Online marketplaces have become a common place for people to find kittens. Sometimes these situations are well intentioned. Other times they are rushed, unplanned, or missing critical care steps. If you have recently adopted a kitten or two and they are still intact or you are unsure about their vetting history, you are not alone. What matters most is what you do next.
This guide walks you through the right questions to ask, the steps to take right away, and how Abby Cat Daddy can help support both you and the cats involved.
First Things First. Ask the Right Questions
If you are still in contact with the person you adopted from, gathering information can make a big difference for your kitten’s health and for preventing future litters.
Here are some important questions to ask:
• How old are the kittens exactly
• Have they seen a veterinarian at any point
• Have they received any vaccines and if so which ones and when
• Have they been dewormed
• Are they eating solid food and what diet have they been on
• Was the mom cat seen by a vet during pregnancy or after giving birth
If answers are vague or unknown, that is okay. It simply means you should move forward assuming no prior veterinary care has been done and start fresh.
What Is the Plan for Mom?
One of the most important and often overlooked questions is what will happen to the mother cat.
If mom is still intact and not spayed, she can become pregnant again very quickly, sometimes within weeks of giving birth. This is how repeated accidental litters happen and how caregivers become overwhelmed.
Ask directly:
• Is mom still with the original caregiver
• Is there a plan to have her spayed
• Is she friendly or fearful
• Is she an owned cat or a community cat
If there is no plan in place, this is where intervention matters. Helping the mom cat is just as important as helping the kittens.
Our Last Litter Program exists specifically for these situations. It supports caregivers in ensuring that the current litter is the last one by providing help with spaying mom and guidance for kittens once they are old enough. Preventing future litters protects mom’s health and reduces the number of kittens entering already crowded shelters and rescues.
Your Immediate Next Step. Book a Vet Visit
Even if the kittens look healthy, your first step should always be to see a veterinarian.
A baseline exam allows you to:
• Confirm age and sex
• Check for parasites and illness
• Establish a vaccination plan
• Discuss spay and neuter timing
• Get accurate weights and health notes on record
This visit sets your kitten up for long term health and helps catch issues early when they are easier and less costly to treat.
If you adopted two kittens, bring both. Littermates often share parasites or infections even if only one shows symptoms.
Spay and Neuter Is Not Optional. It Is Essential
Spaying and neutering is one of the most impactful things you can do for your kitten’s health and for the community.
It helps prevent:
• Unplanned litters
• Certain cancers and infections
• Roaming and mating related behaviors
• Strain on rescues and shelters
Abby Cat Daddy offers a Spay and Neuter Program designed to remove barriers for caregivers who want to do the right thing.
Our program includes:
• The spay or neuter surgery
• Take home pain medication
• One dose of FVRCP core vaccine
• A registered microchip
This means your kitten leaves surgery safer, protected, and permanently identifiable if they are ever lost.
You can learn more about eligibility and how to apply on our website under Spay/Neuter
Don’t Forget Identification and Records
Many kittens from online marketplaces are never microchipped or properly documented. A microchip is a simple step that can reunite lost cats with their families and prevent them from entering the shelter system.
Keep all vet records together and update them as your kitten grows. These records matter if your cat ever needs emergency care, moves homes, or is lost.
If You Can Help Stop the Cycle, Please Do
If you know where your kitten came from and there are still intact cats involved, helping connect that caregiver with resources can prevent future suffering.
Our Last Litter Program and Spay and Neuter Program are here to support people, not judge them. Accidental litters happen. What matters is choosing a different outcome going forward.
We Are Here to Help
If you adopted a kitten or two and are unsure what to do next, you do not have to figure it out alone.
Visit our Our Programs page to learn more about:
• Spay and Neuter support
• The Last Litter Program
• Community resources and education
Responsible choices today change lives tomorrow. Thank you for being part of the solution and for caring enough to learn what comes next.
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