We are fostering kittens!
Our guest bedroom is now “the kitten room” and we are on our second set of furry guests from Off the Rocks Animal Rescue.
Fostering kittens gives them a more spacious area and regular attention and socialization than if they needed to be kept at an animal rescue while awaiting adoption.
Fostering also gives us a wonderful chance to cuddle and play with adorable kittens… without making a permanent commitment that would deeply offend our 15 year old cat. Letting kittens stay in one room separated from her hasn’t caused her to bat an eyelash, but if they started taking over the house I think we would have a problem!
Kittens need to be played with and entertained and cuddled and shown that people are warm, safe, wonderful places to take a nap. My kids now have the chance to be the center of a feline’s world rather than barely tolerated by our magestic 15 year old who remembers when they were born.
It gives me a sense of purpose, too. I get to photograph kittens for their adoption page, which I take way too seriously, giving me a reason to hang out in the kitten room waiting for just the right opportunity to capture the right shot that shows their markings and personality.
A lot of shots look like this:
Fostering can be added to the list of other silver linings that have come out of Covid-19. Knowing it would provide so much joy for my kids during a time when they’re missing school and playdates and hugs from grandparents was a huge factor in our decision to go on a kitten adventure.
And it can be an adventure! I recommend thinking carefully about whether you have the appropriate space for kittens (non-carpeted, no low hanging curtains, etc) and are ready to handle any of the common issues kittens sometimes have. They can come with worms, ear mites, trauma if they were rescued from a difficult situation… it’s good to know what you might be getting into and how your rescue supports you in those situations.
Off the Rocks is dropping off ear-mite drops for me this morning, VIP treatment! Since our cat is kept separate from our kittens, and I’m happy to clean out kitten ears, this is no big deal. It’s just good to think before you foster about what you’re up for and whether you’re a good fit for any challenges the kittens might be facing.
We will miss these two so much when they leave for their forever home, but are so grateful we’ve had the chance to watch them grow.
Every morning I hear their door creak open because our 9 year old sits and reads in the kitten room until breakfast.
Every night I read out loud to the kids in the kitten room, and it’s like we’re putting the kittens to bed, too.
A friend came over for a socially distanced chat in our backyard, and half an hour in she was like “where are your kids?” and of course, they were in the kitten room. Uninterrupted adult time without screens, hooray!
This has also been good for me. That moment when a shy kitten climbs on your lap for the first time and sits down, or seeks you out while you’re reading on the bed and curls up next to you… all the feels.
If you’ve been thinking about adopting but aren’t sure, fostering can be a wonderful way to have a chance to nurture some animals that are in need of a safe place on their journey without making a lifetime commitment!
