Written by Daleen Kotze-Chibesa (Harties Feral Cat Rescue Vice Chair)
Photographs supplied by Lauren Taylor
Late one afternoon, my friend Liesel Jansen van Rensburg, joint custodian of a local feral colony, called me with distressing news – a mother cat with six kittens had appeared at our feeding station at a nearby shopping complex.
Confused, I responded, “But I’m not aware of any unsterilised cats in that colony.” My worst fear was soon confirmed: they’d been dumped.
Video footage from the shopping complex later revealed exactly what had happened. The previous evening, a car had pulled up and someone had cruelly abandoned the mother and her six babies, expecting them to fend for themselves by scavenging at the feral feeding station. No shelter. No protection from the elements. No guarantee of survival.
It was clear from the mother cat’s condition that she’d been struggling. Feeding six hungry kittens while searching for food herself had left her weak and malnourished. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that this little family had no chance of surviving in the colony. Feral cats are highly territorial and wouldn’t simply accept newcomers into their space. A rescue mission was urgently needed.
A challenging rescue
Without hesitation, we mobilised a rescue team. Leanda Hanekom and Liesel Jansen van Rensburg set off for the site, armed with carriers and delicious food to lure the mother and her kittens to safety. But as with any rescue, things were easier said than done.
The feeding station was located behind the shopping complex, right where deliveries were made, creating a constant flurry of activity. While some kittens and the mother cat cautiously emerged from their hiding spots, others made Leanda and Liesel work hard for the rescue.
Some were tucked away under trolleys and boxes, requiring careful crawling and manoeuvring to reach them. Four hours later, after much patience and determination, all six kittens and their mother were safely in carriers.
A second chance for Leila
Leanda kindly offered to foster the little family, knowing how demanding it would be to care for so many mouths. But another concern loomed – finding a home for the mother cat. Kittens are always in high demand, but adult cats often struggle to find adopters.
And then, fate stepped in. One of our volunteers, Lauren Taylor, was looking to adopt a kitten and went to visit Leanda to meet the little ones. But it wasn’t a kitten that stole her heart. It was the mother cat.
Leila’s new beginning
Lauren shares her heart-warming adoption story...
After losing my beloved cat, Sky, my other cat, Hunter, was left feeling lost and alone. It broke my heart to see him searching for her, and I knew I needed to find him a new companion. Initially, I was looking for a kitten, but the moment I met Leila, everything changed. We bonded instantly, and I realised how much harder it is for older cats to find homes. That’s when I knew – Leila was meant to be part of our family.
The transition wasn’t immediate. It took a while for Hunter to accept her, but after a few months, she settled in beautifully. Now, she’s truly the queen of the castle! She still prefers being outside, with her favourite spot on the garden table or in the Wendy house. On hot days, she naps in the bathtub, and when a storm rolls in, she tucks herself away behind the couch.
Leila also has a complicated relationship with the dogs. One moment, she’s giving them affectionate head-butts, and the next, she’s dishing out a surprise smack just to remind them who’s boss! She has her own way of doing things, and it just completes our household.
I can’t imagine life without her and feel so blessed that she was rescued. She could have easily become a feral cat, though sometimes she still pretends she is!
Leila’s transformation is nothing short of amazing. From a scared, skinny, and abandoned mother struggling to survive to a beloved, confident queen of her new home.
Rescue changes lives. Leila’s story is proof that every cat, no matter their age, deserves love and a second chance.
