Another population of cats that frequently needs fosters is seniors, which is another option for those who can't do bottle babies. Like kittens, seniors are more vulnerable to infections in settings like shelters. They are also at greater risk of euthanasia because they can be harder to adopt out.
I started fostering last April. I haven’t done bottle babies yet, but I have recently taken a training and am waiting for the call. I’m a librarian and I had to get permission at work to keep a carrier under my desk, but my boss was really into it!
I sorry to ask but I really need help I have exactly two month old kitten do I need to give her milk the royal canin one or water is just fine and dry kitten food? Please advise I’m concerned
My mom used to say she didn't like cats, until 4 kittens were abandoned near her home. She took them in and asked everyone what to do. I sent her your channel, and now I have 4 new siblings 😅 That wouldn't be possible without the pandemic, but mostly, without the work you do. Thank you! 🖤
Morning! I'm a Pit Bull rescuer, and have 5 special needs lifers. My 75 yr. old neighbor has over 30 cats, which several started hanging out at my house, so I started feeding them. I started watching your RU-vid videos, and because of that I contacted a cat TNR 5013c and helped my elder neighbor TNR all his cats which came out to be 41 cats total!!🤦♀️ I fixed the ones on my side and scooped up 1 mama cats kittens and care for them. Just got kittens fixed, but now My family and I are too attached to give them up!! I just don't trust people. Thank you so much for sharing about cats. I keep you in my daily prayers. Mahalo from HI!
😻😻Thank you foster volunteers! I have the best cat who was fostered as an unweaned kitten. Open shelter would have put him down humanely if unable to find a foster volunteer by closing time.
Anybody who does this work is a saint. While I can't because I don't have the resources necessary, I donate monthly to both Humane Society and ASPCA. It's the least I can do for these gorgeous little creatures. Bless you, Kitten Lady!
I work at an animal shelter and I just want to say thank you to everyone who fosters 🙌🏻 the animals are so much happier and it takes some pressure off of us 😅 we love you, keep doing what you’re doing!!
Hi kitten lady! I'm 11 years old (almost 12) and we are currently fostering 2 kittens, Luna and Cosmo. I just really wanted to tell you how inspiring you are and you were the one who has helped me foster kittens! All of your videos are so helpful and they teach me a lot, but they are also so fun to learn! Thank you! 😄
@@rainyplays2215 well you have to feed kittens while you are at school because they are under 5 weeks! So I want to know how you managed that part. Since I too go to school!
@JustExisting Well start cleaning out that cat's box, take responsibilities for the cat that you have now and your mum might let you foster kittens, but don't forget you still have to help with the family cat.
@JustExisting kittens are even MORE work than cleaning up after your current adult cat. You'll be able to practice for kittens by doing that and then by the time you move out you'll be a pro.
Oof- so what about shedding season? I really wanna know cuz cats shed a lot off hair just like dogs , and I also know a mother cat which is shedding hair though (*-*)
Kitten Lady, you are so helpful with all this, my friend is taking care of a street cat who got a few kittens 3 weeks back, my friend was having a hard time taking care of the kittens since they were scared of her, so a few days ago I recommended your channel and it has helped her a lot. THANK YOU KITTEN LADY!🥰
I sorry to ask but I really need help I have exactly two month old kitten do I need to give her milk the royal canin one or water is just fine and dry kitten food? Please advise I’m concerned
@@sa-wt9nn I am not very sure but If I find a kitten I just put milk in a bowl for the kitten (they are two months so I think it will be fine) Just see if they will have milk. If they don't like milk try putting their favorite meal into the milk.
@@sa-wt9nn A two month old kitten does NOT need kitten milk replacement formula. They need solid food. They also need to be taken to a veterinarian for spay/neuter, vaccination, deworming, etc.
I'm currently doing an assignment for school all about how to get involved in fostering! Perfect timing! Thank you for introducing the world of rescue to me 💓
I just talked to my boss and she approved me bringing bottle babies into the office when we all go back :D I am so excited! I was worried I wouldn't be able to foster bottle babies anymore, and they are my favorite!
Some people dont understand how Fostering helps in so many different ways.animals that are to shy to get adopted become used to home life but in a shelter they usually become more timid.
