Room for Rose to Bloom
A tabby cat with beautiful green eyes sits snugly on a couch in her family’s lounge room. Known to her hoomins as Rose, she is warm, comfortable and loved. This cat is in her furever home.
But before she found her forever family, Rose spent more than two months in the care of Ten Lives.
Rose arrived at the Cat Centre in May 2026. We knew very little about her past, but it soon became clear that being around other cats was stressful for her. Even the sight or smell of another cat nearby could make it difficult for Rose to settle.
That also made it hard for us to get to know the cat behind all that uncertainty.
There were little glimpses. Rose was shy but affectionate, often choosing to stay tucked safely inside her bed, but willing to venture out for a gentle pat. We knew there was more to Rose. She just needed the right environment to show us.
That’s where foster care can make such a difference.
For some cats and kittens, foster care provides room to grow, recover or simply spend some time away from the busy shelter environment. For Rose, it meant finding somewhere quiet where she could be the only animal and settle in at her own pace.
There was one catch. Rose needed a foster home without other cats, dogs or children.
Fortunately, one of our fabulous foster carers had the purrfect home and welcomed her in.
Away from the sights, sounds and smells of other cats, Rose began to relax. And before long, a very different side of her started to emerge.
Who knew this quiet little cat absolutely lived for belly rubs?
Rose became an affectionate companion who loved being near her foster carer, whether following them around the house or curling up nearby while they relaxed.
She also revealed a cheeky, curious side. An open cupboard was apparently an invitation to investigate, and her foster carer quickly learned to check inside before closing the door!
Rose spent 57 days in foster care, thriving in the calm of a home where she could be the only animal. Most importantly, that time gave us the chance to understand what Rose needed to be happy and what kind of home would suit her best.
When she was ready for adoption, Rose moved to our Rosny Park Op Shop, where she could once again have a cat-free space to herself.
She didn’t have to wait long.
After just two days, Rose caught the eye of the person who would become her family. Two days later, she was adopted!
Today, Rose is exactly where she needs to be: settled into her furever home, loved by her family and enjoying life as the only cat.
Rose’s story also shows why we need foster carers with all kinds of homes, experience and capabilities.
Sometimes the foster home we need isn’t one already filled with pets. It might be a quiet, pet-free household that can give a cat like Rose the space they need to settle and show us who they really are.
We’re also looking for foster carers who have the space and ability to care for cats with ringworm or cat flu, as well as experienced carers who can provide the specialised care needed by neonatal kittens.
Every foster home offers something different, and sometimes that difference is exactly what a cat or kitten needs.
Learn more about becoming a Ten Lives foster carer and sign up at tenlives.com.au/foster/