Oh, how I’d love to be able to foster!!

Just the other day, a lady came to the sanctuary with a very pregnant mum, in the process of giving birth to 3 lovely kitts.  And just the week before a new mum and her tiny babies arrived. We don’t keep mums and kitts at the sanctuary, as they always do much better living with someone in their home, so depend on people to foster.  All the time!!  I’ve often met the cats, then not seen them again, until perhaps the babies have become old enough for their own homes – kittens always go quickly – and the mums come into the sanctuary to wait for a new forever home of their own. 

 

It seems such a fantastic thing to be able to do, to help at such crucial time in their lives, watch them growing and becoming personalities, learning to do things, to become more and more independent.  And to give mum a safe comfortable place to be where she can rest and feed them (which is most of what she has to do!), such that they’re all happy and contented.  And there are times when we have a cat come in that needs close attention or medications due to an illness, or perhaps an oldie who might not thrive in a sanctuary environment.  So many reasons.  And I’d love to be able to help them all.  With Reiki too!!

 

I know it can be sad to say goodbye to an animal you’ve become close to, but that happens anyway at the sanctuary.  And to know that they’re going to a lovely new home always makes me happy.  I was talking to one of the other volunteers, who has also fostered for a long time, and all her adopting families keep in touch with her.  So wonderful!!!

 

I have two of my own – Bella and Dylan – and it’s a small house, so no room for me to do this.  If it’s a long term foster, perhaps an oldie or a cat on meds, then really they need to be living with you normally.  The lady that Billy (used to be Bruce, lived in my garden as a stray for over a year) went to just over a year ago, also fosters – for a rescue that only uses fosterers, doesn’t have its own premises.  She has plenty of space, with a spare room, and the foster cats often live in the house with the 5 of her own.  In fact Billy does a fantastic job of helping to socialise and train the more “difficult” cats.  He was always supposed to go and live with her;  he has a real purpose in his life.  He has also been amazing with her own 3 autistic children.     

 

New mums with kittens really only need a spare room, all to themselves.  They want a place of their own where they know they’re safe, and aren’t likely to want to be wandering all over the house anyway.   And it’s not for long, only a few weeks, until they find their own homes.  But I don’t even have a spare room!!!

 

So I have a dream.  I’ve told the Universe about this, and am expecting it to manifest any day now!!  I like my little house, so have decided the best thing would be for my premium bonds to come up, and the two lovely boys next door to decide they want to move.  Then I’d buy their house, and can still live here, while taking care of foster cats next door.  With an internal connecting door.  Oh, I’ve already done the plans.  I know exactly how it will work.  And I’ll enclose the garden so that they have somewhere safe to be outside.  When the weather allows!!  Or perhaps I will come into some money, and decide to move to a bigger house.  I’ve done the plans for that too.  But really, I know that I just need to leave my wish with the Universe, and trust that it will be delivered to me, in the right way. 

 

I’m so excited, I can’t wait!!! 

 

So, I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about fostering.  Perhaps you think you can’t as you already have animals.  But if you have a spare room that you don’t otherwise use, then you can!!  Have a think about it.  Then get in contact with your local animal sanctuaries to see if you can help.  And share your stories here.  Even better, if you already foster, I’d love it if you would share your experiences with us.