Kittens and cats in Mill Bay, British Columbia

*** Adopt-a-pet requires that the fields for breed, sex, colour, and hair length be filled in on this ad, although in reality our barn cats are not all black shorthaired females. Also, corresponding photos to this ad are of feral cats that have come through our system. That particular cat may or may not be available now. Generally, suitable placements receive barn cats of whatever colour we have available. Colour requests can be made, but can't usually be met quickly, if at all. *** We operate a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program for feral cats in the Cowichan Valley, and the 'R' part of that process is very important. We cannot take feral cats away from property owners who don't want to be bothered with looking after them. We fix hundreds of ferals every year, we have no head office or shelter, we are simply a network of volunteers who work out of our own homes, and so all ferals (aside from tiny kittens) must be returned to where they came from, with an agreement with the property owner that he/she will feed them after we have 'fixed' and returned them. That being said, there are rare circumstances where a feral cat cannot go back to where it came from. For example, in 2013 we removed a champagne coloured cat from a construction site where she was living and raising kittens. She was at risk of injury if she stayed there, and after the construction company left there would be no one to continue feeding her. In this way, we are always looking for 'barn homes' where we can place a pair of feral cats to save their lives. All barn cats are spayed or neutered and have received their first shots. We always send them out in pairs so that they have a friend (and this also helps reduce the chance that they will run away later). Barn cats can be placed on a farm, acreage, vineyard, warehouse, or even a backyard. We place them free of charge, but we need to make sure of a few things first. The property owner must agree to give the cat one meal of cat food every day and fresh water, forever. The cats will still take care of the rodents in your yard as you want them to. Starving cats are so desperate for a meal that they don't make good mousers. So a meal a day is essential. The cats must be able to get out of the wind and the rain. We can provide you with a Styrofoam cat shelter so that they stay snug. We also need to make sure that the home is not located on a busy road where it is likely that the cats will be run over. We always ask about dogs, as it is upsetting when we hear that barn cats ran away from their new home on account of a dog's presence (not necessarily because the dog was badly behaved, but simply because feral cats are scared of dogs). Generally, dogs are not suitable to have on the same property as barn cats. A very mellow, sluggish-type dog that is disinterested in cats can be okay. The cats must be in lockdown in an escape-proof holding space for one month so that they get used to you, their new feeder, and learn that this is their new home and food comes from you. This space can be a workshop, tack room, garage, outbuilding, etc., and if you don't have something along those lines then we can loan you an extra large wire dog kennel to keep the cats in for the month. If the shed or similar space is quite small and the cats are at risk of bolting past when the door is open, the wire kennel will be needed. After the month of lockdown, the cats can be released outside, and they should stick around. Barn homes are very, very useful to our work. If you can meet the requirements outlined above and are willing to take on a couple of barn cats who will provide you with environmentally friendly, non-toxic rodent control, we would love to hear from you.

Willow is a sweet, easygoing cat who balances playfulness and relaxation. A curious shadow cat, she likes to stay close and will softly call out if she can’t find you. Willow is gentle and affectionate, often curling up beside you or snuggling in for some love. Brave, curious, and loving, she’s the perfect companion for anyone seeking a sweet, laid-back best friend.

Winnie is a gentle, affectionate cat who warms your heart with her quiet charm. Initially shy, she has blossomed into a sweet cuddlebug who melts into you during pets. Curious yet cautious, Winnie thrives in a calm, quiet home without loud noises or fast movements. With patience and love, she will continue to grow into the tender, loving companion she is meant to be. If you have a patient heart and a cozy lap, Winnie could be your perfect match.

Introducing Minerva (aka Mini) and Moody, from our Harry Potter litter. This fall, we received a call from animals control asking if we could take in a male cat that was brought to them as a stray and not claimed. Of course, we said yes, and we welcomed 'him' into our foster program, although we very quickly discovered that 'he' was actually a she and was very pregnant! Not long afterward, our Harry Potter litter was born. They've been growing up with one of our experienced foster families and they're not old enough to start looking for homes. Moody is an enthusiastic boy who loves being involved. He likes to do thing, loves routines, and is a great help around the home. He’s a happy boy who is great at playing and at cuddling. He’s very smart and loves to learn. Minerva was the last kitten born in her litter and she is the smallest and most is the youngest and smallest and most quiet. She is a bit hesitant, and takes some time to think about things that her siblings may rush into. Although she often likes to be a watcher, during play time she plays just a hard as the others. Mini can be a bit shy and it takes her a while to warm up to new people. She doesn't like to approach them, but is working to become a bit more brave. She is very sweet and cute but is learning how to be more confident and cuddly. Mini gets along very well with her brother, Moody, and we would really like to see the two of them get adopted together so that he can help her brave the world. The two of them spend lots of time cuddling up together and napping together. They will cry when they're out of each other's sight. Thus far, they have no experience with dogs. They will do best in an adult home, or one with quiet, gentle teens. If you'd like to learn more about Mini and Moody, please visit https://victoriapets.ca/adoption-process/ for a copy of our online adoption application and info regarding our adoption process.

