Fostering cats?
Splash
bought Odie her visiglo collar (which is an whole other post? Anyone
else have one?) over the kittens. No way on God's green earth would I
BUY a cat with so many abandoned and homeless.
So I got to thinking maybe we could/should foster a kitty? We have a
six year old sensible pup and a ten year old cat and we did foster a
pup (though not officially) for a few days last year and all went
well. I work full time so fostering a dog is not reasonable but a
kitten?
I checked into it on our local SPCA website but it's not ideal with
them. They only foster ill or pregnant cats. So I spoke to my vet/
friend. I knew she had kittens to be euthanised on occasion for no
other reason than.......they weren't wanted or couldn't be afforded.
Has anyone one else out there fostered a pet? I'm not looking for a
new pet just wanting to help out if I can. On a temporary basis. I'm
pretty comfortable with the sanity of my own pets. I think they could
handle a temporary situation. I'm also comfortable personally with
the idea of helping but not "keeping" another cat.
I'm thinking we'll try it once and see how it goes. In a perfect
world it wouldn't be a long term thing and if things go awry we
wouldn't do it again.
Worse case scenario, I guess, we end up with a second cat but that
really isn't part of the plan!
Splash
Hunter Hampton
<s_pi...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>Has anyone one else out there fostered a pet?
Sure, quite a few dogs. One of them is sleeping on the couch as I
type.... the others got homes.
Never a cat though, they're small and cheap so I just kept them.
I had 8 in the house and 3 in the barn.
Hunter <- crazy cat lady
Tara
news:d8f89084-640c-4046...@l2g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
Be forewarned that a majority of animal foster volunteers end up keeping
their first foster. Not sure if there are actual statistics to prove it but,
to a one, every foster volunteer I had in Boxer rescue did just that.
Fostering is great for the most part. It can be sad to say goodbye, it can
be a pain if you encounter behavioral issues, it can be really hard for
someone who doesn't have any understanding of basic animal training (or
rearing). It can be almost impossible if everyone (human & animal) in your
house isn't onboard.
Having gone over the potential pitfalls, its probably one of the most
rewarding things you'll ever do. Fostering is addictive. You'll take pride
in the little things, boast about your foster to everyone & anyone and get
enormous joy & relief when you read an update from the adopter of your
foster pet. Go for it, I don't think you'll be sorry!
Tara
Jill
>
> Has anyone one else out there fostered a pet?
Yes - I set up our local animal rescue charity using fostering as a mainstay
of the organisation.
We have fostered many many animals in the past.
It can be VERY interesting, !! and very rewarding.
It can also go wrong, so you need a "get out of jail free" card - ie an
alternative arrangement for the animal if something goes pearshaped.
It is better (more successful) if there is a fostering coordinator, to match
people and animal - a bit like a dating agency.
I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who can help an animal out, be honest
with what sort of home you can provide for what sort of animal.
Be prepared for WW3, so that everything else you can take in your stride !
>
> Worse case scenario, I guess, we end up with a second cat but that
> really isn't part of the plan!
every so often one comes along that creeps beneath the skin when you are not
looking, and they just don't quite leave :)
--
regards
Jill Bowis
www.kintaline.co.uk - where we are, what we do: Kintaline Plant and Poultry
Centre
Cricket
...
> Splash wrote:
>>
>> Has anyone one else out there fostered a pet?
Lots of them, but none officially. I'm the one everybody brings found
critters to, and I keep them 'til I find them another home. I'll only take
one at a time, but I've still had several dogs, some cats, a goat, couple of
horses, probably some other critters I've forgotten over the years.
Very unofficial - if I think someone is going to be a better deal than going
to the pound and being put down, or spending the next umpty years in a 2x4
cage at a rescue, they get to take 'em away. They're at least fed and
cleaned up and basic doctored before they go.
