Cats rehomed – their stories

Maddy was a feral kitten, about 13 weeks old, when a SCR volunteer trapped her during our ongoing TNR programme with feral colonies. Still young enough to socialise, she was then placed with a SCR fosterer, and has now found herself a new permanent home in the countryside, including her own beach.

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Sisters Ginger and Tabitha are two kittens, both 3 months old, who were looking for a new home without young children or dogs, and a family who had the time and patience they needed.

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Bella was around 5 months old and neutered. A bit nervous, not keen on being picked up and didn’t like to be around small children. Now in an ideal home.

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Moss is a feral kitten, we trapped during our TNR programme, and as such looking for a very special home. Somewhere tranquil, with no more than 2 adults in the household, both of who were very calm and quiet, in a rural area, well away from any roads, so he could eventually run outside safely.

After a period of care and socialisation with one of our fosterers, he now has found that permanent home and beginning a new chapter in his young life.

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This lovely fellow is 4 year old Yungo.

He loves exploring outdoors, so is now in a new home in the country.

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Dustie, Stripe & Flossie are feral barn cats that their feeder could no longer look after them, so they needed a similar permanent home. Which they now have, together.

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Louis is one of four adorable feral kittens SCR trapped, neutered and fostered. Now settled in a new home with Barbara, one of our trustees. Here is an update from her on his progress:

I was lucky enough to adopt Louis last year (2024). He was the last one we trapped, a week after his 3 brothers. Sadly we weren’t able to catch the mum.

It’s over 20 years since I have cared for a kitten and I felt pretty nervous, especially since he was feral. On the drive home I stopped the car a few times, to peer into his basket and make sure he was ok. Each time I lifted the blanket he hissed and spat at me. Although he had been handled a lot by his SCR fosterer he must have still been very stressed out, so many big changes in his short tiny life.

Anyway we got home, and I took him straight up to my bedroom on the first floor, where everything was already set up, and he immediately began to explore. Only finally running out of steam at bedtime.

I held him a lot that evening, stroking him, and when I went to bed took him with me, flopped out on my neck and chest, purring deeply, until he fell asleep. I was rather surprised at this to be honest, after his behaviour in the car, and hardly dared to move all night in case he changed his mind!

At that time we didn’t know his sex, but after a few weeks it was obvious he was a boy so he was named Louis.

He’s settled in so well now. The first two weeks were spent indoors, on and around and under my bed. Then he ventured out into the hallway. Eventually finding the room at the other end, and running between the two endlessly. But quite a while before noticing there was a staircase downstairs.

Eventually he had the run of the whole house, and then it came to letting him explore outdoors. The first time (accompanied of course) he managed to lose us immediately and was gone for about 5 hours. It’s a big garden, on a steep slope, with lots of trees and shrubs, and he moved off too quickly. We were so worried, but we found him eventually, very close to the house.

I think in a way that was a good thing, because now he always sticks close (I hope). He loves to be outside, but is usually visible and prefers it if one of us is out there too. He’ll go out and turn round as if to say ‘nobody coming with me?’ 

Louis has become domesticated very quickly. Though sometimes, when he’s relaxing, being stroked, suddenly his claws, teeth or both are wrapped around my hand. I wonder if we’re perhaps overstimulating him?

He has become a very good hunter…. of flies and the odd poor butterfly.

It is such a great feeling to know that we are giving him a good life, where he won’t know hunger or cold. He probably wouldn’t have had that in the wild.

He has been neutered of course.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about Louis. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions about him, or feral cats/ kittens.

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In late May, Shetland Cat Rescue took in Dawn, Daisy and Ditzi, who then were only about ten days old and had been abandoned by their young feral mother.

It was three-hourly bottle feeds and bottom wipes at first, but soon they were eating, drinking and using the litter tray independently.

Now they have gone to their new forever homes. To adopters who were chosen from those who had already sent in their adoption forms from the website.  How quickly they grow up!

