After moving into a flat with my Adonis at the beginning of the year we both decided that we really…read moremissed having pets around the house like we did when we lived with our parents. As such we thought we would quite like to acquire a cat or two and I started googling. I waded through tonnes of private ads but was never 100% comfortable with idea of going to a strangers house and giving them money for cats I knew nothing about in terms of their medical history, character etc. Eventually I came across the Cats Protection website and discovered that they have a large adoption centre in Kirkintilloch where you can go and see the cats they have available for adoption and speak to trained professionals. The centre is open from 11am to 3pm 7 days a week. We visited on a Saturday and although the centre was busy on this day there were still plenty of staff around to help everyone. My Man of God Like Handsome-ness and I browsed up and down long rows of glass fronted "cabins" which housed the cats which were available for adoption. Above each cabin was some information about each cat, things like age, sex, the date the came into the centre and whether they had been reserved by another prospective adopter or not. It was excruciatingly hard to pick between all the adorable cats but we finally decided that we liked Charlane and Andi. A member of staff told us everything we needed to know about these two girls. Are they indoor or outdoor cats? Are they ok around kids? Are they ok around other cats? Do they have any on-going medical conditions? Are the confident or shy? Affectionate or more independent? Under what circumstances did they come to the centre? The staff can answer all of these questions and more which really put my mind at ease. We reserved Charlane and Andi and the next step in the adoption process is to organise a home visit. Our home visit was booked for a week later than our visit to the centre and the two members of staff who came to our flat were so prompt, friendly and well informed. The home visit wasn't at all daunting and just involved showing the staff around the flat and our garden and they gave me great advise on cat care. Unfortunately the staff decided that we would be suitable to adopt Charlane and Andi as we live beside a busy road and those two girls would need to be kept as outdoor cats as they were born feral. My disappointment didn't last long though as we were approved to adopt indoor cats and the home visit staff recommended two little 6 month old tabby kittens for us called Larry and Maurice. The staff showed me photos and videos on their mobile phones and explained the kittens characters and history to me. I was happy to take them without meeting them as I had every confidence in the information the staff had given me and the looked so adorable in the photos. I arranged a collection date for another week from the home visit. On collection day the staff were fully prepared for our arrival and the whole process only took a few minutes. There were just a few forms to sign and then it was time to take our news kitties home. I really urge you to consider Cats Protection if you're thinking of adding a cat to your family and I haven't even mentioned the best part yet! All the cats (age permitting) come neutered/spayed, fully vaccinated, microchipped, flea and worm treated and with 1 months free insurance!! That's six huge expenses involved in getting a cat already taken care of for you! Furthermore, if you pick a cat which has a long term illness such as diabetes, the centre will cover the cost of the cats medication for the rest of its life! I found that when I was replying to private ads when looking for a cat most people hadn't had their cats vaccinated or neutered/spayed. Unfortunately the expensive medical care that cats need is just as important as the nice cuddles and play time and with the Cats Protection the boring medical side is take care of for you. (Although please remember that your cat would need booster vaccines every year as well as medical treatment if they become ill or have an accident after adoption.) I have posted a few photos of my lovely new kitties for you to see what kind of little darlings are waiting for new owners at this centre.

We were lucky enough to be able to adopt our beautiful girl cat Ebony, she has been a fantastic…read moreaddition to our family and we love her very much. I too would urge anyone who is looking for a cat/kitten to go to the Cats Adoption centre, the staff are fantastic, they do home visits to make sure that your property is suitable for the cat to come to. All we can say is Thank You Cats Protection for allowing us to adopt Ebony.

