The short answer
To rehome a domestic shorthair well: lead with your cat's personality, be honest about how they are with people and other pets, screen for a home that will keep them indoors or contained, and set a modest fee rather than giving them away free. List free on LocalPetFinder and keep your cat with you until you choose the family.
Rehome your Domestic Shorthair on LocalPetFinder
List free, keep your cat at home until adopted, and choose the new family yourself. Your email stays private.
List your cat free →Why domestic shorthairs need rehoming
Domestic shorthairs, or moggies, are the everyday mixed-breed cats that make up most of Australia's pet cats and most of the cats in rescue. They are rehomed for ordinary reasons: a move, a new baby, an allergy, a change in budget or circumstances. The cat is almost never the issue.
Because there are so many, and because black and older cats are unfairly overlooked, a moggy can wait longer for a home than a pedigree. That is a reason to write a warm, honest listing and be patient, not a reflection on your cat.
The right home for a domestic shorthair
The wonderful thing about a moggy is that almost any loving home can suit, because they are adaptable and generally healthy. The main things to match are your individual cat's personality (shy or bold, cuddly or independent) and how they are with children and other pets.
Like all cats in Sydney, they are safest kept indoors or in a secure outdoor enclosure, which protects the cat from cars and disease and protects native wildlife. Screen for an adopter who will commit to that.
Screening and the "free to good home" trap
A modest rehoming fee plus screening is safer than a free listing, even for an everyday cat. A small fee filters out people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons. Ask whether the cat will be kept indoors or contained, who is home, other pets, and their experience with cats.
Meet in person and trust your instincts. At handover, transfer the microchip registration to the new owner through the NSW Pet Registry and pass on desexing, vaccination and vet records.
Where to rehome, and the fee
General cat rescues take owner surrenders based on capacity. Cat Protection Society of NSW and Brighter Future Cat Rescue are cat-only rescues, and RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW) and Sydney Dogs and Cats Home also take cats. Because so many moggies need homes, rescues usually run on waitlists, so ask early. Owner-to-owner rehoming keeps your cat at home until you choose the family, and it takes one more cat off an overloaded rescue system.
Rescue adoption fees for an adult cat in Sydney commonly run in the $100 to $250 range, and $150 to $300 for a kitten, covering desexing, vaccination and microchipping. A modest private rehoming fee is reasonable and safer than free. Screening matters more than the figure.
New to rehoming? Start with our step-by-step guide to rehoming a dog for free, our guide to screening adopters, and the reasons a modest fee beats free to good home.
Looking to adopt a Domestic Shorthair instead?
Browse Domestic Shorthairs available for adoption from rescues and owners across Sydney.
See adoptable Domestic Shorthairs →Frequently asked questions
What is a domestic shorthair?+
A domestic shorthair is a mixed-breed short-coated cat, the everyday moggy rather than a pedigree. They come in every colour and pattern, are generally healthy and adaptable, and make up most of Australia's pet cats and most cats in rescue.
Are domestic shorthairs good pets?+
Very. Moggies are adaptable, generally healthy and full of personality, and because each one is an individual there is a cat to suit almost any home. Describe your cat's specific temperament in the listing so the right family recognises the match.
Why is my black cat taking longer to rehome?+
Black and older cats are unfairly overlooked, a pattern rescues see constantly, so they can wait longer through no fault of their own. Good photos in natural light that capture their character, a warm honest description, and widening your reach through LocalPetFinder all help. The right home is worth the wait.
Should I rehome my cat for free?+
A modest fee is safer than free, even for an everyday cat. It filters out people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons and signals the cat is valued. The screening you do matters most, but a fee plus screening is the responsible combination.
How do I rehome my cat for free?+
List your cat on LocalPetFinder at no cost. Your email stays private until you reply and the listing is reviewed. Keep the cat with you, screen applicants for a loving home that will keep the cat indoors or contained, and transfer the microchip to the new owner via the NSW Pet Registry at handover.
Related guides
Rehoming a Ragdoll? Why these gentle indoor cats need new homes, the right home, and how to rehome free and safely in NSW.
Rehoming a Maine Coon? Why these gentle giants need new homes, the right home for a big long-haired cat, and how to rehome free in NSW.
Rehoming a Siamese? Why these vocal, people-focused cats need new homes, the right home, and how to rehome free and safely in NSW.
A no-judgment framework and a three-week clarity protocol so you decide with evidence.
Every guide on rehoming a dog or cat in Australia, plus how to list for free.