Before I adopted Ally & Cobee, one of the ways I got out my frustrations about not being able to own a pet was by fostering kittens for the SPCA. I brought home a kitten or kittens for anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks at a time, usually because they were very small or sick and needed to be nursed back to health. It was rewarding, frustrating, hectic and a lot of fun... Even now that I have kitties of my own, I still like to help out when ever I can. Here are a little bit about those meowsers who graced my life but for a short time.

Little One - Little One was my first foster kitten when I was still a volunteer, and sadly she was with me but one day. A stray, and barely 4 weeks of age, she had already started to cross over the rainbow bridge when I took her home. My only comfort was I gave that tiny little tortoiseshell baby one good night of loving, cuddling and a warm lap before her little soul passed over to the other side...

Silly Kitty - Definitely Julian's favorite. An 8 week old brown tabby with a cold. He was also from the shelter, but I couldn't leave him in the shelter and risk him being put down because he had a cold. We had him for 2 weeks. I called him "Psycho Cat".. full of non-stop energy, and that goofy side stepping kitten run that silly cats are good at. He got adopted within 1 1/2 hours of me taking him back. I cried all the way to the shelter.

Squeak - My second Tortie baby. She was also just 4 weeks old, but unlike Little One, she was a fighter. A Toe Chomper, stubborn little cuss.. she was also known as "Pipsqueak" and "Kitty Justice". We had her for 4 weeks and took her back to the hospital where I fostered her from triple her original size and full of cattitude!

Lucy & Ethel - Sister foster kittens - two little kittens who came to me at barely 5 weeks old. In the summer the hospital is bursting full of tiny kittens and I had to take a few home. Lucy is the calico kitten..fat as a butterball (thanks to non-stop feedings), very vocal and affectionate. She proved to be a challenge to litter train though! Ethel is the torbie (tortoise shell/tabby)and the quieter of the two. Still, she was my favorite.. very sweet, loved to be groomed and cuddled.

I finally adopted my own fully grown cat from the hospital in September of '98, but I still encourage anyone with spare time to foster cats or dogs of any ages from their local shelter, humane society or clinic that needs it.. or to adopt a pet from a shelter instead of encouraging puppy mills or home breeders.

On August 15th, 1999 we brought home a new foster kitty. He was the oldest yet, at 4 1/2 months. I called him Buster. He was a beautiful orange and white tabby with a broken leg. Someone actually threw this sweet, affectionate little guy against a wall!! :( Ally couldn't stand him at first but by the end she got used to Buster and would play chase him around the house. When he had healed up he was neutered, and ready for adoption. He was adopted within 2 days (although I really wish I had kept him!!!)

Dave - Dave was a healthy 4 month old kitten who needed a temporary home while the shelter and hospital were dealing with a distemper outbreak in the summer of 2001. He broke in the "baby room" of our new house, and was adopted the same day he was brought back!

Larry, Curly, Moe and Lonnie - The 3 Stooges were about 12 weeks old, and completely different in appearance. Larry was a medium haired orange and white tabby, Curly was a short haired black and white, and Moe was a lynx point siamese. Lonnie was a tag along, an 8 week old tortie girl. They were also fostered during the 2001 distemper outbreak, and all found good homes.

Bessie & Babies - Bessie was a beautiful blue point siamese with white. She came to our hospital in November of 2001 with 6 babies who were born in the shelter. All of the babies were grey or grey and white tabbies. I fostered Bessie and her babies from the time they were 10 days old until they went up for adoption at 7 weeks old. They all got good homes, but I know Bessie won the hearts of a 12 year old boy and his family. They call her Velcro Kitty because she is so affectionate!

Tinker

Tinker (aka TinkerBell and TinkerButt)was a beautiful 8 week old, black long haired kitten who came to us with a prolapsed rectum. She was operated on 3 times, and was sadly slated for euthanasia because of her reoccuring problem, when I offered to foster her to give her "one more chance". I had her for 8 weeks, and although she needed 2 more surgeries to remove excess tissue, she recovered wonderfully. Such a happy little girl who loved to talk and get attention. She was adopted by an amazing couple from Vancouver who live in a gorgeous condo, complete with a walled in garden, and a big, fluffy white cat named Muffin, who all adore her. She is now a beautiful, adult cat who loves everyone. I get regular updates and pictures from her mom. email us at jusan@zubee.com!