Adopter Reviews
Every word below comes from a real family who opened their home to one of our rescued kittens. We publish every review — the glowing ones and the ones that push us to do better.
Stories From Our Families
Unedited reviews from real adopters. We believe transparency builds trust.
🐱 Eli
"The most heartwarming adoption experience I have ever had"
I honestly did not know what to expect going into this. I had tried two other rescues before Happy Kitten Rescue and both times I felt like just another name on a waiting list — pleasant enough, but impersonal. This was different from the very first message I sent. The team responded within a few hours, asked thoughtful questions about our home environment, our lifestyle, our working hours, and whether we had other animals. Not to gatekeep, but genuinely to help match us with the right kitten for our specific situation.
Luna arrived with a full health packet, her vaccination records, a small bag of the food she had been eating in foster care so we could transition her diet gradually, and — this is the part that got me — a handwritten card from her foster mom with notes about Luna's personality quirks. She likes to perch on the highest shelf in the room. She goes wild for crinkle ball toys but ignores feather wands entirely. She prefers her water bowl moved slightly away from her food dish. That level of individual knowledge is only possible because the fosters genuinely love these kittens as their own, and the rescue trains and supports them well.
Eight months later and Luna is the undisputed queen of our home. She sleeps on my pillow every single night, has turned my husband — a self-described "not a cat person" — into someone who sends me photos of her mid-workday, and has made our apartment feel like a home. If you are on the fence about adopting, jump. And do it here.
🐱 Yolo
"Adopting a three-legged kitten was the best decision of my life"
I specifically came to Happy Kitten Rescue looking to adopt a special needs kitten. I had read that they were often the last to be chosen and I wanted to be the person who chose one first.Yolo was listed as a tripod — he lost his front left leg to an injury before he was rescued at around six weeks old. I was a little nervous going in, wondering if I was equipped for that, but the rescue team immediately made me feel capable rather than overwhelmed.
What set this rescue apart was how they handled the information side of things. They gave me a written care guide specifically for tripod cats — covering litter box adaptation, how to monitor for joint strain over time, appropriate activity levels, and what signs might indicate he was overexerting himself. They connected me with a vet in Austin who has experience with mobility-limited cats. They even put me in touch with an online community of tripod cat owners so I had support beyond just the rescue. And they followed up two weeks post-adoption just to check in, which no other rescue I have heard of does.
Oliver is now ten months old and I genuinely forget he only has three legs. He runs faster than most four-legged cats I have met, climbs onto the bed every single morning to wake me up, and has this ridiculous habit of sitting in the bathroom sink while I brush my teeth as if he is supervising the process. He is healthy, joyful, and deeply loved. If you are considering a special needs cat, please do it. And trust this rescue to walk you through every step.
🐱 Mochi
"Wonderful kitten — but the communication gap almost broke my confidence"
I want to be clear from the start: Mochi is an absolute joy and I have zero regrets about this adoption. She is playful, chaotic in the most endearing way, and has completely taken over my Denver apartment. In terms of the actual kitten — her health, her temperament, the quality of her foster care — everything was excellent and I can see how much love went into raising her.
That said, I do want to share an honest account of the process because I think it could genuinely help the team improve. After my application was approved, there was a period of approximately eleven days during which I received no updates about Mochi's transport arrangements. I sent two follow-up messages during that time and received no reply. I began to seriously wonder whether my adoption had been cancelled or overlooked. I had already arranged time off work for the handover day, told my family, bought supplies — and the silence was genuinely distressing.
When I finally heard back, the coordinator apologised and explained they had been overwhelmed with a large intake of kittens that week and were severely understaffed. I understand that — rescues run lean and crises happen. But a single short message saying "we have not forgotten you, we will update you by X date" would have cost two minutes and saved me days of anxiety. The actual handover was smooth, and the team has been responsive to every post-adoption question I have had. I would still recommend this rescue. But I sincerely hope they invest in a simple check-in system for adopters in the waiting period, because that gap in communication is the one thing preventing a five-star review.