I started fostering in July 2020. I’ve now successfully raised 15 kittens/cats in my tiny post-grad studio apartment. (At different times of course!) The organization I’ve worked with has been so creative and I’ll forever foster when I can!
My husband and I just found a 5 week old kitten last week and we both work full time. We know how overwhelmed shelters and fosters are right now so we decided to make it work and keep him. Since he is 5 weeks old (6 now) he can is ok while I work and I feed him over my lunch break. Since he is starting to eat food I won't even have to do that for long. I'd love to foster kittens but my husband doesn't think he could handle it emotionally. We accidentally fosterd 4 kittens when we adopted a pregnant cat. It wasn't hard for me to say goodbye because I know it was for the best. We do still talk about the kittens but I'd love to do it again.
I kept a few of my fosters, at first it was a little hard to let go because it was actually so much fun. My boyfriend complained at first but after they were here he couldn’t resist
I was home so much in 2020 I actually just noticed the cats outside in my city. One had babies which I never would have seen and we fostered two litters. My boyfriend complained about it at first but couldn’t resist the cuteness and ended up cuddling with them.
I ended up fostering a feral mom and six of her babies and your videos helped me nurse and give medical care to all the kittens who developed kitten flu and eye infections and ringworm. The kittens turned into snuggly purring healthy babies and my godmother who was helping me told me that they were the sickest kittens she had ever seen live. Thank you for your help via these videos
This video couldn't be more perfect; I started fostering during the pandemic because of you! 21 kittens later, my office is about to reopen and I'm thinking about what comes next. Thank you for all that you do; your supportive care videos saved at least one of my kitten's lives.
my dads allergic to cats so we are not aloud to have a cat of our own but he works in another country for 2 months and is home for 1 so me, my sister and my mum have decided to foster orphaned kittens that need round the clock care when hes not here and this has been so helpful
I really admire and feel inspired by you Hannah! This last year i was able to foster 54 kittens (+6 kittens and 2 mamas i have rn) and it's really just amazing to see them thriving and recieve photos from their adopter. Your channel and book have helped a whole lot, thank you for your excellent work!
I started fostering kittens last year because you inspired me to help. I fostered 3 litters in total and it was such as rewarding experience. When I found out I was being laid off from work, it was my fosters that me get through the sadness. 🥰
The most I spent on foster kittens is just on the playpen and food, almost everything else I got from thrift stores, and just cleaned/washed before use, some where even brand new. You can get a lot of baby blankets from thrift stores.
I don't have any knowlegde on how to care for kittens and last year I was given three kittens who are rejected by their mom! Stray cat mom, she was around but despite all our efforts, she didn't want anything to do with the kittens. I took them to the vet, got formula and stuff but I was so lost. Then I found you, and it was such a relief! You are helping people every single day with the videos! I am really sorry to say that they couldn't make it. We did everything we could. Maybe it's because they hadn't even nursed once or maybe they were already sick... But I'd like to thank you for all the info, if it wasn't for you, I couldn't have tried. Thank you kitten lady, from the bottom of my heart! Love from Turkey :)
Fostering kittens truly became such a popular thing in 2020. It was so incredibly heart-warming to see people step up! I personally took in 4 kittens that came to my backyard patio. They must have been from the same litter, and I looked everywhere in the neighborhood for their mother. Couldn't find her even though I looked for weeks after finding them, but having the kittens to raise felt so wonderful! They gave me a great sense of responsibility and I just love and adore cats/kittens anyway!
Kitten lady: You are beautiful. What you do for these babies is beautiful. You are one of a kind. Thank you!!! I am proud to say that every cat I have owned (I currently have 2) have been rescued or strays. ❤❤❤
Watching Eloise explode hair everywhere as you pet her is peak relatable lol Also, my mom and I started fostering during the pandemic as well! Unfortunately our living situation has changed and we can't anymore, but we're still in touch with the rescue we worked with (Sparkle Cat -- you gave us a bunch of litter! Thanks again!) and will definitely see if we can again in the future!
