Happy tails to you

Do you love kittens?

I mean do you really, really love kittens?

Enough to sacrifice a room of your house to them for weeks at a time? Enough to wake up in the middle of the night to bottle-feed them? Enough to deal with bodily functions that have no place in print? Enough to spend time at vet clinics, dosing them with medication, clipping tiny claws, cleaning tiny ears?

I do.

I’ve fostered for local nonprofit Project Purr for more than two years, practically since its founding. Our group focuses on rescuing cats that are already in the shelter system. In those two years, I’ve raised and found homes for more than 60 kittens. Orphaned kittens, far too young to live without round-the-clock feeding and care, kittens that in most shelter situations would be immediately euthanized.

It’s intense and sometimes heartbreaking work, taking care of creatures that are as naturally frail as a newborn kitten. You lose some. But most you save. Most you raise into young, healthy, happy animals that can go on to bring joy to other people—and that’s a rare kind of satisfaction.

People often ask me how I can stand to give up animals I’ve raised nearly from birth. It’s easier than you’d think, especially when I know my kittens are going to good homes. Even more so when I remember that there will always be more kittens on the way that will need my help and care. Project Purr often tells adopters that they’re saving two lives when they adopt—by taking home their feline friend, they’re freeing up more space in our foster network for new cats and kittens in need.

It’s not something you do for the rewards or the accolades, but sometimes I’ll get an email with a picture of a kitten I adopted out several years ago, letting me know that so-and-so is doing great and is a much-beloved family pet. For any animal fosterer, that’s all the reward you ever need.