Michelle, thank you for this honest and carefully written review. You are completely right — eleven days of silence is not acceptable and we are sorry. We have since introduced a twice-weekly automated check-in message for all pending adopters so no one experiences that uncertainty again. Your feedback directly shaped that change. We are so glad Mochi found her forever home with you. 🧡
🐱 Biscuit — deaf
"She cannot hear a word I say — and yet we understand each other perfectly"
I had never considered adopting a deaf cat before I came across Biscuit's listing on Happy Kitten Rescue's page. She is an all-white domestic shorthair with one blue eye and one green — a combination that is genetically linked to deafness in cats. When I enquired, I was upfront about my inexperience with hearing-impaired animals and honestly expected to be told I was not the right fit. Instead, the coordinator said something that stuck with me: "Deaf cats just need a little more visual communication. You will pick it up faster than you think."
They were right. Before Biscuit arrived, the team sent me a twelve-page care guide specifically for deaf cats. It covered how to wake her safely without startling her, how to use hand signals for basic recall and commands, which household hazards require extra attention since she cannot hear approaching dangers, and how to introduce her to new environments gradually. I did not expect this level of preparation and it meant I felt confident and informed from day one rather than anxious and guessing.
Biscuit has been with me for five months now and she is the most expressive, communicative, responsive cat I have ever known. She watches my face constantly and has learned four hand signals already. She greets me at the door every evening by doing a small excited run, and she has this habit of putting her paw on my arm when she wants attention that I find completely irresistible. The rescue team still checks in monthly and connected me with an online deaf-cat owner community that has been invaluable. I feel supported not just as an adopter but as an advocate for animals like her. This rescue changed the way I think about special needs adoption entirely.
🐱 Max
"The kitten is perfect. The transport pricing change was not acceptable."
I will start with what matters most: Max is doing brilliantly. He is bold, curious, affectionate on his own terms, and has completely taken over my Chicago apartment. He arrived in excellent health, fully vaccinated, with clear documentation and a detailed health record. The quality of his foster care was obvious from how well-socialised and confident he was. In that respect, the rescue did a genuinely good job and I am grateful for their work.
However, I need to be honest about the transport pricing experience because I think it represents a real transparency problem. During my application, I was quoted $200 for shipping to Chicago. I budgeted accordingly. When it came time to confirm the transport, I was informed the price had increased to $310 — an increase of more than fifty percent — with no prior notice or explanation beyond a brief mention of "fuel and transport partner pricing changes." I asked for more detail and received a short apology but no itemised breakdown.
What made this particularly uncomfortable was the timing. By that point I had already paid the adoption fee, told my family, arranged time off work, and prepared my apartment. Raising the transport cost at that stage felt like it left me with very little practical choice. I want to be fair — I do not believe this was intentional dishonesty, and I understand that operational costs fluctuate. But if transport fees are subject to change, that needs to be clearly stated on the website and in every communication from the start, not discovered after commitment. Better transparency here would make this an easy five-star rescue. I hope they take this feedback seriously.
Marcus, you are absolutely right and we owe you a genuine apology. A price change of that magnitude should have been communicated immediately and given to you before any commitment was made on your part. We have updated our website to clearly state that transport fees are estimates and may vary, and we now send written confirmation of any revised pricing before proceeding — with the option to withdraw at no penalty. We are sorry this happened. Max is a lucky cat. 🧡
🐱 Mimi
"This rescue restored my faith in animal welfare entirely"
I have adopted pets before through traditional shelters and once through a private breeder, and nothing — not a single experience — has come close to what it felt like to adopt through Happy Kitten Rescue. From the first message all the way to a six-month follow-up check-in I received without even asking, every single interaction felt warm, human, and genuinely focused on the wellbeing of the animal rather than just completing a transaction efficiently.
Mimi was described to me by her foster mom as "a cat who will demand your undivided attention and be completely unapologetic about it." That description was precise. She is loud, opinionated, endlessly affectionate, and has decided my lap is her permanent daytime residence. I work from home and she sits directly on my keyboard approximately four times a day. My productivity has measurably declined. My happiness has never been higher.
