Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is one of the oldest animal rescue charities in the UK. Founded in London in 1860, it rehomes dogs and cats from three centres in London, Old Windsor and Brands Hatch.
Battersea matches adopters with pets rather than taking applications for one animal. This guide explains how matching works, what rehoming costs and whether you can visit. It also covers giving up a pet and how Battersea compares with other UK charities.
Independence note: Pet Rescue Blog is not affiliated with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Fees and policies are set by the charity and can change, so always confirm details on the official Battersea website before you register.
Key Takeaways
- Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is a registered charity, number 206394, founded by Mary Tealby in 1860.
- Battersea rehomes from three centres: Battersea in London, Old Windsor in Berkshire and Brands Hatch in Kent.
- Battersea charges £230 to rehome an adult dog, £275 for a puppy and £100 for an adult cat.
- Battersea treats your registration as interest, not an application for a specific pet, and matches you within three months where it can.
- Battersea centres are closed to the public except for pre-booked appointments or guided tours.
- Battersea does not rehome pets as surprise gifts and rarely rehomes cats to people with cat allergies.
- Owners giving up a pet join a waiting list, and Battersea suggests a £50 donation when the pet comes in.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at a Glance
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is a London-founded charity that has cared for more than 3.1 million dogs and cats since 1860. These are the core facts most people look for.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Battersea Dogs and Cats Home |
| Original name | The Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs |
| Founded | 1860, in Holloway, London, by Mary Tealby |
| Moved to Battersea | 1871 |
| Charity number | 206394 |
| Centres | Battersea (London), Old Windsor (Berkshire), Brands Hatch (Kent) |
| Animals rehomed | Dogs and cats |
| Dog rehoming fee | £230 (adult), £275 (puppy), £350 (pair) |
| Cat rehoming fee | £100 (adult), £130 (kitten), £180 (pair of cats), £225 (pair of kittens) |
| Visiting | Pre-booked appointments or guided tours only |
What Is Battersea Dogs and Cats Home?
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is a UK charity that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes dogs and cats. It also campaigns on animal welfare, supports other rescues and gives advice to pet owners. On average it cares for around 240 dogs and 145 cats at any one time, according to its Wikipedia entry.
The history of Battersea, from 1860 onwards
Mary Tealby opened the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs in Holloway, north London, on 2 October 1860. The home moved to Battersea in 1871 and began taking in cats in 1883. Queen Victoria became its patron in 1885, starting a long link with the Royal Family.
Battersea grew beyond London when it acquired the Old Windsor site in 1979 and the Brands Hatch site in 1999. The charity was known as Battersea Dogs Home until 2002, when it added “and Cats” to its name.
Battersea Dogs Home or Battersea Dogs and Cats Home?
Both names refer to the same charity. “Battersea Dogs Home” was the official name until 2002 and is still widely used in conversation and search. The charity calls itself Battersea, and its full name is Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Battersea’s most famous former resident
Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011, came from Battersea. Battersea still rehomes cats as mousers, but it makes clear it does not test cats for mousing ability.
Where Are the Battersea Centres and Can You Visit?
Battersea has three centres in South East England: London, Old Windsor in Berkshire and Brands Hatch in Kent. According to its visit us page, all three are closed to the public except for pre-booked appointments or guided tours. The London centre runs a limited number of pre-booked guided tours.
This means you cannot walk in and browse the kennels. You meet a dog or cat once the rehoming team has matched you, which is similar to Woodgreen and different from most Dogs Trust centres.
How to Rehome a Dog From Battersea
To rehome a dog from Battersea, you register online and Battersea matches you with a suitable dog. It asks you to treat registration as interest in rehoming, not an application for one dog. The four steps are set out on its rehoming page.
The Battersea rehoming process, step by step
- Register online: the first questions check whether Battersea suits your needs, and you are told straight away if it does not.
- Leave it with the team: Battersea matches your answers against what it knows about each dog.
- Speak to the rehoming team: when a possible match appears, Battersea arranges a call.
- Meet and rehome: you meet the dog, and Battersea gives advice to help it settle.
Your registration stays open for up to three months. If Battersea cannot match you in that time, it tells you and offers guidance on searching elsewhere. Our guide to adopting a dog in the UK covers how other charities handle the same stages.
Who can rehome from Battersea?
Battersea treats each case individually, but its dog rehoming FAQs set out how common situations are handled:
- Flats: many Battersea dogs have gone to flats, although some individual dogs need a different setting.
- No garden: possible, but Battersea says a match is likely to take longer.
- Young children: Battersea can be cautious, so finding a dog may be harder.
- First-time owners: many Battersea dogs need experienced owners, so matching may take longer.
- Renters: you may be asked for written permission from your landlord or housing authority.
