Why am I fostering?

When I first thought of fostering kittens I thought "How great to have kittens in the house all of the time. How better can it get?" I have had cats in my life for the last thirty-five years and any kitten I've ever gotten has maybe been a bit shy, but friendly, and within a day or two they would be seeking me out for a pet or a cuddle.

When I started fostering this past June I thought the same would hold true. What I didn't realize was that the kittens that I would get to foster, for the most part, had a bad start in life. Most were born in a colony of cats at a trailer park in a nearby city and have been very skittish and very wary of humans.

Two of the kittens have been a real challenge. Merlin, my first "hard nut to crack" took around four weeks before he would trust me to pick him up. But then he would turn into a purring machine and enjoy one-on-one time with me. He wouldn't let me pick him up if he was running around the house but after each meal he would turn into my buddy and we'd spend some time cuddling. He has been adopted and the two ladies love him to bits.

My second "hard nut" is Cooper. I feed him, Violet and Poppy together in the tent so that the other cats won't eat their food, but it also allows me to pick Cooper up after he's eaten as the tent is zipped up tight.

It has taken two full months to get to the point where I can pick him up and he doesn't fight me. This past week I was able to pick him up and he would be limp and I could take him into the living room and pet him for around fifteen minutes before he wanted down. Once he is on the floor, he's next to impossible to catch. That might not seem like much but it was our first breakthrough.

This afternoon I was sitting on the couch and I reached out my hand to Winston who was across the room and called him to come and see me. He came right over and Cooper came with him. Cooper came over and sniffed my fingers and then looked up at me for the first time without fear or wariness in his eyes. My heart melted and I saw the cat he would become....a cat who is trusting of humans.

It was a little thing and I know I have miles to go to fully socialize him but I realized that these baby steps are why I am fostering.

Cooper and Violet

Lazy Sunday

Nothing much has gone on this week. I'm hoping to get Timothy to the vets this coming week as he is under the weather and it's time for the three little kittens to have their next shots.

Violet and Poppy are ready to go to their forever homes and should be going to PetSmart this weekend to be adopted. Cooper is still not warming up to me and it's a worry. Barb is trying to find someone who will be able to work one-on-one with him, with no other cats in the house. He relies on the other cats in my home and is resistant to any contact from me.

I've added some new pictures of Sophie and the kitties.

Making ourselves comfortable in Sophie's crate.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Timothy sleeping the afternoon away.

Winston and Cooper hanging out together.

I went out and bought the cats a new bed this morning and every time I look over at it, there's a different combination of cats in it.....lol

I think we need a bigger bed !!!!!

Reflecting Back on 2009

I have now been fostering kittens and cats for six months. Is it what I thought it would be? Sort of...........lol I love having kittens in the house all of the time. What I didn't realize was how often they get sick. Whether it's runny eyes and noses, upper resp, ear infections or the runs, it's a worry. Because a lot of the kittens have a rough start in life I guess it's inevitable that they get sick more often. I have quite the little medicine cabinet for the cats and am learning something new all the time.

I fostered 12 kittens and 2 cats during 2009. I wonder how many I'll welcome into my home during 2010?

2009 was a sad year for me. I lost Simon and Willow way too soon. But, as they say, when a door closes, a window opens and I have taken in two fosters, Winston and Maddison, for my own. Winston is very mischievous and gets into trouble a lot of the time, like knocking over full glasses of water as soon as my back is turned, and he insists on teaching the kittens his bad habits....lol Maddison is still on the mend but is very happy to be back home.

I don't know what 2010 will bring but I wish only good things for the kitten and cat rescues, the shelter, and all of us.

Goodbye Willow......

Willow

2006 - 2009

Willow became sick in September and was diagnosed with Feline Infectious Peritonitis. She was on daily medication but this last week the medication stopped working and there wasn't really anything that could be done for her except try to manage her pain. As her quality of life was not good, we decided to say goodbye.

Meet Cooper

Cooper came to live with us two weeks ago........a six week old full of attitude. It took three or four days before he stopped hissing at Sophie and the other cats but now he likes curling up beside Timothy (as he is in this picture). He still doesn't think much of me and if looks could kill, I'd be laid out on the floor.....lol His ears go back when I pick him up and he tolerates me (sort of) if I want to cuddle. He's a tough little guy but I'm sure he'll eventually come around.

Update on Maddison.......

Maddison is a happy little girl and is putting on some of the weight that she lost. Her head is still tilted to one side and I took her back to the vets last week. She has a bacterial infection in her ears and a swab was sent out to a lab so that we can find out the correct medication to put her on. Hopefully we'll get her ear infection cleared up soon.

Merlin's Been Adopted!!!!!

Merlin has been adopted by two ladies, a mother and her 45 year old disabled daughter. Their fourteen year old cat had died recently and they wanted to give another cat a home. Barb from the shelter took Timothy and Merlin over to meet them. Timothy wouldn't come out of the carrier but Merlin, my timid little guy, came right out, took a look around and jumped up on a chair and made himself at home. The daughter fell in love with him and they took him on a week's trial. They called Barb a few days later and said they were keeping him. He must have realized that this was his chance for a wonderful forever home and went for it.

I am so happy for Merlin. I hope that all our cats find wonderful forever homes.

What is Wrong With People?????

Maddison has been returned from her new family. It turns out the couple who adopted her have two children who terrorized her for two weeks before returning her to the shelter. Evidently she was cringing in the back of the carrier when she was returned and didn't want anyone to touch her. Why did it take them two weeks to realize that their kids weren't ready to own a pet?Another foster mom took her home where she developed a severe inner ear infection. She was traumatized from the whole ordeal.

When Barb told me this had happened she hadn't been to the vets yet. I was told that Maddison was walking in circles with her head tilted at an odd angle. My first thought was that the kids had done something to her and she had brain damage. I didn't sleep much that night and the next day she had a vet visit and it turns out the inner ear infection is causing the tilted head and trouble walking. I told Barb that I wanted to be the one to nurse her back to health.

I met Lynne in Orillia yesterday and gave her Bubbles and she gave me Maddison. Maddison was very quiet on the way home but as soon as I got in the door of the house she started meowing and wanted out of the carrier ASAP. I picked her up and she started purring and rubbing up against me and was very excited. She remembered me and the home that she had had for three months before the adoption. She went out in the kitchen and had a little something to eat and then she went and checked out all the cats. It was like she had never left.

She has lost an awful lot of weight and when she walks or runs she loses her balance. Her head is still tilted at an angle but that should go away once the medication takes effect. Winston hisses at her every time she goes near him but I think that's because she was given a bath before she came home and you can smell the shampoo on her. It doesn't stop her from rubbing her head against him though. I'm sure he'll come around.

Maddison did not lose her loving nature while going through that ordeal and hopefully she'll be back to her old self soon.