Last December, Elphaba was found abandoned in a pet carrier at the gates of the Blue Cross Hertfordshire Rehoming Centre. She was heavily pregnant and urgently needed help. Thanks to the help of the team at Blue Cross Hertfordshire, Elphaba and her kittens will be spending this Christmas in loving homes.

Naomi Gosheron-Parr, Adoptions Coordinator at Blue Cross Hertfordshire, said: “When Elphaba arrived, you could tell straight away she was heavily pregnant. And she had fleas. She was hiding at first, but soon started letting us give her a fuss.”

When Elphaba first went in to labour it was a real struggle, as pregnant cats normally like to nest and feel settled in an established space. She needed to lean on the centre team for extra support.

Two days after arriving, Elphaba gave birth to six male kittens. One was sadly stillborn, but the remaining five were healthy and strong, and given fittingly festive names, Bauble, Starlight, Claus, Tinsel and Twinkle.

“She was particularly close to Claus; he was always by her side. He was the last kitten to start eating,” said Naomi.

The search was soon on to find the five kittens loving forever families. And it wasn’t long before they were spreading festive cheer in their new homes.

Tinsel’s adopter, Susan, who renamed him Alfie, said: “He is doing so well. He has Storm and Charlie. They are much older and have taken him under their paws – we call them the three mouseketeers.
“Alfie is a very social cat. He has bonded so well with us, and we are very happy as he brings so much happiness to our lives.”

After spending Christmas in Blue Cross care, which included plenty of fuss and tasty food, Elphaba also found the fresh start she deserved. She was also neutered to prevent any further unplanned pregnancies in the future. Two other cats abandoned alongside her, called Arthur and Merlin, have found a loving home together.

Kellie Brooks, Centre Manager at Blue Cross in Hertfordshire said: “We’re delighted that Elphaba and her kittens have found loving homes. Unfortunately, the past year has seen an increase in the number of pets coming through Blue Cross’s rehoming and fostering services. This is why we launched our Critical First Night Christmas appeal, asking for donations to help our centre staff support and protect the vulnerable pets in our care.”

How to support Blue Cross
Support is urgently needed to help vulnerable homeless pets this Christmas. By donating today, you can help provide a Critical Care Kit, which contains emergency items tailored to each pet’s needs on their first night with the charity, such as pain relief, antibiotics, warm blankets and nutritious food. People can support Blue Cross by donating £10, £20 or £30, helping rehoming and veterinary teams provide urgent support to pets in need during their most vulnerable hours. For more information, please visit: bluecross.org.uk/christmasappeal.