A Diary of a Foster Mom written by Lynne
April 3
I got the e-mail while I was on vacation. "Is anyone able to foster a pregnant mama cat?" I'd always wanted to take in a mama cat so I could see her give birth and watch the
kitties grow up so I said yes. However, as it turned out, Mama couldn't wait til I got back and had her four kittens that night. Bummer.
By the time I took them home they
were already five days old. Who knew cats even came this small? The babies are so tiny I can put two in my hand at once. They don't even look like kittens. They're more like
soft furry blobs with pink noses and flat squished-up faces. Their eyes are teeny-tiny little slits. They look so delicate I'm afraid to touch them.
Taking the advice of others who have done this before, I made a little bed out of the bottom of a box and a bunch of towels and put it in the corner of our guest room. From what I've
heard, the mama - apparently named Melanie - does all the work. My job is to give her food, water and a clean litter box. The only real "requirement" by Pet Rescue was that they
have their own room so they have a place to feel safe. Watching Melanie fling herself against the closed door when my brood tries to come in and investigate confirms this is
a good requirement.
The kitties like to sleep in a little pile next to mama. They take turns clawing their way to the top and the ones on the bottom don't even seem to notice they can barely breathe.
When they're not sleeping they're at mama's belly looking for some milk. When I pick them up, they wiggle and squeal loudly "eeewwwwww...!!!". When I put them down they slither
on their bellies back to the pile.
Of course when my husband meets them, he says what he always says about all fosters: "Maybe we should keep them." This is one of the things that makes him a good husband.
However -- or we would be operating a zoo by now -- I have my answer to this down pat: "this is TEMPORARY." We both know that once they're 8 weeks, they're going up for adoption.
Melanie is a wonderful mother. She literally puts her paws around their warm little bodies and holds them close. What lucky babies. Their world is so small. All they need is mama's
milk and her tongue to lick them clean. Other than that, they just sleep all the time.
There's two gray and white boys and two girls who look more like baby skunks than kittens. One of the little girls is literally black on one end and gray on the other - like she
got dipped in a jar of paint.
I get to name them - henceforth they will be known as Eeeny, Meenie, Miney and Moe. Eeeny and Meenie are the girls and Miney and Moe are the boys. None of them like it when
I hold them but remembering that my mission is to socialize them, I do it anyway (one quick hold and back on the pile they go).
Mama's job must be a little lonely because every time I come in she is ready for some R&R. She jumps out of the bed and comes running right over. She flops on her back so
I can rub her big belly then stands up and rubs against me or wants to play. What a great cat.
April 10
OMG, they re starting to look like CATS. One week later, they have matured into little fluff balls. Their eyes have opened and they're all gorgeous blue. How is it I've never seen
a cat with blue eyes before? I think I remember something about how eye color changes but I can't be sure. Their ears are no longer mushed against their heads and they've started
to crawl instead of just wiggle.
I'm finding them more entertaining to watch than the TV. They have finally discovered they have legs. Little Moe actually lifts his body off the ground now when he moves although he's
very unsteady and walks like he's a little tipsy. Fortunately he doesn't have far to fall. They stumble around the bed as they explore their little world.
They've also started to ACT like cats. Instead of lying like inert wiggly matter, they are rolling onto their sides, grasping and gnawing on each other’s heads. They rest their chins
on each other's rumps and follow the movement of my hands with their eyes.
It's fun watching the them develop their own little "kitten-alities." Moe is the quiet gentle giant who tolerates my touch and even lets me hold him to my chest.
Meeney is just the opposite. The second I pick him up he begins his protest -- squalling at the top of his lungs. Eeney is the most curious and the first to want to leave the nest.
My husband once located her about two feet from the bed, doing a slow crawl across the room. Miney is the smallest of the bunch and tries to initiate play with the others.
Sometimes he lies on his back and looks at me through his legs.
I make a point of picking them up regularly whether they like it or not but despite my best efforts it's usually the latter.
I've decided they're the cutest things I've ever seen - a belief only further reinforced when I send pictures to my friends and family. "Oh my!" they gush, "I've never seen anything
so cute." Time for one more reminder of the temporary nature of this assignment. Note to self: I am NOT keeping any of them.
April 25
What a difference two weeks makes. Kittens are everywhere! When I walk in they're usually scattered all over the floor, each one headed a different direction.
At first, they would pull themselves a foot or so and then lie flat and start wailing. But now, at 4 weeks, they're cruising like little wind-up toys.
However, what this means is I have to tippy-toe my way across the room like it's a mine field so I don't step on anyone. I put a little kitty condo next to their bed and now when
I can't find them that's the first place I look. They love to hide in the carpeted hole and poke their little heads out.
