Help, I don’t think I can give up kitten :(

[Aug12]

Hi all,

8 weeks ago, our cat had 2 kittens unexpectedly (unplanned and she has been neutered since so please don’t judge)

Anyway, the plan was always for us to keep one and a family friend to have the other. I know this home is a good loving, forever home, but I’ve been heartbroken all day at the thought of breaking up the cat family here. Mummy cat is currently cuddled in with her babies and they are all purring so loudly, I don’t know how I can break them up.. financially we can afford to keep the 3, insurance, fees etc is no issue. We said our friend could have one as they were looking for an family pet and it seemed like a perfect solution.. do I just need to rip the plaster off quickly and send him off or will we regret this? We have young kids that are sad about kitten leaving but they equally have excited children with all the kitten supplies ready awaiting the arrival this weekend. I didn’t expect to feel like this as I know he is going to a lovely new home but it’s hit me like a tonne of bricks.. all advice welcome.

Mummy cat will want rid of them once they're about 4 months.

Don't expect the cute cuddling purry phase to last much longer.

As for your friend, have they already met and bonded with kitten? If they have you're being unkind to them, if not, keep the kittens and your friend can get a kitten from a rescue centre.

Nothing more lovely than a mother cat purring away, taking care of her kittens! However, She will start swatting them and have enough. It's natural. Unfortunately, when they do go, she'll look / call for a couple of days and be mournful before accepting they're gone. Best of luck but I'm sure adopter of kitten will keep you updated!

Erm @Aug12 , not to be awkward or anything, but I don’t think anyone can fairly comment on this situation without seeing the happy family.

Please keep until at least 12 weeks, they really struggle without a playmate if they are on their own any younger

Last year I adopted two unrelated mother cats who each had two kittens. One set of kittens was already waiting to go to a new home, I think they were around 10 weeks. The other set were pretty wild and were due to go to a foster home for some necessary socialising; they were a bit older, about 3 or 4 months. I said shouldn't we wait until the kittens had actually gone, so the mothers didn't feel they should try to find their way back to them? The rescue lady said on the contrary, their mothers would be extremely glad to see the back of them!

I wound keep both as kittens should be homed in pairs so they have playmates. Your friend can easily get kittens from a rescue who are really in need of a home.