What I most want to highlight is the continuity of knowledge. When Mimi arrived, there was no awkward adjustment period of figuring out who she was — I already knew her. I knew what toys she liked, how she preferred to be held, that she goes quiet and still when she is overstimulated and needs a break, that she likes to sleep in the bathroom for reasons nobody has been able to explain. All of this came from her foster mom's detailed handover notes. That kind of knowledge transfer only exists because the fosters are deeply invested, and the rescue supports them to be. This is an exceptional organisation run by people who genuinely care. I will be recommending them to everyone I know for as long as I live in this country.
🐱 Cleo
"I was nervous about my first adoption — they made it feel effortless"
I am a first-time cat owner in my late twenties and I spent about three months researching before I committed to adopting. I read horror stories online about rescues that were cold, bureaucratic, or made applicants feel like criminals for not ticking every box perfectly. Happy Kitten Rescue was none of those things. The intake coordinator I worked with, answered every single question I had — including the embarrassingly basic ones — with patience and genuine enthusiasm.
Cleo is a four-month-old tabby with the most dramatic personality I have encountered in any animal. She chirps at birds through the window, sprints the full length of my apartment at 3am for no discernible reason, and has decided my houseplants are her enemies. I was given a first-time owner guide on arrival that covered feeding schedules, litter training tips, how to kitten-proof a home, and warning signs to watch for in the first month. That document alone saved me several panicked vet calls.
Seven months in, Cleo is thriving and I am a completely converted cat person.My daughter too loves her so much. I have already referred two friends to this rescue and both have had equally wonderful experiences. If you are doing this for the first time and feel intimidated, I promise this team will make you feel capable and excited, not judged.
🐱 Theo
"Genuinely excellent rescue — small paperwork issue aside"
I adopted Theo about five months ago and he is, without question, the best thing in my apartment. He is a big, fluffy, opinionated ginger who has no concept of personal space and I mean that as the highest compliment. He greets me at the door every evening like I have been gone for a year rather than eight hours, and has a habit of sitting directly on my chest every time I try to read.
The adoption process itself was smooth from start to finish in terms of communication — the team was quick, friendly, and clearly knowledgeable about their animals. My one small frustration was that the paperwork sent to me had an error in the vaccination dates that took about a week to get corrected, which caused a minor delay when I tried to register Theo with my local vet. It was not a serious issue and the team sorted it as soon as I flagged it, but it did add unnecessary stress during an already exciting and slightly nerve-racking first week.
That one hiccup aside, I have nothing but positive things to say. Theo was in perfect health, his foster mom clearly adored him, and he has settled into my home as if he has lived here his entire life. Four stars only because of that paperwork issue — everything else was five-star quality and I would absolutely adopt through Happy Kitten Rescue again.
🐱 Jasper — FIV+
"Jasper is FIV-positive and the healthiest, happiest cat you will ever meet"
When I first expressed interest in Jasper, I will be honest — I knew almost nothing about FIV in cats. I had heard the name but assumed it meant the cat would be fragile, chronically unwell, or have a very short life. The rescue team spent a full hour on a call with me dismantling every misconception I had. FIV-positive cats, they explained, can live long, full, comfortable lives with proper care. They are not contagious to humans. They require a slightly more attentive approach to health monitoring and ideally an indoor-only environment to protect them from secondary infections — but that was entirely manageable for my lifestyle.
They provided me with a detailed FIV management guide, recommended a specialist vet in New Orleans who had experience with immunocompromised cats, and arranged for Jasper's most recent bloodwork and vet notes to come with him. The transparency was remarkable — nothing was hidden or minimised. I felt like I was making an informed, empowered decision rather than being talked into something.
Jasper is now eighteen months old. He has had one minor respiratory infection in that time, which cleared up easily with antibiotics. He is playful, affectionate, endlessly curious, and spends most of his day on his favourite windowsill observing the neighbourhood like it is his personal television programme. His FIV status has not defined his life in any meaningful way. It has only made me a more attentive and thoughtful owner. I am genuinely grateful to this rescue for trusting me with him.
