Whiskers in the wild
Celebrating the timeless role of cats in rural Britain
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Whether patrolling a barn, wandering a church garden or simply curling up beside the fire, cats have long held a place in country life. For nearly a century, Cats Protection has helped ensure that more cats can enjoy the safety, care and companionship they deserve.
Celebrate your own extraordinary feline by entering this year’s Cat of the Year competition, for the chance to win a host of cat-themed prizes.
owned cats in the UK
consider their cat part of the family
of domestic cats in Britain
1st to 4th centuries
1500s to 1700s
1941
Today
Medieval period
1809
19th to 20th centuries
Domestic cats are believed to have arrived in Britain with the Romans, valued for their role in controlling rodents around settlements, granaries and farms.
As rural life developed, cats became a common feature of British households and agricultural communities, quietly working alongside people in barns, ships and kitchens.
Few cats have earned their place in history quite like Unsinkable Sam. Rescued from the wreck of the German battleship Bismarck, the black-and-white tom went on to survive the sinking of two more wartime ships. His extraordinary tale made him one of Britain’s most celebrated ship’s cats.
From city homes to remote farmsteads, cats remain among Britain’s most-loved companions. While Larry keeps watch as Chief Mouser at 10 Downing Street, countless others offer comfort and company in homes across the country.
By the Middle Ages, cats had become familiar figures in monasteries, villages and farmsteads, prized for their usefulness but also woven into folklore and superstition.
The remarkable life of ship’s cat Trim was immortalised by Lincolnshire-born explorer Captain Matthew Flinders, who led the first circumnavigation of Australia. His affectionate biography of Trim remains one of the earliest and most touching accounts of the bond between humans and cats.
As Britain modernised, cats became increasingly common in homes as both working animals and companions, moving from barns and yards into domestic life while retaining their role in rural communities.
Paws through the ages
Soft-footed and ever curious, cats have been weaving through Britain’s history for centuries
Find a feline friend
Across 31 Cats Protection centres and 182 volunteer teams, dedicated employees and volunteers work to match every cat with the right home. From first enquiry to meeting your new companion, every step is guided with care, with each cat receiving expert veterinary care, a full health check and the chance to begin life again.
To start your journey, use the Find-a-Cat tool to discover your nearest centre or adoption team.
Find a cat
From rescue to rural companion
Every adoption begins a new chapter. These stories celebrate the life-changing difference a safe home can make for cats, and for the people who welcome them into their homes.
More than a mouser
When Farnham Community Farm needed a resident mouser, Cats Protection introduced Madeline, an unclaimed stray who preferred life on her own terms. With room to roam and a role to play, she settled into farm life and has become a familiar, much-loved presence among staff and volunteers.
Not such a diva
Tearmann Cottage was looking for a calm, confident cat to join its therapeutic children’s home, and Cats Protection introduced Joy. Renamed Diva by the children, she’s settled in beautifully, bringing companionship and gentle reassurance to everyone who walks through the door.
Life on the alpaca farm
Looking for help keeping rodents in check, alpaca farmer Tara Munro welcomed Blossom and Felix from Cats Protection. The pair quickly settled into life on the farm, where they’re accomplished mousers, accepted by the alpacas and, in Blossom’s case, an unexpected companion to Tara herself.
A new railway resident
When rodents returned to the Bluebell Railway after the loss of its resident cat, Cats Protection found the answer in Scooty. Now firmly at home among the historic carriages and workshops, he’s become both a capable mouser and a much-loved member of the railway team.
