Posted over 3 months ago | Updated over 3 weeks ago
Submit Application
Meet the Pet
Sign Adoption Contract
Take the Pet Home
Meet The Black Hills Crew!
Sturgis, Spearfish, Custer, and Cheyenne
Estimated Age: 3–4 months
Learning to trust humans — but curious and full of potential!
Say hello to Sturgis, Spearfish, Custer, and Cheyenne — an adorable group of rescue kittens known as the Black Hills Crew. These four are your typical playful, curious kittens... with one special twist: they’re still learning that humans aren’t so scary after all.
Right now, they’re in their shy phase — more likely to sniff your hand than lean into it. But they’re making progress every day. They watch humans closely, follow the action, and show growing curiosity. They’re learning that touch is safe, and that love comes in soft voices and gentle patience.
Cheyenne is the bravest of the bunch — always the first to check things out and the most likely to lead the others in exploring new territory.
Spearfish had a wound on her neck when she came into rescue, but she took her antibiotics like a champ and is healing up beautifully.
Sturgis & Custer are a little more reserved but still love playtime and are starting to come around with gentle interaction.
Other cats! They adore feline friends and will come running and purring when they see another cat.
Playtime. Wand toys, tunnels, and anything they can bat around — they’re all in.
Food and litter box? No worries there — they’re eating like champs and have perfect litter box manners.
These kittens will thrive in a patient home with other friendly cats to show them the ropes. They’re not lap cats yet, but with time and love, they have every chance to blossom into affectionate companions.
If you believe in second chances and the magic of earning a shy kitten’s trust, the Black Hills Crew would love to grow up in your care.
I just joined my foster family and we are still getting acquainted with one another. Once they learn more about me, they will add more information here!
Spearfish is from a stray surrender with 3 siblings. If you are interested in getting to know this animal better, please fill out an adoption application. An adoption application is the best way to show your interest in an animal and is not a binding contract.
To learn more about Ruff Start’s adoption process and the care our foster animals receive, please visit our How to Adopt page.
If you are unable to adopt but want to help this animal and others in our care, you can donate to support the medical and veterinary needs of all Ruff Start Rescue animals.
Want to adopt a kitten? We highly recommend you consider bringing home two instead of one! Adopting kittens in pairs has been proven to be beneficial for cats’ emotional and behavioral well-being and greatly improves the likelihood of long-term adopter happiness as a result. Adopting more than one kitten also reduces the risk of “Single Kitten Syndrome” (also known as Tarzan Syndrome), a symptom of under-socialization during a kitten’s most formative weeks. Kittens who are under-socialized may develop aggressive tendencies toward both other animals and humans as they grow, creating lifelong behavioral issues for owners.
Meet The Black Hills Crew!
Sturgis, Spearfish, Custer, and Cheyenne
Estimated Age: 3–4 months
Learning to trust humans — but curious and full of potential!
Say hello to Sturgis, Spearfish, Custer, and Cheyenne — an adorable group of rescue kittens known as the Black Hills Crew. These four are your typical playful, curious kittens... with one special twist: they’re still learning that humans aren’t so scary after all.
Right now, they’re in their shy phase — more likely to sniff your hand than lean into it. But they’re making progress every day. They watch humans closely, follow the action, and show growing curiosity. They’re learning that touch is safe, and that love comes in soft voices and gentle patience.
Cheyenne is the bravest of the bunch — always the first to check things out and the most likely to lead the others in exploring new territory.
Spearfish had a wound on her neck when she came into rescue, but she took her antibiotics like a champ and is healing up beautifully.
Sturgis & Custer are a little more reserved but still love playtime and are starting to come around with gentle interaction.
Other cats! They adore feline friends and will come running and purring when they see another cat.
Playtime. Wand toys, tunnels, and anything they can bat around — they’re all in.
Food and litter box? No worries there — they’re eating like champs and have perfect litter box manners.
These kittens will thrive in a patient home with other friendly cats to show them the ropes. They’re not lap cats yet, but with time and love, they have every chance to blossom into affectionate companions.
If you believe in second chances and the magic of earning a shy kitten’s trust, the Black Hills Crew would love to grow up in your care.
I just joined my foster family and we are still getting acquainted with one another. Once they learn more about me, they will add more information here!
Spearfish is from a stray surrender with 3 siblings. If you are interested in getting to know this animal better, please fill out an adoption application. An adoption application is the best way to show your interest in an animal and is not a binding contract.
To learn more about Ruff Start’s adoption process and the care our foster animals receive, please visit our How to Adopt page.
If you are unable to adopt but want to help this animal and others in our care, you can donate to support the medical and veterinary needs of all Ruff Start Rescue animals.
Want to adopt a kitten? We highly recommend you consider bringing home two instead of one! Adopting kittens in pairs has been proven to be beneficial for cats’ emotional and behavioral well-being and greatly improves the likelihood of long-term adopter happiness as a result. Adopting more than one kitten also reduces the risk of “Single Kitten Syndrome” (also known as Tarzan Syndrome), a symptom of under-socialization during a kitten’s most formative weeks. Kittens who are under-socialized may develop aggressive tendencies toward both other animals and humans as they grow, creating lifelong behavioral issues for owners.
Submit Application
Your application simply shows that you are interested in an animal; it is not a binding contract.
Meet the Pet
Your chosen animal’s foster home will reach out to you to discuss the pet you are interested in. If applicable, schedule a meet and greet!
Sign Adoption Contract
An Applications team member will send the electronic adoption contract to you to be signed. They will also request adoption fee payment.
Take the Pet Home
Once adoption agreement and payment are complete, you take your new pet home!
