Quick question for my followers: have you fostered a cat or kittens before? If not, why?
No judgement. I am honestly curious. I would love to help you debunk the myths that may be stopping you from taking the plunge.
These are my three fosters: Baby Sarti, Fezzik and Nims. They live in my bedroom. I also have two resident cats who have the rest of the apartment.
I work from home, but I also fostered when I had to go to the office 5 days a week. I have a social life, and volunteer for the @thenyfoundling I am also a rescuer, so I am out trapping or shuttling cats to and from the vet multiple times a week.
I share this not to “humble brag” but to illustrate that fostering can be built into so many different lifestyles. Even if you travel a lot, 4-6 weeks of your time can be the difference between a cat having an opportunity to be adopted and being euthanized due to shelter overcrowding. Keep in mind that we can only save cats and kittens if there is somewhere for them to go. It is a cruel reality that the busiest season for us is also the time of year when adoptions are the slowest because so many folks are out of town.
If you have any questions about how fostering works, please message me. If you live in NYC, let me know what neighborhood you are in and I can connect you to local groups.
Thank you for making it through my PSA. 😹
Me: Is tongue out Thursday a thing?
Internets: It’s not?
Also me: I’m posting this adorable video of Sarti anyway because I don’t have the self control to wait.
Someone is feeling better!!!
I am so relieved. I haven’t seen a poop yet today, but Nims and Fez were absolute maniacs all night and both woke me up begging for food this am.
I am still giving him GI food mixed with some tilapia to be safe, but he’s finishing every bite. Hopefully I will come home tonight to a solid poop! 😻
We love you, Nims! 💕
Sweet mama from the bodega and her three kittens are settling in at Chez Bookstore Cats for now.
They don’t have names yet, but we have two grey tabbies and a ginger. Mama is eating well, purring up a storm and very relaxed.
It’s nice and warm in my bathroom and I am so thankful that I am able to provide this safe haven for her.
Tomorrow I will go speak to her owners and let them know how she is doing and ask if they still want her back in 6 weeks, or if they prefer that I find them another cat ASAP. Of course I would prefer to find her a home, ideally with one of her kittens, but the ultimate decision is not mine.
Stay tuned………
Ps. Thank you to those who donated. The bill today was $145 and in 4 weeks she will go back to the vet for her booster shot and spay.
Here’s a video of Leo that was sent to me by a former employee of the River Cafe.
Before he went blind. Before he couldn’t find his way home. Before he lost his appetite. Before he walked in circles around my tiny bathroom.
I don’t have any answers yet. I had a long talk with the neurologist, who agrees that something is likely going on with his brain. He had a nose bleed over night, which is another symptom.
He also perked up after he received a medication to relieve potential swelling in his brain. Best case scenario it is an infection that is treatable. Worst case scenario, he has a malignant brain tumor. Either way, it’s a waiting game until his MRI later this afternoon.
I will share an update as soon as I have one. In the meantime, thank you so much for the messages of encouragement and compassion for both of us.
We love you, Leo ❤️
Thank you all so much for the emotional support yesterday and financial support earlier this week, for my birthday. Ewa and the @redhookcatsgang are so appreciative of the donations!
Here is a quick look at some of the amazing cats your generosity is supporting. Those healthy coats, bright eyes and plump physiques wouldn’t be possible without your support.
Thank you a million times!
Thank you so much to everyone who donated or commented to show your support for Jose’s colony. It has been a lot to manage on top of my other colonies, rescue, fostering and working full time, but it brings me so much joy knowing that they have a support system.
These two have shown up to eat every day. They seem to be bonded and we are considering finding them a barn where they can retire from street life.
I’ve only seen a few other cats here and there, but once I get my trail cameras back, I will set them up at night to get a better picture of how many cats are still here. I have been leaving 20+ cans per day and they are all eaten.
More to come soon.
Ok, one more for tonight.
For anyone curious: yes, both of my legs are asleep and I have to pee.
We love you, Heracles!
This terribly shot video is here for three reasons.
1) Proof that I really need some accoutrements for creating cat content. Message or comment with your favorites. Tripod is a must!
2) More proof that Tonka is back! His home has been under construction and a lot of Ewa’s cats disappeared for awhile during the height of it. We are thrilled he is ok! He was incredibly sweet with me and I can’t help but wonder (thanks Carrie Bradshaw) if he’d be happier as a house cat. We want to bring Sebastian inside too, but it’s so hard to find fosters willing to give colony cats a home. Holler if you can help.
3) And lastly, a plea for help. We still need food! Ewa @redhookcatsgang has added items to her wishlist and also loves Chewy gift cards. See the link in mi bio.
