Barn Cats Find Love

June 22, 2019

Barn Cats Find Love

On May 7, 2019 a SPCA Tampa Bay staff member found an unexpected family living in our barn on the Largo campus. A feral neighborhood cat had taken shelter in the safety and shade of the barn to have kittens! She picked a great place to give birth, because the whole family will soon have a forever home to call their own.

That morning, five sweet and flea-covered baby kittens were immediately taken to get cleaned up and checked out by our medical department. A humane cat trap was set to safely catch their mother. Staff checked the trap frequently all morning and it wasn't long before mama was lured to the barn by a snack in the cage. Once caught, she was placed on a stray hold to ensure she had no owner.

When it was clear the mother cat had no home of her own, she was named Rhea and sent into the loving home of a foster volunteer where she could relax and care for her babies.

Rhea was such a good mother! Her healthy litter was named (in order, from left to right) Mino, Mink, Mimi, Marco and Emma!

By May 14, 2019 the kittens had been weened from their mother's milk and were eating on their own. Mama Rhea was brought back to SPCA were she received a spay surgery and was able to start looking for a new home!

Rhea's adoption photos on the SPCA website

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Rhea was determined by medical staff to be around 3-years old and had the sweetest demeanor. Our petite 5-pound girl kindly greeted staff in her cat pod, got along with other cats and gently head-butted for human affection. On June 6, 2019 a women and her husband walked into the shelter and asked to see Rhea. They had met her the previous day and fell in love!

They were so happy to have adopted Rhea and sent updates on her progress in her new home.

June 7, 2019: "She (Rhea) was VERY comfortable during her ride (home) with us. She rode with her paws in a relaxed position with her eyes slightly squinted showing incredible contentment. When we first came into the house with her we started her out in our laundry room where we thought it would take some time to adjust? Well, within the first few hours she was eating, drinking, using her litter box AND playing in the laundry room! Surprisingly today, she has ventured out with us into the great room of our home! She is purring almost constantly and soooooo happy."

Rhea on the ride home and in her new laundry room

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On June 19, 2019 Mino, Mink, Mimi, Marco and Emma were finally all old enough and large enough to return to the shelter for their own spay and neuter surgeries!

**UPDATE 6/24/19- All 5 kittens have found forever homes!***

All five kittens are currently available at

SPCA Tampa Bay.