Cricket
Jane Saranac
"Splash" <s_pi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d8f89084-640c-4046...@l2g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
> So I got to thinking maybe we could/should foster a kitty? We have a
> six year old sensible pup and a ten year old cat and we did foster a
> pup (though not officially) for a few days last year and all went
> well. I work full time so fostering a dog is not reasonable but a
> kitten?
>
> I checked into it on our local SPCA website but it's not ideal with
> them. They only foster ill or pregnant cats. So I spoke to my vet/
> friend. I knew she had kittens to be euthanised on occasion for no
> other reason than.......they weren't wanted or couldn't be afforded.
Just me, but I find it hard to believe that kittens couldn't find a good
home
or at least have a lot better shot at it than older cats. Older cats,
much more in need of fostering. The vets didn't try hard probably
because they aren't in the business of placing animals and can euthanize
cheaply. To me if you are going to "foster" a kitten, keep it. Trying to
find it a new home after it is no longer tiny and cuddly seems
counterintuitive.
Ocean of Nuance
(snip)
> Never a cat though, they're small and cheap so I just kept them.
>
> I had 8 in the house and 3 in the barn.
>
> Hunter <- crazy cat lady
I'm nominating you for a MacArthur Genius Award for this thinking.
Exemplary.
We had five cats at one point when I was growing up using the same
principle.
The rodent rescue here in town closed their doors. There is a need for
another one. I thought I would foster pigs when my kids go to college.
But I'm afraid I would want them for myself.
sharon
Hunter Hampton
<lizRMOVz...@nc.rr.com> wrote:
>The rodent rescue here in town closed their doors. There is a need for
>another one. I thought I would foster pigs when my kids go to college.
> But I'm afraid I would want them for myself.
That's the problem with fostering.
Years ago the place that used Goldens, trained for the blind, asked me
to foster a Golden puppy for an extended period of time.
I gave it about 2 seconds thought and said no. As if I would give it
back....
Hunter
Hunter Hampton
<ne...@NOSPAMkintaline.co.uk> wrote:
>
>every so often one comes along that creeps beneath the skin when you are not
>looking, and they just don't quite leave :)
A guy found me because I was doing Border Collie rescue. He had four
very well bred desirable puppies, from top trial dog lines, only after
they were born the guy found out that dogs from his first litter had
epilepsy.
So, he drove to the farm and gave me the puppies.
He stayed in his pick up truck and handed me the first one, the second
one, the third one, out the window... then he handed me the fourth one
and I heard myself think... "Uh oh"
That was the dog sleeping on the couch last night, he'll be 12 years
old tomorrow. (c:
Hunter
Dawn J-L
> "Splash" <s_pik...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:d8f89084-640c-4046...@l2g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
>
> > So I got to thinking maybe we could/should foster a kitty? We have a
> > six year old sensible pup and a ten year old cat and we did foster a
> > pup (though not officially) for a few days last year and all went
> > well. I work full time so fostering a dog is not reasonable but a
> > kitten?
>
>
> home
> or at least have a lot better shot at it than older cats. Older cats,
> much more in need of fostering. The vets didn't try hard probably
> because they aren't in the business of placing animals and can euthanize
> cheaply. To me if you are going to "foster" a kitten, keep it. Trying to
> find it a new home after it is no longer tiny and cuddly seems
> counterintuitive.
Kittens are fostered when they are too young or too feral or too sick
to be adoptable. They are typically fostered only as long as
necessary to get them old enough, tame enough, and/or healthy enough
to be adopted. Cage space can also be an issue. Kittens are born
seasonally so there are waves of litters followed by "dry spells" so
fostering out the "excess" can be a way to temporarily place some
kittens until there is cage space at the shelter; often the only
alternative is to euthanize the overflow.
IME, older cats are fostered when they need nursing care, for overflow
management until shelter space is available, and/or because they are
stressed in the shelter environment.