This is the Animal Rescue Centre where I found my best friend - my little black Tom Cat aptly named…read moreThomas. He was one of a litter of nine and I knew he was the cat for me the first moment I laid eyes on him, with his big green eyes and tiny little paws. It wasn't long before Thomas was being told off for sharpening his claws on the sofa and terrorising the neighbours' dog. Over the years he's grown long ways rather than out - which earned him the nickname Linky as I think he looks a bit like a Links sausage. He sleeps in my bed with his little head on my pillow and he even escorts me to the bus stop - but I have to return him home as I worry about him getting lost along the way. Thomas is thirteen now and has brought so much happiness and I view him just as another family member. The Dog and Cat Home do such a great job rescuing and rehoming strays and unwanted animals. So if you're thinking of getting a new pet, you don't have to splash out on an expensive pedigree but can find a wonderful animal here who would be so grateful for a chance and who would would bring you more happiness than you could ever imagine. Even if you're not looking for a pet you could always pop along to the Dog and Cat Home as they're always looking for old toys and blankets along with donations of food - but be warned as it would be hard leaving without a furry friend!

A bit of a strange review to write as we visited here about 2 years ago actually, and I had this…read morereview saved as a draft this whole time! We were hoping to adopt a dog from the shelter so paid it a visit to suss it out. The Scottish SPCA is a really lovely place - a bit of a lush area, and the staff were all really friendly. The dogs are all in individual kennels and you can walk around to see if there's one you like and then the staff will let you meet them. We did the tshirt test for my husband's allergies (rub a tshirt on the dog and then take him home and keep it near your face) on a dog we liked but sadly he had a really bad allergic reaction to the little guy. So despite not being able to adopt, I thought really highly of the Scottish SPCA and found the staff and environment really pleasant. Keep in mind there is a lot of barking though so it might not be a great place for little ones or people who aren't confident around dogs.

Pets at Home really now how to tug at the heartstrings. It's practically impossible to walk past…read moretheir adoption section for unwanted pets, without leaving with some form of livestock under your arm. They'll have a little sign up next to them with something written like "My name is Buttons, please give me a second chance of a loving home." I actually found it quite difficult the other day not to take a giant rabbit home, even though deep down I knew he was just a massive, twitching rat. In all seriousness I suppose getting people all teary eyed will help to ensure the animals get a new home, so I'm all for it. Other than that, they stock pretty much everything you could hope for in a pet superstore, from food to bedding to toys to hutches to aquariums etc etc etc, and have a massive selection of fish and rodents, though strangely no birds or reptiles, which was a minor letdown.

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for pet shops - so with that fact in mind I'll try to be as…read moreunbiased as possible. It's not just a shop- it's a superstore! It is to your local pet shop what B&Q is to the tiny hardare shop around the corner. They stock bedding and pet food in bulk - perfect for kenels I imagine, and have a vast aquarium section. It's pretty tempting too when little electric coloured fishys are priced at a mere 99p - but don't get carried away; the start up costs for fish are huge - even more so than any other animals. Plus, fish are so delicate that my friend and I managed to make a game out of spotting the casualties floating at the top of the tank! You can literally get EVERYTHING for pets here; toys, treats,cages, leashes, collars, pet guides, dog clothes, cages, beds... the list goes on. There's even a comprehensive selection of "Beware of" signs for every breed of dog - even the ridiculous chihuahua! There's a small animal section, and a touching adoption area where the animals automatically become more cute by association with abandonment. Disappointingly, there were no larger animals like cats and dogs to coo over, and the bird section has disappeared. So don't go looking for that budgie for Granny here.

Paws here is an excellent animal shelter and also a well stocked pet shop. The staff are polite,…read morekind and curtious as well as being extremally knowledgeable. The animals are well looked after and it is definatly the best place to adopt an animal from or take your pet for holiday boarding in Edinburgh.

What amazing work these guys do! Came along with a few fellow Yelpers to donate food for all the…read moredogs. It's located in a quiet area with ample space, staff there are super friendly and helpful and the dogs are all so cute! I had to suppress my urge to take them all home. Jeez, it was hard. Given this isn't a goods and service type place I don't have much more to say and I probably wouldn't reccomend a visit for the sake of it. BUT- if you're looking to adopt, volunteer some time or donate then I couldn't reccomend these guys highly enough!

