Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

How/where do I safely rehome kittens?

33 replies

ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 08:35

There have always been two stray but very friendly cats local to me. Definitely stray.

I have fed them, and they sometimes come inside where they can get warm and have something to eat.
They seem to like living outside, and are always together, only sometimes coming into here or a neighbour when it's very cold. They were extremely nervy cats before but they're more comfortable around us now.

Anyway, we noticed one was pregnant so we kept them in with us. She gave birth in October. She has now gone again, and I haven't seen either of the strays. The kittens are still here.

I have been offering them to people I know personally who I know will look after them. There is one left that I cannot find an owner for. I definitely can't keep it.

I am of course reluctant to try selling sites like gumtree. I am worried if I send it to rspca they might put it down if it can't be rehomed.
Is there anywhere else it can go where they won't put it down? Are there any sites I can safely rehome on? The kitten is used to humans and isn't as scared as the mother cat, although can hiss or growl if she feels threatened by another cat, but does calm down eventually, so I know that will be an issue with rehoming too.
I just don't know what to do. Help!

OP posts:
viques · 31/01/2018 08:40

I would go and have a chat with your local vets. they might be willing to put up a notice in the surgery and also give advice about neutering which you need to be thinking about NOW!!! They might know of a local charity who could help as well. cats will stand a better chance of a new home if they are neutered, you could also ask for a donation from the new owner to offset costs.

tattychicken · 31/01/2018 08:44

Try your local Cats Protection.

Justonedayatatime11 · 31/01/2018 08:48

Whereabouts are you Thatsmycow?

Vinorosso74 · 31/01/2018 08:50

Get in touch with rescues e.g. Cats Protection and local rescues. There is a website called catchat which lists other small local rescues. Beware they may have waiting lists though. Roughly where are you in the country? Unbelievable I know but my CP centre had spaces earlier in the week!
It would be worth trying to lure mum back somehow and borrow a trap so she can be spayed. If she is take she could be homed, if she is truly feral well at least she won't have anymore kittens.
You are right to avoid Gumtree.

Vinorosso74 · 31/01/2018 08:51

*tame not take

parklives · 31/01/2018 08:55

Put it up on your Facebook page?
You might have someone in your circle of friends that might know someone who is looking for a kitten.
You can do a home check etc to make sure you are happy that the kitten is going to a new home.
Or as PP said, poster at your local vet(s).

I don't think the big charities would put a healthy kitten down, as I assume they are fairly easy to rehome, so don't wait too long!

claraschu · 31/01/2018 09:05

I just want to mention that the stray mum will probably be pregnant again. Sad Does anyone know if there is a charity to fund spaying the mum? OP you have already been a kind foster parent, and maybe you can figure out a way to deal with spaying her? I would ask your local vet about this.

Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:08

There are about 4/5 local vets, I will contact all and ask about putting signs up. That's a good idea, at least I know it's very likely to be a responsible pet owner.

I don't use Facebook unfortunately, so can't ask there, but have sent whatsapp broadcasts to all friends and have had some kittens taken off my hands that way, just one left. They were ready at Christmas but I had to wait til Jan to ask people to try and avoid the cat for Christmas people.

Not sure where any cats protection is around here, but will Google in a moment to find my closest one.

I was considering asking potential new owners for a home visit, but don't want to put people off. I have heard a couple of people say they gave up trying to adopt a cat from RSPCA because they had to jump through too many hoops and was easier to just get a cat advertised locally instead.

I will definitely catch it to be spayed if I can. I am not sure, but i think they're both girls, so will try both. The other one is much more feral though, and is only ok with so much contact and only from specific people, she's much more nervy than the mother cat.
They're both definitely feral, but have just become friendly over time. They're always together so I think they might be related somehow too, they've always been together since they were small and new around here.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:12

Yes Clara I think they both have been before, but have never confirmed and they never gave birth near any houses. This time she just decided she would actually let us take her inside to give birth.
I have just noticed at different times that they're both fatter then suddenly smaller again.

