Should I do it? :)

I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

Joyce

--
If an animal does something, they call it instinct. If we do exactly
the same thing for the same reason, they call it intelligence.
-- Will Cuppy

wrote in message
...
I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that
they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in
diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I
will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will
get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it
would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

Joyce

I think it sounds like a lot of fun. But with the way Licky behaves
to other cats plus with you working full time, it could be a problem.

Jo

On Jun 17, 3:08*pm, wrote:
I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

Joyce

Only if you're seriously considering adopting the foster kitten for
good.
IME, the kittens in foster care usually don't get adopted except
by the foster mom! There are too many more kittens, on display
right at the shelter, that usually the foster kittens don't get
exposure.
(Except I did agree once to foster two pregnant cats (remember the
Unwed Mothers from Hell)...and part of the agreement was they
would take the moms when the kittens were weaned, and I had to
take the kittens to Petsmart every weekend for the adoption fairs.)
If Licky is real high-strung, I don't know if I'd do it, Joyce. I
would
not think of fostering now, because of Boz and Bootsie. Yoda and
Frank (the only cats I had when I fostered)...they were really
laid-back about new cats.
But you could always give it a whirl and see Licky's reaction. The
organization would certainly understand if it doesn't work out.
Lord knows those kittens need someone like you to step in. I
remember how terribly crowded with kittens the shelter used
to be this time of year.

Sherry

On 17 June, 21:08, wrote:
I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

Joyce

--
If an animal does something, they call it instinct. If we do exactly
the same thing for the same reason, they call it intelligence.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *-- Will Cuppy

I would only do it if I had a room that I could realistically confine
the kittens to and keep my own cat out of, and that doesn't include
garages (too dark, I've tried it, and felt horribly guilty about the
kittens not getting any natural light). You will need to be sure what
the agreement entails, for example, who will be taking the kittens to
the vets, providing food & litter, carrying out home checks and doing
any rehoming paperwork? How long will you be expected to look after
them? Do you have any prior commitments in the next few weeks which
will involve an overnight stay?

If you are happy with all the answers, and can keep the kitten or
kittens separated from your cat, I'd say 'give it a go'. I don't
foster any more, but I've looked after a few dozen littluns in my
time, and have only given in and adopted one of them (although I've
been tempted by all of them.)

Jeanette

wrote:
I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

It doesn't seem all that long ago that he missed having his all-black
kitten playmate, who you fostered along with him. You never know -
maybe he'll himself enjoy having kittens to play with?

Takayuki wrote:

wrote:
I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

It doesn't seem all that long ago that he missed having his all-black
kitten playmate, who you fostered along with him. You never know -
maybe he'll himself enjoy having kittens to play with?

Remember Everett?

http://sonic.net/~jwermont/cats/everett/everett.html

I fostered him in February of 2008 (I actually had to look in my old
Livejournal posts to verify that it was '08 and not '09!). Licky got
along fine with him - they played together and didn't have any problems
with fighting or territorial spats. But his chronic urinary tract
inflammation flared up and I had to put him on medication. Since that
time I've noticed that when he gets stressed (such as when I go out of
town and catsitters are coming in to feed him), the inflammation gets
a little worse. And I think having a strange cat in the house is
stressful for him even when he likes the cat.

I think I'm going to pass for now - I don't want Licky to get sick.
I just had a moment of kitten fever.

Joyce

--
Cats' hearing apparatus is built to allow the human voice to easily
go in one ear and out the other. -- Stephen Baker

Sherry wrote:

Only if you're seriously considering adopting the foster kitten for
good.
IME, the kittens in foster care usually don't get adopted except
by the foster mom! There are too many more kittens, on display
right at the shelter, that usually the foster kittens don't get
exposure.

That hasn't been my experience. The rescue group that I would have
been doing this for (see my other post - I decided not to) does adopt
out cats all the time, especially kittens. I used to work with this
group when I didn't have a job - I helped out with the mobile adoptions
and did a bit of fostering. As you all know, that's how I ended up
with Mr. Handsome.

Joyce

--
Cats' hearing apparatus is built to allow the human voice to easily
go in one ear and out the other. -- Stephen Baker

NettieCat wrote:

I would only do it if I had a room that I could realistically confine
the kittens to and keep my own cat out of, and that doesn't include
garages (too dark, I've tried it, and felt horribly guilty about the
kittens not getting any natural light). You will need to be sure what
the agreement entails, for example, who will be taking the kittens to
the vets, providing food & litter, carrying out home checks and doing
any rehoming paperwork? How long will you be expected to look after
them? Do you have any prior commitments in the next few weeks which
will involve an overnight stay?

I know this organization pretty well, as I used to volunteer with them.
They're a responsible and reputable group.

But I think for now, I'm going to pass on bringing in kittens, as much
as I'd like to.

Joyce

--
Cats' hearing apparatus is built to allow the human voice to easily
go in one ear and out the other. -- Stephen Baker

wrote:
I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

Joyce

If you can hand them back when the time comes, go for it. I'm sure if I
ever fostered I'd want to keep them all.

--
Adrian (Owned by Bagheera & Shadow)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk

I know I would want to keep them all, that is why I don't do it. Feed the
strays yes, they don't come into the house but fostering nope, couldn't do
that.
"Adrian" wrote in message
om...
wrote:
I just got an email from a local animal rescue group, saying that they
desperately need people to foster kittens. I'm *sooooo* tempted.

On the negative side, it would make my place a lot more crowded and
strewn with cat litter. And I fear that they might bring in diseases,
although I can ask the rescue org about that and stipulate that I will
only take healthy kittens. The biggest concern is that Licky will get
stressed about it. He's high-strung enough as it is.

I don't think I need to even say what the positive side is. But I
guess it's not a good idea. sigh I'd like to help out, and it would
be fun to have a few kittens to play with.

What do you guys think?

Joyce

If you can hand them back when the time comes, go for it. I'm sure if I
ever fostered I'd want to keep them all.

--
Adrian (Owned by Bagheera & Shadow)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk