A black cat with bright green eyes walks past a person sitting on a chair draped in a red blanket.

Stray cat Biffa was found in a heartbreaking way

When a gas engineer on a work site heard a rustling sound, he wasn’t expecting to find something so heartbreaking... A cat who’d been abandoned in a black binbag.

Luckily, thanks to the help of his wife who was able to bring a carrier to the site, Biffa the cat was brought to Woodgreen to get the care she needed.

A black cat with green eyes sits on a patterned ottoman in a warmly lit living room. In the background, a matching armchair and a red lamp complete the cosy scene.

Our Surgery team gave Biffa a full health check and were pleased that despite being found in such a dangerous scenario this young cat was healthy.

There was a surprise in store though, Biffa was pregnant! Because of this we found her a placement with an experienced maternity foster carer.

What is maternity fostering?

Whether due to age or illness, there are many vulnerable pets that benefit from time spent in a real home environment with an experienced foster carer. Fostering is especially important for pregnant and nursing cats and these cases are called maternity fostering.

We try to make our rehoming centre a positive space for all pets but for pregnant cats it can still be a stressful and overwhelming environment. Our experienced foster carers help us to provide these cats with a calm environment that better suits their needs.

Some of the main benefits of maternity fostering are:

Reduced stress: Mum cats have a more peaceful space to relax and raise their kittens which reduces the risk of complications that can be caused by stress

Reduced risk of illness: In a foster home away from other pets, the risk of any illnesses from other cats being passed to mum or kittens is significantly reduced

Socialisation: Once kittens are born, being raised in a foster home means they’re able to spend more time with people and get used to the sounds and smells of a home environment. This really helps kittens to become well-rounded and confident adult cats

A small black kitten with blue eyes sits on a light blue towel, looking directly at the camera. The out-of-focus background features a white and gray setting, possibly a veterinary clinic.

Biffa's fostering journey

When Biffa arrived at her foster home she was keen to enjoy every opportunity for fuss and she embraced all the comforts of home life – especially lap cuddles with her fosterer! Within just a few days of arriving Biffa gave birth to seven healthy kittens.

After spending some time caring for and eventually weaning her kittens, Biffa was ready to find her new home. With her cuddly and affectionate personality she soon caught the eye of new owner Amanda who was thrilled to take this sweet cat home.

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