🐱 Pepper
"Kitten listing showed 'available' — she had already been adopted days earlier"
Pepper is wonderful. She arrived healthy, sociable, and settled into my home with impressive ease. She is a small tortoiseshell with an enormous personality and I love her completely. That much I want to be clear about — the actual kitten, her health, her foster care, all of it was excellent and I have no complaints there whatsoever.
My frustration is with the website listings. I first enquired about a different kitten — a grey male named Finn — after seeing him listed as available on the adoption page. I sent a message expressing serious interest and was told three days later that Finn had actually been adopted the previous week and the listing had not been updated. That was disappointing but I understood mistakes happen. I then chose Pepper from the same page and went through the full application process, only to be told midway through that there was also uncertainty about her availability. It was eventually confirmed she was available, and the adoption proceeded — but that uncertainty mid-process was genuinely stressful.
Keeping the website listings accurate is a basic operational requirement and it seems like something that could be managed with a simple weekly check. When listings are outdated, it wastes applicants' time and emotional energy, and it erodes trust. I hope the team prioritises this. As I said, Pepper herself is perfect and the team was apologetic — but this is a straightforward fix that would make a meaningful difference to the experience.
Nathan, you are entirely right and this is on us. Outdated listings cause real disappointment and we take that seriously. We have now assigned a dedicated team member to update adoption statuses within 24 hours of confirmation, and we are exploring an automated status-change system tied to our intake records. We are sorry for the frustration and glad Pepper found you. 🧡
🐱 Nala & Simba — bonded pair
"We adopted a bonded pair and doubled our joy — best decision we ever made"
My husband and I had been discussing adopting for over a year. We kept putting it off, telling ourselves we were too busy, our apartment was too small, we would do it next year. Then we came across Nala and Simba's listing — a bonded pair of five-month-old kittens who had been rescued together and needed to be adopted together. Something about that felt right and we filled out the application that same evening.
The team was incredibly helpful in explaining what adopting a bonded pair actually means in practice. They told us what to expect behaviourally, how the kittens would support each other's confidence during the transition, and why separating bonded pairs causes genuine distress even in young kittens. That educational side of the process was something I did not expect and genuinely appreciated — it made us feel like partners in the adoption rather than just customers picking a product.
Nala and Simba have been with us for eight months. They play together, sleep tangled up together, groom each other constantly, and occasionally gang up to knock things off our kitchen counter. Our apartment does not feel too small. It feels like a home. We cannot imagine it without them. If you are ever offered the chance to adopt a bonded pair, please take it. You get twice the love for what feels like the same effort.
![Renee with Maple](https://happykittensrescue.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bethostern_1776770836_3880156975611180360_647952171.jpg?w=500&h=340&fit=crop")
🐱 Maple
"Maple is perfect — the post-adoption support I was promised never materialised"
Maple arrived in excellent condition — she was healthy, well-socialised, confident, and clearly had been loved in her foster home. The first week with her was genuinely magical and I have zero complaints about the quality of the kitten herself or the foster care she received. She is now four months into her life with me and has settled in beautifully.
Where I felt let down was the post-adoption support. During the application process, I was specifically told that adopters receive a follow-up call at two weeks and again at eight weeks to check how the kitten is adjusting. I was looking forward to this — it was one of the things that made me choose this rescue over others I had considered. Neither call happened. When I mentioned it at the six-week mark via email, I received an apology and a brief check-in message, but no actual call followed. I do not raise this to be difficult — I raise it because I think those follow-ups serve a real purpose, especially for first-time owners who may be dealing with issues they do not know how to interpret.
If the follow-up system is something the rescue promotes as part of the adoption package, it should be consistently delivered or the expectation should be reset during the process. Maple is an absolute joy and the adoption itself was smooth. I would adopt here again — but I would not factor the follow-up support into my decision next time.
