Kitten Rescue & Rehoming Volunteer

The Project

A non-profit organisation with a no kill policy, the rescue centre is dedicated to reducing the cat population in Playa del Carmen. They achieve this via the TNR (trap spay/neuter and return) program for feral cats and the rescue, treat, spay/neuter and tame program for kittens under 3 months. The centre aims to find a permanent loving home for all rescued kittens in their care.

The centre is also committed to education, which encourages responsible pet ownership and challenges negative associations with feral cats and consequent cruelty. While the rescue centre’s primary focus is cats, the clinic also provides spay/neuter services for dogs.

This is a hands on project caring for kittens, cats and dogs who will undergo surgery and medical treatment. Some cats and kittens are trapped and released after treatment whereas some are rehomed. All animals require pre-surgery and post-surgery care. In the case of kitten rescue, the kittens need playtime and cuddles to get them accustomed to people prior to being rehomed.

The Location

Playa del Carmen is a city located along the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico and is a popular tourist area in eastern Mexico. Originally a small fishing town, tourism to Playa del Carmen began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel Channel and world famous scuba diving destination. 

Small enough to explore on foot, Playa del Carmen has a relaxed, yet cosmopolitan feel, with a variety of hotels, shops and restaurants ranging from causal to upmarket. 

Tourist activity in Playa del Carmen centres on Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, a pedestrian walkway located just one or two blocks inland from the beach. Fifth Avenue is lined with hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants. 

Playa is a popular jumping-off point for day trips to Mayan ruins such as Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza. There are gorgeous beaches to visit and a passenger ferry that makes frequent runs to Cozumel.

Our Volunteers

With over 14,000 cats and kittens on the streets of Playa del Carmen alone, this rescue centre is overwhelmed with kittens and needs your help. The project is not a shelter but requires volunteers to care for the cats and kittens that are brought in through their programs.

Conditions Onsite

The rescue centre is not a shelter and does not keep animals on a permanent basis. It only aims to treat them, release them or rehome them. There is only space for 15-20 kittens at any one time and limited resources to care for them so it is heartbreaking when cats and kittens are turned away. 

The numbers needing help are impossible for the centre to handle, however, the rescuer is offered services, advice and support. It can be very emotional work treating and caring for sick and stray animals, some of which have been abused or treated cruelly. Be rest assured that you are amongst like-minded people who are experiencing the same feelings and emotions as you and will be there to support you.

Please Note

The second instalment of your project fees is due within 1 week after you paid the deposit on Volunteer World. This is a total of $495 AUD and comes off your balance. The balance is due 90 days prior to travel. For all further information about the fees, please scroll down to the section "Program Fees“.

The centre operates a number of programs, therefore your day will depend as to where you are needed most. Daily activities can consist of the following activities. Assisting in the spay and neuter clinic on surgery days where cat and kittens carers are required to clean the kitten rooms, prepare the animals for surgery and aid them in recovery. 

The new arrivals must be thoroughly checked and given a clean bill of health prior to being introduced to the rest of the animals. Very young kittens require special attention as they are unable to feed themselves and must be bottle fed kitten milk on a regular basis. There are plenty of opportunities to cuddle the kittens involved in the rehoming program so that they become accustomed to human contact before they meet their new family. 

You may be involved in the trapping of feral cats in resorts and bringing them to the centre for spaying/ neutering, vaccinating and de-worming as part of an initiative to control feral cat populations in resort precincts which results in a healthy and non-reproductive cat population. You may also assist in administration, fundraising and other responsibilities as they arise, and if you have a special interest such as graphic design, there is always a place for your skills.

Playa del Carmen is a city located along the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico and is a popular tourist area in eastern Mexico. Originally a small fishing town, tourism to Playa del Carmen began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel Channel and world famous scuba diving destination. 

Small enough to explore on foot, Playa del Carmen has a relaxed, yet cosmopolitan feel, with a variety of hotels, shops and restaurants ranging from causal to upmarket. Tourist activity in Playa del Carmen centres on Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, a pedestrian walkway located just one or two blocks inland from the beach. Fifth Avenue is lined with hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants. 

Playa is a popular jumping-off point for day trips to Mayan ruins such as Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza. There are gorgeous beaches to visit and a passenger ferry that makes frequent runs to Cozumel.