How to adopt

Adopting a cat 

Cat Haven has hundreds of cats and kittens looking for a loving, long term home. We have cats or kittens (kittens normally only available in the kitten season - approximately November to April) to suit all households and lifestyles, from an older, sedate lap cat to a fun, playful kitten. We often even have really young kittens around 3 months old at the shelter so if you are looking for a gorgeous kitten to turn into your family friend, please come down to see them.

All our cats are sterilised, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for worms and fleas so they often are ready to go, however sometimes there may be a turnaround of just a couple of days for certain veterinary procedures.

Download a copy of our Cat Adoption Booklet for general information about adopting a cat.

Viewing the cats

Come to our shelter in Shenton Park during the adoption hours to meet many cats and during kitten season our young kittens.

Adoption hours are Monday - Friday between 10am - 5pm and weekends / public holidays between 10am-3.30pm. 

View the cats in foster HERE

Please be aware that the cats featured on this page represent only a very small portion of the total number of beautiful felines we have available for adoption as we do not include the cats in the shelter here. We do not include any of our kittens on this page also, as the turnover for youngsters is simply too high to keep up-dating, but during kitten season we always have many beautiful kittens looking for homes!

Many of our cats and kittens are currently staying in temporary foster homes out in the community but are still looking for a loving home, so please follow the instructions here if you are looking to adopt one of these foster cats.

What to bring when adopting

You must be over 18 years of age to adopt from Cat Haven, and must also provide photographic ID (such as a drivers licence) showing your current address. If you do not have photo id with your current address please also bring down a secondary piece of proof, such as a utility bill etc. (This can be in soft copy).

When you adopt a cat from us, you must transport it home in a secure cat carrier. If you don't have one, you can purchase one from us. Unfortunately, we cannot make any exceptions on this.

To adopt from Cat Haven you need to be a permanent resident of Australia, we're unable to proceed with an adoption to those on student or short term visa's. In the best interest of the cats in our care, we are looking to provide cats with long term forever homes without the risk of the cat returning to Cat Haven when their owner returns to their home country. However you are definitely able to give a cat a temporary home by fostering. 

Adoption prices

Kittens Between 8 Weeks to 6 Months Old

Kitten Package $350.00 each Kitten Package price includes: Sterilisation, microchipping, 1st vaccination, plus worm and flea treatment.

Teenagers Between 6 Months to 12 Months Old

Teenage Package $215.00
Teen Package price includes: Sterilisation, microchipping, 1st vaccination, plus worm and flea treatment. 

Young Adult Between 1 Year to 5 Years

Young Adult Package $150.00

Cat Package price includes: Sterilisation, microchipping, 1st vaccination, plus worm and flea treatment. 

Adult Between 5 Years to 10 Years

Adult Package $125.00

Cat Package price includes: Sterilisation, microchipping, 1st vaccination, plus worm and flea treatment. 

Senior Cats between 10 Years to 15 Years

Senior Package $75.00

Cat Package price includes: Sterilisation, microchipping, 1st vaccination, plus worm and flea treatment.

Golden Oldies over 15 Years

Golden Oldies Package $49.00

Cat Package price includes: Sterilisation, microchipping, 1st vaccination, plus worm and flea treatment. 

Ringworm Active Kitten/Cat

50% off Standard Adoption Price

Ringworm information/treatment pack will be provided at the time of adoption.

Ringworm Package price includes: Sterilisation, microchipping, 1st vaccination, plus worm and flea treatment. 

Adopt a bonded pair 

  • You're saving two lives
  • One cat can become lonely
  • By having two or more cats you are able to enjoy the true social nature of cats and the relationship they have with one another
  • The workload to care for two cats remains relatively the same
  • You don't need any more room for a second cat
  • Two cats provide each other with exercise, social interaction and mental stimulation
  • Cats that have a companion of the same species tend to be more socially well-adjusted which can help prevent behavioural problems
  • Two cats are cleaner than one cat as they groom one another

Want a Companion Cat or Kitten for Your Older Cat? Things to Consider:

Be cautious about getting a kitten, because:

  • Tiny kittens can sometimes be viewed as a threat by adult cats. Kittens under 16 weeks are still babies & can be physically hurt by older cats. In nature a kitten remains with its mother until about 6 months of age, so it always has a protective mother to help if another cat becomes aggressive
  • This is not the case when a kitten is adopted without its mother
  • Most adult cats have no experience of kittens and don’t relate well to them
  • Adult cats won’t naturally take on a parenting role to kittens
  • A boisterous ‘over the top’ kitten can be very wearing for an older cat
  • If you are really determined to get a kitten then consider getting two rather than one - this way they use their energy up annoying each other and not on the older cat. Kittens want to play - adult cats don’t!

Consider a more mature cat, because: Where a kitten’s individual personality is still being formed, a more mature cat is definite in its preferences and behavior. We get to know and love our more mature residents so we can provide you with insight as to how they may respond to your individual circumstances and requirements

  • We can help you to identify a cat of similar age or energy level as your existing pet, and who shares character traits that are complementary with your pet so that they are more likely to bond. For example, a quiet or timid cat may be better off with a quiet or timid play mate of a similar energy level than a lively kitten who wants to explore everything and play all day
  • If you are unsure whether your existing pet will accept a newcomer or not, why not consider fostering a mature cat as an interim step?
  • Cat Haven has an extensive Foster Care program where quality foster carers provide respite care for some of our residents while they are waiting to be adopted. We guarantee that fostered cats remain Cat Haven’s responsibility prior to being returned to the shelter for adoption
  • And, who knows? Maybe a cat that you foster with us will turn out to be the new family member that you were looking for! If they do, then you have the option to adopt them and give them their forever home.

Did You Know?

In Switzerland, an anti-cruelty law was passed that requires people who are buying/adopting cats or dogs to acquire two instead of one since it is the nature of the animal to have company of his or her kind.