Cat Shelter Needs Foster Homes

For several weeks, Deb Myrick hand fed Pooh Bear and her siblings — Buffy, Jodi and Cali — until they were strong enough to eat on their own.
The Community Cat Connection (CCC) on Main Street Webster rescued the four kittens after their mother was frightened away from the shed where they were born. And while Myrick already has six cats, she fortunately has a spare bedroom where she nestled the kittens in her arms and watch Animal Planet between feedings. “Sometimes we would take naps together,” says Myrick teary-eyed, clearly attached to Pooh Bear, who still needs a permanent home.

Now open by appointment only, CCC is desperately looking for foster homes for pregnant cats and others waiting for adoption. “We don’t want to bring newborn kittens into the shelter at this time,” Myrick explains, “because of a recent outbreak of tinea.” Tinea is a common shelter skin infection sometimes called ringworm, but there's no worm involved. Instead, it is caused by mold-like fungi and treated with the same anti-fungal medication used for jock-itch and athletes’ foot.
“Also, it’s very stressful to bring pregnant moms into a shelter with a lot of other cats because moms need a safe, quiet place to birth their kittens,” states Myrick.

Fostering a mother cat can be a very rewarding experience. To provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment, a homeowner must be willing to keep the mother cat and kittens inside at all times and to “kitten proof” the birthing area.

At four weeks, the kittens will start to show an interest in what the mom is eating. Mixing a little warm water with canned food and placing it in a container with low sides usually does the trick. In addition, kittens should be introduced to the litter box when they start eating solid foods. They will need a box with shallow sides, and an old cookie sheet usually works well for that purpose.

Most importantly, CCC asks that caregivers treat the foster moms and kittens with the same love and care that they give to their own companion animals. Daily attention (at least one full hour a day) from foster family members or friends makes the kittens more people-oriented and more adoptable. This includes petting, playing, cuddling, and grooming.
CCC provides foster families with support that includes: education about pregnant cats, testing of cats for feline AIDS and leukemia, medical attention when needed, help with supplies if the foster family is unable to pay, spaying or neutering of the mother cats and kittens, and finally - finding good permanent homes.

If you can provide a foster home for a needy cat, please call the Community Cat Connection at 508-949-0779 and leave a message. A volunteer will call you back as soon as possible, and thanks you for your kind support!