Renee, this is valid and we are sorry the follow-up calls did not happen as promised. We have since moved these check-ins to a calendar-based system managed by a dedicated coordinator to ensure they are not missed. Your feedback has directly improved the experience for every adopter who comes after you. Thank you for being honest with us. 🧡
🐱 Storm — blind
"She navigates the entire apartment by memory — I have never met a more fearless cat"
Indigo was born blind due to a congenital condition affecting both eyes. When I first saw her listing I felt an immediate pull — something about her small, determined face in the photo made me fill out an application before I had even finished reading her description. The team was extraordinarily thorough in preparing me for what blind cat ownership actually looks like day-to-day, and I want to share some of what I learned because I think it surprises people.
Blind cats navigate primarily through scent, sound, and spatial memory. This means consistency is everything — furniture cannot be rearranged without warning, feeding spots and litter trays need to stay in the same place, and new environments should be introduced gradually. The rescue gave me a detailed home-setup guide, recommended specific types of litter trays with lower entry points, and suggested I use a specific scented product near her sleeping area during the first week so she could locate it easily by smell. Every piece of advice was practical and evidence-based rather than generic.
Indigo has been with me for six months and she has memorised every corner, every step, every piece of furniture in my apartment. She runs, plays, jumps onto the sofa with total confidence, and only occasionally bumps her nose into something when I have absentmindedly left a bag on the floor. She uses her whiskers and ears with extraordinary precision. Watching her figure out the world on her own terms is one of the most humbling and joyful things I have experienced. Thank you, Happy Kitten Rescue, for trusting me with her.
🐱 Churro
"My kids begged for a kitten for two years — this rescue made the whole family happy"
My three children — ages five, eight, and eleven — had been campaigning for a cat with the kind of organised, persistent energy that frankly I found exhausting and admirable in equal measure. When we finally decided to adopt, I was worried about finding a kitten who would be genuinely comfortable around children. So many listings just say "good with kids" without any actual context or evidence. Happy Kitten Rescue was different.
The coordinator asked detailed questions about our children's ages, energy levels, and experience with animals. She then specifically recommended Churro — a five-month-old male who had been fostered in a home with three children and a dog. She explained exactly what socialisation he had received and how he responded to loud noises, sudden movements, and enthusiastic handling. By the time Churro arrived, I felt like we already knew him and had realistic expectations about how he would settle in.
The reality has been even better than expected. Churro follows my youngest around the house like a shadow, tolerates dress-up games with a patience that borders on saintly, and has become my eldest's designated homework companion. He is robust, confident, and endlessly gentle with the children. This rescue understood what our family needed and matched us perfectly. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
🐱 Duchess
"Duchess arrived a few days later than planned but the rescue handled it with grace"
Duchess is now six months into her life with me and she is an absolute character — regal, particular, and deeply affectionate on her own schedule. She has claimed the armchair by the window as her permanent throne and surveys the room from it with an expression of mild disdain that I find completely irresistible. Her health was perfect on arrival, her paperwork was in order, and she clearly came from a foster home where she was well-loved and carefully handled.
The reason I am leaving four stars rather than five is that her transport was delayed by two days due to an issue with the transport partner. I completely understand this was outside the rescue's direct control, and to their credit the coordinator contacted me proactively, explained the situation clearly, and offered a partial refund on the transport cost as a gesture of goodwill. That kind of accountability is rare and I respected it enormously.
I am leaving the fourth star out mainly as a reflection of the stress of those two days rather than any real fault on the rescue's part. The handling of the delay was honestly exemplary and I would adopt from them again without hesitation. Duchess is proof that the care and quality that goes into these kittens is exceptional. Four very solid stars — and half of the fifth one too, truthfully.
🐱 Wobble — CH cat
"Wobble has cerebellar hypoplasia and is the funniest, most joyful creature I know"
Cerebellar hypoplasia — or CH — is a neurological condition that affects a cat's balance and coordination. CH cats wobble when they walk (hence his name), may fall over when startled, and sometimes have difficulty with stairs or high surfaces. It is not painful, it is not progressive, and it does not affect their quality of life in any meaningful way. I know all of this now because Happy Kitten Rescue educated me thoroughly and patiently before I ever made a decision.