This sweet little bundle of fun is Chewie. He's a well-rounded kitten who is looking for a home with other cats that will keep him mentally stimulated. Chewie was found hiding under a wood pile when he was only 4-5 weeks old. Right from the start, Chewie has been a playful, curious, and sweet little guy. He is great at playing by himself to keep busy, but he also really loves to wrestle with the other kitties in his foster home. A rough and tumble kitty that can keep up with Chewie would be ideal. For some reason, Chewie seems more comfortable with male cats, but he might do well with a female cat that has a very motherly instinct. It can take him a little bit of time to get used to a new cat, so one that is patient with him is ideal. Since Chewie was a single kitten, he didn't learn bite inhibition when he was very young so he uses his mouth a lot. He likes to chew on toys, but also on fingers and toes. It's important that Chewie's new family appropriately kitten-proofs the home, and can work toward making sure he knows which substrates are Ok to put in his mouth and which are not. Since he can be mouthy, Chewie wont be the right fit for a home with children. Thus far, he has zero experience with dogs. When Chewie is done playing, he is snuggly. He has a great purr and will share it with you while he perches on your shoulder or curls up in your lap. He is food motivated, and loves treats, but isn't pushy about it. He will come running if he hears the treat bag or a can being opened. He loves to watch what's going on in the kitchen and will sit by your feet to supervise, but he's not a counter jumper. If you'd like to learn more about Chewie, please visit https://victoriapets.ca/adoption-process/ for information about our adoption process. You can also find a copy of our online application at that link.

Valka and her kittens, Tuffnut (aka Tuffy), and Toothless (aka Toofy) are a really special trio of cats and we're looking for the perfect home for them. Valka spent most of her short life living on her own, fending for herself as a stray. This past summer she had 3 kittens and when they were quite young they became ill and one of the kittens sadly passed away. We were able to catch the family shortly thereafter and have nursed them back to health. This family is so bonded to one another that we would really love to see them stay together long-term. Toofy & Tuffy were born as feral kittens and have come a very long way since then, but they need to find just the right home to help them thrive and continue on with their socialization. Valka is a domestic cat but she obviously has significant trauma from the experiences that she's had and it takes her a really long time to learn how to trust new people. It will take a very special person to give this trio the right home, but if you are an experienced cat-caregiver and are comfortable working with under-socialized cats, we'd love to hear from you. Toofy is the black & white kitten and he was the more curious and forward of the two brothers at first. He may be the smaller of the two, but Toofy was the first one to be brave enough to accept attention and handling from his foster mom. The key to this boy's heart is through food, but he can be a bit pushy for his food too so you have to find a balance. If he knows that you have food for him he gets grabby. Once Toofy trusts you, he is sweet and follows you around asking for attention. He has a wonderful purr and is a real gentleman. Tuffy (orange) is the more dominant of the two kittens once he's settled in, but he started out much less brave than his brother and it took a long time for his confidence to build. When he first arrived he would hiss, spit, and strike at his foster mom (out of fear) if she got too close. She spent a long time building his trust and Tuffy is actually quite pushy now and barges his way to the front of the line to get attention. He is now the more forward and friendly of the two kittens and really just craves attention. Like his brother, he does sometimes give love-nips when he gets over-stimulated during a cuddle session. Tuffy will purr, and rub, and roll around to get attention but every few pets he gets a bit over-stimulated and he will nip at his foster mom. She will take a very brief time out from petting him and then go right back to it until Tuffy starts to get over-stimulated again. He is learning quickly and does understand the word 'no' but it's important for his new owner to have a good handle on how to read Tuffy's body language and have experience working with under-socialized cats. These two boys are food motivated, which makes them a bit easier to work with. Valka takes a lot longer than her boys do to trust a new person and will definitely spend a lot of time hiding when she goes to her new home. She really needs someone to give her space and let her come out of her shell at her own pace. Valka really follows the lead of her boys so once they start to trust someone and interact with them, she starts to trust as well. Once she trusts you, she will rub on you, purr, and interact gently. This trio will do well in the right home. They have the potential to become the best little companions but it is going to take them quite a while to get used to a new home and develop trust with a new person (or people.) It took their current foster mom several months before any of them would allow handling. They are afraid of dogs because before they came into our care they were in an environment where they were regularly chased by aggressive dogs. They have been around other cats and are OK with them as long as the other cats are nice to them. It is very important that they go to an adult-only home; they cannot be around children. If you are interested in this trio, please visit https://victoriapets.ca/adoption-process/ to learn about our adoption process and to find a copy of our adoption application. We'd love to hear about your home and previous experience with under-socialized cats. Please note that this trio is only available for adoption to those living on southern Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands.