How to Adopt a Cat in Ireland

I got my first cat in Ireland back in 2018 (Ruadhri, 1 year old then, British shorthair).

I had to go through the whole adoption process and during, learnt many things that are not “common knowledge”.

So, I decided to write this article to explain everything. It’s a guide on how to adopt a cat in Ireland. Hopefully, it’ll help you get your first or next furry friend!

But before adopting a cat, you need to be ready. You should ask yourself these questions:

Are you mentally prepared for taking a cat?
Do you want a kitten or an adult cat? Do you know the different characteristics with the age gap?
Where will you leave the cat if you are going away for a few days?
Are you ready to commit time, energy and an emotional bond?
Have you considered the cost?
Do you have the time to look after their needs?
Do you have a busy social life?

No, you do not need to say “yes” to all the questions from above. Just be mindful that these would be your ongoing concerns. It is a lifetime commitment, after all.

Adopting a Cat from a Rescue in Ireland

Ireland has a number of rescues where you can get a cat from. Nearly all of them will ask you these questions:

What kind of cat are you looking for? Indoor? Outdoor? A mix of both?
Are you allergic to cat hair? Many people are allergic to cat hair—it is best to find this out before you bring a cat home.
What age range of cat do you prefer?—Senior, kitten, or adult?
Do you have other pets? Some cats may not get on well with other animals in the house, so this will need to be considered before you bring any new animal home.
Are you a homeowner? Or live on rent? Because in rental situations, you will need provision of landlord permission to keep a pet.

After all these inquiries, you need to fill out an adoption application for. Then there will be a home check from the rescue centre. At this stage, the rescue volunteers will advise if the home is ok for a cat or not. If any issues are present, then you may need to resolve that before the adoption.

Home Check

After submitting the application form, a team will come to your house for a home check. They will contact you before arranging the home visit. The volunteer will meet you and our family to see where the cat will be staying. But hear this, they are not visiting your place to judge if you are ready to own a cat. The reason to come is to match the right cat with the right family.

The Adoption Application Form

This primary stage is very easy. The adoption application form is often available to download from the rescues website.

If it is not, then the rescue centre will provide you with the manual form.

They will ask your basic information, contact details, accommodation situation and how many hours a day you will be away from the house. Also how many children and family members do you have in your house, what will happen to the cat if you are out of the town all these details will be noted.

This form fill up process is to get you the perfect match with the right cat. A large number of cats are in the rescue as their owners couldn’t care for them. So the shelter needs to ensure whether your place is safe for the cats or not.

Recommendations

After completing the home check, the rescue centre will give you feedback and recommendations. In the recommendation, they will suggest if any changes are needed or not. If everything is okay then congratulations! You are ready to bring a cat into your home. But if there are any problems, then they will tell you in detail and you can correct the issues for your future cat.

Select your Cat

This is the most crucial stage! Because here, you are going to select a furry friend with whom you may stay for the next 10 to 15 years of your life. So the best advice is “don’t rush”. Take time and think about what kind of cat is best for you. Think logically resting your emotions.

Once you’ve found the cat of your dreams and completed any necessary paperwork, it’s time to bring them home! Be patient as your new furry friend adjusts to their new surroundings. Also for any queries, don’t hesitate to reach out to the shelter or rescue organisation.

If your rescue centre has the option of fostering the cat with a view to adopt then go for it. This will give you time and help to see if you and your cat are a good match.

As a proud parent of a rescued cat, give your new feline friend with love, attention, and care. Also enjoy the unconditional love and companionship they’ll bring into your life.

Cost to Adopt a Cat in Ireland

The costing price varies from rescue to rescue. No, you are not buying a cat. You are paying a fixed donation to the rescue center for the cat. The actual amount varies depending on where you are taking your cat from but expect to pay anywhere from 60-150 eur.

When I took Maklu, I had to pay 60 eur and later, when I got my 2nd cat, I paid 80 eur.

This donation covers the early vaccination & spay/neuter process.

Local Shelters and Rescue Organizations

Ireland is home to numerous shelters and rescue groups dedicated to finding loving homes for cats in need. Here are the most popular rescues that can help you.

If you’re a cat lover living in Ireland, or even just visiting, you might be interested in learning about the most popular cat rescue centers in the country.

These organizations work tirelessly to save and care for cats in need, providing them with shelter, medical attention, and ultimately finding them loving forever homes. Here are some of the most well-known cat rescue centers in Ireland:

Dublin SPCA:

One of the biggest shelters in Dublin is SPCA. If you have RTE – you might find the documentary they made about DSPCA a few years ago (adorable).

– Website: [Dublin SPCA]

-Address: Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, D16 H356, Ireland

– Contact: +353 1 499 4700, info@dspca.ie

– Adoption Fee: Varies depending on the age and health of the cat. Typically includes vaccinations, microchipping, and spaying/neutering.

– Adoption Process: Prospective adopters are required to fill out an adoption application and undergo a screening process, which may include a home visit.

Once approved, they can visit the shelter to meet available cats and complete the adoption paperwork.

– Facebook Group: You can find the Dublin SPCA on Facebook [here].

The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) is one of the oldest and largest animal welfare organisations in Ireland. They are operating this cat rescue centre by saving stray and abandoned cats, providing veterinary care and lastly giving them a new home. Interesting fact is, this DSPCA has been also running educational programs and campaigns to promote responsible pet ownership.

Cats Aid:

– Address: PO Box 5604, Dublin 14, Ireland

– Website: [Cats Aid]

– Contact: +353 87 294 1805, catsaid@gmail.com

– Adoption Fee: Cats Aid requests a donation for their cats and kittens, which helps cover veterinary costs and care.