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning…read moreto breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Alright, so I've lifted this from the Statue of Liberty, but I think this does do some justice to what SSCPA Shelters do. From abandoned/given up horses through to small pets, they unfortunately have collected them all from different parts of the Edinburgh area. It's heartbreaking yet warming to know the shelter is there. We came here to look at a new hamster, feeling like finding one a forever home would be a better alternative to buying one from a pet store and here we met Rita, the only hamster in the place, surrounded by a lot of rabbits. Shy, but adventurous Rita, found in a wardrobe and almost mistaken for a mouse. After a gentle interrogation over our suitability of taking her home, she was with us, and hid in the corner for a while. That was then, now she chews the bars to get our attention to take her out running around our house, freely or in her ball. She doesn't freak out every time there is a sudden noise, and she doesn't regard us as strangers, we're as tolerated as a hamster owner can be. Happy the SSPCA was there to look after her, happy she is in our lives now.

Animal shelters are never nice to visits if you are an animal lover to see so many eyes watching…read moreyou. This place is not just a normal shelter they offer 1st rate pet boarding too. If you are every thinking about getting a dog or cat you must visit this place 1st. Rehoming is one of the most rewarding things you can do and the Edinburgh dog and cat home is always on hand to offer you help and guidance. We re-home our last dog from here and she was a wonder joy giver. She was fully grown had her own wonderful personality it was the best decision we could of made. At the time I was 9 and hell bent on getting a puppy but my parents said we should check out here 1st. I am now 21 and the dog past this year she was a wonderful companion and friend. So please if you are thinking about a dog or cat go here. Just watch out you may fall in love with more than one

If you're thinking about giving a furry friend a happy home then you should consider Edinburgh Dog…read moreand Cat Home. Situated on the coast on Seafield Road East, this large animal shelter has lots of cats and dogs who desperately need to be adopted. While you're welcome to drop in, it's advised that you call in advance so the shelter can arrange for someone to show you about. This is especially the case for Saturdays when the place can get quite busy. I visited recently as I'm rehoming a cat, and it was great to be shown about by someone who knows the animals, their temperaments, their backgounds and their habits. Edinburgh Cat & Dog Home also has lots of cat and dog goodies for sale (think treats, bowels, litter trays and carriers) and given this charity provides care and shelter to many unwanted animals, it's well worth spending your money here. Remember though, a dog (or cat) is not just for christmas.

Pets At Home were great in helping me choose and care for my hamster, and very first pet!…read moreImpulsively, I decided I wanted a hamster and Pets At Home was perfect! They have quite the selection of hamsters and the staff are happy to let you see the hamster out of the cage before you buy. I had my heart set on a male syrian hamster and a particularly fluffy blond one caught my eye. Robert, the bashful teenage assistant brought him out the cage. It turned out that it had wet tail and I couldn't purchase that particular hamster. It was for the best since the hamster was a little bitey and nervous. (Wet tail can be caused by stress!) Sharon, the female sales assistant suggested a hamster which she said would be great and was one of the friendliest they had and was very chuffed when I took her advice! So, I left with my new hamster, Dwight, and everything I needed for him, including a membership to the Pets At Home veterinary service and a free health check. Pets At Home have a great range of reasonably priced pet toys and all those little extras for a content pet! I couldn't be happier with my new friend! PS. If you're not buying your cage at Pets At Home, a hamster will very easily chew through the two small cardboard carry boxes they give you. I learnt the heard way when I had to run home with a very mischievous hamster poking through an increasing number of holes!

Maybe not the best place in the world to buy your pet from but they do stock a fantastic variety of…read morepet foods and equipment for your pets. They have good offers on pet foods for everything from dogs, cats, rabbits and even wild bird foods. They also stock accessories/cages and even daft things like jackets/tshirts for your dog.

This is an animal shelter for cats and kittens. It is a fairly large shelter, housing up to 50 cats…read moreat any one time. The shelter is run mainly by volunteers and is open to the public. Kittens are always in demand and they usually have a waiting list for them. Adult cats are more frequently seen here and need to be rehomed. They ask for a donation when you adopt a cat or kitten but there is no bottom limitof donation. The cats are all treated and chipped when they arrive in the shelter and are well looked after.