Foster moms.. how'd ya know they're keepers?

[Pinot's Mom]

AHEM...Pinot here...you hoomans seem to think you have some control over this situation...well, you don't!

WE know when the situation is right, not you, and don't you forget it!

[Laura's Babies]

I LOVE this thread and hearing your stories.

[moosmom]

Mollie Rose - I saw her laying in the barn at the Bill Wilson House in East Dorset, VT. She was head-to-head with her twin sister, also a tortie. That was 16 years ago. She's old but still hanging in there.

MooShoo - Helping Paws of Colchester, CT rescued 7 Sphynxes, 4 kittens and 3 adults, from breeder Lisa Bressler, who neglected her babies. I fostered 3 of the 7 and fell head over heals in love with Moo. He's my soulmate and one of 2 survivors of the Sphynxes we rescued.

Maya Linn - As a volunteer with Catales and Helping Paws, I attended many adoption days. We had gotten a mama and her two babies from the "Save a Sato" program in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They were absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Blue eyes, stunning markings. I held the little boy in my arms throughout the whole day. He slept soundly. Rene told me she wouldn't be insulted if one of the kittens would be missing when I brought them back to the shelter. I was in love but was afraid of bringing another male into my house (I already had 2 that were butting heads). So, I took the little girl and named her after the designer of the Vietnam Wall, Maya Lynn. She's 11 years old.

Shortie - Another rescue from a bad breeder who kept her in a cage the first year of her life with no human or feline contact. She was a purebred Munchkin and she was SOOO shy!! Yet this idiot breeder wanted to keep showing her in cat shows, and breed her. She came down with pyometria and had to be spayed. The breeder had no use for her cuz she couldn't produce any kittens. As I was bringing her back to her cage at the show, she bit me. It was love at first bite!!! She's been with me for 11 years. The breeder named her "Little Mews Faberge". I changed that name quickly.

Buddy - He was the pet of a woman in a battered women's shelter. The woman promised to come back for him once she got a new place to live. She never did. Buddy then went onto live in 7 homes in less than a year and was one messed up cat. I took him back and kept him with me. He started peeing inappropriately because MooShoo, my Alpha male, would sabbotage him in the litterbox. I worked through it with him. I decided that this boy had been through enough and wasn't going anywhere. He's now one happy, mischievous kitty. He's put on weight, is eating and drinking and using the litterbox.

Murphy - 14 year old tabby I adopted in December. She had been at the CT Humane Society for over a year and was being overlooked because of her age. She was dumped off by her owners who didn't want the expense of thyroid surgery. The HS stepped up to the plate and did the surgery. I wanted to give an unwanted OLDER cat a furrrever home for Christmas. She was it and is THE sweetest old lady. If I hadn't taken her home, she would've definitely been pts.

I've had many, MANY cats both rescue and fosters, come through my doors. I'm proud of the work I've done and wouldn't change a thing. I commend everyone here in animal rescue for taking in so many unwanted and abused animals. One kitty at a time...

[catmandu]

I always took in Cats so that they would be Found Cats , and I know that I would be a failure at fostering as the Found Ctas and I would not have wanted them to go. Raganar Guftason the Maine Coon would have stayed but he had a devoted owner in the wings.
And Ebony Beau Tubster and Gem and Charcoal would have been Found Cats , but fate and FIP dictated otherwise!!

[katladyd]

My only 'save' was my orangman, McGyver. My supervisor at a school I used to work at brought in this orange cat she had poofed from neglectful owners who lived on her block. I won't go in to details, but let's just say anyone who leaves on vacation frequently and either lets the cat loose to fend for himself for two weeks or locks him in the garage with one bowl of food and one of water, deserves to have their cat poofed! I just took him for a couple of days until she could find someone to adopt him. That was seven years ago. He's still at my house and dearly loved I have a soft spot for orange cats because of him. He is very smart, very affectionate, and very well behaved. He's going on eleven years old now, but he still acts like a kitten!

[GILL]

Well Precious was to be our frist FOSTER, right moosmom, BUT she couldn't go when she was supposed to and now. Take my right arm it would be easyer. I can see Dobe and Egypt going the same way. I love failing at something.

[Cinder & Smoke]

>deep sigh<



I guess when they *wander onto* the Ranch,
then *wander into* the House ...

and then don't leave ...

You start to get the hint that they may be staying for a while.

Then there's that First Trip to the White Coat --- and YOUR Name is
already filled in on the blank chart and the Rabies certificate.

Even the "Loaners" that move in for few days or weeks whilst the Family
goes off on a vacation are made to feel *welcome* by the resident tribe -
the attitude of "There's always room for a few more" seems to prevail.

How do I know?
I don't think I ever really had a *choice*!