They've been inside since October now, and have become much more friendly, so it will probably be easier to get them into a box to take them to be spayed. I would have had ribbons for hands if I tried before. I know there are some places locally who do spay for free in certain circumstances, and this will probably be one of them.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:12

Oh sorry, and I'm in London!

OP posts:
sashh · 31/01/2018 09:12

Contact Cat's Protection, both for re-homing and for spaying. You could also find where Sparkling Brook lives, put the kitten on her door step, and then knock and run.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 31/01/2018 09:13

OP, a poster up thread asked you whereabouts you are, because maybe, she can help !

Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:14

Sorry, I know, babbling on there haha Blush I am in London.

OP posts:
Sugarpiehoneyeye · 31/01/2018 09:15

Oops, cross post OP ! 😄

Floralnomad · 31/01/2018 09:21

Contact the Celia Hammond rescue they will probably be able to help with the kitten and the spaying .

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/01/2018 09:25

I'd be wary of anyone who doesn't want a home visit to be honest. If you're in London Battersea may be able to help.

Any pictures?

Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:27

My God, I just Googled Celia Hammond rescue as I'd never heard of them and an awful news story came up about a pack of hunting hounds tearing through the building and lots of animals missing after. Shocking and very sad.

But the person who runs it said "if anything has happened to my animals, there will be hell to pay" lovely that she sees them as her animals while she's waiting to rehome them. Will call them this afternoon too.

OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 31/01/2018 09:28

If you're North London there is a CP centre at Archway, South one in Mitcham and various branches.

Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:30

Will try to get a photo of it. This last one is the most lively one, so very difficult to take pictures of because it's always running or jumping so the picture just blurs.

Also, they were born in October and they have sharp teeth now so is it right that they're still getting milk from the mother? They do eat normal cat food too, and we have kitten replacement milk, but they still feed from her. I thought it was only 8 weeks?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:30

Brilliant, thanks, Archway isn't too far from me.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:32

If all else fails, will find sparkling brooks house.

OP posts:
ChaosNeverRains · 31/01/2018 09:39

Cats protection as well as battersea will spay stray cats. I don’t know about CPL but Battersea will also rehome them to e.g. farms etc where they can continue to live an outdoor existence but not be able to reproduce.

Also, the rehoming process for Battersea isn’t too arduous. I rehomed a cat from there about two years ago went in, filled in a form and spoke to a RH officer and left with a cat.

Unfortunately she was killed some time later and I can’t currently have any more but thought it might be worth knowing :)

Original poster
ThatsMyCow · 31/01/2018 09:46

They really do that? That's really nice to know. I've just been so worried about taking them there in case they get put down or they have to live in a cage for ages while waiting for an owner. The outcome after spending time in a cage seems like it could be worth it for them though. They probably get let out at times too? And I wonder if they took the two older cats, would they rehome them together? They're just always together and it would be a shame to split them up. If you see one of them, the other is always somewhere close by.

Sorry about your cat too.

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/01/2018 09:58

When DM wanted a cat she adopted from Battersea and they were great with her. The rescue that Harry came from were really off with her and wanted me to guarantee I would have the cat if DM couldn't look after him and I wasn't prepared to do that.

Battersea spent ages talking to me on the phone, finding out about Mum so they could match the right cat to her and they stressed there would always be a place for him at Battersea if DM couldn't look after him. DM died last year and he ended up moving in with her next door neighbour but it was good knowing he had a place to go, even if it would have broken my heart.

tattychicken · 31/01/2018 11:03

My Mum has just rehomed a semi feral cat from Cats Protection. She lives in the stables and barns, is very shy but happy to eat and drink what's put out for her, and catches a few mice and rats. If she's ever brave enough to come into the house then she'd be welcome but for now she and my Mum and CP are quite happy with the arrangement.
Your girls would most prob be just as happy, and would be spayed too. CP have been great. Celia Hammond rehome ferals too.