Best Cat Rescues Regina (2026)

The short answer

The Regina Humane Society is the largest cat adoption hub in southern Saskatchewan. Best for first-timers who want broad selection and an in-person, often same-day adoption. Regina Cat Rescue is a volunteer-run, foster-based charity focused on cats. Best for adopters who want a foster home read on a cat, and for anyone caring for a stray or community-cat colony through its Trap-Neuter-Return program. Both list every available cat on LocalPetFinder, and both fee structures include spay or neuter, vaccines, deworming, and microchip.

A friendly tabby cat on a cozy blanket in a bright Regina cat-adoption room — Regina has two established cat rescues; the right fit depends on your household.

Regina's cat rescue scene is smaller and more focused than a big-city network, which makes choosing easier. There are two established, charity-registered options, and they do different jobs. The Regina Humane Society handles open-admission intake for the whole region and runs the main adoption floor. Regina Cat Rescue runs a foster network and the bulk of the city's community-cat work. Between them, almost every adoptable cat in Regina is covered.

Both rescues are featured on LocalPetFinder Regina, where you can browse their available cats in one place with filters for age, coat length, and compatibility (good with kids, dogs, other cats). Listings update regularly.

Quick comparison

Rescue	Type	Cats available	Best for
Regina Humane Society	Open-admission shelter	19	Same-day adoption, broad selection
Regina Cat Rescue	Foster-based, cat-focused	0	Foster profiles, community cats, TNR

The Regina cat rescue landscape

1. Regina Humane Society

19 cats

The Regina Humane Society at 4900 Parliament Avenue is the largest open-admission cat facility in southern Saskatchewan. You can visit in person, meet cats in the adoption area, talk to staff who help match you to the right cat, and often adopt the same day once approved. Every cat is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped before adoption. The Regina Humane Society also runs a Subsidized Spay/Neuter Program for income-qualified residents, so it is a resource for current owners too. Best fit for first-time adopters and anyone who wants the widest choice with the simplest process.

View Available Cats Visit Website

2. Regina Cat Rescue

Cat-focused charity

Regina Cat Rescue (legal name People for Animals of Saskatchewan Inc.) is a volunteer-run charity founded in 1982 and focused entirely on cats. Friendly strays and surrenders move through a foster network, so a foster who has lived with the cat can describe its real personality before you apply. Regina Cat Rescue also runs the bulk of the city's community-cat work, managing roughly 30 colonies directly and supporting about 45 more privately-run ones through its Trap-Neuter-Return program. Best fit for adopters who want a foster home read on a cat, and for anyone feeding a stray or managing a colony.

Browse Regina Cats Visit Website

The cost reality

Regina cat adoption fees run about $100 to $200 in 2026. Adult cats sit near the bottom of that range. Kittens are a little higher because their early vet care is more expensive: multiple booster rounds, an extra deworming, and surgery timing as they grow. Senior cats (usually 10 and up) and special-needs cats are at the bottom of the range or sometimes reduced further, because rescues actively try to move them faster.

Both Regina rescue fees include the same core package: spay or neuter surgery, core vaccinations (FVRCP, and rabies once old enough), deworming, flea treatment as needed, and a microchip. Most also include FIV/FeLV testing on intake.

The comparison most adopters miss is what that same vet work costs done privately. A kitten or young cat from an unfixed acquaintance, even “free,” will cost you roughly $400 to $700 in vet work over the first six months to reach the standard the rescue already paid for. The adoption fee is the cheaper path before you even count the cat. The Regina Humane Society also runs an income-qualified Subsidized Spay/Neuter Program, which can soften the cost of fixing a cat you acquired off-platform. For the full pricing breakdown, see our Regina cat spay and neuter guide.

Best for...

First-time adopters

The Regina Humane Society. Walk in, browse the adoption area, meet cats in person, talk to staff who do on-the-spot matchmaking, and often go home with a cat the same day once approved. The in-person process is more forgiving than a foster screening for someone who has never adopted. Regina Cat Rescue is a strong second choice if you want a foster's detailed read on a cat before you commit.

Adopters who want detailed personality info

Regina Cat Rescue. A foster who has lived with the cat for weeks can describe how it actually behaves in a home: how it greets strangers, whether it tolerates other cats, how it handles noise and kids. A shelter cat can behave very differently in a quiet adoption room than it will in your living room, so the foster read is genuinely useful information.

Senior cat adoption

Both rescues have senior cats through the year. Senior cats (10 and up) are calmer, almost always litter-trained, have settled personalities that staff or a foster can describe accurately, and usually carry reduced fees. They also tend to be available immediately, skipping the kitten-season waitlist. For a first-time adopter, a senior cat is often the easiest cat to live with.

Special-needs cat adoption

Regina Cat Rescue leads here. Cats with managed conditions (early-stage chronic kidney disease, dental issues, mild behavioural quirks) cycle through foster-based rescue regularly because a foster can observe and report on the daily routine. The Regina Humane Society handles special-needs cases too but rotates its floor faster. Call ahead if you have a specific need so they can flag the right cat for you.

