The short answer
The main places to adopt a cat in Canberra are RSPCA ACT at Weston and its Petbarn adoption centres, and Canberra Street Cat Alliance, whose cats live in foster homes. The Queanbeyan pound over the border rehomes cats under NSW rules. Any cat you adopt in the ACT must be registered and desexed, and a cat born after 1 July 2022 must be kept on your property.
How to use this guide
Each profile below covers where the organisation is, how adoption works, what the fee covers, and who it suits. If you want to meet several cats at once, the shelter suits you. If you want to know how a cat copes with other pets or a busy household, a foster carer can tell you more.
Before you apply, plan how you will contain the cat. Any cat born since July 2022 must stay on your property, and some rescues only adopt to indoor homes or homes with an enclosed run.
1. RSPCA ACT
Location: 12 Kirkpatrick Street, Weston, plus Petbarn adoption centres at Belconnen, Gungahlin, Majura, Weston and Woden.
Type: The ACT's main animal shelter, run by a registered charity.
Adoption fees: Adult cats $200, kittens $375, seniors and cats needing extra care $100, some high-demand breeds $500.
Animal viewing runs Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm, and the shelter is closed on Sundays, public holidays and the first Wednesday of each month. No appointment is needed; allow at least 30 minutes to meet a cat and talk with staff. The shelter does not run meet and greets between two cats or a cat and a dog, but staff can explain how to introduce them at home. The full fee bands are on its adoption process page.
Best fit for: Adopters who want to meet several cats and kittens in one visit.
Friction points: Cats cannot be put on hold, so popular kittens go quickly.
2. Canberra Street Cat Alliance
Location: Foster homes across Canberra; no central shelter.
Type: Volunteer cat rescue that also runs a Last Litter desexing program and a barn cat program.
Adoption fees: Kittens $400, adult cats $275, unless the listing says otherwise.
Profiles of cats ready for adoption are on its adopt page and its Facebook page. You fill in an expression of interest, have a meet and greet, pay the fee and take the cat on a two-week trial. If the trial does not work out, the fee is refunded in full. Cats come desexed, microchipped and vaccinated, and go only to indoor homes or homes with a secure enclosure.
Best fit for: Adopters who want a cat whose foster carer can describe its personality at home.
Friction points: Applications for cats that are not yet adoption-ready are not considered, so watch for new posts.
3. The Queanbeyan pound
Location: Corner of Ellerton Drive and Old Sydney Road, Queanbeyan East (NSW).
Type: Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council animal facility.
Adoption fees: Cats $185 desexed, or $420 including desexing at a local vet.
The council rehomes unclaimed cats and kittens, and each one comes with vaccination, a microchip, worming, flea treatment and free NSW lifetime registration. Call 02 6285 6269 to book a visit. Our Queanbeyan pound guide covers the hours and steps.
Browse adoptable cats in Canberra
See the Canberra cats and kittens listed right now, in one place.
All adoptable cats in Canberra →ACT cat containment, in plain terms
Every cat born on or after 1 July 2022 must be kept on its owner's property 24 hours a day. That can mean the house or apartment, an enclosed run in the yard or courtyard, a cat crate, or a walk on a leash. Older cats can still roam unless they live in a declared containment suburb.
The declared suburbs are Bonner, Crace, Coombs, Denman Prospect, Forde, Gungahlin Town Centre east, Jacka, Lawson, Macnamara, Molonglo, Moncrieff, Strathnairn, The Fair at Watson, Throsby, Taylor, Whitlam and Wright. There, every cat must be contained, whatever its age, and new suburbs are added as they are built. The ACT Government cats page has the current list and a map.
After-hours care in Canberra
Animal Referral Hospital Canberra at Pialligo is open 24 hours a day, all year. Animal Emergency Service Canberra at Lyneham opens weekday nights from 6pm to 8am and around the clock on weekends and public holidays.
What does not make a rescue a good or bad choice
- The size of the fee. Fees reflect the vet work already done, not the quality of the cat.
- Shelter or foster home. Neither is better. A shelter is quicker to visit; a foster home tells you more about daily life.
- A familiar name. A small volunteer group can be the best match for your household.
- What to check every time. Before you pay, confirm in writing whether the cat is desexed and what the fee covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt a cat in Canberra?
The main places are RSPCA ACT at 12 Kirkpatrick Street, Weston, which also adopts out through five Canberra Petbarn stores, and Canberra Street Cat Alliance, a foster-based rescue. The Queanbeyan pound, just over the border in NSW, rehomes cats too. The ACT Government pound at Symonston rehomes dogs only.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat from RSPCA ACT?
Adult cats between 6 months and 10 years cost $200, kittens under 6 months $375, and seniors or cats needing extra care $100. Some breeds in high demand cost $500. Every cat is desexed, microchipped, vet checked and treated for fleas, ticks and worms.
Do cats have to be kept inside in Canberra?
Cats born on or after 1 July 2022 must be contained to your property 24 hours a day, which can mean indoors, an enclosed outdoor run, or on a leash. In 17 declared suburbs, including Coombs, Denman Prospect, Throsby and Whitlam, every cat must be contained, whatever its age.
How does Canberra Street Cat Alliance adoption work?
Its cats live in foster homes, so there is no shelter to visit. You fill in an expression of interest for a cat that is ready for adoption, have a meet and greet, pay the fee, and take the cat home on a two-week trial. Kittens cost $400 and adult cats $275, and the fee is refunded if the trial does not work out.
Do I need to register my cat in the ACT?
Yes. Every cat over 8 weeks old that lives in the ACT must be microchipped, registered and desexed. You pay a one-time fee of $66.55 when you first register, then renew free each year through the ACT Digital Account.
What if I find a lost cat in Canberra?
In the ACT, lost and found cats are handled by RSPCA ACT, not the government dog shelter. Call RSPCA ACT on 02 6287 8100. A microchip scan at the shelter or a vet can find the owner.
Registering your cat in the ACT
Under the Domestic Animals Act 2000, every cat over 8 weeks old that lives in the ACT must be microchipped, registered and desexed. You pay a one-time fee of $66.55 when you first register, then renew free each year. See dog and cat registration.