A Day in the Life of a Kitten Fosterer: Patricia’s Story
Spring has now well and truly sprung and for us here at Les Amis this means we are well into Kitten season. We currently have over 40 kittens in our care! Our very own volunteer Patricia has currently got 3 babies and as you can see from the photos, they are totally scrumptious. Here is what Patricia has to say……
Rupert, Rose and Raffi
For some time we’ve had a nearly-blind feral cat in our garden. All attempts to trap her have failed and her first two litters were carried off into the forest and lost. Knowing she was pregnant again we prepared a dog cage with comfy cushions and blankets and, when she appeared noticeably thin, we went into action. Two of the kittens seemed fine but a third was cold, wet and apparently lifeless with the placenta still attached. We immediately removed her and performed CPR and rubbed her with warm towels. Not only did she come round but, once warm, she fed well and has thrived! Mama didn’t reappear for hours so we made the difficult decision to remove the other two for their own safety.
We are now on Day 19 and it’s been, quite frankly, a round of “ Eat, sleep, poop, repeat”. Yes, it’s daunting. Yes, it’s tiring. Yes, it’s downright frightening at times. As your babies get older by the day you settle into a routine of making up baby milk, sterilising bottles, warming hot water bottles and doing laundry (lots of laundry!) and, of course, feeding.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! When you look at their faces, three happy little souls, and know that without your intervention the outcome would have been very different.
The downside – letting them go. There’s many a “foster fail”.
Our vets have been amazing when little Raffi had some feeding issues and Les Amis have been beside us every step of the way offering practical support and encouragement 24/7. And, when the time comes, they will ensure that these precious babies go to loving homes.
Can you do it too? Absolutely!
The rewards are enormous.
We are eternally grateful for every single one of our cat and dog fosterers. Remember, not all heroes wear capes! Do you think you have what it takes to foster kittens? As Patricia says, it’s hard work but the rewards are tenfold. Please get in touch, we would love to hear from you. It goes without saying, all our other fluffy little bundles of joy also need forever homes. Please get in touch for details of kittens that are going to be available soon.
