Fostering Saves Lives

Spring is "Kitten Season," and while kittens are absoultely adorable, they place a heavy burden on animal shelters and rescues. Chances are rescue organizations in your community are now over capacity. Turning away neonatal kittens found without their mother may mean certain death if the animals will then be surrendered to a municipal shelter without a foster program, or if bottle feeder fosters are already full. Kittens must be 2 lbs. to be altered, which is generally 10 weeks. Even if kittens have their mom to nurse them, they will still be taking up kennel space until the kittens are old enough to alter, vaccinate and adopt out. This means other cats could be turned away. We've helped a dozen organizations with small grants this year and besides help with veterinary bills, their greatest need is more foster homes. One story in particular highlights the teamwork involved with helping two moms and their babies secure their forever homes.

Pregnant and abandoned

Well fed, happy kittens

Growing fast

A woman living in an apartment immediately noticed two beautiul adult cats lingering outside. They clearly were not community cats and seemed unfamiliar with being outdoors. The lady brought them inside to feed them and access the situation. She realized they were both heavily pregnant and started contacting rescues in her area. At the same time, her landlord discovered she had cats in the apartment and was not at all sympathetic. Meanwhile eight kittens were born! California nonprofit Dirty Little Paws (https://www.dirtylittlepaws.org) received her call, and while full, found a foster home for the bonded moms and their babies. The best part is that the woman who initially rescued the cats found another apartment to live in and wants to adopt the moms once they are done nursing their charges and spayed. A grant from Flower Feline Sanctuary will cover some of the spay/neuter surgeries and first vaccines. The kittens will go on to be altered and adopted out through Dirty Little Paws. Fostering saves lives and it's fun!

Note: In my experience, most rescues, including Flower Feline Sanctuary, have cats spayed even if they are pregnant. When a cat is within days of giving birth however, most rescuers and veterinarians are not comfortable spaying at that point. Having litter after litter depletes a cat, and unspayed cats suffer from cancers of the reproductive organs and constant stress from being in heat and breeding.