A few years ago, I could never have imagined I’d be a cat fosterer — having been brought up with family dogs!However, spring forward quite a few years, and I unexpectedly adopted a much-loved elderly black and white cat, called Ding, from a friend who was emigrating and thought it a bit much for a 17-year-old cat. I was so excited to have a furry friend to look after. When Ding passed away, aged 20, I knew it was time to fulfil a lifelong desire to do something to help animals in a significant and meaningful way.
As a potential fosterer, I had one goal in mind – to offer a home to a cat in need so that a space in rescue could be freed up for another, and instead of the rescue having to say ‘no’ we are full, they could say ‘yes’ we have a space. So, having seen a Lulu’s friends ‘come and have a chat’ event advertised, off I went to ask if I had the skills they needed. Fast forward, and soon after, I had my first foster – a lovely Siamese kitten(who, it turned out was highly skilled at curtain climbing and 4am zoomies!).
I knew fostering would not be easy, and it isn’t. There have been highs, hilarity with kittens, and some lows. It can be very emotional when I’ve gained the trust of a cat or kitten, then taking them back to Lulu’s to start that process again in their permanent home, and for me, that is the hardest part. But, here is where the foster update comes in – the joy when I get that update from Lulu’s friends and a picture showing a cat happy and settled in their new home is just pure magic.
I’m really proud to be a fosterer for Lulu’s Friends, and if I ever think it’s too hard, I return to that one goal – by doing what I do, I can give cats a helping hand when they need itmost.
I could not have envisaged that adopting Ding, that little furry friend, could have led me to fostering 19 cats (at time of writing), and I’ll always be grateful to Ding for leading me down this path, and to Lulu’s Friends for being so supportive, and for the incredibly hard work the team put into helping animals in need.
❤️
Leave a Reply