Ivy — A Shy Stray Blossoming into a Protective Mum
Ivy arrived at Woodlands as a stray, and it was clear from the start that the world had been a frightening place for her. She was friendly at heart but very nervous, and in those early days her nerves affected her appetite. Thankfully, with patience and a bit of time to settle, it only took a couple of days before Ivy was eating properly again — an early sign that she was beginning to feel safe with us.
Not long after settling in, Ivy gave birth to two kittens, and motherhood brought out a fiercely protective side to her. She was so watchful over her babies that our team found it difficult to get close to the pen, so rather than pushing her, we let Ivy set the pace — keeping an eye on mum and kittens via camera to make sure all was well, and our team only entering the front of the pen when needed, to help Ivy stay as settled and secure as possible. It's a lovely example of how well Ivy has bonded with her little ones, even if it does mean she likes to keep her family close.
Ivy will be ready for rehoming once her kittens have been weaned in a few weeks' time and she has been neutered. Given how much settling she's already done since arriving so nervous, we expect she'll continue to grow in confidence the longer she's with us, particularly once the demands of caring for her kittens ease off.
A shy girl who found her courage the moment she became a mum, Ivy has shown real strength in looking after her kittens on her own terms. We think she deserves an adopter who understands that trust takes time with her, and who'll be rewarded with real loyalty once she feels settled and secure in her new home.
Our Rehoming Process
Application & Appointment
Step One
Step Two
Home Check
After this, we will arrange an appointment with you to pick up your new friend, as well as the required food and litter which is available to purchase at our on-site shop.
Rehoming
From the initial appointment to collection usually takes between 7-10 days. When you come to collect your new cat(s), you will just need to sign the relevant paperwork, as well as paying the donation fee via our website. Prior to release all cats will have the necessary vaccinations and medical treatments - all signed off by our vet.
Step Three
Rehoming Rules
- We will not rehome an adult cat into a home where there are existing adult cats.
- We won't home single kittens without another cat present. Rehoming a single kitten doesn't meet welfare standards as it will have no social interaction with other cats. This means that if you already have an adult you can have one kitten. If you don't have an adult cat, you can take an established adult cat or two kittens.
- We ensure that no cat or kitten is released to its new home until 48 hours after its vaccination.
- If there are other pets in the household i.e. dogs, we will normally recommend a kitten unless we have an adult cat who is used to living with dogs. Dogs are able to come to the Sanctuary to be introduced to the cat.
- All existing cats in any household must be neutered.
- All cats and kittens that leave Woodlands Animal Sanctuary must leave with the food and litter that they are currently using here, this can be purchased from our onsite shop.