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People ask, "How do you do it?"

5/23/2015

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WARNING:  Emotional Content follows
     There are so many things that are wonderful about fostering animals.  It's really impossible to list all of the things that make you fill happy and fulfilled whenever you know you were an integral part of saving an animal's life.  However, there are occasionally the sad sides, too.  For me, letting go of about the first dozen foster kitties was emotionally hard to the point of tears.  However, it became easier to let them go whenever I realized that fostering is all about saving lives and look how many lives have been saved by just myself - not to mention the many other foster homes.  This, unfortunately, isn't the only type of sadness a foster mom can feel, especially if you foster non-stop as I do.  As many of the readers may know, I do not like a home without a cat being a part of it.  Whenever one foster leaves, another follows that same day or within days - preferably the same day.  Honestly, I don't sleep well at night if I know there isn't a feline in my home.
     The past 24 hours, however, have been one of the rare times when the sadness is of another reason.  Since we are now only fostering two kittens who will leave our home on Tuesday morning, I was thrilled on Friday to have the chance to pick from two litters (with a mom) to bring home.  One mom is a FIV+ cat with a few kittens - cute as can be and while I love the FIV felines, I knew this would likely be a long-term foster.  This summer, it is my intention to foster and save as many lives as possible since I was fostering an FIV+ cat in 2014 and didn't have the opportunity to save many lives.  The other mom was a beautiful Siamese mix with six kittens, and this is what I brought home.  Unfortunately, there were health issues and we lost one kitten within hours.  On Saturday is was evident there was something wrong with at least a couple of the other kittens and those have also passed away.  The mom and her three kittens as of Saturday evening are back in the care of Charleston Animal Society's wonderful staff back at the shelter.  We hope the remaining kittens survive, but it may not be nature's way - only time will tell.  It's a tough decision to make, but the trained staff at the shelter will have a better chance of saving the remaining lives in this case.  Every case is different and unfortunately events occur in life - this is one of those times.  
     You know I can't end a blog posting on a negative note, and I would hate to leave you with the idea that fostering is horrible.  IT IS NOT!!  Fostering is such a rewarding experience, and even though I personally do not feel capable of caring for this last litter, I know I have learned from the experience and if the symptoms are seen in future kitties (hopefully not), I will be prepared to take immediate action to get them to the professional care they need.  Additionally, while I left one litter at the shelter, I did bring home four new kitties that are needing fostering for both growth and socialization.  These furbabies should be lots of fun as I enjoy the challenges of socializating kitties and find them extremely rewarding - taking them from being "hissy poppers" to loveable, adoptable kittens that can live happily in forever homes.  What better experience can one ask for over the course of several weeks in your life?  I know our household will be happy to take this on at any time!
     In closing, may everyone have a SAFE Memorial Day.  The tourist season has 'officially' started in Charleston as seen by all the out of state license plates seen today on the roads.  Please be careful this summer!
     Here's to lots of happy purrs to you and yours. 
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Moving Forward

5/14/2015

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It's time again when a foster home's job is done.  We have been watching foster cat, Abbey, raise her three kittens since March 26.  Today, the first of the group was returned to Charleston Animal Society - Abbey returned to be spayed and will appear on the adoption floor while her largest kitten, Junior, was returned to be neutered and will have his adoption finalized tomorrow.  We have kept the smallest kitten, Shelby, in foster until she gains a little more weight and keeping her company is brother, Boone.  Shelby has already found her forever family, and they are patiently waiting her spaying so they can take her home.  Boone is still looking for his forever family and the perfect match who can appreciate his loving disposition and many purrs will come forward soon.

It has been interesting watching the change in Shelby and Boone in the last 12 hours since mama Abbey has been out of their presence.  Abbey was a very good mother and watched over her kittens almost every minute of the day.  She chattered to them regularly and called them to stay in the same room with her.  While the kittens would come to us for attention it was always under the watchful eyes of Abbey, now that Abbey is away from Shelby and Boone these two are very friendly and affectionate.  They spent almost all day in my home office (I keep a pillow on the corner of my desk and next to the window for the fosters) and tonight they have climbed in my lap to sit with me.  I know that if Abbey were here, she would have been chirping at them to stay close to her and I would not have seen these little cuddle kitties in love with a human so much. 

By the end of the month, it is anticipated the house will be empty of running paws through the house.  It will be time to start over again in helping to save lives.  The thing about fostering is you never know what your next group will be and it's fun to watch the varying personalities of each feline.  One thing for certain is fostering is one of the most rewarding experiences and to be a part of saving lives is heartwarming.  If you have it in your ability to foster and haven't done so I encourage you to try at least once.  Don't worry if you fall in love, it's inevitable!

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    Having owned cats all my life, when we put our last pet to rest after 17 years the decision was made to begin fostering kittens from our local No Kill shelter.  Many kittens and several cats later, it is rewarding to help the community and find wonderful, loving homes for the felines.  This website will include some thoughts, emotions, challenges, and best of all the enjoyments from the rewarding fostering experience.  It will also highlight cats available for adoption from local area shelters.

    I am not a veterinarian nor vet technician.  It is only for the love of cats and a life-time commitment of their care from neonatal abandoned kittens to aging cats that I have developed a few skills and learned along my journey of caring.

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​Adopt Charleston Cats highlights some of the cats and kittens currently in the care of Charleston Animal Society, Dorchester Paws, Pet Helpers, and Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary located in the Lowcountry of, South Carolina. More are available for adoption, but we will show a few that are either on an adoption floor, Pounce Cat Cafe + Wine Bar, available for adoption from their foster home, or soon to be available for adoption. We also highlight adoptable felines available through individuals (primarily rescuers/TNR) and these animals are fully vetted. Periodically, we will also highlight kittens and cats available for adoption through agencies from surrounding counties.
Please consider adoption by visiting each facilities' website to learn how you can visit and meet your next furry friend or contact us to be connected to a rescuer.  
Thank you for looking.
Phone:  (843) 972-3240
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