We had a pregnant stray find us at our cottage this summer and after some deliberation decided to foster her and her kittens. I am not a cat person so it wasn’t an easy decision but I’m grateful we did. The impact on my kids was so overwhelmingly positive and really gave them something so hopeful to do when they were feeling the impact most. Still not a cat person, but who doesn’t love kittens? We did keep Mom and one baby, the other were adopted together. Happy result all around although our furniture and clothes will never recover from having 10-12 week olds. Our house isn’t set up to isolate babies from our two but would absolutely consider doing it again once the teenagers have flown the coop.
@@boomer1954ful I’ve given it a fair chance, but I’m somewhat indifferent to our own. They’re really good cats, nothing wrong with them. They’ll never learn my secret and think I’m part of their fan club like the rest of the family (as it should be with any beings I take into my home). But I like babies of all sorts and the idea of being useful while taking care of something that needs me is appealing. Then, when I don’t want more cats around, I can take a break. I’d have been happy to forgo ownership and just foster but my kids are convinced they have the best and cutest cats in the whole wide world so....
I had a bookshop in Ohio wherein shelter cats were fostered and then adopted by customers. More than 50 were adopted from my shop over the years. I then wrote a series of novels about the experience (Shelve Under C: A Tale of Used Books and Cats is the first) to encourage other shops to look into fostering dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. The business that took over my location continued to foster, thankfully.
Very cool to be mentioned in one of your videos (18:35)! I hope some folks are inspired to start a conversation with their workplace about bringing kitties to the office. There’s no harm in asking, and you may be pleasantly surprised!
When I fostered I did older kittens or mammas and babies. It worked for my lifestyle, and I got to play with and socialize tiny adorable kittens! Talk about a win win in my book!
I do TNR in and around my neighborhood, even traveling miles away to help other caretakers fix their cats. I'm very interested in fostering since TNR has prevented kittens here for about a year now, which I am very happy about! This video is very motivating!
PERFECT TIMING! Some stray dogs were barking outside my front door, looked out and they were in my Irises. I went out to chase them off since I had seen a feral sleeping there occasionally. Found a newborn kitten, umbilical cord stump still attached. Looked around and found 2 more scattered around my yard but still breathing and mewling. Gathered them all up, brought them in, put them in a box with a fluffy towel. I dressed (since I had been in bed) and ran to PetSmart and bought a tiny bottle and kitten replacement food. I will look for momma and try to reunite her but she’s so skittish it will be difficult. They were wet so I dried them. I did make sure they had their bottoms wiped in case she had been feeling them and were interrupted. Then logged on to your channel and am checking on what I need to do ... I did do a final sweep around the yard to check for any more babies.
One of my cats came to me from the fruit and vegetable market, when I was asked, if I need anything in addition to my order, "a kitten, maybe? ", so fostering in a setting, where you have customer contact, also has the advantage, you can screen future adopters, if they are regulars in the shop.
We've been fostering five kittens with a local stray cat for the last 8 weeks (our first time). Your videos have been helpful. Thank you. Wish we saw the webinar series early on though...LOL. It's been a fascinating and to be honest tiresome journey (so much poop). If I knew then what I know now it would have been smoother. I highly suggest a playpen type set as explained in this video because when they got old enough to run around....WOW! they get into everything. The food and litter costs have been considerably higher than expected so plan for that. Thankfully a local rescue helped out with vet visits (they all got diarrhea for a few days...appears to have been something mom ate) and then mom got attacked by a dog...did not have that on the planned agenda. Thankfully mom is ok but she needed antibiotics, pain meds and staples. We have some prospective adopters. Hopefully, we can get in and get them their first shots this week and get mom spayed (she's already gone into heat). Oh, and they love the Royal Canin kitten and mom canned food.
I fostered my first kitten and took him with me at work for 2 weeks, from about 3 weeks old to about 5 weeks. My coworkers didn't even realize I had a kitten with me the first week and after that they were delighted to come at my office to pet him. It was really surprising how easy it was
My mom sister and I started fostering during lockdown and did a few groups of bottle babies and weaned kittens, but once we returned to school (my mom is a teacher also) we started doing mom and babies and it’s been really great because we got them at one day old (even while we were home we never had babies that young). it’s been working well and I love watching them grow up from day one:)
Very inspirational video and message! I may take the plunge... I have always been reluctant because I feared a bad outcome like missing them too much or a kitten that dies. But now I see that was a bit cowardly on my part. Oh, and it’s good to see Eloise being such a lovebug.
