'Our vet said he's the biggest 6-month-old kitten she's seen': Rescue worker adopts a giant Serval cat that had been returned to the shelter twice for having "too much energy", giving him the family he deserves

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Feb 5, 2026 10:00 AM EST

No cat deserves to be returned to the shelter once, let alone twice.

That is especially true for unique kittens. There is nearly a fight over kittens in shelters. Everyone wants to adopt a kitten, and if it's a unique kitten of a unique breed who has a unique look, there is definitely a waiting list. And the thought that somehow, despite the people who are sure lined up to try to adopt this Serval cat, the fact that not one but two of them returned her to the shelter is wild to us. 

But of course, people don't think before they adopt cats of a special breed. They see a cute cat, and they want it. And in some ways, we get it. We see a cute cat, and we want it too. But if it's a kitty in a shelter, rather than one that we rescue off the streets, we do think that it is only sensible to look up what characteristics the breed in question has. The people who returned this Serval cat for being too energetic and playful should have known that Serval cats, in their core, are energetic and playful. It's simply who they are, and adopters need to be informed of that. 

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    "Fostered a (twice returned) kitten for less than 48 hours…"

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    Context: I'm in the USA, the petsmart partner of the rescue I'm with was closed on Thanksgiving - meaning all of the window kitties needed a place to go for the day.
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    This guy was adopted from us at 10 weeks old. Returned at 5 months old for having "too much energy."
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  • We could not imagine returning a 5-month-old kitten, let alone a Serval kitten, who is known for being energetic and playful, for being energetic and playful. It's like some joke. If you want a chill and lazy cat, then you should not adopt a kitten, who is at the height of its shenanigans and energy. Adopt a senior cat. There is no shortage of those in shelters. But to have her for nearly four months and then abandon her for something that she can't help but be, something that is simply a part of who she is, that's heartbreaking to us, and they didn't deserve her anyway. 

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    Adopted again a few weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon. Returned on that Monday morning (two days later) for not getting along with the resident cat.
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    I'm hopeful that the third time's a charm for him at 6 months old... my Thanksgiving foster is home
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    "Fostered a (twice returned) kitten for less than 48 hours… UPDATE!"

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  • We hate to see cats returned to a shelter once, let alone twice, but it seems like the right home was waiting for her elsewhere. She looks like she needed the company, needed someone to be able to play with and use up all that energy with. She needed a family who accepted her the way that she is, appreciating the parts of her that are unique and different. She's stunning. And we are happy that she is with people who care about her now, who truly have her best at heart. 

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    My three resident cats (2 males and a female, all a year old), have been spending most of their time sitting or laying outside of new cat (Obi)'s room, sometimes holding paws under the door □ They just sit and wait patiently. We caught one of our cats Binks trilling back and forth with Obi ... so had Obi meet everyone one on one and on different days.
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    Hissing? None. Growling? None. Playing? (Take a guess!) Obi loves all of his new siblings and is especially fond of his biggest brother Juno (in the video)!
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    Today is Obi's 8th full day at home. I'm excited to see their relationships develop!
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    "Fostered a (twice returned) kitten for less than 48 hours… update #2"

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    387
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    Obi is thriving! He absolutely adores his three feline siblings and now peacefully coexists with the dogs. He does not actively seek them out to cuddle or play with them like the others do, but that's totally fine
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    Our vet said he's the biggest 6 month old kitten she's seen in about two years - and the last one was a purebred Maine coon. She classified Obi as a serval, and let me know that cats with Savannah ancestry I can get really big.
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    He knows "sit" and "stay" (which he sits for both lol) and we are working on lay down, which I'm sure he'll pick up watching his siblings do.
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    We are so happy to have him and it was definitely a blessing in disguise that he was returned twice!
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