Wobble came to me at five months old with a moderate case of CH. He wobbles with every step, sits with his legs splayed out for stability, and occasionally topples sideways when he is distracted. It is objectively the most endearing thing I have ever seen. The rescue arranged for thick rugs throughout my apartment before his arrival (their suggestion, not mine), recommended corner bumpers for sharp furniture edges, and advised me on litter tray design to make it easier for him to get in and out without losing his balance. The preparation was meticulous and gave me complete confidence.
Eleven months on, Wobble has adapted brilliantly to his environment and I have adapted to his rhythms. He cannot jump onto the sofa unaided so I have a small ramp for him. He cannot use the standard cat flap so I have a wider one installed. These are minor adjustments that cost almost nothing. What I get in return is a cat of extraordinary personality — curious, demanding, hilarious, and utterly unaware that he is in any way different from any other kitten. I would adopt a CH cat a hundred times over.
🐱 Archie
"I adopted as a single man living alone — best thing I ever did for my mental health"
I want to write a review that is a little different from the ones I usually see, because I think it might help someone who is considering adoption for reasons that go beyond simply wanting a pet. I live alone in Boston. I work long hours in a demanding job and I was going through a period of genuine loneliness when I started thinking seriously about adopting. I was not sure I was emotionally ready or whether I had enough time. The team at Happy Kitten Rescue helped me work through all of that.
They did not just ask about my living situation and working hours in a checklist sort of way. They actually had a conversation with me about what I was looking for in a companion, what my daily rhythms looked like, and what kind of personality might suit someone who needs a cat that is affectionate but also independent enough to manage time alone. They suggested Archie — a six-month-old male with a calm, observant personality who bonds deeply but is not anxious when left alone. That match was absolutely right.
Archie has been living with me for nine months. I come home to him every evening and the weight of the day genuinely lifts. He sits with me while I work, sleeps at the foot of my bed, and has given my daily life a shape and warmth it was missing. I know this sounds like a lot to attribute to a cat. But sometimes the right companion — whatever species — makes everything easier. If you are in a similar place to where I was, please consider adopting. And consider doing it here.
🐱 Benny
"Great kitten, great team — but the application process felt longer than it needed to be"
Benny is a delight. He is a large, confident tabby who treats the apartment as his personal adventure park and has not stopped discovering new things to knock off shelves in the five months since he arrived. His health was excellent, his vaccination records were thorough, and his personality was exactly as described. The foster care he received was clearly excellent and I am grateful for all of it.
My honest feedback is about the application timeline. From submitting my initial form to receiving approval took twenty-two days. I understand that the rescue wants to be thorough and that screening applicants carefully protects the animals — I genuinely respect that. But twenty-two days with very little communication in between felt excessive. I sent two follow-up emails during that period and received short replies each time but no clear timeline or indication of where I was in the process. Waiting is fine; uncertainty is harder.
I think a simple status update — even a one-line email every five or six days letting applicants know their application is still active and being reviewed — would make a significant difference to the experience. I know the team is stretched and this is volunteer-driven work. But the waiting period is the first real impression an applicant gets of how the rescue operates. With a bit more structure around communication, this would be an easy five-star experience. As it stands, three stars for the process — five stars for Benny.
Greg, this is completely fair and we hear you. A three-week wait with minimal updates is too long and we understand how frustrating that is when you are excited and ready. We have introduced a five-day check-in email for all pending applications and set a target of completing reviews within fourteen days. We appreciate you sharing this so clearly. Benny clearly landed in wonderful hands. 🧡
🐱 Rosie
"The foster mom's farewell letter for Rosie made me cry before she even arrived"
I want to tell you about something small that made an enormous impression on me. When Rosie's transport was confirmed, I received a package in advance from her foster mom. Inside was a blanket Rosie had been sleeping on — so she would have a familiar scent in her new home — a small toy she had been playing with in foster care, and a handwritten letter. That letter described Rosie in the kind of specific, loving detail that you can only write about an animal you have genuinely cared for. It described her morning routine, her favourite sleeping positions, her reaction to strangers, the sound she makes when she wants food, the way she kneads before she settles down.
