This page showcases their current (and adopted) foster cats. Thinking about fostering or just plain curious? Every experience is a little different but let me tell you a little about mine. I foster through the HSOMC and I got into it because I love cats and wanted to help out at the shelter but had little time. I filled out an application and was approved to take home our first foster, Athena, we
had her for almost exactly a year. She was a rare case, most of the other cats/kittens have been adopted really quickly. I took in a litter in April and some were adopted before they were even ready to go to their new home. Once you decide on what animal you will take its pretty much like owning your own pet. With all of our animals we keep them in isolation for at least a week and then slowly introduce them to the house and other animals. They become temporary parts of our family. The real work comes with getting them adopted. My shelter has an agreement with a local pet store which allows us to keep our fosters in large cages for 1 week each month to get a little exposure. I also take them to adoption events at our local petsmart (when I can). The other promotion of course happens online. All of our animals are on petfinder and as you can see I started a page for mine. Its all about reaching as many people as possible so you can get the word out about your foster. The shelter staff is also aware of our fosters so they will promote them to potential adopters if they feel like it would be a good match. I do a lot of emailing, chatting, and introducing the cats to potential adopters but other than that fostering is just like having a normal pet. You care for them like you would your own. Depending on the organization you foster from you may or may not have to pay for supplies. The HSOMC will provide everything we need to take care of our pets so it does not have to cost anything. I typically try to buy food and whatnot and I see it as my contribution to the HSOMC, but it does't have to be like that. Lots of people say "oh I could never do that, I'd get too attached." My response to that is yes it is hard but it is so worth it. I know that I am helping these animals find a home for the rest of their life. The cats that I have fostered might not have lived if I was not willing to take them into my house. Athena was a black cat who liked to be outdoors and did not like dogs so she might have been euthanized if she was at many shelters (the HSOMC does everything they can to prevent that situation) And the two litters of kittens I have fostered were really small (born in the shelter) and pretty sick (4wks) and they typically grow much faster and healthier if they are in a foster home. So even though it is hard (I have only cried when Athena was adopted) it is so rewarding and knowing that I am helping out is the best feeling ever. If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting any one of these beauties let us know! Also if you want more info on how to help the HSOMC or helpless animals we can help with that too
