--- title: "Cat charities UK — compare & choose | CharityCompare" description: "Compare cat charities in the UK: their work, financial evidence and donation checks. Explore profiles and questions to ask before giving." source: https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charities/cats retrieved: 2026-09-20T13:35:05.704Z license: "Charity data © Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0" --- Quick answer ## How do I compare cat charities? Cat charities can provide rescue, rehoming, neutering and support for owners or unowned cats. Compare the specific welfare work, local coverage and follow-up rather than judging every organisation by the same activity count. Start with the work ## What do cat charities do? The same cause can involve very different services. Use these distinctions to choose what you want to support, then compare organisations doing similar work. 01 ### Cat rescue and rehoming Some charities use centres, others foster networks or a mixture of both. **Evidence to look for**Check veterinary care, matching, adoption terms and support after rehoming. 02 ### Neutering and community cat welfare Programmes can focus on population management and care for unowned cats. **Evidence to look for**Ask about the area served, veterinary arrangements and monitoring after intervention. 03 ### Owner advice and practical help Help may support owners facing costs or changes in circumstances. **Evidence to look for**Confirm eligibility, capacity and whether the charity provides advice, funding or direct care. ## Choosing cat charities to support Begin with the difference you want your donation to make. A useful shortlist brings together your priorities, the charity’s actual programme and evidence you can check. - ### 1. Match the organisation and appeal Check the registered name, charity number and official contact details on the profile and regulator link. Confirm that the appeal and payment destination belong to that organisation. Similar names, local branches and international affiliates can represent different legal entities. - ### 2. Read the evidence for the programme Look for a defined goal, the people or places reached, the reporting period and what changed. Ask whether the figures count unique people, repeated contacts or activities. Read limitations and follow-up, and distinguish a charity’s own report from an independent evaluation. - ### 3. Compare finances in context Check the accounts year, income, expenditure, reserves where disclosed and current registration context. Research grants, direct services and campaigning have different cost structures. Missing data does not mean zero spending, and a low overhead ratio does not prove stronger results. - ### 4. Check the terms of your gift Establish whether a donation supports general work or a named appeal. Check restrictions, what happens if plans change and any ongoing commitment before giving. Follow a trusted official link and keep the confirmation so you can refer back to the stated terms. [How to read impact evidence](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/guides/how-to-read-charity-impact)[Understand Clarity Scores](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/methodology)[Find practical support](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/find-support) ## Sources and selection notes Organisation descriptions below support the attributed examples and provider information. The comparison questions are CharityCompare’s editorial guidance. Financial data comes from the dated filings identified on each profile. Read our [editorial responsibilities and interests](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/editorial-team) and [request a sourced correction](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/contact). Financial evidence ## Compare cat charity ratings 35 currently rated matches, showing the 12 highest Clarity Scores. Ordered by financial and disclosure score, with equal scores listed alphabetically. This is not a ranking of impact. Payment never changes scores. Matches use registered names and reported activities; confirm the particular programme on each profile. | Charity | Score | Cause spend | Income | Scope | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [RAIN RESCUE](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/rain-rescue) | 97 | 89% | £879k | Local | | [GABLES FARM DOGS AND CATS HOME](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/gables-farm-dogs-and-cats-home) | 94 | 95% | £924k | Local | | [STRAY AID LTD](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/stray-aid-ltd) | 94 | 74% | £714k | UK-wide | | [PETS AS THERAPY](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/pets-as-therapy) | 93 | 82% | £957k | UK-wide | | [ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BATH AND DISTRICT BRANCH](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/royal-society-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-bath-and-district-branch) | 90 | 79% | £5.1m | Local | | [RSPCA Brighton & The Heart of Sussex](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/rspca-brighton-the-heart-of-sussex) | 90 | 100% | £1.9m | Local | | [THE SHEFFIELD CATS SHELTER](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/the-sheffield-cats-shelter) | 90 | 96% | £961k | Local | | [BATTERSEA DOGS' AND CATS' HOME](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/battersea-dogs-and-cats-home) | 89 | 68% | £70m | Local | | [CAT ACTION TRUST 1977](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/cat-action-trust-1977) | 89 | 99% | £1.1m | Local | | [The Big Cat Sanctuary Ltd](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/the-big-cat-sanctuary-ltd) | 89 | 97% | £3.6m | UK-wide | | [ASHBOURNE AND DISTRICT ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/ashbourne-and-district-animal-welfare-society) | 87 | 94% | £566k | Local | | [CELIA HAMMOND ANIMAL TRUST](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/celia-hammond-animal-trust) | 87 | 99% | £4.1m | Local | [Build your own side-by-side comparison](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/compare-charities) Explore further ## More cat charity profiles 244 additional basic profiles match our registered-name search, with up to 12 shown alphabetically. These profiles do not have a Clarity Score. A name match alone does not establish relevance, service availability or effectiveness. - [5 Valley Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1098105](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/5-valley-cat-rescue) - [8 Lives Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1172332](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/8-lives-cat-rescue) - [Alfie's Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1219432](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/alfie-s-cat-rescue) - [Alley Cats and KittensRegistered charity № 1207926](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/alley-cats-and-kittens) - [Alley Cats RescueRegistered charity № 1215243](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/alley-cats-rescue) - [Amotherby Cat & Kitten RescueRegistered charity № 1214561](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/amotherby-cat-kitten-rescue) - [Avid's Angels Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1208935](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/avid-s-angels-cat-rescue) - [Avon Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1162192](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/avon-cat-rescue) - [Axholme Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1202639](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/axholme-cat-rescue) - [Betley Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1206828](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/betley-cat-rescue) - [Boston and District Cat WelfareRegistered charity № 1091594](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/boston-and-district-cat-welfare) - [Bow Lodge Cat RescueRegistered charity № 1193291](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/bow-lodge-cat-rescue) [Search the charity directory](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/search?q=Cat) ## Cat charities: your questions answered Should I donate food or money to a cat rescue?+Check its current request list and storage arrangements first. Money can offer flexibility, while requested supplies may meet a specific need. Do not assume all centres accept the same food, equipment or medicines. What do cat charity ratings tell me?+CharityCompare Clarity Scores summarise financial and disclosure measures from the dated filings shown on each profile. They do not establish programme effectiveness, clinical quality or the suitability of a service for an individual. Read the accounts period, missing-data notes and regulatory context before using a score. How are charities included in this comparison?+Rated profiles are matched against registered names and activities reported on the register; basic profiles are matched by registered name. These automated matches can miss relevant work or include a different focus. Our 35 rated matches and 244 additional basic matches are not an official UK-wide count. Check each charity’s actual activities.