My First Time: Fostering a Cat

The following is part of our

I've wanted a cat ever since the fifth grade-- that's when we moved to east San Jose and the neighbor's cat decided she liked my family more than her own. That cat was like a dog. She'd follow my toddler brother and I around the house, eagerly wait for our dad to come home so she could jump onto his car hood to greet him (and suck up some warmth), and of course, play fetch with unlucky mice.

When we moved to Cupertino four years later and had to say goodbye, that all came to an abrupt end. We got some guinea pigs because we thought they'd be less trouble (they weren't, really), and as we moved into smaller abodes we downgraded to a couple of goldfish.

Adopting an animal is a big commitment, and one that we couldn't make because of a relatively transient lifestyle. We moved every few years, traveled abroad, and then I had to go to college.

I came back from college and my "permanent" residence still remains uncertain, but as an animal lover - vegetarian for eight years, now vegan - I felt I had been waiting a long time.

That's when the idea of fostering occurred to me.

Typically, fostering means you keep the animal for as long as you can, and all you have to provide are food, litter, and lots of love. The shelter picks up the veterinary costs.

When this thought struck me, I immediately filled out an application to foster a cat from Sunnyvale-based Bay Area Cat Rescue. Two days later, calico Callie was in my arms.

Okay, "in my arms" is a slight exaggeration. As it turns out, kitties that go to foster homes are the ones that aren't doing well in their shelter environments. This might seem obvious, but it didn't really occur to me until I realized Callie was terrified of everything - quite unlike the cat I had grown up with.

Callie had been at the PetSmart in Mountain View for only a week with other adoptable felines, but she had hid the whole time and barely ate. Although the rescue typically does not accept owner surrenders, Callie's situation was especially dire, leaving the rescue little choice. I like Bay Area Cat Rescue because they only accept cats on "death row," and never euthanize.

Callie also came to the shelter with her front paws declawed, which is actually a form of animal cruelty that is banned in many countries (but not in the U.S.). It's the equivalent of first-knuckle cutting. Can you imagine that? I can only wonder if this is part of the reason she is so timid.

Another reason might be that she was weaned too early from her mother. Callie does this thing called "kitten kneading," which is a rubbing motion with her paws that a kitten normally does to drink milk from it's mother. It's pretty adorable how she kneads and licks at me, but kittens really shouldn't be adopted before they're at least eight weeks old. Mommy teaches them all kinds of important behavioral stuff, too, so that they're properly socialized.

It turns out that Callie is also a special needs cat: I noticed she was coughing and a trip to the vet revealed very dirty lungs and asthma, possibly caused by an infection. The vet said it is likely that she has been coughing for years. I've been giving her antibiotics everyday, and she might need an inhaler.

I've had Callie for a month now, and I'm pleased to report that she is an incredibly sweet cat, even if she is shy around new people. Every night she curls up in bed with me and starts purring like a motorboat. She's become brave enough to explore the house at night (even if it's only when everyone's safely in bed!)

Taking care of this kitty has been extremely rewarding and I've learned a ton of information about cats along the way. My brother and I decided to volunteer at PetSmart, too, so we've had a chance to meet the other cats (all of whom are delightful, and would be much happier in foster homes or permanent homes!)

I'm hopeful that with treatment and lots of care, Callie will become more open to other people. I know it's going to be hard giving her to her new owners at the end of this, but the thought of caring for the next needy cat makes it all worthwhile.