'I’m just worried I’m doing the wrong thing but I’ve truly done everything I can': Tiny rescued kitten wreaks big chaos, leaving pawrent torn on what to do and searching for the best pawsible solution for everyone involved

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Aug 15, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Rescuing a tiny, scrappy kitten can feel like adopting a little whirlwind wrapped in fur and this story is no exception. Our cat hero found a four-week-old flea-ridden, scruffy kitten near a dumpster and couldn't just walk away. After nursing her back to health and keeping her away from the resident cats, it was time for the big introduction. Spoiler: it's been a bit of a catastrophe. The kitten plays so fiercely it's got the older cats hissing and stressed, and her love bites come with a side of scratches. The daily house mess is just the cherry on top.

Despite the chaos, she's a purring machine and can be sweet… just with a wild streak that screams "feral kitten." Limited by apartment rules to two pets and overwhelmed by the stress on both cats and human, the rescuer feels torn about possibly rehoming her.

But loving a cat means knowing when to make the tough call. Prioritizing your mental health and your other cats' wellbeing doesn't make you a bad pawrent. It makes you a wise one. Sometimes the kindest act is finding a new, loving home where that wild little fluff can thrive.

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    'I truly do love her but she causes so much stress'
    via Bilder von YuM / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    A couple months ago I found a four week old kitten by the dumpster. She was riddled with fleas, cuts, and was super skinny. I couldn't leave her so I brought her inside, quarantined her from my other two cats and got her healthy/vaccinated/tested for everything.
    via Ambitious_Purpose245
  • 03
    She's been integrated with my cats for over a month now (4M and 1F), and it's really rough. No matter how much I play with her, she plays way too hard with them so there is constant hissing and stress for my adult cats.
    via Ambitious_Purpose245
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    Cheezburger Image 10541074944
    via AdinaVoicu from Pixabay / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 05
    She also is really rough and bites and scratches so hard and draws bl d constantly no matter what Ive done (I know not to play with my hands)
    via Ambitious_Purpose245
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    She also gets up on everything and everyday I come home to my house completely trashed. Also do want to note that when she's being sweet she is amazing, but she'll still scratch and bite in those moments. But constantly purrs 24/7.
    via Ambitious_Purpose245
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    Cheezburger Image 10541076224
    via JulieK's Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    I love her so much but I've never had a kitten like this, she genuinely acts feral. She isn't old enough to be spayed yet. I'm also only allowed to have two animals at my apartment complex but I had to save her so I didn't know what to do.
    via Ambitious_Purpose245
  • 09
    Am I a bad person if I rehome her? I truly do love her but she causes so much stress not only on my other two cats but on myself as well and it's starting to wreck my mental health.
    via Ambitious_Purpose245
  • 10
    I'm just worried I'm doing the wrong thing but I've truly done everything I can at this time. I really didn't even want or plan on getting a new kitten, but I couldn't let her suffer the way she was.
    via Ambitious_Purpose245
  • 11
    catwhowalksbyhi... I wouldn't even consider this rehoming. She's a stray you rescued and fostered for a bit. You aren't quite qualified to help. her the way she needs to be properly socialized.
    via catwhowalksbyhimself
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    What she needs is a foster home with experience with stray kittens. Then once properly socialized by someone who knows what they are doing, she can be adopted out. That's not you fault and it's not the same as rehoming a long time pet. She needs more than you can provide for her. So the right things is to try to find it.
    via catwhowalksbyhimself

  • This rescuer has done all they pawsibly could. Now it’s time to pass the kitty to someone who can give her the love and care she truly deserves.

  • 13
    serpents_pass She needs to be socialized. However, if you are unable to do that, it's better that she gets access to someone else sooner rather than later. She has a better chance at becoming okay and getting adopted if this happens when she's a baby than when she's adult sized with the same behaviors.
    via serpents_pass
  • 14
    Brain_Hawk Rehoming is the correct choice. If we all adopted every stray cat we found, we'd end up as cat hoarders. Granted there are a lot of them around, many of whom are in mind unto humble opinion incident I begin denial... But anyway I digress.
    via Brain_Hawk
  • 15
    You have fostered this little baby and kept her alive, but now it's time to put them with somebody else. They are experiencing behavioral problems because they didn't have their siblings around to help teach them how to behave properly. So they play too rough and all that kind of stuff, because when they do that crop with
    via Brain_Hawk
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    their brothers and sisters they end up getting a beat down, so they learn, much like human children learn by socializing with each other. Reach out to some local rescues and I bet they can find somebody who can help teach this kitten to behave more appropriately for their forever home.
    via Brain_Hawk

  • While we wish we could keep every rescued cat, finding her someone who can properly socialize her offers the best pawsible future of helping this kitty find her purrfect furever home.

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    Mixed Beans Black... Yep, not only is it okay, it would be the best thing for her for proper socialization. I would just gently advise you to reach out to rescues to help you in this process. They may have a foster home with similarly aged kittens who are willing to take in one more! Rehoming privately to a home is risky if
    via MixedBeansBlackBeans
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    kitty continues to have behavioural challenges with resident cats or goes on to develop a single kitten syndrome sort of thing.
    via MixedBeansBlackBeans
  • 19
    karinchup No. That's being responsible. You clearly will look for a good home with a patient person. It's called rescuing and you fostered her back to health and now you will look for the right home for her. That's a good thing.
    via karinchup
  • 20
    Ashitaka1013 It just okay but everything about this decision is good and right lol Like you saved a kitten and took good care of her and are going to find her a home? That's awesome. And now is the time to do it while she's still a kitten- she'll adjust easily to a new home and is still young enough it'll probably
    via Ashitaka1013
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    be easy to find someone to adopt her. Doing it now rather than later is a really good call. So as long as you find get a home you think will be good, you should feel nothing but good about this.
    via Ashitaka1013

  • Definitely don’t feel guilty! Finding the best pawsible outcome means this little kitty gets the care and love she truly deserves. Purrfect for her future adventures and happiness!

  • 22
    Comfortable_Tras... It sounds like it would be best for all involved if you found another place for her. One of my feral kittens was like that and it took up the majority of my day to work with her. I work from home, so I was able to provide her with a lot of my time. Not
    via Comfortable_Trash880
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    everyone has that ability, nor would I ever want to do it again. The fact that you got her off of the street, and provided her with a roof and food, is so much more than she would have gotten without you.
    via Comfortable_Trash880
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    Rare_Sugar_7927 You are an amazing person for rescuing that kitty. Youve done so much alreay. Now its time to find her her forever home. Please dont feel gulity about that, there's a lot of very good reasons you cant keep her, so find her a good home and be proud of what you did (and enjoy the peace lol).
    via Rare_Sugar_7927

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pets foster kitten adopted advice feline pawrents Cats rescue
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