How to Find Homes for a Litter of Kittens

Last Updated: February 21, 2022 References

When your cat has babies, it can be difficult or impossible to keep all of them. Start by contacting animal shelters and rescues for advice and information, but only leave your kittens with an organization that guarantees a no-kill policy. Your vet might also have information that could help you find homes for a litter of kittens. Finally, ask friends and family members if they are interested. If all else fails, put your cats up for sale and rigorously screen any potential buyers.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Kittens More Attractive for Adopters

1
Get your kittens vaccinated. It will be harder to find a good home for your litter of kittens if they are not vaccinated. Take your litter of kittens to the vet when they are about eight weeks old so they can begin receiving a series of routine vaccinations. Your vet will advise you regarding which vaccinations your kitten needs and when.^{[1]
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- When taking the kittens to the vet, have them dewormed and treated for any other maladies – such as parasites – that might be present.
2
Play with your kittens regularly. Kittens need to be properly socialized during their formative period. The formative period is the first two to seven weeks of your kitten’s life. Lift the kittens up, touch them all over, and talk to them for at least 30-60 minutes each day.^{[2]
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- The time spent interacting with your kittens need not be continuous.
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3
Expose your kittens to new phenomena. Kittens should be exposed to a variety of sights, sounds, and smells. This will help them better adjust to domestic life when they finally find homes. Some common experiences or things your litter of kittens should be familiar with include:^{[3]
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- trips in the car
- wet and dry food
- music and TV
- various cat litters (recycled paper, corn-based, and so on)
- cat carriers and baskets
- children and adults
- men and women
4
Feed your kittens a healthy diet. Four the first four weeks of their lives, your litter of kittens will drink their mother’s milk. When they are about four weeks old, however, you should introduce them to cat food. High-quality cat food will include a healthy balance of amino acids, including taurine.^{[4]
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- Dry cat food is not generally recommended, though some cats might prefer it. Provide your kittens with dry cat food in the event they find canned food disagreeable.
- If possible, obtain a cat food specially designed for kittens.
- Do not feed your kittens baby food. It could poison your kittens.
5
Only rehouse kittens that are old enough. If kittens are removed from their mothers too soon, they might experience emotional and psychological trauma, and will not have time to be properly socialized to other animals. As the kittens grow, this might manifest as aggression toward people or other pets. Therefore, wait until your kittens are at least eight to 10 weeks old before rehousing them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Housing Kittens Without Selling Them

1
Take the kittens to a no-kill animal rescue. Animal rescues provide homes to pets through an adoption process. However, in contrast to animal shelters, no-kill animal rescue operations will not euthanize a litter of kittens just because they reach capacity. Animal rescues might be able to find homes for a litter of kittens, or direct you to other organizations or resources that can help you do so.^{[5]
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- Rescues are often full, and might ask you to house the litter of kittens until homes are found for them.^{[6]
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2
Visit your local animal shelters. They might be able to find homes for the litter of kittens. If the shelter is filled to capacity, ask the staff if they can recommend resources to help you in your quest to find homes for the kittens. You can also look up cat-specific welfare organizations online and contact them for further options.^{[7]
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3
Ask your vet for advice. Your vet might know someone interested in providing homes to a litter of kittens. Even if they do not, they might have useful advice for you regarding what your next steps might be.^{[8]
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4
Check with family and friends. Ask responsible family and friends if they are interested in adopting a kitten. If they are, your problem is solved. Invite them to see the litter of kittens and let them choose the one they are most interested in.^{[9]
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- Give priority to your friends and family who have children and people who have owned pets before. People who have never owned pets might find the idea of owning a cat attractive, yet lose interest when they realize the investment in time and money pet ownership requires.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Selling Your Kittens

1
Post ads for your kittens online. Post a description and a set of images in online marketplaces like Craigslist. Alternately, use a local community message board to connect with people you know are interested in obtaining a kitten.^{[10]
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2
Post flyers in your area. Create a flyer with images and a description of the kittens. Print out an appropriate number and post them in high-traffic public areas (restaurants, libraries, and so on). Veterinary offices and pet shops are also good locations for flyers.^{[11]
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3
Ask potential owners to fill out an application. The application should consist of a brief questionnaire, an information-collecting section, and a set of three to five references. Ask questions like “Have you owned pets before?” and “Do you have children or plan to have children?” Ask for references – including their current vet, if applicable – and follow up.^{[12]
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- When you contact the references, ask them if the applicant is, has been, or could be a responsible pet owner. If they suggest the applicant would not make a good pet owner, do not allow the applicant to adopt any of the kittens in your litter.
- Ask for identifying info like their name, home phone number, date of birth, and address.
4
Copy all potential applicants’ ID cards. Ask applicants to meet you at a public office supply store or similar location where you can copy their driver's license, passport, or other form of ID that includes their address and photo. Alternately, use your phone to snap a picture of the ID for future reference.^{[13]
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- Verify the information they provided on their application by checking it against their photo ID.
- With this information in hand, you’re more likely to ensure that only people interested in providing your kitten with a good home will inquire about obtaining one.
5
Meet interested individuals in person. Talk to the individuals in a public place about their background and motivations for buying a cat. For instance, you might ask, “Why are you interested in adopting a kitten?” Listen carefully for inconsistencies or incomplete answers.^{[14]
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- If at any point you feel the applicant is being untruthful, politely end the meeting. Do not allow them to adopt any of your kittens.
- If the applicant seems honest and their background checks out, allow them to adopt the kitten.
- It’s best to offer kittens to people who have children and people who have owned pets before.
6
Do not give kittens away for free. If you give kittens away for free, they might be obtained by people who do not value the cat, and might use it in animal research or as food for a snake or other predatory animal. Never give kittens away for free except to friends and family members you know to be responsible.^{[15]
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- Usually, you can sell a kitten for $50 or more.