I read that letter three times before Rosie arrived and I cried at all three readings. Not because anything was sad, but because it made me understand the scale of what these foster families give. They love these kittens as their own and then hand them over because that is what the kitten needs. The emotional generosity of that is profound and I do not think it gets acknowledged enough.
Rosie has been with me for seven months. Everything in that letter was accurate. She still kneads before she settles. She still makes that particular sound at 7am. She is exactly who her foster mom described, and I feel like I have been given a gift not just of a kitten but of a fully-formed, deeply-known little being. This rescue does something genuinely special. Please support them if you can.
🐱 Daisy
"I am 71 years old and Daisy has given i and my family more joy than I thought possible"
I want to write this review specifically for anyone who, like me, is older and wondering whether it is sensible to adopt a kitten at this stage of life. My children were gently discouraging. My doctor was supportive. Happy Kitten Rescue was wonderful. When I mentioned my age and my circumstances — I am retired, I live alone in a house with a garden, my children live nearby — the coordinator did not hesitate or treat me as a problematic case. She matched me with Daisy, a calm and affectionate four-month-old who she thought would suit a quieter home.
The coordinator even helped me think through some practical considerations I had not fully considered — things like making sure my vet was nearby and someone I trusted, having a named person who could care for Daisy if I needed to go to hospital, and ensuring Daisy was microchipped and registered with my contact details as well as a secondary contact. None of this felt like scrutiny. It felt like genuine, thoughtful care — both for me and for Daisy.
Daisy has been with me for ten months. She wakes me up every morning with a small chirp and sits on the windowsill while I have my tea. She follows me around the garden when I tend my plants and treats every watering can as a personal mystery to be investigated. She has brought a liveliness to my days that I had not realised was missing. I am enormously grateful to this rescue and to whoever it was that matched us together so perfectly.
![Steven with Banjo](https://happykittensrescue.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/purrsgolden_1773403812_3851912259852918048_77532716592.webp?w=500&h=340&fit=crop")
🐱 Banjo
"Kitten arrived with an untreated ear infection — this needs to be addressed urgently"
I want to be very clear that Banjo is now fully healthy and thriving, and I love him. This review is not about him it is about a health oversight that I believe the rescue needs to take seriously and that I would be doing a disservice to future adopters by not mentioning.
Banjo arrived with an ear infection that, based on my vet's assessment at his arrival check-up three days later, had likely been present for at least a week prior. It was not severe enough to be immediately obvious to a non-specialist there was no discharge and he was not scratching excessively but it was present and should have been caught at the pre-transport health check that I was told was conducted. My vet described it as a moderate infection that would have been detectable with a basic ear examination. The treatment was straightforward drops for ten days — and Banjo recovered completely. But the cost was an additional $140 that I had not budgeted for, and more importantly, it means the health check either did not happen or was not thorough enough.
When I raised this with the rescue, the response was apologetic but did not include any offer to contribute to the vet costs, which I felt was an oversight given the circumstances. I do not believe this was malicious — I think it was a gap in their health-checking process but it needs to be fixed. I would encourage anyone adopting through this rescue to schedule a vet appointment within the first 48 hours of arrival as a precaution. Banjo is wonderful and I adore him. But transparency demands I share this.
Steven, we are deeply sorry. This should not have happened and we take full responsibility for the gap in Banjo's pre-transport health check. We have revised our departure health protocol to include a mandatory ear examination by our partnering vet, not just a visual check. We have also introduced a policy to cover documented vet costs within 72 hours of arrival where a pre-existing condition is confirmed. We have reached out to Steven directly regarding the $140. We are committed to doing better. 🧡
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