From Rescue to Home

A Feline Adventure: From Rescue to Home

Published: Nov, 2024

I recently became a kitten owner again, for the first time in 20 years, and this time we went all in and got four at once!  

We had our previous elderly cats from the age of 2 months, from the beginning of our careers, through several house moves, the arrival of our three kids and, more recently, our first puppy. They were very much loved and losing them was tough. But I had always said that we couldn’t live without cats and, with the house feeling very empty, we started to think about the prospect of getting some new feline family members. But there was such a lot to think about, and the whole process has been a great reminder of all the important considerations for owners when they aim to get a new cat or kitten.  

One, two or more?  

In most cases, getting one cat or kitten, or two bonded cats or littermates together, is a sensible choice. We were actually keen to get three kittens (rather than four) but had to consider this decision carefully. In vet practice we see a lot of issues related to stress in multicat households. Many cats are not that happy living with other cats and would much prefer to live alone.  

That’s not to say that cats can’t live happily together. Some cats will form strong social bonds and love each other’s company, while those that don’t get on can still live harmoniously provided their home environment is set up to help them to avoid confrontation.  

We felt our home and outside space would allow multiple cats to live happily, even if they weren’t best friends, and that getting littermates as kittens would increase the chances that they would stay bonded as adults. And as we hoped this would be the only opportunity for us to have kittens in the house for a long time again, three felt the right number, allowing the kids to really appreciate the experience! 

Breeder or rescue? 

Some cat owners are keen to have a particular breed. Getting a pedigree cat can help ensure a predictable appearance and character, for owners who have specific requirements. For owners who want a specific breed there are some excellent responsible breeders who prioritise health and help owners understand the care requirements of the breed.  

Most owners, however, are looking for a non-pedigree cat, a classic ‘moggy’, and the best place to start is with rescue charities. We work closely with several feline rescues, supporting with the care of their foster cats and participating in the ‘trap, neuter, release’ schemes for feral colonies. As a result, I was very aware of the huge number of lovely kittens and cats in foster care awaiting loving homes, and I was keen that this should be where we find our new kittens.  

The great thing about rehoming from rescue is that there are so many different cats to choose from, from tiny kittens, through adolescents who have already been socialized and neutered, to adult and older cats who have well-established personalities, just looking for someone to love them. The foster carers know each kitten and cat really well and so are experts in finding the perfect match for prospective owners. So, it worked out for us. Our charity partners knew exactly what we were looking for and when our new kittens came into the surgery everyone knew instantly that they were a good match.  

In fact, while we were looking for three littermates, it was two sets of two that turned out to be the right match for us. Two 8-week-old silver tabby kittens born at Cats in Distress, whose mother had been rescued while pregnant from a situation of neglect, came into our Shepton branch for their 1st vaccinations and word quickly spread. Meanwhile, two tabby kittens with a similar age and character, were in foster care with Cats Protection, having been rescued from a local feral colony after their mother was killed, and were brought to our Wells branch for a health check. After visiting both pairs of kittens in their rescue homes we were convinced – we couldn’t turn either pair down!  

Getting to know each other 

Bringing new kittens’ home can mean some challenging introductions, particularly to established pets. For us, the prospect of trying to bond two separate litter mate pairs together, and with our dog, was daunting. We brought home the two silver tabbies first and initially confined them to one room in the house while they settled in. We all got to know them with lots of play and attention while they established their safe space. We then brought home the smaller tabby kittens and housed them in a large crate in the same room, so that all kittens could meet while still being separated.  

The next step was to release all the kittens together in the same room, under supervision at first, encouraging them to play together whilst still ensuring they had plenty of space to escape and hide. Thankfully, as they were still young and playful, they made friends very quickly.  

It was an exciting day when we let the kittens out to explore the rest of the house and meet the dog. We kept her on a lead and encouraged her to stay calm while the kittens came to meet her. After several introductions and lots of positive reinforcement they soon learned how to interact with each other. Several weeks later we were able to confidently leave the kittens free to roam the house and interact with the dog unattended. 

Pheromone and scent therapy has really helped through this process. A Feliway diffuser in the kittens’ room has helped ease any tension and an Adaptil collar for the dog has helped keep her calm while she adapts to the new arrivals. We were also able to reassure the kittens by distributing their scent to each other, the dog and surfaces of the house, using a damp cloth rubbed against their cheeks.  

Sharing is caring 

Four kittens in one house take a lot of looking after. They need lots of food, space, toys and opportunities to climb, scratch, hide and sleep. They also produce a lot of poo! And no cat or kitten likes to use a dirty litter tray. Even though they are well bonded, it is important that the kittens have plenty of resources to make sharing easier.  

Thankfully, this will all get easier as we plan for our kittens to have outdoor access once they are neutered and microchipped, so for now the house is full of all the kitten essentials, including multiple makeshift litter trays in the form of large disposable aluminum baking trays (thanks to a tip from their fosterers)! But soon we can allow them out to explore and expand their territory and we can reduce the number of resources needed in the home, whilst still keeping plenty of resources available to avoid tension. This would be especially important moving forward for indoor cats, who would need the same attention to their environment and resources to keep them happy and healthy long term. 

Despite all these considerations and the hard work, we are absolutely delighted to be cat owners again. We are most definitely smitten with our kittens! If you are thinking about taking on a new cat or kitten, please make contact with your local cat rescue charity, or speak to your vet for advice on finding a responsible pedigree breeder.