December 11, 2003

Remember homeless cats during the holidays
By Carin Schroff
Special to the Times

During the holiday season, most people are busy shopping and visiting with friends and relatives. Why not spread more holiday cheer by fostering a homeless cat or kitten during these cold winter months?

Many people don't know how rewarding it is to provide an animal with love and shelter during the time while the pet is homeless and in transition from the streets to a loving safe home.

Most shelters and rescue groups are filled to capacity with cats and kittens waiting for new homes. Many healthy cats and kittens are euthanized (killed) each day, because there simply is not enough space to house them all.

Foster cat and kitten givers are desperately needed. This is ideal for someone who lives here temporarily and misses having a cat or for someone who has been thinking about getting a cat and would just like to try one first, or just for someone who already has cats and wants to open their home to shelter a homeless cat or kitten while they await adoption.

The cats and kittens will have their vaccinations and already be spayed or neutered in most cases. Many times a foster home is needed shortly after the spay and neuter. With more foster homes, more cats will get spayed and neutered and fewer homeless kittens will be born which means less cats and kittens will have to be euthanized.

Each foster cat caregiver will be carefully qualified to ensure that each cat or kitten is placed in a safe loving home.

Foster cat caregivers are given first option if they decide to adopt the pet they are fostering. However, it is not expected of the foster giver to adopt the pet.

Open your home and heart, and you will be rewarded with laughter, purrs, and gratitude.

"And homeless near a thousand homes I stood, and near a thousand tables pined, and wanted food." ~ William Wordsworth

Humanity For Cats is not a shelter, but recruits and provides foster cat care givers to shelters and rescue groups throughout the Bay Area. If you have or know of a cat or kitten that needs shelter please call your local nonkill shelter or rescue group. If you are interested in volunteering in fostering a cat or kitten please contact Humanity For Cats at (408) 997-9332. For more information visit www.humanityforcats.com

Send us an email ( Julie@timesmediainc.com ) or a letter describing your pet (name, age, breed–where applicable) and where you obtained your pet (animal shelter, breeder, friend, etc.) and any funny stories or interesting information about your pet. Include your name, phone number, and the names of anyone else in the household. If there are children in the household give their ages too. Then send us a jpeg digital picture of your pet or a ‘real' print through the mail.