Q: What are your plans for the North London Adoption Centre? 

As a charity we are always mindful of how we spend our money to deliver our mission to make a better life for cats. We put cat welfare at the heart of everything we do. Our North London Adoption Centre has been operating at a reduced capacity for a while, with only eight cat pens in use, and can no longer best serve the needs of local cats and their owners. Due to its age and location, it would not be cost effective to bring it up to our current high welfare standards and will be winding down its activities from 30 June.

Q: What has happened to the employees and volunteers at the centre? 

We currently have 10 employees at our North London Adoption Centre in a mix of full and part-time roles. We’re unable to comment on individuals’ situations but are pleased that the majority of these employees have been redeployed to other positions in the charity.

We continue to have conversations with all our dedicated volunteers including cat fosterers and are pleased that a large number will continue to foster for by aligning themselves to another local centres and branches. 

Q: What is the timeline for the closure? 

In the run up to 30 June, the team will stop taking in further cats and continue to home the cats currently in our care. Any cats who haven’t found new homes by then will be transferred to our other London centres, and we’ll make sure any outstanding homing enquiries are passed on too.  

Q: How many cats are rehomed annually from your North London Adoption Centre? 

Our North London Adoption Centre rehomed 266 cats in 2023, however the condition of the site and our high standards for cat welfare meant that the centre has operated with only eight pens, with other cats cared for by trusted fosterers in their own homes. By retaining our fosterers and the support of our centres in Harrow and Mitcham, we will continue to be able to provide a good level of support for cats and their owners in the area.

Q: I have registered interest in a cat on your North London website, what should I do? 

We will still be rehoming cats from the North London Adoption Centre until 30 June. Any cats who haven’t found new homes by then will be transferred to our other London centres, and we’ll make sure any outstanding homing enquiries are passed on too.  

Q: I have been fundraising for the North London Adoption Centre, helping cats in my local area. What will happen to that money now? 

Thank you so much for raising money to help us provide a better life for cats. Contact us at supporter.services@cats.org.uk to find out how to pay in your donations or redirect them to another centre or branch of your choice. 

Q: Where will the cats from North London go? 

In the run up to 30 June, the team will stop taking in further cats and continue to home the cats currently in our care. Any cats remaining in care when the centre winds downs will be transferred to other local centres.  

We are committed to supporting the welfare of cats and their owners and the closure of the North London Adoption Centre should not have a significant impact on our ability to help cats in the area.  

Q: Would you reopen a different centre in its place? 

We’re pleased to share that construction of a new North East London site is now being planned and in the meantime, our two large cat centres in Harrow and Mitcham are equipped with excellent facilities and more pens to satisfy the welfare needs of cats in our care. 

We will also work closely with our local network of dedicated cat fosterers to ensure we continue to care for and rehome cats in the London area.