We do it for Dexter
When it comes to fostering, this family is kitten-smitten
When it comes to fostering, this family is kitten-smitten.
Acouple years ago, my family lost an important best friend. A silly old cat named Dexter — whom we had adopted when he was already 20 years old — was such an overwhelming presence in our cohesive little unit of humans and pets. And so, when he passed away, there was a gaping hole. My kiddos (the human variety) were seven and nine years old at the time, and though we were already owned by a pack of goofy dogs, there was just something about Dexter. We felt that loss on such a grand level. Even the dogs appeared to feel it, especially our giant malamute, Flora, who had an especially close bond with Dexter. We shuffled around for days, wondering how we could honor this special friend’s legacy. We knew him for only two years, but it had felt like a happy lifetime. One day, my seven-year-old spotted a Best Friends poster in town. It said something along these lines: “Save a life. Foster some fuzz.” The photo of the adorable bright-eyed kitten on the flyer brought on many questions. (“What is this? Can we do this? Mom, let’s do this!”) I explained that fostering was not adopting and that it would mean we’d get a whole bunch of crazy cute kittens but we would eventually have to give them back. I expected the conversation to end at that point. But instead my son begged me even more. “Please? We should do it for Dexter.” And how could I say no to that?
have imagined — which you’ve probably guessed already since you’re reading this piece right now.)
After making the decision to go for it, we filled out some paperwork to get the ball rolling on becoming official foster parents. It wasn’t a hard process. We talked with a Best Friends foster coordinator about what to expect, and once our questions about our other family members and our level of commitment were answered, we were ready to get started.
We were given our first litter of kittens almost immediately. That’s not surprising, since shelters are overflowing with kittens, and while that used to happen just during “kitten season” (the summer months, when cats give birth in high numbers), litters of fluff balls are now appearing year-round. And, because kittens are at great risk of being killed in shelters, these innocent little beings are desperately in need of foster homes.
Admittedly, we were newbies at this fostering thing. We assembled the supplies provided by Best Friends — essentials like food, litter, beds, blankets and toys. And we secured the “kitten area” — a quiet space, safe from dogs and other cats, where we hoped the kittens would feel content. I do remember thinking: “Oh, my. What are we getting ourselves into?” But my kids had no hesitation. They were over the moon about having these little critters join our pack, even temporarily.
When the kittens arrived, we opened the carrier slowly and out popped a quartet of fuzzy adorableness: Iggy, Bowie, Glamour and Roxy. Around four weeks old, they were curious, wide-eyed, hungry and loud. In a flash, we were smitten.
We quickly settled into a groove — a new routine that wasn’t at all difficult. In fact, it swiftly became a normal part of our overall day: Wake up, pet the kittens, feed the kittens, play with the kittens, clean up after the kittens, cuddle with the kittens. Rest and repeat. Each family member had a specific job, from who prepared the food to who filled the bowls. We had it down to a science.
BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE May/June 2020