Community cats and strays

Regina Cat Rescue, without question. It runs the city's main Trap-Neuter-Return program and manages or supports dozens of colonies. If you have been feeding a stray, found a litter, or live on an acreage with farm cats, contact Regina Cat Rescue before trying to trap on your own. A clipped left ear means a cat is already sterilised and part of a managed colony, so leave it be.

Kitten adoption

Both rescues have kittens, but supply swings hard with the season. Late spring through early fall is kitten season in Regina, when surrenders and found litters peak. Winter kittens are scarce at both rescues. If you must have a specific kitten age or look, check LocalPetFinder Regina often during peak season and be ready to apply quickly when a litter is posted.

Regina kitten season and the overlooked adult cats

Cat rescue inventory in Regina swings sharply with the seasons. Cats are seasonal breeders, and prairie cat reproduction effectively pauses through the deep winter. From late spring through early fall, kittens fill both rescues. The Regina Humane Society's adoption area fills with weaned litters, and Regina Cat Rescue's fosters split their time between bottle-feeders and older kittens.

The structural problem this creates: adult cats get overlooked. An adult cat at the Regina Humane Society in July is competing with a room of week-old fluff. The same cat in February has the room mostly to itself. If you are flexible on age, adopting outside kitten season is faster and cheaper, and the adult cats waiting are the cats who lost the kitten-season lottery, not problem cats.

If you want a kitten: apply in late spring through early fall, expect a waitlist, and move fast when a litter is posted. If you want a cat: apply anytime. Adult cats in their second or third year are the most overlooked group at both Regina rescues, and the easiest to bring into a settled home.

Regina also requires a cat licence under the City of Regina Animal Bylaw, and both rescues place cats as indoor-only by adoption agreement. That matters on the prairies: a -30°C cold snap, urban coyotes along Wascana Creek, and traffic make outdoor life genuinely dangerous for a cat. Our indoor vs outdoor cats guide for Regina covers the reasoning and how to enrich an indoor cat's life.

How the application process works

Application anxiety is the most common reason people delay starting an adoption. The process is straightforward at both Regina rescues. Specifics differ (check each website for current forms and timelines), but the structure below is broadly accurate.

Step 1: Submit an application

The Regina Humane Society accepts walk-in applications at 4900 Parliament Avenue alongside browsing the adoption area. Regina Cat Rescue uses an online application on its website. Plan for 20 to 40 minutes to complete a thoughtful application; better answers move the rest of the process faster.

Step 2: Reference and vet checks

Foster-based rescues often call your current vet (if you have or have had pets) and a personal reference. Tell your vet you are applying so they take the call promptly. Missed reference calls are the most common cause of delay.

Step 3: Meet-and-greet

At the Regina Humane Society you meet the cat in the adoption area at the shelter. With Regina Cat Rescue you usually meet the cat at the foster home, which lets you see how it behaves in a real living space.

Step 4: Adoption contract and fee

Sign the contract, pay the adoption fee (typically $100 to $200), and bring your new cat home. The fee includes spay or neuter, core vaccinations, deworming, and microchip. Senior and special-needs cats are often at the lower end of the range.

What rescues ask in the application

Specific questions vary, but the categories below are universal. Prepare thoughtful answers before you start; rushed answers are the most common reason applications get flagged for follow-up.

Household composition: who lives in your home, ages of children, other pets (species, age, temperament, spay/neuter status)
Housing: own or rent, landlord pet policy in writing, indoor space, and whether the cat will be indoor-only (both Regina rescues require this)
Daily routine: hours away from home, who handles feeding, litter, and enrichment during the day
Experience with cats: previous cats, comfort with specific behaviours, awareness of normal versus problem behaviour
This specific cat: why this cat, your understanding of its noted personality and any special needs, and how you would handle the adjustment phase (the 3-3-3 rule for cats)
References: current vet and one personal reference not in your household

What to do if you are not approved

Rescues sometimes decline a specific application because that cat is not the right match for your household, not because your household is unsuitable. Common reasons: the cat needs to be the only pet, it has been flagged as not safe with small children, or it needs a quiet adult-only home. Ask the rescue what the specific mismatch was, then look at other cats at the same rescue or apply at the other one with a cat that fits your situation better. Being declined once is not a permanent disqualification.

Browse adoptable cats in Regina

See every available cat from Regina rescues in one place. Filter by age, coat length, and compatibility before you apply.

See Available Regina Cats →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cat rescue in Regina?

It depends on what you need. The Regina Humane Society at 4900 Parliament Avenue is the largest cat shelter in southern Saskatchewan and the easiest place to walk in, meet cats, and adopt in person. Regina Cat Rescue is a volunteer-run, foster-based charity focused on cats, with a strong community-cat and Trap-Neuter-Return program. For most first-time adopters who want broad selection and a same-day option, the Regina Humane Society is the simplest start. For adopters who want a foster home read on a cat, or who are dealing with a stray colony, Regina Cat Rescue is the better fit. Both list their cats on LocalPetFinder.