Thank you!!!
#redhook #redhookbrooklyn #feralcat #communitycats #catcolony #catrescue #catrescuer
It’s hard to believe that just a couple weeks ago, Mama Granita and her kittens were living on the street in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn.
I brought a trap, not realizing that she was friendly, and was shocked when her feeder picked her up and shoved her in.
Granita was definitely someone’s cat at some point, and I have no idea how many litters she’s had outside, but the most important thing is that she is safe and loved and spayed!
I couldn’t find a foster, so she’s hanging in my bathroom for now, and in a fee days, she moves to her forever home! She’ll have 2 rescued kittens in the home to keep her company. I’m so curious how she will be around kittens that are t her own.
More on Granita soon! (Big thanks to @ammermanbk and @carrollgardenscatlady for providing a safe space for her!
Soaking up my last morning snuggles with Gust and Gale, who go to their forever home on Christmas.
Maybe it’s just me, but it always feels like my kitties get extra super snuggly right before they leave the nest. It’s torture! But I am so happy that someone else gets to luxuriate in this pile of pure happiness. Goodbye is always the goal.
With that said, I’m not sure how I am supposed to get any work done today.
Buttercup got on my lap all on her own!
Can you hear how loud she is purring?!
Fezzik is watching us from the safety of their crate, but I can hear him purring too.
We’ve had some more vomiting and questionable poops from B, so I dropped off a fecal sample today to rule out coccidia. In some ways, I hope it tests positive so at least I know what is going on.
There are so many unexpected expenses in rescue. Nothing is straight forward. But that’s ok. The important thing is that these two are safe and warm and loved, and very soon, healthy!
On Monday they get fixed and then head to a foster home, a few houses down from where they were born. I wonder if their mom will come to the back door to say hi?
BROOKLYN FOSTER NEEDED ASAP:
Please see my stories from last night!
This mama and her two baby panthers were spotted by feeders in a locked construction site. She stashed them so deep underneath a pallet of pipes, that we had to use tent poles to gently nudge them within arms reach, so we could grab them by hand.
They are probably about 4 weeks old, so mom will be doing most of the work. All you need to do is feed her a ton, make sure to weigh the kittens daily and keep an eye on their general health.
It’s such a rewarding experience to watch them grow and thrive.
Please message me if you can help.
Thank you!
Now that Babka is comfortable on my lap, she’s always trying to jump down onto the floor.
It’s a very small bathroom, so there isn’t much room to explore, but the last thing I want is her getting spooked and hiding somewhere that requires me to grab her and undo all of our progress.
Besides, she’s at the vet right now with her brother and sister, and she started growling and hissing as soon as I shut the carrier. Really hoping she hasn’t regressed too much after this trauma.
To be continued……….
💕Brooklyn Foster Needed ASAP💕
Stamps was rescued from outside the Red Hook post office just before the storm.
He’s already fixed and vaccinated, but in a crate because our foster homes and bathrooms are full.
Can anyone open their home to this cutie? We still need to get him tested for FeLV so he’ll need to be separated from other cats for a week or so.
Please spread the word. He’s sooooooo sweet. And refuses to sit still for a decent photo because all he wants is LOVE!
When you can’t decide if you want to play or groom, you groom your toy!
Jammer has made so much progress in a week. Fostering is so freaking rewarding. What are you waiting for?! Seriously. We are drowning over here.
If you live in Brooklyn or are willing to transport to vet appts, and you’d like to help save more lives, please message me your email address.
Thank you!
Ps. Pardon the dim lighting. I keep all my blinds drawn when it’s 90+ degrees outside.
Sangria’s biopsy results are in! It’s benign! 💕💕💕
She will go back to my vet in 1-2 months for a recheck. For now we don’t have any definitive answers, but there is speculation that the mass was a hyper immune response to the tarter in her mouth.
She’s still healing after her 13 extractions and cleaning for gingivitis, but getting back to her normal self.
I still have $1200 to raise to cover her surgery and links to PayPal and Venmo are in my bio.
Thank you so much!
If you’d like to meet this super chill 13 lb beauty, please let me know.
Xoxo
Tomorrow is dental day and mass removal for our sweet Sangria!
Send healing vibes her way and let’s hope the weird fleshy thing in her mouth is no big deal.
Her human foster dad Alex and furry foster brother Gumbo promise to take very good care of her.
I will update y’all tomorrow night.
We love you, Sangria!
💕💕💕💕
The estimated bill is $1600. If anyone would like to contribute, Venmo and PayPal links are in my bio. Thank you so much!
