Tag: cat foster

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Fostering Granny

Over the past three months, I’ve taken it upon myself to provide a temporary home for a 10-year-old street cat named “Granny.”

When I first laid eyes on this small, gray cat, it was evident that her journey through life had been a difficult one. She was covered in sizable hair mats, causing her immense pain, while, at the same time, the battle scars from her encounters with fellow felines covered her entire body. The adoption agency, with whom I dedicate my time, revealed that Granny was afflicted with FeLV and FIV (Feline AIDS) and she was pulling out her own hair due to the stress of being in the adoption center with so many other animals. To compound her troubles, a small wound marred her right eye, casting uncertainty upon her visual prowess… and it was my responsibility to give Granny a daily dose of eye drops.

Nevertheless, I resolved to mend Granny’s broken spirit. With gentle determination, I removed every last tangled strand of hair, and each day, I attended to her wounds, soothing her damaged skin with coconut oil baths that covered her entire body.

From the outset, Granny exuded a tranquil nature – a companion who found solace in my presence regardless of my occupation: whether I was immersed in work, succumbing to sleep, indulging in a meal, or simply captivated by the flickering glow of a television screen. Her desire for closeness knew no bounds, and if allowed, she would embrace the comfort of a cuddle for hours on end.

While I’d love to keep Granny by my side indefinitely, I have made the difficult decision to return her to the adoption agency, hoping that she will find a permanent home within our community. If you are interested in making Granny yours, please contact Nuzzles and Co. in Park City, Utah: www.nuzzlesandco.org

She’s a wonderful cat with a mostly calm (but sometimes playful) temperament and I’m really going to miss her.

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I Gave The Cat Back

Fostering a kitten

I recently had the opportunity to foster a sick kitten… and even though I thought that fostering a cat would be a nice way for me to help another animal (and people in my community), things did not exactly turn out the way I expected them to.

During the three weeks I had Gus Goose in my care, the tiny black cat shit absolutely everywhere, stank up my entire home, blew hundreds of boogers on me, refused to eat most of the food I served her, scratched me and made me bleed on multiple occasions, and was generally a total pain to take care of.

Even with all of that being said… Gus Goose was such a nice cat! She was seriously so sweet, so quiet, so patient, and so cuddly. When she wasn’t farting, pooping, and blowing boogers in my face, she was seriously the BEST CAT ever! I loved cuddling with her… but then she’d dribble poop on me or shoot a snot rocket all over my sofa, and I’d be forced to put her back in her cage and clean up the mess.

Caring for this sick cat (who was suffering with both diarrhea and an upper respiratory track infection) was a lot like my relationship with people:

  • I thought it would be nice to have some company.
  • It was fun for about three-and-a-half-minutes.
  • Then reality hit (and the “cat” blew boogers all over me, farted, pooped and stank up my entire house)!
  • And in the end, I realized I was better off alone.

Yes, I returned the cat to the adoption agency. Her conditions were not improving and they wanted to have a veterinarian look at her again to see if there was anything else they could do. But after Gus Goose saw the vet, I was asked to continue caring for her… and, even though it pained me (and I felt really bad about it), I politely said, “No.”

I wanted to help. I really did. And even though I kinda loved this little black kitten, I hated the experience of caring for her overall.

People had warned me before I signed up to be a foster, that I might fall in love with the animal I was given, and I’d want to keep it forever. But the reality is… fostering this little, black kitten made me realize that I don’t want a pet of any kind (at least not, permanently).

  • Maybe I haven’t found the right “cat” yet? Maybe the next one will be better?

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Gus Goose

Black Cat in garden

I thought it would be nice to temporarily foster a cat/kitten while I’m home in Park City, Utah this winter, so I signed up as a volunteer with my local pet rescue and adoption agency – Nuzzles & Co.

Shortly after telling the agency that I’d be happy to foster a feline for them, I was contacted by the company and told that there was a sick kitten who needed some care until she was well enough to be adopted.

I said I’d be happy to foster the little black kitten, whom the agency had named, “Gus Goose.”

Nuzzles & Co. provided me with everything I’d need to care for my sick kitten: food, medications, a litter box, toys, and a whole lot more.

On the drive home with Gus Goose in the back of my van, I heard a loud “squirt” and was immediately forced to roll down my windows to let out the noxious air that was pouring into my nostrils.

I quickly found out that poor little Gus Goose has been suffering with diarrhea, a leaky bunghole, and an upper respiratory infection (Causing her to deal with both eye and nose mucus, which she forcefully hurls from her face on a regular basis. These are some seriously big boogers – let me tell you!).

I’ve had Gus Goose (whom I now call “Booger”) in my care for almost two weeks, and she is seriously the friendliest little cat. All she wants to do is cuddle. If you’re in the room, she’ll be there, rubbing up against you or trying to get your attention so you can stroke her head, neck or belly.

She’s still dealing with pretty bad diarrhea and those nasty facial boogers, but her attitude has improved greatly since I first got her. She acts like a totally healthy cat! We just need to fix her insides and then she’ll be the perfect little kitten for some local family to adopt here in the near future.