In September of last year, I welcomed a mother cat and her five kittens into my studio apartment in the East Village. It had been over a month since I gave my first foster cat Gabby to her new family, and I was ready to offer another cat a temporary home until they were ready for adoption.Â
One morning, while browsing through the ASPCA’s foster bulletin board, I stumbled upon a listing for a calico cat named Olivia. In the photograph, Olivia was nestled in the corner of her carrier, her pupils as large as Puss in Boots’ in Shrek 2. She was surrounded by her five kittens — four boys and one girl — each possessing a name that starts with the letter O: Otto, Oasis, Oakley, Oswald and Oriana.Â
For the next two months, my boyfriend and I raised these six cats together. From administering oral medication to rubbing ointment on the kittens’ swollen eyes (they had kitten colds when they first arrived), we developed a bond with Olivia and her little band of rascals.Â
We watched the kittens stumble around the first day they were in our apartment, barely able to walk and open their eyes, to eventually knocking plant pots over weeks later as they chased each other around the room. As precious as the kittens were, they became a chaotic bunch that nibbled on our toes at six in the morning and suffered from many failed attempts at using the litter box.Â
By the time they were 13 weeks old, the kittens had become full-fledged mini cats and were ready to find their forever homes. It was a bittersweet moment in the end; despite all the mayhem and restless nights they caused, it was difficult to say goodbye to the kittens. I ended up adopting the mother, though, after my fostering period came to an end; her name is now Stevie (after my favorite singer, Stevie Nicks).
My experience as a foster cat parent with the ASPCA so far has been both rewarding and therapeutic. The city can be an extremely stressful environment, so it’s nice to be able to have a furry friend to comfort you at home.Â
For anyone who’s considered or is interested in fostering pets in NYC, here’s what you can expect:Â
- Most programs provide basic provisions for your foster pet, including food, medicine, toys, etc. This is especially great for college students who would love to own a pet in the city but can’t afford it. Also, with the ASPCA in particular, they pay for your Lyft rides to and from the ASPCA foster center if you’re traveling with your foster pet.Â
- There is a lot of commuting involved, so it’s important to consider the distance between where you live and the location of the foster center. There were several instances where I had to lug 20lbs of cat supplies (litter, wet food, dry food, etc.) up and down the stairs of the subway station, resulting in excruciating back pain and the loss of feeling in my arms.Â
- Don’t expect your foster pet to instantly love you. As much as I wanted to pick up and cuddle with Olivia and her kittens when they first arrived, my boyfriend and I gave them space for nearly a week so they could acclimate to their new environment.
- No matter how tough you think you are, you’ll most likely cry as you say goodbye to your foster pet, so be prepared. In the end, just remember that you should be proud of the care and affection you gave to your foster pet and that they’re going to a loving home!