Warm weather is Mother Nature's signal to animals to breed. Unfortunately, most animals do this too well, especially cats. Historically, cats lived outdoors and hunted their food. Being that they were regularly exposed to the elements, other predators, and a host of diseases, their lives were short, so the ability to reproduce prodigiously was beneficial. Not anymore. These days the number one killer of cats is humans, because too many irresponsible caregivers continue to allow them to breed unchecked. They rapidly fill animal shelters, resulting in many being turned away for lack of space, or instantly shuttled to the lab where they are injected with the black needle. Or, they are abandoned indiscriminately in rural areas, at rest stops, and even in dumpsters.
The good news is responsible caregivers get their animals fixed at a young age--before they reach the breeding age of four months, plus more and more animal organizations and shelters now work with a network of foster homes in a direct effort to reduce the number of cats being destroyed or abandoned. Each year, hundreds of foster families for organizations like Cat Adoption Team, NW Animal Companions, Animal Aid, PAWS, and even the Bonnie Hays Small Animal Shelter, give thousands of cats and kittens a safe, caring place for kittens to grow, mother cats to raise their kittens, and sick or injured cats to heal. Without these temporary homes, many of these cats and kittens would not survive. In addition, foster parents free up space at viewing locations like PetSmart, PetCo and in local animal shelters, which makes it possible to save more lives.
YOU TOO can be a foster home for cats. It's not hard work, nor is it terribly expensive. And, your rewards--unconditional love and the joy of watching cats and kittens play and thrive, more than offset any expenses and drudgery.
Specific goals of all Foster Programs include: ·Providing a safe, nurturing environment for mother cats to raise their kittens ·Socializing shy or timid cats/kittens ·Allowing sick or injured cats/kittens to heal in a relaxing environment ·Giving long-term feline residents time away from the shelter in a home setting ·Correcting behavioral issues
Foster home requirements: 1. A warm, dry, safe place in a separate room, in the home, away from other animals 2. The ability to keep accurate, up-to-date medical records 3. Commitment through the duration of the foster process: 10 days to 3 months for kittens (depending on the age of the kittens at the time kittens go into foster care), 30 days or fewer for most adult cats 4. The time to spend a minimum of an hour per day with fosterlings, for socialization and basic care 5. Ability to travel occasionally to and from viewing centers for outreach 6. For foster families with children, sensible child involvement is encouraged, but parents must assume responsibility
Also, please consider making a donation to the Tom and Mom cat special
at spayoregon.org. This is an annual spay neuter event and our call
volume is much higher than in the past. Over 260 cats have already
been spayed or neutered this year and the event runs through march 17.
Your donation will help us get even more cats done even after the
event is over.
On 3/7/09, fored...@juno.com <fored...@juno.com> wrote:
> Warm weather is Mother Nature's signal to animals to breed. Unfortunately,
> most animals do this too well, especially cats. Historically, cats lived
> outdoors and hunted their food. Being that they were regularly exposed to
> the elements, other predators, and a host of diseases, their lives were
> short, so the ability to reproduce prodigiously was beneficial. Not
> anymore. These days the number one killer of cats is humans, because too
> many irresponsible caregivers continue to allow them to breed unchecked.
> They rapidly fill animal shelters, resulting in many being turned away for
> lack of space, or instantly shuttled to the lab where they are injected with
> the black needle. Or, they are abandoned indiscriminately in rural areas,
> at rest stops, and even in dumpsters.
> The good news is responsible caregivers get their animals fixed at a young
> age--before they reach the breeding age of four months, plus more and more
> animal organizations and shelters now work with a network of foster homes in
> a direct effort to reduce the number of cats being destroyed or abandoned.
> Each year, hundreds of foster families for organizations like Cat Adoption
> Team, NW Animal Companions, Animal Aid, PAWS, and even the Bonnie Hays Small
> Animal Shelter, give thousands of cats and kittens a safe, caring place for
> kittens to grow, mother cats to raise their kittens, and sick or injured
> cats to heal. Without these temporary homes, many of these cats and kittens
> would not survive. In addition, foster parents free up space at viewing
> locations like PetSmart, PetCo and in local animal shelters, which makes it
> possible to save more lives.
> YOU TOO can be a foster home for cats. It's not hard work, nor is it
> terribly expensive. And, your rewards--unconditional love and the joy of
> watching cats and kittens play and thrive, more than offset any expenses
> and drudgery.
> Specific goals of all Foster Programs include:
> ·Providing a safe, nurturing environment for mother cats to raise their
> kittens
> ·Socializing shy or timid cats/kittens
> ·Allowing sick or injured cats/kittens to heal in a relaxing environment
> ·Giving long-term feline residents time away from the shelter in a home
> setting
> ·Correcting behavioral issues
> Foster home requirements:
> 1. A warm, dry, safe place in a separate room, in the home, away from other
> animals
> 2. The ability to keep accurate, up-to-date medical records
> 3. Commitment through the duration of the foster process: 10 days to 3
> months for kittens (depending on the age of the kittens at the time kittens
> go into foster care), 30 days or fewer for most adult cats
> 4. The time to spend a minimum of an hour per day with fosterlings, for
> socialization and basic care
> 5. Ability to travel occasionally to and from viewing centers for outreach
> 6. For foster families with children, sensible child involvement is
> encouraged, but parents must assume responsibility
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