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Bubble & Squeak are 4 year-old sisters, who were looking for a new home together and now, thanks to SCR, have that. In a rural area, away from busy roads, a nice quiet home in a very quiet area, with access to the outdoors.

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Dave was about 6 years old when he came into our care. He had recently been kept indoors for some time and was finding this quite stressful.

Now he is settled into a new permanent home, one best suited to his personality. Quiet, no young children and out of town, with plenty of access to the outdoors.

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These two adorable cats are 3 year old brothers Bertie and Florence, whose owner sadly could no longer keep them.

Now in a new home, still together, enjoying life in the countryside with plenty of love and cuddles.

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Adorable Mabel was 4 months old when she came to us for rehoming. Looking for somewhere nice and quiet, a person who likes playtime as much as she does, and without young children or dogs. Also where she could have access to the great outdoors, away from busy roads.

Now she has found such a home.

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Ellie was 10 when she had to be rehomed. She needed somewhere in the countryside, as she was used to going outside, with no other pets or children. After being fostered for a while one of our volunteers gave her her a new home and she lived happily there for 5 more years until developing terminal diabetes.

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This is 9 week old kitten Suki, who came to us looking for a loving family home and has now found it. A place where all her affection will be reciprocated.

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Cassie and Chloe were brought into SCR’s care from a feral colony we are working with to get all the adults neutered. During their stay with our fosterer they were socialised and now have been rehomed together in a suitably quiet rural home, well away from busy roads, so after they have been spayed they can roam outside again.

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This adorable little kitten is Seren. She was still very shy and a little unsure when she came to SCR for fostering and rehoming, but now she is with a permanent family who have previous experience with cats, and gaining in confidence.

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Rogue is a very special cat.

She has been re-homed five times recently (none of them her fault) and consequently suffered from that experience.

Finally she has a new home with someone who will help her overcome this, by being at home with her most of the day and has a lot of patience. In exchange she loves company, has loads of energy and enjoys playing.

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Horace was found wandering around North Roe. Obviously a cat who previously had a home once and now looking for a new one. After advertising for the owner, without success, Horace has now settled in with someone new.

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These adorable pair are 3 year old brothers Juno and Norbu from Unst, now with a new home.

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Alfie is another, who has been rehomed with another feral kitten.

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Archie and Abbie are the other two. Now rehomed with another feral kitten too.

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Betty came into our care when we were contacted about an apparently homeless and pregnant cat seen hanging around outside someone’s home during the worst of the weather last winter.

Whilst with SCR she gave birth to two lovely kittens, Bertie & Bunny (see below) who have now both been rehomed together.

An incredibly friendly and loving cat, who obviously had a good home in the past, and an incredible will to live. For despite all her hardships and giving birth, she has now been found to have terminal cancer. Luckily the perfect home and family have been found to care for her. We hope she will enjoy whatever time she has left with them.

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Bertie and Bunny (now renamed Nova & Nia) were born while their mother Betty was in foster care with SHETLAND CAT RESCUE. Betty came to us after being noticed as apparently homeless and getting bigger with pregnancy. As it was still winter we were asked to take her in. The two kittens have now been rehomed and Betty has a new home too.

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This is 18 month old Beans. A very affectionate cat who has always lived indoors. Now she has a new home, in a suitably quiet area, where she can venture outdoors if she chooses.

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This lovely fellow is Fred, who came into our care as a stray without a microchip.

After waiting to see if his owner could be found we have now rehomed him to the perfect set-up, a croft on the West Side. Where he can continue enjoying the great outdoors, safe in the knowledge he now has someone to take good care of him.

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Bonnie & Clyde came to us at three years old, brother and sister. Both were very affectionate, loving to play and get cuddles, and are now settling in to their new home.

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Dora & Dash, a bonded pair of Arabian Maus (brother & sister), were rescued from Dubai and fostered by Shetland Cat Rescue. Now in their permanent new home.