- Surprise gifts: Battersea does not rehome dogs as surprises for someone else.
Battersea suggests waiting if a baby is due, you are moving or you have a holiday booked. Rescue dogs can take months to settle. Instead of a home visit, it may ask for photos or videos of your home and garden.
How much does it cost to rehome a dog from Battersea?
Battersea charges £230 for an adult dog over six months, £275 for a puppy under six months and £350 for a pair of dogs. The fee includes:
- Microchipping
- Initial vaccinations, flea and worming treatment
- Neutering
- A collar, identification tag and lead
- A starter pack of food, advice and offers
- Four weeks of free Petplan insurance
Battersea accepts cash or debit and credit cards, but not cheques. Its advice is to budget for food, insurance, grooming and vet fees before you register, and our pre-adoption checklist helps with that planning.
How to Rehome a Cat From Battersea
Rehoming a cat from Battersea follows the same four-step registration and matching process as dogs. Its cat rehoming FAQs explain the fees and conditions specific to cats.
How much does it cost to rehome a cat from Battersea?
| Cat | Battersea fee |
|---|---|
| Adult cat (over six months) | £100 |
| Kitten (under six months) | £130 |
| Pair of cats | £180 |
| Pair of kittens | £225 |
The fee includes a full vet and behaviour assessment, microchipping, flea and worm treatment, neutering and initial vaccinations. It also covers a starter pack of food and four weeks of Petplan insurance. Each cat also goes home with its own blankets and a favourite toy.
Battersea cat rehoming conditions
- Outdoor access: Battersea generally places cats in homes with a garden or other outside space, with some exceptions.
- Allergies: Battersea rarely rehomes to people with cat allergies unless they are very mild, and it says truly hypoallergenic cats are a myth.
- Kittens: kittens are rehomed regularly but are adopted very quickly.
- Working cats: Battersea places cats that are not suited to pet life with farms, stables and rural homes through a separate working cats scheme.
Before a cat arrives, read our guide to preparing your home for a new cat.
Giving Up a Pet to Battersea
To give up a dog, you complete Battersea’s online intake form, which takes about 15 minutes. Its giving up your dog page warns that demand is very high. Owners join a waiting list and may not be able to bring a pet in for some time.
Battersea asks for a suggested donation of £50 when you bring your dog in. If you are not local to its centres, it suggests contacting your nearest rescue. For behaviour problems, its Behaviour Advice Line runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, on 020 3887 8347.
Other Battersea Services
Battersea’s work extends beyond its own kennels:
- Behaviour advice: a phone and email line for owners struggling with a dog’s behaviour.
- Lost dogs and cats line: a service for owners searching for a missing pet.
- Working with other rescues: Battersea supports smaller rescue organisations.
- Fostering: foster carers give dogs and cats, including pregnant cats and kittens, a calm home away from kennels.
- Pet advice: free dog and cat advice articles on its website.
How Is Battersea Funded?
Battersea is funded mainly by donations and legacies, with gifts in wills making up roughly half of its income. These figures come from the Charity Commission financial history for Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ Home.
| Financial year ending | 31 December 2023 | 31 December 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £64.48m | £70.34m |
| Donations and legacies | £53.76m | £59.35m |
| Of which legacies | £27.60m | £32.57m |
| Other trading activities | £7.63m | £7.58m |
| Total expenditure | £58.18m | £63.43m |
| Spent on charitable activities | £39.46m | £45.33m |
| Spent on raising funds | £14.33m | £14.48m |
In both years, Battersea’s income exceeded its spending. The register links to the full annual report for anyone who wants the detail.
Battersea vs Other UK Rehoming Charities
Battersea’s dog fee is lower than Dogs Trust’s and its cat fee sits within the typical range. The bigger differences are geography and visiting. Compare the main options below, then confirm fees on each charity’s website.
| Charity | Animals | Where | Adult dog fee | Adult cat fee | How you apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodgreen Pets Charity | Dogs, cats, small pets | One centre, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire | £285 | £115 | Apply for a specific pet; no general visiting |
| Dogs Trust | Dogs only | 23 rehoming centres across the UK | £300 (£287.50 in Northern Ireland) | Not applicable | Apply once and be matched; most centres open to visitors |
| Battersea Dogs and Cats Home | Dogs and cats | London, Old Windsor and Brands Hatch | £230 | £100 | Register interest and be matched within three months |
| Cats Protection | Cats only | Over 30 centres plus volunteer-run branches | Not applicable | Typically £80 to £120, set locally | Enquire about a specific cat through Find a Cat |
| Blue Cross | Dogs, cats, small pets, horses | 11 rehoming centres and units in England and Wales | £200 to £300 by age (puppies £400) | £100 to £125 by age (kittens £150) | Apply online for a specific pet; no walk-ins |
| Mayhew | Dogs and cats | One centre, Kensal Green, London | £195 | £90 | Apply for a specific animal; virtual interview, then a meeting |
| National Animal Welfare Trust | Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, farm animals | Four centres: Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Cornwall | £250 | £120 | Register interest in a specific pet; contacted only if matched |
| Scottish SPCA | Dogs, cats, small pets, exotics, equines | Five rehoming centres across Scotland | £300 under 8 years, £250 over 8 (puppies £400) | £150 under 8 years, £100 over 8 (kittens £200) | One application, open for 12 months; the team matches you |
| Raystede | Dogs, cats, small pets, farm animals, horses | One 43-acre centre, Ringmer, East Sussex | £300 | £100 | One application on file; contact them about a specific animal |
Which charity suits you best?
