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 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.

Well its Monday morning and I have just sat down for my morning cup of coffeehouse the phone rings,…read moreits my son asking me if I can take him and his friend to the Dogs Trust, as his friend was hoping to adopt a dog. As I have never been to the dogs Trust, I thought " why not " so off we went, notwithstanding, my memories of similar places were of the Cat and Dog Home's in Glasgow, and the awful smell once through the front door, and the sound of the animals yelping ( pardon the pun ) however this is most certainly not the case with the Dogs Trust, the place is accessible to all and is just of the main thoroughfare, and on approach the exterior is very pleasing to the eye and is very well signposted, moreover there is ample free parking for its customers. Making our way to the interior of the building, the pleasant, theme continued, with a very comfortable waiting area, together with a plentiful supply of doggie literature to browse over, the staff are very friendly and attentive and are eager to assist you in any way they can, answering any concerns that you might have. Once you have filled in your application form, you comeback a few days later for an meeting with one of the staff to enable them to " match " a dog to suit yours and of course the dogs needs. You can visit all the dogs in their kennels, which we did, and the first thing I noticed was how clean the place was, and not one bad smell. Unlike the bad old days, the Dog Trust does not put any dog to " sleep" and according to the staff available on the day they never will. On closing I was very impressed with the entire ethos, cleanliness and attitude of the staff, and I ever wanted a dog I would certainly go here.

It is a devastating fact that although the charity may mean well to the pubic eye, they steel your…read moremoney and pay there CEO 200k a year! I prefer to help local small business charities that actually spend their money on there animals.

We have a 12 acre smallholding and have lots of animals and birds of our own so it seemed natural…read moreto use our experience to look after other peoples pets when they are unable to do so either due to holidays, work commitments or illness. When will look after your pets we will also make sure they get exercise and keep them healthy and happy. On some occassions your pets will be kept in our family home. We can look after all your furries,birds and fish and offer a taxi service , If you perfer to have your pets stay in your own home we will feed and check them for you whilst you are away.

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.

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.

I have the pleasure of being well acquainted with a rescue cat named Thomas, who as well a being…read moreexceptionally long and sleek, is also the friendliest and most gentle four-legged friend you could hope to meet. He's currently sitting next to me, snoring his head off. I defy anyone not to get a tear in their eye as they look at all the rescued cats in their pens. Its' nice to see that there are still people who will give up their time, free of charge, to give these little animals as good a life as possible.

I currently cohabitate my flat with a lovely cat called Pandora. I owe it all to Lothian Cat…read moreRescue. Situated just outside of town in Bonnyrigg Lothian Cat Rescue runs a substantial service for rescuing kittens and older cats from unsafe or abusive environments, and does its very best to rehouse them. Lothian Cat Rescue is a charity and is run by volunteers. They have a small charity shop on Easter Road near Leith Walk in Edinburgh which hopefully raises a small amount for the ever costly upkeep. They do charge a small amount for rehousing but this is a more of a gesture to show you care enough and can afford to take care of the animal. Before visiting you should call them up, tell them what you're looking for (e.g. older cat, a cat that gets on with children etc.) They will ask you to come in and view the cats which are all housed in pens and receive regular daily attention. The staff will ask you questions about where you live and what your environment is like, this can seem a bit interrogation like, but I really respect the care and consideration they take into the future of their temporary guests. My girlfriend actually volunteers here, and can say from experience what a great service they provide behind the scenes. The regular feeding, attention, vet visits etc., which all come out of the rescue centre's pocket. They receive cats constantly, and there is a high turn around (they do their utmost to never put a cat down) yet they still offer very considerate attention to each individual. I really respect any people or organisation that goes out of its way to help animals, especially volunteers. So often, these charities face funding problems and are less well received than more "vital charities". Being a big cat fan aside, I have to disagree and think this job is just as necessary! Keep up the good work Lothian Cat Rescue!