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Phil is a very handsome three year old Norwegian forest cat, who loved the outdoors so much his owner decided he needed to be rehomed to someone in the countryside, where he could be safe. She had not heard of Shetland Cat Rescue before but when she advertised Phil online one of our supporters got in touch with her. Three days later a new home had been found for Phil.

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Boris & Loki were both 12 years old when their owner died. Now they have found a new permanent home.

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Juliette is a tortie & white adult female who had been living as an outdoor cat before coming into our care, along with her litter of kittens.

She had never been inside a house before so it took her a while to adapt, but now she has a new permanent home where she can come and go as she pleases.

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Two year old Sybil is one of a family of three cats who have all now been rehomed after their owner died.

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Jill and Jenny are two of the four kittens that we featured on the adoption page, born to a feral mother. They soon became friendly, loving and playful kittens with the attention from their fosterer and are now settled into their new homes. A life very different from the one they would have had if they had been left where they were. Being born so late in the year (at the end of September), the winter might have proved too harsh for them to survive.

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Frankie was an older cat, who also had various health issues, so not so easy to find a new home. But he is so adorable it wasn’t long before the right person came along to give him the care and love he needs.

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Toyah came to us as a feral, along with three kittens: Todd, Tyler & Tina. While being fostered by us she became a very playful and social cat and we are very happy she now has a new permanent home. At the same time she will be helping heal the gap left when her new owners cat died.

Here is a video of her a couple of weeks after re-homing.

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Todd & Tina came to Shetland Cat Rescue with their brother Tyler (see below) and mother Toyah (see above), after being born in a byre. They are both extremely energetic and fearless, which will no doubt keep their new owners very busy.

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Tyler, a very clever and playful kitten who came into Shetland Cat Rescue’s care along with his brother and sister Tyler & Tina (see above) and mother Toyah. He is now living with his new family, where he is looking forward to training them to attend to his every need and whim.

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Toby is a 7 year old 5kg male. Long haired and tri-coloured. Very calm nature. A loving, affectionate boy with a great hunting ability. Now settled into a new home.

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Putra has gone to a new permanent home, where she will no doubt be spoilt rotten, after Shetland Cat Rescue were called in to help when her previous owner became too ill to continue caring for her.

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Lewie & Jenny were feral kittens, about 3-5 months old, when Shetland Cat Rescue got involved.

Lewie is the more adventurous one, with a lot of energy. He loves tickles, play and food. Jenny is quieter, but likes to be the princess. She enjoys tickles and play too.

They were both with one of our fosterers for about a year. Now they finally have a permanent home, together.

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Maisie is one brave and friendly cat. She was found living in the wild, obviously a house cat, then fostered by Shetland Cat Rescue. Now in a loving permanent home.

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Toby was a feral kitten. He spent five months getting used to living in a house, with his foster family, where he became a very playful, cheerful soul, albeit still with the squeakiest of voices. He has now found a permanent home with two other ex-feral cats in the countryside, fitting in perfectly.

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Floyd was a feral, possibly related to Milly (see below), who tamed really quickly. Full of energy, as well as mischievous, but also very loving. Now living with a super family on the West Side of Shetland surrounded by open countryside.

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Milly was a feral kittten.  Her mother had started to take her to a garden where she knew there was food and she was trapped there in August 2021.  She was then about 3 months old.  After a few days with the fosterer, she could be stroked and picked up, and as soon as she was old enough, she was spayed, vaccinated and microchipped.

This very determined soul soon had her fosterers trained, so much so she was adopted by them and now lives happily with all their other rescue cats.  Not exactly a re-homing, but a happy ending nonetheless.

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Lola (with Milly at the top in the photo below) was another feral who visited particular gardens regularly, looking for food.  She was trapped in October 2021, aged about 3.5 months.  She has lovely thick, soft fur and loves attention.  The fosterer spent a lot of time with her, so she soon became friendly.  She was spayed, vaccinated and microchipped (standard procedure with Shetland Cat Rescue) and now also lives permanently with the foster family, where she enjoys the delights of the surrounding hillsides, as well as a warm dry home with regular meals.

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