When is a kitten not a kitten?

So far this year APROP has had 91 kittens in our care, of which 20 are still looking for homes.  Some of these kittens have been with us since they were born and, sadly, are now of an age where many people consider them too old for adoption.

Charly and his brother Jellybean https://www.aprop-pego.org/charly-jellybean/, Dartanan and his sister Ziggy https://www.aprop-pego.org/dartanan-ziggy/ and Simon https://www.aprop-pego.org/oreo-simon/ are 6-7 months old now.  You might consider them “teenagers”.  They were all originally in foster care and, one by one their brothers and sisters were adopted.  They, for unfathomable reasons, were not chosen for adoption and so came into the APROP shelter. 

These young cats are still learning about the world.  They are curious, playful, energetic and affectionate but without the biting and scratching habits of small kittens. 

The benefit of adopting a teenage kitten of 6-12 months is that they are more self-sufficient than baby kittens, who need constant care and monitoring.  They have also been blood tested, vaccinated and sterilised, which is a massive cost saving. 

The danger is that they will continue to be overlooked and end up as permanent residents at the shelter into adulthood.  This will be such a shame as they have so much to offer as family pets.

If you are thinking of adopting a kitten, please consider a teenager.  You won’t regret it.