what suits you?: Kitten Season

♦

Hi, I realize this is unrelated to fashion... but it's important! and about cats! So please listen!

Spring is here, and soon we'll all be out of school, the weather will be warm, and it will be summer! While this is super exciting, summertime means "kitten season." This is the time when un-spayed female cats go into heat and start producing copious litters of kittens. Especially in areas with warmer, drier climates, the amount of stray cats and kittens gets to be astronomical. But... you can help!! Two words: foster kittens.

I've fostered multiple litters of kittens, and I can tell you that it has been one of the most rewarding and fun experiences of my life. I fostered my first kitten the summer before my senior year of high school. His name was Muffin, and when we picked him up from the Reno humane society (an amazing shelter to visit if you're in the area!!) they told us that he'd been found earlier that day wandering the streets of downtown Reno. I'm not sure if you've ever visited there... but if you can picture a tiny 5 week old kitten stumbling down Virginia street through the land of prostitutes and run down casinos, you can imagine how much compassion I felt for this little guy! His meow sounded like he had been smoking a pack a day for 30 years; it was so hoarse from meowing, searching futilely for his mother. I remember almost crying as he was sleeping on my lap when we drove him home. I felt inadequate, unqualified to care for this half dead bundle of fur and love. He looked into my eyes and I felt this trust and love radiating from him, I was his only hope for survival and I think he knew I was there to care for him. I nursed him back to health, force feeding him until his body remembered how to eat. He grew from a pathetic, dying shadow of a cat to a playful, loving kitty. He holds such a large place in my heart still, and I won't lie... I cried when I had to give him back to the Humane Society to be adopted.

Anyways, long story short, if you love animals, I'd HIGHLY recommend fostering a kitten this summer. They need your help, and I can promise that you'll gain so much from this experience, as will the fluffy little fur balls you help out!

Here are some helpful links to find out more about the fostering process. If you're really interested, make sure to contact your local humane society!!

What to do if you find a newborn kitten

Foster Kitten Manual

Also... we can't end this post without some adorable pics of my foster kitties from years previous!