– Adoption Process: Interested individuals can browse the available cats on Cats Aid’s website

– Facebook Group: Find Cats Aid on Facebook [here].

Cats Aid is a volunteer-run cat rescue group based in Dublin. They rescue and rehome stray and abandoned cats and kittens, providing them with necessary veterinary care and fostering them until they find permanent homes. Cats Aid also promotes spaying and neutering to help control the cat population.

Galway Cat Rescue:

– Address: Contact for specific location details.

– Website: [Galway Cat Rescue]

– Contact: galwaycatrescue@gmail.com

– Adoption Fee: Adoption fees vary and typically cover vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and microchipping.

– Adoption Process: Galway Cat Rescue’s Facebook page or website has the cat detailed for prospective adopters. You can browse from the available cats and contact the organization to express interest. They will arrange a meet and greet. If the adoption is approved, they can complete the necessary paperwork and pay the adoption fee.

– Facebook Group: You can find Galway Cat Rescue on Facebook [here].

The Galway Cat Rescue is one of the top Cat Rescue center in Ireland. They focus on saving cats and kittens from neglect, abuse, and homelessness. veterinary care, foster homes, adoption services- all these things are given to the cats. Like this, the animals get a second chance at life.

Galway Cat Rescue also runs a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program to manage feral cat colonies in the area.

A.S.H. ANIMAL RESCUE

– Address: Kiltegan, Rathdangan, County Wicklow, Ireland

– Adoption Fee: The adoption fee varies depending on the age and health of the animal.

– Contact Number: 059 647 3396 (From Outside The Republic: +353 59 6473396)

– Email: ashlm@eircom.net

– Certainly! A.S.H. Animal Rescue’s website is:

– Website: [A.S.H. Animal Rescue]

– Adoption Process: Like the rest, here you are also required to fill out an adoption application form. The form is available on A.S.H. Animal Rescue’s website or requested via email.

Then the rescue team may conduct a home visit to ensure that the environment is suitable for the specific needs of the animal. Once the application is approved and the home visit is completed satisfactorily, a meeting will be arranged. If both the adopter and the animal are comfortable with each other, the adoption can proceed. The adopter will be required to sign an adoption agreement, outlining the terms and conditions of the adoption, including responsibilities and expectations.

– Facebook Group: A.S.H. Animal Rescue has an active Facebook group where they share updates about available animals, adoption events, fundraising efforts, and success stories. Join here .

Based in Co. Wicklow. Rescuing and rehoming unwanted cats and dogs. Animals that cannot be rehomed can remain at the rescue. This shelter neutered all cats over 6 months prior to rehoming. A donation is required when adopting an animal to enable A.S.H. Animal Rescue to continue their work.

Beside these rescue centres, here is a link where you can find the details of other shelters.

These are just a few examples of the many cat rescue centres operating throughout Ireland. Each of these organizations plays a crucial role in saving and improving the lives of cats in need, and they rely on the support of volunteers and donors to continue their important work. If you’re considering adding a feline friend to your family, consider adopting from one of these reputable rescue centers and giving a deserving cat a loving home.

Cork Cat Action Trust:

– Address: Contact for specific location details.

– Website: [Cork Cat Action Trust]

– Contact: corkcatactiontrust@gmail.com

– Adoption Fee: Adoption fees vary and typically cover vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and microchipping.

– Adoption Process: Prospective adopters can view available cats on Cork Cat Action Trust’s Facebook page or website. They can then contact the organization to inquire about the adoption process and schedule a meeting with the cat(s) they are interested in. If the match is perfect then they can proceed with the adoption.

– Facebook Group: You can find Cork Cat Action Trust on Facebook [here].

This Cork-based organization has been rescuing and rehoming cats in need. They operate a no-kill shelter where cats are cared for until they find loving homes. Cork Cat Action Trust also runs a TNR program to address the issue of feral cat overpopulation in the area.

Limerick Animal Welfare:

– Address: Moorestown, Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, V35 H328, Ireland

– Website: [Limerick Animal Welfare]

– Contact: 063 91110 or Out of Hours 087 6371044 info@limerickanimalwelfare.ie

– Adoption Fee: Adoption fees vary depending on the age and health of the cat. The fee typically includes vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and microchipping .

– Adoption Process: At first, you need to visit the shelter or call them for a chat. Then after having the meeting, their staff or volunteers will pay a home visit in your house. Limerick Animal Welfare has one requirement for all. They want a safe secure garden and your pet must sleep in the family home. You are not allow to use any type of shock collars. After all these formalities are completed, you can bring your pet in home.

– Facebook Group: You can find Limerick Animal Welfare on Facebook [here].

Limerick Animal Welfare was founded back in 1983. From then, they are sheltering thousands of unwanted dogs, cats, horses, goats and a wide range of other animals. also provides low-cost spaying and neutering services to help reduce the number of unwanted animals.

The best part is, Limerick Animal Welfare regularly give talks to primary and secondary schools. In this way they educate the kids and encourage them to make kindness and respect for all animals a way of life.

Visit Adoption Events

Beside the rescue centre, you can keep an eye out for adoption events happening in your community too. These events are a fantastic opportunity to meet cats in person, interact with them, and see if there’s a connection. Plus, you’ll have the chance to speak with shelter staff and volunteers who can provide valuable insights and advice.

Remember, adopting a cat is a lifelong commitment, so be prepared to provide love and care for your furry friend for years to come. By opening your heart and home to a cat in need, you’re not only changing their life but also enriching your own in ways you never imagined. So, what are you waiting for? Start your journey to cat parenthood today and experience the joy of adoption firsthand!