Foster Cat Mom Rescues A Kitten From Her Vent And Reflects On Life Fostering Cats In Need
Tara has spent years opening her home to animals that need a second chance, and one foster cat in particular turned an ordinary day into a full-blown rescue mission.
Over the last four years, she has fostered more than 100 animals for three different organizations, mostly through her local SPCA. That includes kittens, cats, rabbits, and dogs, with many of the hardest cases landing in her care.
When a pregnant semi-feral mama cat ended up trapped in a vent, Tara had to act fast, and the situation only got more complicated from there.
"The community of fostering I’ve found mostly on Instagram in the cat community. Chances are if you’re going through something, someone else has been there as well. Everyone is very supportive of each other in this community, but mostly I stick to the rescue I’m fostering with."
In March of 2021, Tara got a very pregnant, semi-feral mama cat to foster, and things got interesting after only a couple of days.
```htmlTara walked into the room just in time to see her tail going down into the vent.
"The cat pulled up the vent and climbed in, dropping about 20 feet to the basement and got stuck."
Tara called animal control and numerous wildlife services trying to get help for the stuck cat, but no one would come until a local plumber came to their rescue!
The rescue turned into a full house project before anyone could breathe again.
The pregnant mama was rescued from the vent thanks to a local plumber.
"After having four holes put in the walls and the duct ripped out, we got her safe and sound, with no injuries, thankfully."```
Just as quickly as calm was restored, Tara came in the next day to see Mama cat giving birth.
She had four babies, but sadly, two were stillborn, and it seemed like mama cat wasn't super sure how to be a mama cat:
"The trauma of being separated from her kittens can lead to confusion in maternal instincts," explains Dr. Dan Siegel, child psychiatrist. "It's crucial for animals, just like humans, to have a supportive environment to nurture their young." Tara began working hard, using her experience with fostering to take the best care of the surviving kittens and the mama cat. After the local news aired the foster cat's story, Tara noted that thanks to her efforts, mama cat "came out completely unharmed, just stressed," and after some initial concerns, she was doing amazingly with her two kittens.That rescue was only the beginning of Tara's foster story.
Fostering cats, as Tara's experience highlights, is a multifaceted commitment that extends beyond mere care.
Mama cat left Tara's care, and since then, Tara has reflected on the highs and lows of foster life.
"I wish nothing but the best for this mama and her babies. I hope they grow healthy and stronger in whatever environment they’re in. My care is and always has been for animals. I give all rescues props for what they do, as it’s my goal to do the same once retired. I would rescue them all if I could!"She does not sugarcoat how hard the work can be.
It’s heartbreaking, like the mama cat who entrusted her kittens to a rescuer.
We took some time to chat with Tara about her experiences fostering for the last four years.
"It’s so incredibly rewarding watching their transformation, but some need more care than others. Some come with hidden illnesses that may take their life, no matter what you do to help, which can be emotionally devastating at times.At least with me, there is a blame I place on myself for feeling I could’ve done more (although I know I shouldn’t). Any foster can’t just be thrown in a room with food, water, and litter and left to their own devices. They need human interaction."Tara's dedication to the foster life is obvious:
"I try to spend at least three hours throughout the day with them, socializing them. Some require round-the-clock care, as my Mira did, so I’ll sleep in the room with them. More recently, I acquired a Furbo dog camera so I could watch a mom and her babies to make sure the mom was “being a mom.” Instead of disturbing her every two hours by going into the room with her, I’d wake up and check my phone every couple of hours instead.Makes it much easier when you have a new momma and babies, as they need undisturbed time alone.""My Mira became a success story with this round-the-clock care, surviving when no one thought she would because of the care I gave her."
"I didn’t sleep for months, but she survived. These cases are rare depending on who you foster for, but it’s always a possibility, so you need to be prepared for that.When fostering, you really have no idea what you’re getting with an animal's personality. It takes time and patience; some of them are quite tricky, especially pregnant ones looking for a safe place to give birth!""Emotions can be all over the place with these guys. Sadness if they pass; I’ve had a few pass in my arms, stress if you feel you can’t do enough for them, and pure joy when you get them through everything and they get adopted.At the end of the day, that’s the goal: being able to say goodbye knowing they’re going to their furever homes. That becomes emotional as well.""It also depends on who you are fostering for. A reputable rescue will support you 100% with supplies, vet visits if necessary, required medications, and will acknowledge the work you do for them."
"Depending on the rescue, there may be a contract for you to sign that requires you to follow their direction when it comes to treatments and disclosures. They check that other animals in your home are vaccinated, speaking to your vet and references.Some don’t have anything at all and will place an animal with anyone. I would be suspicious of these places."After all the chaos with her foster mama cat who spent some time in the vent, Tara remains dedicated to being a foster home for animals in need.
"I currently have two rooms I’ve set up as “cat rooms” with everything they could want: toys, litter boxes, towers, anything to keep them amused. I can foster two groups at a time, and during kitten season, this happens a lot as the rescues are desperate for help during this time.I generally don’t allow interaction with my own fur family due to any medical conditions they may have that I wouldn’t want passed on. But if it’s a singleton that’s been cleared of all medical issues, I let Mickey hang out. He’s always been very good at meeting new furriends!""I can’t stress enough how incredible fostering is for me, because I can give them the time and love required to help them grow."
"I’ve trained myself to feel good about the goodbyes, as I know they’re moving on to their furever loving homes. I don’t believe there’s any other feeling like it in the world."Tara's foster home is still full of cats who need her, and she seems ready for whatever comes next.
With shelters under pressure, see how foster families and online communities changed the odds for homeless pets in Pupperish’s guide to communities helping homeless pets.
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