We share our lives with cats. They bring happiness to millions of us every day. Yet too many cats don’t get the care and kindness they deserve. Every month over 1,600 cats are waiting for us to provide them with a safe place to sleep and balanced meals, to look after their health and to give them lots of loving care. In every corner of the UK our dedicated volunteers are using their passion, kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.
We’re looking for more people to join our community of cat lovers. Whether you’re keen to volunteer with cats directly, could see yourself greeting customers with a smile at one of our charity shops, or would prefer to do your bit from the comfort of your own home, we’ve got a role with your name on it.
By volunteering with us, you’ll become part of an amazing community of cat lovers who, through meaningful contributions in a variety of roles, make life better for cats and those who care for them.
We’re confident we have a role with your name on it. There are a wide variety of roles to choose from, including caring for cats directly, becoming a team member at one of our charity shops, or offering local fundraising support. You can also do your bit at home by taking on admin opportunities, looking after a local Cats Protection webpage or sharing inspiring stories on social media. Other volunteer opportunities at Cats Protection include delivering grief support to cat owners, and fostering with our Lifeline service.
If you’ve never volunteered before, we’ve got you. We’ll provide all the training and support you need, helping you to build your confidence and giving you the opportunity to try out different parts of the role.
If you’re interested in volunteering with cats directly, you could be a great addition to one of our local teams. We often need fosterers to open their hearts and homes and look after cats until they are adopted. Similarly, in our centres, volunteers are vital in ensuring cats in care are safe, happy, well-fed, groomed and socialised while they await their forever homes. You can find out more about volunteering with cats here.
There’s no minimum number of hours required to volunteer with us, our roles are flexible to fit around your life.
You have to be a minimum of 14 years old to volunteer at Cats Protection, and we can only offer certain roles to younger applicants. When you search for a volunteer role with us, you can select whether you are aged 14 to 15, 16 to 17 or 18+. Your results will then include age-appropriate roles.
We ask that anyone who wishes to volunteer with Cats Protection is based within the UK. This ensures that volunteers have the right support and training to help them safely and confidently carry out their role(s). There may also be some restrictions on what activity can be carried out (depending on an applicant’s visa status for example). Further information can be found on the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) website.
Yes, employees can donate their time and expertise, either during work hours or in their own time, facilitated by their employer. Find out more about employer-supported volunteering.
We really appreciate any time you can give to help us. If you want to help cats but are short on time, our bitesize volunteering ideas are perfect ways you can help cats across the country quickly, and a lot of them can be done from the comfort of your own home! Find out more about bitesize volunteering.
