SPCA Centurion does not want to give my kitten back

I bought my ****** kitten from Wierdapark Pet Shop in November 2023. He was 8 weeks old at the time. We had no other pets at the house at the time except Sky, which is a rabbit we’ve had for 4 years now. The rabbit belongs to my sister.

My ****** kitten’s name is Toffee. Toffee had no issue with the rabbit since day one and it’s been a pleasure to have Toffee as an additional member of our household. I decided that since I’ll be looking for work, cause I don’t work anymore that it would be a good idea to get another kitten as playmate for Toffee. I contacted the same pet store and got a 6 week old kitten from them - I collected the kitten last week on Monday the 29th of January. I was told that Toffee might hiss which is normal and that I should try to not keep them apart.

So I followed those instructions, we had to move Toffee and let the smaller kitten (Stormy) use his bed - we have a cat bed we got and blanket, we also decided to let the kitten use all of Toffees toys and just got separate food dishes and separate litter boxes for them. I moved the kitten into my room, which is where Toffee used to sleep so I could monitor it and litter train it and make it used to the house.

Toffee had to move to another bedroom. Toffee was so unhappy, he kept crying at my door and when I let him in, he was hissing at the other cat. So I continued to separate them and Toffee would then seek comfort from the rabbit and would go sleep next to the rabbit and play the other side with the rabbit and often fall asleep on my sisters bed at night where the rabbit is.

On Monday evening, the 5th of February the kitten slipped out the room and encountered Toffee and was attacked by Toffee, he was scratching and biting the small kitten, and I had given Toffee catnip earlier that day mixed in his food - I bought the catnip earlier at a pet shop when I asked what to do. I don’t know why he was so upset , he normally just hissed at the kitten but he attacked the kitten that evening and the rabbit was passing and Toffee chased the rabbit away.

We all panicked in the house and the following day on Tuesday the 6th of February, just before 3pm, I took Toffee to SPCA Centurion to surrender him. I had a breakdown and it was so hard to do so. I sat in my car for 10mins almost until the closing time crying.

When I got home we had a family meeting and we decided the best thing was to get another home for the new kitten which has been with us for a week than to lose Toffee who we have had such a good relationship with. I made an emotional decision and I regret it so much. What I did to Toffee was unfair and I was up early and at the SPCA Centurion to get my kitten back home. My close friend has always wanted a cat so she offered to adopt the new kitten today at 12pm.

I did my kitten wrong. I was told I cannot get him back , even though it had been less than 24 hours and they saw how emotional and hard it was for me and Toffee. I was told to speak to the manager Andrew who was at a meeting at Waltloo. So I waited and I begged to get my kitten back . I was told to pay R990 for my kitten. I supp**** them with my kittens vet visits. Toffee is up to date on all vaccinations and was dewormed and I left my card there. My vet told me to bring Toffee when he is 6 months to get sterilised and chipped.

Andrew the manager eventually called back saying I need to pay an adoption fee of R990 and I need to sterilise a 4 month old kitten and I need to surrender the rabbit we have. First he asked if I have a cage for the rabbit, I explained we don’t keep our pets in cages and then he said I need to surrender the rabbit which we have had for 4 years because Toffee attacked him by chasing him once when he had the altercation with the kitten. This cannot be right I told him we cannot sterilise a 4 month old kitten as per my vet and that I have done all vaccinations on Toffee. He recently went for his shots at Lyttelton pet hospital, he would not listen to me and says failure to which, my kitten would be given up for adoption in 48 hours.

It’s been hardly 24 hours, I have taken steps to get the other kitten adopted by my friend and I understand I made an emotional mistake. All I want is to get my kitten back I am an amputee, lost my leg and I am not working so I can’t afford to pay this R990 and he kept stressing the money point like this is a way to make money for SPCA Andrew was not even willing to listen to me and wants me to sterilise my 4 month old kitten and get rid of Sky as well. I have already taken measure to remove the kitten that took over Toffees home and I have always vaccinated Toffee on time and left the card at the SPCA. It’s not even 24 hours yet and the SPCA Centurion is refusing to give me back my kitten and wants us to get rid of a rabbit per the kids have had for 4 years , which has alway has a good relationship with Toffee. I even suggested they bring Toffee and see how he interacts with the rabbit and they still refuse.

Please help me get my kitten back, that’s all I want. I just want my kitten back please help me.