Fostering Saves Lives
What is better than a house full of kittens? Absolutely nothing.
If you love animals and want to help save lives, I have the perfect opportunity for you.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had cats growing up but I honestly had never seen a pregnant cat before, never seen a kitten less than eight weeks old, and I had surely never seen a cat give birth. The latter will happen soon enough and I can’t wait! My current foster mama (meet Mama Dreamsicle, stage right) is pregnant and due any minute. Wish me luck.
Now you certainly don’t have to sign up for a whole litter of kittens or bring home a pregnant mama cat. We can set you and/or your family up with any variety of foster options. I’ve been fostering kittens for several years and it’s the most rewarding experience. Here is why I do it:
It keeps them from getting sick. Kittens are susceptible to illness, especially before they are vaccinated. A foster home will boost their immune system.
It makes room for other cats.
Fostering lets kittens learn how to act like cats. Improving their social skills will help make them more adoptable.
It allows you to enjoy cats without a long-term commitment – and budget friendly!
Now it’s not all purrs and snuggles. There are litter boxes to clean, wet food to serve (let’s face it, that stuff is disgusting), and sometimes medicine to give. I’m not a veterinarian, I get queasy at the site of a paper cut, but it’s a pretty low stress job and the perks are definitely worth it.
Perhaps the hardest part of the whole process is giving back your foster. Whether you have them for one week or ten, they will undoubtedly impact your life. You get to know your fosters, you see their personalities develop. In my early foster months I NEEDED to know where their furever home was going to be. It took me awhile to realize that my job wasn’t to find them homes, but to raise them, keep them healthy, socialize them with other people, and most importantly, cuddle the crap out of them. Goodbye is a happy ending, remember that!
QC Paws is always in need of foster homes for kittens. If you need a momma cat with babies because you work 8+ hours a day, great, we can hook you up! If you are more flexible and can bottle feed kittens who don’t have a mom, even better, we need you! For more information please contact me at sballard@qcpaws.org. Thanks for helping me save lives!