This morning I had 8 foster kittens, 3 went for surgery and I’ll be getting 2 critical kittens this afternoon. Foster season is in full swing here in Washington state
I love love LOVE the message of please not waiting until you're in the perfect situation to foster and do it perfectly and have nothing else going on so you won't be overwhelmed etc. etc. - It's so true that situation will NEVER come! But you can absolutely do it!! People say the same thing about having kids actually, that's a cliche I've heard before - if you wait for the perfect time, you'll be waiting forever
We love your channel in our house!! You & your partner are amazing for all you do! Me & mine are doing this for a long time now & we still love learning new things from you guys!!! The customizable panel playpen has been a lifesaver for us & our fosters!!! Thank you for all you do!!! ❤❤
Thank you very much. I have learned a lot from your clips as just started fostering 2 kittens for 3 weeks. Hopefully, they will have a forever loving home soon.
I began fostering for the first time 3 days ago. A Feral I am feeding I thought was a male (i just got a trap to start trapping the 4 ferals I am feeding) turned out to be a female! She is very fluffy! In a torrential down pour (the 3rd of the day here in north Texas on monday) i saw her bring 2 kittens into my garage! I brought them in my house to save them from being wild themselves. I watched your webinars that first night!!! But I have a 14 year cat with medical issues. That makes this such a challenge. I have a play pen and metal play fence also from my 14 year old mini wiener dog who passed away in Feb. I just brought them out from my bathroom to the loving room. Wilson, my cat will soon find them. He is sleeping right now. He cant get up close because I have the play yard fence around the pet play yard. Wish me luck. I begin trapping in a week. But, how do I find home for these kittens when the time comes? The local foster people say they are full up and pet stores wont take kittens from anyone but them. What do I do when the time comes? I need some suggestions. If this go well, I will consider being a foster parent again in the future.
I've been fostering for a year (I got my first kittens on June 1st 2020) because of you, Hannah. I work with my local animal shelter and they do provide me with all the supplies! I invested in some extra ones too (litter genie and some cleaning supplies for extra safety between litters). It's been such a great experience and I'm totally going to continue in the future! I've helped about 40 kittens this year, mainly getting them around 4 or 5 weeks and keeping them until 8ish, and I'm so so glad I chose to foster. Thank you for all the resources you have provided! Your book, website, and youtube channel have taught me so much and I'm so grateful to you. As are my foster kittens (4 of whom are sleeping on me right now)!
sometimes you have to notify others so they can come see the kittens when they're up for feeding. at the 3-5 week-old level, you want a litter tray too. I got a fold-up pen that stays at work and travel by BART (transit). I don't go in often--I've been remote this last year, but it works.
I started fostering kittens 2 years ago (definitely inspired by this channel) and it has been such a good experience. This week I picked up my first litter with a special needs kitten (swimmers syndrome) thankfully they have their momma
It took me the whole of covid to finally convince my parent to let me adopt a cat. My parents want to see how me looking after one cat goes as a first-time cat owner (had dog, I'm 21 so will be my cat) before fostering but... I haven't been able to adopt as none are needing a home! I'm in the UK so I'm glad that the world is listening and helping our feline friends.
I hope people aren't going back to offices, we've shown there really is no need for most to return to an office building. I would love that businesses allow their employees who can, to continue to work from home so they may continue to optimize their lives, including kitten fostering! we've shown last year how outdated the work model of going to an office building when you have the technology at home is.
I’ve been taking kittens to work with me for the last 3-4 years ... only my supervisor knows . I have Himalayan’s and there’s times when the moms aren’t the best , or the mom has a large litter (7-8) and I have to supplement . One had kittens and didn’t produce milk . The kitten lady helped me save their lives . Thanks so much for all you do Hanna !
Right now, I am fostering 2 adult FIV cats. The shelter that I volunteer at takes care of any arising medical needs. They would provide food, but I'm happy to buy it myself.
I've gotten one foster in the last six months. He was gone to his forever home in maybe two weeks. That was over a month ago and I haven't gotten a second one. I don't know if this means the charity doesn't have another cat to give me (which is the best problem to have, honestly) or if they're just swamped with applications for the ones they do have to find more kitties for me. I'm now ordering a live animal trap online because a stray cat has turned up at my house recently and maybe this little lady was meant to be my next foster. Who knows?
