walkers. Other disabilities may be able to be accommodated, please get in touch to confirm.

We do accept donations of food, bedding(except duvets & pillows), toys, money etc and you can donate online, in person, or through our Amazon Wishlist.

We also have donation bins in Tesco and Sainsbury’s in Bury St Edmunds for food donations.

You can find out more about how to donate on our donation page.

Yes, though we sometimes pause donations of certain items if storage is full. We’ll post updates on our social media when that happens. 

Please note, we cannot take duvets or pillows.

If you would like to make a donation in person, our office is open Mon – Fri between 10am and 4pm. Outside of these hours we have a donation bin under our main sign in the driveway.

Yes, we rely on our amazing volunteers!

We offer weekday and weekend volunteering shifts to help with cleaning and feeding the cats, as well as cat befriending during the week.

Please get in touch for more details about shifts and roles.

Not all cats that are out and about are strays. Even if they look unkempt, they may have medical issues that an owner is treating. Always ensure you have looked thoroughly for an owner before making any next steps.

Check for a microchip at a vet or rescue centre, post on local lost pet pages, or contact us for advice.

You can download a paper collar here which can be placed on the cat with your contact number to see if the cat has an owner.

If it is a genuine stray we will do our best to bring it in to our care as quickly as possible, but due to limited space there may be a short wait. Please get in contact as soon as possible so the cat can be added to our waiting list.

If the cat is injured or unwell we recommend taking it straight to a vet. Please do not just turn up at the sanctuary with a stray cat as we may not have space.

Yes, when space allows. We prioritise urgent cases and we do have a waiting list so please never assume that we will be able to take a cat in straight away. Please get in contact if you have a cat that needs to be rehomed and we will get you added to the waiting list. We do require a written surrender form from the registered owner to be completed.

If your cat goes missing, make sure to mark it as missing on it’s microchip registration. This way anyone who scans the chip will know someone is looking for it. Also make sure your contact details are up to date on the microchip registration so you can be contacted if your cat is found.

We also recommend making posters, asking neighbours, and posting on local Facebook groups or other online forums. 

If you send us a post for your missing cat we will try to share it to our followers as well.

Yes, if your circumstances allow we do ask for a small donation when taking in a cat.

Yes, we are a registered charity. Our charity number is 279321 and we became a registered charity on 1st February 1980.

We are just outside Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Our postcode is IP30 0UH.

It varies, but we usually have between 20-30 cats and kittens in our care. This is not always represented on the website as we only advertise cats that are available and ready to be rehomed.