Get notified when a White Cat is listed
We will email you the moment a White Cat becomes available in Ontario, from a rescue or an owner rehoming.
The one question to ask about a white cat
Ask whether the cat can hear. Congenital deafness is genuinely associated with the dominant white gene, and the association is strongest in white cats with blue eyes, higher still in those with two blue eyes. Not every white cat is affected and plenty hear perfectly well, but it is common enough that any rescue placing a white cat should have checked, and a good one will tell you before you ask.
A deaf cat is a perfectly good pet and often an easy one, but it changes two things. It must live indoors, without exception, because it cannot hear traffic or a dog approaching. And you communicate through sight and vibration instead of voice, which most people pick up within a week. If the rescue has not tested, a vet can assess it.
Sun, skin and a pale coat
White cats have little pigment protecting the skin, and the thin fur on the ear tips and nose is where that matters. A cat that suns itself in a window through an Ontario summer can burn, and repeated burning over years is linked to skin cancer at those sites. It is a slow-burn risk rather than an emergency, but it is worth knowing.
The practical answer is simple: keep the cat indoors, and if it has a favourite sunny window, consider a UV-filtering film or shifting the perch. Ask your vet about any persistent crusting or scabbing on the ear tips rather than watching it.
Otherwise, ordinary care
White is a colour rather than a breed, and nearly every white cat in Ontario rescue is a domestic shorthair or longhair. Grooming depends on coat length rather than colour, though a white coat shows dirt and tear staining more, so some owners wipe the face more often.
Indoor living is the sensible default across the GTA and Ottawa anyway, given traffic and raccoons, and it is not optional if the cat turns out to be deaf. For anything needing specialist input, the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph is the province referral hub.
Looking more broadly? Browse every adoptable cat across the province on Cat Adoption Ontario.
The rescues that most often list White Cats across the province are Toronto Humane Society, Ottawa Humane Society, and Ontario SPCA (Ottawa Area).
White Cat Adoption FAQ — Ontario
How many White Cats are available for adoption in Ontario?
As of August 2026, 12 White Cats are available for adoption in Ontario across 5 rescues on LocalPetFinder. Listings update regularly as cats are adopted and new ones arrive — browse the current White Cats above and apply directly through the rescue.
Where can I adopt a white cat near me in Ontario?
LocalPetFinder gathers adoptable white cats from the Ontario rescues we cover, including the Toronto Humane Society, the Ottawa Humane Society and Ontario SPCA branches. White is less common than black or tabby, so the list is usually shorter and worth checking back on or setting an alert for. Each profile links straight to the rescue to apply.
Are white cats deaf?
Some are, and it is worth asking every time. Congenital deafness is genuinely associated with the dominant white gene, most strongly in white cats with blue eyes and most strongly again in those with two blue eyes. Many white cats hear normally. Ask the rescue whether hearing has been checked; if not, a vet can assess it, and a deaf cat simply needs to live indoors and be communicated with visually.
Do white cats need sun protection?
Indoors, mostly just sensible placement. White cats have little pigment shielding the skin, and the thin fur on the ear tips and nose can burn, with repeated burning over years linked to skin cancer at those sites. Keeping the cat indoors handles most of it. If it favours a bright window, UV-filtering film or moving the perch helps, and any persistent crusting on the ears is worth a vet visit.
How much does it cost to adopt a White Cat in Ontario?
Adopting a White Cat in Ontario typically costs $100 to $300, and kittens usually carry a premium at $200 to $400. The exact fee varies by rescue, and older cats are often reduced. That fee is not a purchase price. It covers work already done on the cat: spay or neuter, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, and a basic vet workup, which would cost several hundred dollars more if you arranged it yourself after buying. Colour is not a breed, so there is no breeder route to this coat specifically, and the fee reflects the cat's age and the veterinary work already done rather than its markings. Ask the rescue what is included before you apply, since a few include extras like a starter bag of food or a first-month insurance trial.