@@ladycaticorn2950 Meaning you stuck your foot in your mouth and chomped down. Hard. There is nothing wrong with getting a socialized cat off the street and adopted if you have the resources. They're doing something kind and helpful for that cat. You shouldn't judge someone with the resources to do that.
Hi, after me and my friend saw some of your videos at the beginning of the corona and figured out what foster homes are. We really wanted to do that, and we learned a lot from your videos, from how to feed and what we need to take care of them in case of illness. After almost half a year! Our parents agreed and we took four kittens who were only a week old (two in each house) for me to do foster care for Simon and Garfunkel it was an amazing experience that happened a lot thanks to you thank you
I care about kittens (and animals in general) a lot, and I wish I could foster. My family won’t allow it though because we already have 3 cats living with us (adopted) and my parents don’t want to have to take care of more cats, because kittens can be a lot of work and based on my kittys personality’s they probably wouldn’t like having more cats. I really wish I could foster, and I will as an adult, but for now I’m just so grateful for the people who do foster. You are amazing Hannah, and all the rest. Thank you.
Omg you have no idea how much i needed this right now! I‘ve had the worst day in forever and i kid you not i was like „i need some kitten lady right now“ and then i see your upload! Im so glad you uploaded honestly you make me so happy. I Love every little video i’ve watched them all several times ... Love from germany cutie please never stop these uploads 😊
I help socialize ferals at a local-ish rescue. If you feed, you need to fix! And if you foster on your own outside a humane society or rescue program, please have a plan for when it's time to find homes. Cats of all ages need help and homes, so don't forget to trap and fix when you find kittens or get them from the shelter (ask for their location of origin and go trap the parents!). And encourage people with pets to get them spayed/neutered -- dumped/abandoned pets will keep the cycle going
I have 3 little kittens rescued in a flood at 3_4 days old , now 9 weeks we're keeping them my family fell in love with Dot , Bear and Freddie . I have other rescued cats ages 3 to 13 I have good vets and my daughter works with rescue so we have fur babies that need extra needs . My one baby spider is not well he has kidney failure he is 11 . It's not easy sometimes but I wouldn't do anything else . I've done it for 40 yrs and had 3 children one who has autism . He loves the fur babies it brings him in to the world he Helps me . It is hard if you haven't had pets but once you do it you will not go back . Karen Animal Welfare league Australia and my now 17 rescued fur babies.
Thank you so much for making this video. After years of wanting to foster, my husband and I are finally getting out of our tiny apartment and are in a position to bring kittens into our home. However, my long hospital hours and his very strict office job made me nervous about being able to provide care while we’re away. Knowing that there are options for different care levels is very encouraging, and I have decided to register as a foster home for weaned kittens and mothers with litters. Thank you for all that you do and for being a resource for nervous first-time foster parents!
The kitten lying on her back with the turquoise shirt is adorable (@ the 4:15-ish mark) and the one wiggling her ears while eating is also adorable. Eloise is saying , “Pet me, Mom, pet me”.
This is so wholesome! I fostered a kitten recently that I found off the street but I'm hoping to work with an organization in the future 😊 The kitten had burn marks and was found in the middle of the street so we think he was a stowaway and fell out of the car. We scooped him up and took care of him. I have 3 cats already so I wanted to foster and figured a kitten would find a home fast. Found one in 2 days! New owner had owned cats all their life and had an empty home they were excited to fill again. Happy ending! I like how you mentioned in the past fostering allows you to help more cats vs adoption with limited home space. Thats why I decided not to keep him, that way we have space for fostering in the future. PSA: check your car for stowaway cats before leaving!
The kitty at 11:05 looks so much like my girl. (And I know a lot of people say things like that, but I'm talking identical down to the layout of her markings. My girl's already been fixed, though.)
Those kitten care webinars were fantastic! I haven't yet gotten to watch the new recent one on kitten care for assessing and dealing with illnesses or other trouble spots kittens have, but I will soon, and I was glad to see this video show up. These and your usual videos on fostering really help encourage us, whether we are fostering cats or have our pets, or just when we need a lift, to see some good in the world, compassion and hope from kittens and cats and some fine people.
