She has a number of kittens and wants to get rid of them

18-5-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

I moved into a place and a cat came along. I fed her and she stayed, i did not know she was about to have kittens a few weeks later. I have one cat and three kittens now and four months later she is about to have another litter. My question is this. How do i get rid of the kittens i do not want? I called the Rspca and they will take them and after awhile if not sold they put them down. The pet shops are full. I don't have the will power to put them somewhere even though i know Allah (Swt) take care of all his affairs. Insha Allah you can give me some guildance. Kadija
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

There is no doubt that Islam guides us to be kind to animals and not harm them; in this regard, you may refer to Fatwa 83830.

Therefore, if you are able to keep those kittens in your house until they grow up and become able to rely on themselves, then you should do so as there is good reward in doing so. However, if you consider driving them out, then you can do so but it is an obligation to drive out their mother as well, because there is harm on both the kittens and their mother in separating it from them.

As regards the RSPCA, if it sells those kittens or that it kills them in case there is no one to buy them, then it is not permissible to give them to it. According to the most preponderant opinion, selling them is forbidden because Abu Az-Zubayr may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “I asked Jaabir about the price of a dog or a cat, he said: “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) forbade that.” [Muslim]

Also, Abu Daawood may Allaah have mercy upon him reported him (Jaabir, may Allaah pleased with him) as saying “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) prohibited the price of the dog and cat.” Besides, Al-Bayhaqi may Allaah have mercy upon him reported that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) prohibited eating a cat and consuming its price. 

Finally, it should be noted that it is not permissible to kill a cat unless it is absolutely harmful and its harm cannot be prevented except by killing it.

Allaah Knows best.

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