To put it simply, I look after kittens until they’re healthy enough to be adopted. Sometimes it’s as simple as giving them food and a warm bed to sleep in. Sometimes they need a little more care – like bottle feeding young orphans, nursing sick babies back to health or socializing older kittens that aren’t used to being around people.
My job is done once I’ve found them the best home possible.
Kittens born outside have a very low survival rate. Since they are just babies, they get sick easily and are often easy targets for predators. Most of the kittens I save are orphans and are found outside with no mom around to help them.
Now, you’re probably thinking that, I grew up with this big dream of making the world a better place for animals.
I can’t admit this was the case though. Sure, if you had asked 7-year-old-me what I wanted to be when I grew, the answer was always marine biologist or veterinarian but didn’t every kid? Like most people, somehow those wild aspirations faded as I grew older.
I didn’t realize it until much later, but other priorities gradually took over and I lost sight of how much I appreciated having a pet in my life.
I always knew that I wanted to help out but I always seemed to make up excuses as to why I couldn’t volunteer at the animal shelter (ex. “It’s all the way across town.”) and why other things were more important (to be fair, I was spending a lot of traveling with my husband, Erik).
Then one summer everything changed.
After putting off going to a foster orientation class with the shelter several times, I finally went. I honestly don’t know what finally got me to attend. I knew I wanted a pet but I also felt I wasn’t ready for one. This seemed like the next best thing and I was helping kittens in need by doing it!
A week after the class, I had two adorable kittens, Salt and Pepper, who needed a place to crash while they got over their kitty cold. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what I was in for since I never had a cat before. Those three weeks with them flew by though and soon they were ready for adoption. I got new kittens that needed my help shortly after and since then it’s been a revolving door of kittens. Once one litter leaves, another litter comes!
Long story short, I really didn’t expect that fostering Salt and Pepper would change my life but it did.
This might sound really cheesy but the feeling I get from saving kittens and then finding them parents that love them and cherish them is like no other! While there are times when being involved in rescue work can be frustrating, challenging and a lot of times heartbreaking, the highs are still worth every low.
My biggest regret is not getting involved sooner.
If you’ve always wanted to help but have always found excuses, I completely understand that. It’s scary and the timing will never be right. Taking the first step is the hardest part and as you now know, it took me a really long time to do that!
If you can’t foster, that’s okay too – there’s a ton of ways you can help.
Getting involved in animal rescue doesn’t need to be a one size fits all thing and you can help in ways that fit your lifestyle. Helping one kitten might not seem like a lot to you, but to that one kitten it could be the difference between life and death.
I hope my story and this blog provides you some inspiration, advice and the confidence to make the world a better place for kittens.
