There was a time when I thought this concept was impossible. Seriously, how in the world could anybody not absolutely love and adore a new kitten?
I thought that, until it happened to me.
What to Do If You Don’t Want Your New Kitten Anymore
Many years ago a friend’s cat had a litter of kittens and I fell madly in love with the runt of the litter. She was a beautiful Calico and so tiny!
That’s her in the pic. She was absolutely beautiful. I named her Dolly and at first, I was so glad I had her!
But very soon her behavior became very annoying to me. She drooled a lot. And she was very needy in a gross way. She’d always want to suck on my hair and my ear lobes.
It may sound cute, but it was excessive and I found myself being annoyed with her constantly.
Luckily, a man who lived next door named Phil, who was the biggest animal lover in the universe, really wanted to adopt her. So as against my profound animal lover personality it was, I made the decision to give her to Phil.
It was the best thing I could’ve done. Phil absolutely adored Dolly and showered her with love for the rest of her life.
I have to say that I’ve never gotten over the guilt of taking her in, then giving her away. It broke my heart then, and it still breaks my heart today. Even seeing her picture makes me choke up a little.
But I know that giving her away was the right thing. She had a much happier life and was loved far more with Phil than she would’ve been with me.
Insert sobbing. Ugh…sometimes having pets can be so painful, you know?
If you discover that things with your new kitten just aren’t working out, please do the right thing and find a new home for the kitten. And try not to feel guilty. It’s our job as pet owners to make the best decisions we can for the animal, regardless of how it might feel to us.
How to Find a New Home for a Kitten
If you don’t want to keep your new kitten, the most responsible thing to do is contact the shelter or rescue organization where you adopted the kitten and return it. This gives them the best chance of finding a new, suitable home.
Be honest with the shelter or the organization or group that’s taking the kitten. Explain why you can’t keep the kitten and provide information about its personality and behavior to help them find the best match. You don’t want the kitten to go from home to home where the same issue may arise.
If you didn’t get the kitten from a shelter or rescue organization, try reaching out to friends or family. Ask if anyone might be interested in adopting the kitten.
Try posting online, perhaps on Facebook, to find a new home for the kitten. But stick with your Facebook friends responding and/or recommending someone.
Sadly, not only are their weirdos online, but there are people who look for kittens online to feed to their pet snake. I’m sorry if telling you that upsets you. I just want to make sure you know the person, or a friend knows the person who is adopting the kitten.
Try asking your veterinarian’s office. Local vet’s offices usually know of cat and kitten rescue and adoption organizations and groups. They could very well put you in touch with someone who can find a suitable home for your kitten.
Act quickly. Don’t wait too long to rehome the kitten because they can become more attached to their environment and people the longer they stay with you.
And if you’re not happy, chances are the kitten isn’t happy either. It’s best to get them into a home where they’ll be happy as soon as possible.
What NOT to Do if You Don’t Want a Kitten Anymore
Do not abandon the kitten. Never leave a kitten outside or in a place where it can’t find food or shelter hoping someone will magically find and help the kitten. Please don’t abandon the kitten…anywhere…don’t leave it unsafe and uncared for.
Don’t give the kitten to someone who shouldn’t have it. For example, don’t just give the kitten to the kid next door who thinks it’s adorable. Make sure the kitten is being adopted by responsible adults who understand the commitment of adopting a cat.
Don’t ignore the issue. Minimally, if you are struggling to care for the kitten, but really don’t want to give it up, reach out to a shelter or animal welfare organization or your veterinarian for advice.
Do you just need help? If you’re a first-time cat owner, perhaps you’re struggling to care for the kitten. For help taking care of your new kitten, read my post, How to Take Care of a Kitten: Step-by-Step Guide (includes video).
Also check out this post from CatRescues.org, I Can’t Keep My Pet for more tips and advice.
Thank You for Visiting!
Thank You for Visiting!Thank you for visiting my website. I hope reading this helps you find a suitable home for your kitten and to cope with the decision to give it up.
If you’re sad about this, I’m truly sorry. Like I said, giving up Dolly broke my heart. But sometimes we have to make painful decisions for the overall well-being of animals.
You can see the variety of topics I cover on my website by checking out the menu on the left. If you like this website, please share it with your friends who have a dog or a cat. Thank you! Debra
This is such an important topic that more people need to consider before bringing a kitten home. Owning a pet is a long-term commitment, and it’s heartbreaking when someone realizes they’re not ready after adoption.
I appreciate the focus on responsible rehoming and exploring all options before making a decision. It’s so much better to find a loving home than to abandon or surrender them without care.
I’ve seen cases where patience and small adjustments made a huge difference. Sometimes, kittens just need time to adjust to their new environment.
Have you come across situations where a struggling owner was able to successfully keep their kitten after trying different approaches? I’d love to hear any experiences where a difficult start turned into a happy ending.
Thank you for the kind comments, Marlinda! Hopefully this post will help kittens to get to homes they’ll be happy in! Debra