While vets aren't in the business of placing animals, many often do
exactly that. The vet hospital where I work routinely adopts out
animals that were brought in and surrendered either by an owner or a
good samaritan or dumped off by someone. Often these animals are
injured or sick. After they are treated they are placed. Litters of
healthy kittens or puppies would be sent to the humane society who are
better equipped for them. In our area there are a number of very
active rescue organizations and shelters including low cost spay/
neuter clinics and feral cat colony spay/neuter programs so the number
of cats and kittens in need of homes while high is still lower than in
other parts of the country.
Dawn JL
lifelong animal rescuer/rehabber and frequent fosterer
Dr Corinne B Leek
<airstrea...@geemail.com> wrote:
>That was the dog sleeping on the couch last night, he'll be 12 years
>old tomorrow. (c:
Give him birthday scritches from me.
Corinne & Crazy Canuck Crew, sending some celebratory Fizz...
--
*** Conserve Energy: Laughter is easier than Anger!
*** cl...@ns.sympatico.ca
Splash
> On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:06:17 -0500, Hunter Hampton
>
> >That was the dog sleeping on the couch last night, he'll be 12 years
> >old tomorrow. (c:
>
> Give him birthday scritches from me.
>
> Corinne & Crazy Canuck Crew, sending some celebratory Fizz...
>
> --
> *** Conserve Energy: Laughter is easier than Anger!
> *** cl...@ns.sympatico.ca
I realise the need for fostering of older, ill, Mommy or nursing or
feral cats (I have a friend that exclusively fosters feral cats, her
herd number is rising, the kittens she is able to tame but I think she
ends up keeping a few of the mommy's).
We don't have the set up to be a rescue and I'll repeat the local SPCA
has it's own issues.
It's fostering that I want to do. My vet is a good friend and former
trail riding buddy. I've heard her vent about perfectly reasonable
kittens having to be euthanized because the owners didn't want the
responsibility. Last year she called back the owners of two such
kitties to ask instead of euthanizing them could she find new homes
for them. The only thing that stopped me that time from taking them
was that she felt they really needed to remain together. I felt our
ten year old cat wouldn't take well to being tag teamed! He's a
reasonable guy but it wouldn't have been fair to him.
Frankly it isn't usual for folks who want to rid themselves of kittens
to take them to a vet to be euthanized. But I know from my friend it
does happen. I also trust her not to pass on to us a critically ill
kitty, though she does know from experience we can medically treat a
kitty that may need treatment for a short while that won't be
contagious to our cat/dog. We routinely medicate our dog for
epilespy.
My friend was successful in finding a home for the sibling kitties.
It's one of the benefits of being a vet. They can advertise within
the office and see plently of people who are animal lovers regularly.
I'd be happy enough to go through the normal channels with the SPCA
but a) I know two of the folks intimately involved are tad extreme.
When I asked them to help me find the owner of a stray we picked up
last year they responded they were overworked (I certain they are,
I've been there!) but that it was my problem, they couldn't take any
more cats. I tried to explain (gently) that I would keep the cat but
if anyone asked for it would they please point them in my direction.
Their response was that they didn't have the time, I'd best just
advertise myself. OK?
And b) For some bizarre reason maybe someone here can explain to me
they advertise cats on their website for adoption. The fee for an
unneutered, unspayed cat adoption is $120. $100 will be refunded when
the cat is spayed or neutered. Makes sense. BUT the fee to adopt a
spayed or neutered animal is $80. Nothing is refundable BUT the extra
money goes into their spay and neuter program? Commendable.
BUT if I had $80 to to donate I obviously would. I can't imagine the
average adopter chosing a cat would think "sure, I'll take the $80
spayed cat over the $20 dollar cat"? Sure you have to have $120 up
front but........what am I missing here???
Splash
Hunter Hampton
<cl...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>>That was the dog sleeping on the couch last night, he'll be 12 years
>>old tomorrow. (c:
>Give him birthday scritches from me.
Done (c: He says Thanks!
