Cats 🐈🐈‍⬛

Explore volunteer opportunities with cats around the world, including cat shelters, rescue centres, sanctuaries, community cat projects, pet sitting and other initiatives where caring for cats is a meaningful part of the experience.

Depending on the organisation or host, volunteers may help with feeding, cleaning, socialisation, enrichment, adoption support, fundraising, community outreach or other practical activities. Some projects focus almost entirely on cats, while others care for several species.

Some listings may be seasonal, archival or no longer active. Always check the publication date and confirm current animal-care practices, volunteer activities, accommodation and availability directly with the host or organisation before making travel plans.

Animal welfare notice

Cat welfare should remain the priority. Volunteers should respect each animal’s temperament and need for rest, hiding places and appropriate social contact. Frightened, injured, feral or behaviourally challenging cats should only be handled according to the organisation’s procedures and with suitable supervision.

What can volunteering with cats involve?

Activities depend on the project and the volunteer’s experience. Participants may help with:

preparing food and providing fresh water;
cleaning litter trays, sleeping areas and shelter spaces;
socialising suitable cats and kittens;
providing play and appropriate enrichment;
general cleaning and laundry;
preparing carriers, bedding and supplies;
photography and adoption promotion;
fundraising, administration or social media;
community feeding programmes;
supporting appropriately supervised rescue or TNR activities;
other practical work connected with the shelter or project.

The individual listing should explain which activities are actually expected. Veterinary procedures, diagnosis, prescription medication and specialist animal handling should remain with appropriately qualified or experienced people where required.

Cat shelters, rescues and sanctuaries

Projects involving cats can operate in different ways. Some shelters provide temporary care while looking for adopters, rescue organisations may work with foster homes and street animals, while sanctuaries may provide longer-term care for cats that cannot easily be rehomed.

The words shelter, rescue or sanctuary do not by themselves demonstrate good animal welfare. Before joining, consider the actual housing conditions, hygiene, veterinary support, population management and long-term plans for the animals.

Ask how many cats are cared for, whether new animals are quarantined when necessary and how sick, injured or particularly vulnerable cats are managed.

Community cats and TNR projects

Some organisations work primarily with free-roaming or community cats rather than animals living permanently in a shelter. Activities may include feeding colonies, monitoring populations, supporting sterilisation programmes and helping with adoption or foster networks.

Trap-neuter-return or similar activities should follow the procedures of the organisation and relevant local regulations. Capturing frightened or feral cats can involve risks to both the animal and the volunteer, so inexperienced participants should not attempt trapping or handling independently.

Sterilisation, surgery, vaccination and other veterinary procedures must be carried out by appropriately qualified and authorised professionals.

Cat sitting and private homes

Not every opportunity involving cats takes place in a shelter. Some hosts need someone to care for their cats temporarily while they are travelling or away from home.

These arrangements may be combined with pet sitting or housesitting. Before accepting one, ask about feeding routines, litter care, medication, indoor or outdoor access, temperament, veterinary contacts and what should happen in an emergency.

For more opportunities of this kind, browse the pet sitting opportunities section.

Cat welfare and responsible care

Cats have individual behavioural and social needs. Some actively seek contact with people, while others need more distance, quiet spaces or gradual introductions.

Responsible care should provide suitable food and water, clean litter areas, safe resting and hiding places, appropriate enrichment and access to veterinary attention when necessary.

Shelter environments can be stressful, particularly when many unfamiliar cats share limited space. Volunteers should follow instructions about hygiene, introductions between animals, handling and access to different areas.

Do not assume that every cat wants to be held, cuddled or photographed. Animal interaction should be based on the individual cat’s behaviour and welfare rather than on providing an experience for visitors or volunteers.

Health and safety

Working with cats can involve scratches, bites, animal waste, cleaning products and infectious diseases. Follow the organisation’s instructions concerning handwashing, litter trays, protective clothing and separation between healthy and sick animals.

Health risks vary between destinations. Ask whether any particular vaccinations or precautions are recommended and obtain appropriate travel health advice when necessary, especially if you will work with stray or free-roaming animals.

If you are bitten or scratched, follow the project’s first-aid procedures and seek appropriate medical advice when needed.

Make sure your insurance covers the activities you expect to undertake, including volunteering and animal handling where applicable.

How to use this page

Open the opportunity that interests you and read the complete announcement. Check the publication date first, because older projects may no longer be accepting volunteers or their conditions may have changed.

Look for the contact details or application procedure at the end of the listing. Some listings provide direct contact information, while others may explain how to request protected host details through Voluntouring.org.

Before applying, confirm:

how many cats or other animals are involved;
the exact volunteer activities;
whether previous animal-care experience is required;
training and supervision;
weekly hours and days off;
accommodation and meals;
minimum stay;
health or vaccination requirements;
insurance requirements;
any fees, deposits or other financial arrangements.

Some opportunities may provide accommodation or food in exchange for help, while others may request a contribution or operate under different conditions. If a mandatory participant fee applies, ask for the exact amount, what it covers and the applicable cancellation and refund conditions before making a commitment.

Voluntouring does not organise placements, select participants, arrange visas or mediate between volunteers and hosts. It does not process participant payments between travellers and host organisations. Publication on Voluntouring.org does not in itself constitute verification, endorsement or a recommendation of an organisation or opportunity.

For additional guidance, read Voluntouring’s information about safety and legality in volunteering and work exchanges.

Related opportunities

Important: animal-care practices, project availability, volunteer requirements and financial conditions can change. Confirm current information directly with the host or organisation before making travel or financial commitments.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Browse volunteer opportunities with cats 🐈🐈‍⬛

Browse the projects below and use the “Older Posts” navigation if available to continue exploring previous opportunities. Always check the publication date and current cat-care arrangements before applying.

Do you represent a cat shelter, rescue centre, sanctuary, community cat programme or another project where caring for cats is a meaningful part of the volunteer experience? You can submit your opportunity to Voluntouring.org for editorial review.

Submit a cat care opportunity