Anything at ground level is fair game and I have to do some kitten-proofing. Off comes the iron from the ironing board. I make sure the radiator they like to hide in is turned off
and there are no electrical cords to scratch or chew.
Miney likes to crawl through a three-inch opening under the dresser. Eeney and Meenie scratch the paper around the litter box and roll in the dirty scoop. Moe gets his claws stuck
in the scratching post. They all go in and out from under the bed and when Mama eats, they try to climb into the bowl.
When they're not scouting the room, they're usually curled up together or tussling. They have a great interest in climbing but they're not too successful. Eeney finally managed to
pull her way to the top of the kitty condo but once there, she was stuck.
Mama is still the best. She'll grab one of the little guys and hold them tight while she licks them hard all over. I remember that's also how they are stimulated to go to the
bathroom. I tried to do that to motherless kittens once with a towel after bottlefeeding and I have new respect for these mamas.
The little ones grab her and start nursing whereever she may be. Of course when I come in she stands and shakes them off as she decides that being petted takes priority.
The best thing is the kittens are finally kind of liking me too. Now they come to me or start mewing when they see me. No one yowls when I pick them up anymore.
Now that they're a month old I think maybe I'm supposed to take them to the vet, but no, a phone call to one of our volunteer "experts" assures me that they're still too young.
I can, however, see if they want to eat anything.
I put out some kibble softened with water for their little tiny teeth and a bit of canned food. They give the plate a sniff and that's about it. A couple give a few tentative licks
but no one is overly impressed. Mama Melanie, however, is glad to take over: "Ah, where have you been keeping this smelly wet food?"
May 3
They have discovered the world of play. The cat tower
I bought on Ebay for only 99 cents (and $48 in
shipping charges) is the new center of their universe.
I’ve watched as they learned to climb the two
scratching post "pillars" and pull themselves up to
the first shelf. Once there, the adventure begins.
Sometimes they'll stretch over to grab hold of the
scratching post and then shimmy on down, usually head
first. Other times, they just topple over the edge and
do little kitty flips to land on the carpeted landing
below.
They've started to head for the second shelf now but
that one is quite a bit higher and when they finally
get there they usually start meowing in distress.
However, given their rate of progress so far, I
predict it'll only be days before my fledgling
Olympians are heading for the top.
They're also drinking, eating and using the litter
box. After the first couple times of lowering their
heads right into the water, making some sneezy noises
and backing away, they've become old pros. And instead
of playing in the litter, they're peeing in it. My
husband filled up a new fresh box and three jumped in
at once, all squatting in unison.
Now that they're almost six weeks I can see them being
adopted. How could anyone look at these little guys
and not fall in love? My concern now is Mama. How many
times have we quickly adopted out a litter of cuddly
kittens only to have the mother cat sit in a cage for
months? Everyone wants the cute little babies but
adult cats are a dime a dozen and their chances aren't
nearly so great.
I need to come up with a good description for her if I
want to improve the odds: Melanie is a sweet black and
white cat, a couple of years old, who has raised four
happy and healthy kittens and is now looking for a
home of her own. She is super affectionate and likes
to be petted, picked up and have her tummy rubbed. I
took a picture of her in my husband's arms to show how
cuddly she is. Please somebody, adopt her too!
May 15
When they aren't sleeping, they're busy scampering and pouncing -- onto the chair, off the bed and up the cat tower. They skittle from one side of the room to another and when they
spy a sibling, they jump up, paws in the air, and come down flat on top of it.
They're still only about six inches long but they aren't changing so much anymore. I've tried to take some new pictures but it's hard to get them to stay still. I realize I don't
have many photos of the black ones but that's because they don't photograph well, not because they're not every bit as cute. They're all continually curious and playful.
As mature as they are, however, they seem to still nurse. When I come in Mama is all too eager to separate herself from her kittens and start making little affectionate
noises as she rubs by my leg.
I feel I have achieved my mission. I've helped raise four healthy, happy and well-adjusted kittens that will hopefully grow up to be healthy, happy and well-adjusted cats.
In another week, they will officially be "of age" to be adopted. I'll take them for their first round of shots, and once the kittens find homes Mama will be getting spayed.
No more babies for her. I hope she can find a new life as an empty-nester and be known as just "Melanie".
I'd definitely do it again but for now my work is done. At this point we cross our fingers and hope someone else -- with a big heart and a warm lap -- will take it from here.
We are always in need of foster homes! If you are interested in this rewarding experience, please contact us at petrescueny@aol.com
or call 914 834-6955