Hunter
Dr Corinne B Leek
He's welcome.
Kenny, TITD, who got needle stuck again today, but didn't mind because
he gets *treats*!
Splash
> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:27:48 -0500, Hunter Hampton
>
> >On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:10:04 -0400, Dr Corinne B Leek
> ><cl...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>>That was the dog sleeping on the couch last night, he'll be 12 years
> >>>old tomorrow. (c:
> >>Give him birthday scritches from me.
>
> >Done (c: He says Thanks!
>
> He's welcome.
>
> Kenny, TITD, who got needle stuck again today, but didn't mind because
> he gets *treats*!
>
> --
> *** Conserve Energy: Laughter is easier than Anger!
> *** cl...@ns.sympatico.ca
Why is Kenny getting needle stuck, poor brave pup! Odie needed blood
work done last month (to check her levels of her epilepsy meds). They
had to bring her back into me. Apparently she thought anyone else
putting her on her side to draw blood was trying to kill her!
Momma (AKA me) was able to calm her enough that they could draw the
blood. Poor Odours, I hope Kenny had a less invasive needle?
Splash
Dawn J-L
wrote:
He should get extra yummies, too. (Since my greeting is belated.)
Dawn JL
Lisa Wiser
>
> I realise the need for fostering of older, ill, Mommy or nursing or
> feral cats (I have a friend that exclusively fosters feral cats, her
> herd number is rising, the kittens she is able to tame but I think she
> ends up keeping a few of the mommy's).
>
We have a "feral cat" group locally that will spay/neuter feral cats --
with the proviso they are returned to their "area". The idea,
apparently, is the cats are territorial and to keep the population in an
area "stable", the non-productive cats are returned to keep more
productive cats out. They were helpful in a barn situation (where "my
brother was my grandfather" was happening). They also help in the
feeding and medical care when able.
LisaW
--
Theodore Roosevelt:
A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything
real on real issues.
A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the
user.
Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government
owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.
I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about
what I think of what I do! That is character!
It is difficult to make our material condition better by the best law,
but it is easy enough to ruin it by bad laws.
The worst lesson that can be taught a man is to rely upon others and to
whine over his sufferings. If an American is to amount to anything he
must rely upon himself, and not upon the State; he must take pride in
his own work, instead of sitting idle to envy the luck of others; he
must face life with resolute courage, win victory if he can and accept
defeat if he must, without seeking to place on his fellow-men a
responsibility which is not theirs.
Dr Corinne B Leek
<s_pi...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>On Nov 22, 10:43�pm, Dr Corinne B Leek <cl...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> Kenny, TITD, who got needle stuck again today, but didn't mind because
>> he gets *treats*!
>Why is Kenny getting needle stuck, poor brave pup!
Allergy shots. Two per time because he's allergic to *that* many
things. Oy.
Today are the first shots in the next vials of increasing allergen
level. They're sub-cutaneous on the neck.
And he's not that brave - just that for him, bribes *work*! LOL!
>Odie needed blood
>work done last month (to check her levels of her epilepsy meds). They
>had to bring her back into me. Apparently she thought anyone else
>putting her on her side to draw blood was trying to kill her!
Probably it was the "putting her on her side" that was the problem,
not the needles, per se.
>Momma (AKA me) was able to calm her enough that they could draw the
>blood. Poor Odours, I hope Kenny had a less invasive needle?
Only sub-cu, NBD, really. And at least now they're only 5 days apart,
not every 2 as at the beginning. It slowly works up to every 30 days
for the rest of his life. We start to get there on 15 Mar 10,
although not yet then at full strength. Long process, but he's
looking pretty good at this stage, really.
Thanks for asking.
Corinne & Crazy Canuck Crew, with the AllergyMonster still under the
bedcovers....
Splash
> On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:26:14 -0800 (PST), Splash
>
My regards to Kenny! We'd do anything for our fur children, wouldn't
we?
Splash