Where is the best place to adopt a cat in Regina?

The two main places to adopt a cat in Regina are the Regina Humane Society (the city shelter and the largest cat adoption hub in southern Saskatchewan) and Regina Cat Rescue (a foster-based, cat-focused volunteer charity). The Regina Humane Society is best for in-person, same-day adoption and the widest choice. Regina Cat Rescue is best for a foster home personality read and for anyone connected to a community cat colony. See the reviews below to match your situation.

How much does it cost to adopt a cat in Regina?

Regina cat adoption fees typically run about $100 to $200 in 2026. Adult cats sit near the bottom of that range. Kittens are a little higher because their early vet care costs more. Senior cats (10 and up) and special-needs cats often have reduced fees. Every Regina rescue fee includes spay or neuter, core vaccinations, deworming, and a microchip. The same vet work done privately runs $400 to $700, so the adoption fee is the cheaper path even before you count the cat itself.

Is the Regina Humane Society a kill shelter?

No. The Regina Humane Society is an open-admission shelter, which means it accepts any animal regardless of condition. Open-admission is sometimes confused with kill shelter, but they are not the same. The Regina Humane Society uses humane euthanasia only for medical or severe behavioural cases that cannot be safely rehomed, not for space. Regina Cat Rescue is foster-based and limited-admission, so it takes in cats as foster space allows.

Which Regina cat rescue is best for first-time adopters?

The Regina Humane Society is the most beginner-friendly option. You can visit in person, meet cats in the adoption area, talk to staff who help match you to the right cat, and often adopt the same day once approved. Regina Cat Rescue is a strong second choice for first-timers who want a foster’s detailed read on a cat before committing, though the foster-based process usually takes a little longer than a shelter walk-in.

How many cat rescues are in Regina?

Regina has two main cat-rescuing organisations that list adoptable cats publicly: the Regina Humane Society and Regina Cat Rescue. Together they currently show 19 adoptable cats on LocalPetFinder. Beyond these two, smaller foster networks and individual rescuers sometimes place cats through social media or word of mouth, but the Regina Humane Society and Regina Cat Rescue are the established, charity-registered options most adopters use.

What does Regina Cat Rescue do?

Regina Cat Rescue (legal name People for Animals of Saskatchewan Inc.) is a volunteer-run charity founded in 1982. It runs cat adoption and fostering, and it manages a large community-cat and Trap-Neuter-Return program: roughly 30 colonies directly plus support for about 45 more privately-run colonies. Friendly strays move into the foster and adoption stream, while feral cats are sterilised, vaccinated, ear-tipped, and returned to managed colonies. If you have been feeding a stray or notice a colony, Regina Cat Rescue is the group to call before trying to trap on your own.

Are senior cats easier to adopt in Regina?

Yes, in two ways. Senior cats (10 and up) usually have reduced adoption fees at both Regina rescues. They also tend to skip the spring and summer kitten waitlist. Senior cats are typically calm, litter-trained, and have settled personalities that staff or a foster can describe accurately. A senior cat is often the easiest cat for a first-time adopter to live with.

Do Regina cat rescues spay or neuter before adoption?

Yes. The Regina Humane Society and Regina Cat Rescue both spay or neuter every cat before adoption. Vaccinations, deworming, and a microchip are also included in the standard adoption fee. You do not pay extra for the vet work. Kittens too young for surgery at adoption time are handled per each rescue’s policy, usually through a follow-up appointment built into the adoption contract.

What is the application process like?

The Regina Humane Society is the faster route: visit the shelter at 4900 Parliament Avenue, browse the cats, complete an adoption application, talk with staff, and often leave with the cat the same day once approved. Regina Cat Rescue is foster-based, so the process runs a little longer. You apply, a volunteer reviews and often calls you, a meet-and-greet is arranged with the foster, and the foster helps confirm the match before placement.

Are there special-needs or FIV+ cats available in Regina?

Yes, from time to time at both Regina rescues. FIV+ cats live full lives on regular food and routine care; they need to stay indoors and avoid fighting with FIV-negative cats. Cats with managed conditions such as early-stage chronic kidney disease or dental issues also cycle through, especially in the foster stream at Regina Cat Rescue where a foster can report on the daily routine. Adoption fees on these cats are often reduced. Many sit longer than they should simply because adopters do not ask, so tell the rescue if you are open to it.

What if I want a specific breed of cat?

Pedigreed cats are rare in rescue. Most Regina rescue cats are domestic shorthair, domestic medium hair, or domestic longhair, the three umbrella categories for non-pedigree cats. Occasionally a Siamese mix, Maine Coon mix, or other recognisable type surfaces through surrender. If you want a specific pedigree, expect a wait and the same screening you would get at any Regina rescue. Adopting a domestic shorthair gets you a healthy, fully vetted cat sooner and for less.