- You live in London or the South East: Battersea’s three centres are well placed.
- You want to visit and browse dogs: most Dogs Trust centres allow walk-in visits, which Battersea does not.
- You want a dog and a cat from the same charity: Battersea rehomes both.
- You live in the North, Scotland or Wales: a charity with centres near you will be more practical than travelling to the South East.
Is Battersea a Good Charity to Rehome From?
Battersea is a long-established, well-funded charity with clear fees and a thorough matching process. It suits adopters in the South East who are patient and open-minded about the pet they take home. These points come from Battersea’s published policies.
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Rehomes both dogs and cats | Only three centres, all in the South East |
| Fees include neutering, vaccinations, microchip and four weeks of insurance | No walk-in visits; appointments or tours only |
| Clear three-month matching window | You cannot apply for one specific animal |
| Behaviour advice line for owners | Waiting list for owners giving up a pet |
| Over 160 years of experience | Matching can take longer with young children or no garden |
How to Support Battersea
- Foster: give a dog or cat a temporary home away from the kennels.
- Volunteer: help at one of the three centres.
- Sponsor a kennel or cabin: fund the space an animal lives in while it waits.
- Donate or leave a gift in your will: legacies fund about half of Battersea’s work.
FAQs
How much does it cost to rehome a dog from Battersea?
Battersea charges £230 for an adult dog over six months, £275 for a puppy under six months and £350 for a pair. The fee includes microchipping, initial vaccinations, neutering, a collar, tag and lead, and four weeks of Petplan insurance.
How much does it cost to rehome a cat from Battersea?
Battersea charges £100 for an adult cat and £130 for a kitten under six months. A pair of cats costs £180, and a pair of kittens costs £225.
Can I visit Battersea Dogs and Cats Home?
Only by appointment. Battersea’s centres are closed to the public except for pre-booked appointments or guided tours, and the London centre offers a limited number of tours.
Where are the Battersea centres?
Battersea has three centres: Battersea in London, Old Windsor in Berkshire and Brands Hatch in Kent.
Can I apply for a specific dog at Battersea?
Not directly. Battersea treats registration as interest in rehoming and matches you with a suitable dog, which may not be the one you first liked.
How long does Battersea take to find a match?
Battersea keeps your registration open for up to three months. If it cannot find a match in that time, it tells you and offers guidance on searching elsewhere.
When was Battersea Dogs and Cats Home founded?
Mary Tealby founded it as the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs in Holloway, London, on 2 October 1860. It moved to Battersea in 1871.
Is Larry the Downing Street cat from Battersea?
Yes. Larry, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office since 2011, was rehomed from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Does Battersea charge to take in a pet?
Battersea asks for a suggested donation of £50 when you bring in a dog. Owners join a waiting list because demand is very high.
Is Battersea a registered charity?
Yes. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 206394.
Related Articles
- Woodgreen Pets Charity: An Independent Guide
- Dogs Trust: An Independent Guide
- Cats Protection: An Independent Guide
- Blue Cross: An Independent Guide
- Mayhew Animal Welfare Charity: An Independent Guide
- Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare: An Independent Guide
- National Animal Welfare Trust: An Independent Guide
- Scottish SPCA: An Independent Guide
- How to Adopt a Dog in the UK: Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide
- A Basic Cat Rescue Checklist
- RSPCA Adoption Requirements UK Explained
Conclusion
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home suits adopters in London and the South East who want a dog or a cat. It works best if you are happy to be matched by experienced staff. Its fees are clear, its finances are public and its history is unmatched among UK rescues.
If you live further away, or want to meet dogs before registering, compare Battersea with the other charities in this series. Whichever you choose, patience during matching usually leads to a better fit.
Insurance Disclaimer: This article is general information, not financial advice. Policy prices and cover vary by provider, pet, and postcode. Compare policies and read the terms carefully, or speak to an FCA-regulated adviser.
