👉 Learn about becoming a foster carer

“Kitten Season” doesn’t happen by accident; the warmer, spring-weather tells cats that it’s breeding season, and the resulting wave of kittens from undesexed cats often causes many problems and heartache.

The first litter of kittens brought into Ten Lives at the start of our 2020 kitten season belonged to Helga. Helga is a lovely cat who had a very big day on 1st September 2020. She was found locked in a cat carrier, abandoned behind a business in Glenorchy, covered in faeces and very heavily pregnant. Thankfully she was quickly brought in to Ten Lives where she started delivering her kittens, even as she was being surrendered.

Helga and her babies shortly after birth.

Unfortunately two of the babies didn’t make it, but she was left with four healthy little ones, and she was a perfect mum tending to her newborns.

The importance of foster care

👉 Learn about becoming a foster carer

At just two days old, the new family were put into foster care, where they eventually ended up with foster carer Caeley Fenney. Caeley did a great job, using a tent in her lounge to provide a safe, secure place for Helga to raise her kittens.

“It was fantastic, but tense as you’re anxious for them. Helga was a great mother though, which made it quite easy” said Caeley.

Helga raised and trained them in the essentials of life, like grooming and using a litter tray, but all too soon the kittens were mature enough for adoption and Caeley was called to return them to the Centre to find their forever homes – which the cute little kittens did very quickly!

Helga’s healthy kittens, back from foster care, desexed and ready for adoption.

Kittens are desexed once they reach the safe and appropriate stage, generally after 10 weeks old and at least 1kg in weight. With a gestation period of 2 months, a single cat can birth up to 5 litters a year, and kittens can have kittens when they are as young as 4 months old.

Happy Helga waiting for her forever family.
PHOTO: Rachael Daniels/rachaeldphotography.com

On 1st December 2020, exactly 3 months after she was found, Helga was also adopted! At just over 2 years old, she’s a lovely, playful cat, despite her stressful ordeal. She is ready to enjoy the next chapter of her life without having to worry about any more litters of kittens, which she is probably very relieved about!

And as for those two things that cats like Helga need most? It’s simple… shelter and love. Helga’s story is one of thousands that would not be possible without the extraordinary love and care provided by our wonderful foster carers.

If opening up your heart and home to cats in need is something that you might be interested in please take a look at the information here:
👉 Learn about becoming a foster carer

Originally published in the Summer 2020 edition of the Scratching Post magazine.

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Ten Lives cares for thousands of cats every year. We rely on support from people just like you continue to provide care to cats in need.

What you can do to help…

Open your heart and home to become a foster carer.
Bring your skills to Ten Lives and become a volunteer.
Check out our current cats and kittens awaiting adoption.
Support us by making a donation to the centre.