18-month-old Kuddu and her four newly born kittens arrived at Battersea as their owners were moving abroad and couldn’t keep them. Kuddu was friendly but very shy and nervous at first. Once Battersea staff got to know her, it was clear that for Kuddu to be the best mother to her babies, she needed an experienced foster carer who could provide a calm, stable environment.
Kuddu meets her foster family
Kuddu and her kittens went to stay with Nicola and Stephen who have been fostering with Battersea for the past 9 years.
“Kuddu and her litter were the eleventh mum and kittens we've fostered and came to us when her babies were only a few days old. She was understandably shy and anxious while she adjusted to a new environment and being a new mum. We made sure all her resources were close to her and we made sure to keep our distance to give her space to settle in.”
Building a nest for Kuddu and her kittens
Pregnant cats like to have a place to “nest” which is a comfortable and safe space that’s free from stress.
“The information we get from Battersea before collecting our cats helps us to decide where in the house we set up their room. We set up Kuddu's nest box in the utility room as this is separate from the main living part of the house but is close enough that when the kittens got older, they could easily access it. It also had a good balance of peace and quiet for mum and exposure to normal household noises for the kittens.”
While saying goodbye to one foster cat is emotional, it means saying hello to another and the start of the next chapter in this amazing journey. It really is one of the most rewarding things we've done.
Getting Kuddu and her kittens ready for new homes
Having mum and kittens in foster care helps with their socialisation. It’s important to build mum's trust so the kittens learn to have a positive association with people. If the kittens can grow up with all the sounds, smells and activity associated with a normal household, it helps them to develop into well-rounded cats.
Nicola and Stephen on fostering
Fostering can be full on. There are significant practical demands but there is also a big emotional investment too. While the cats are with us, we are heavily invested in their wellbeing so seeing them go on to their new homes can be bittersweet. Although getting the cats rehomed is the goal, it's impossible not to miss them, especially those who have had a challenging time. While saying goodbye to one foster cat is emotional, it means saying hello to another and the start of the next chapter in this amazing journey. It really is one of the most rewarding things we've done.
