Kitten Foster Helps Little Ones Get a Healthy Start in Life

Young kittens often arrive at Baypath Humane Society unexpectedly. People find orphaned kittens fending for themselves outdoors, or rescue a stray cat and find she’s expecting. These vulnerable cats and kittens are especially susceptible to illness during this time, and need care in a safe home environment. That’s where volunteers like Jessica Chauvin come in. She is one of a team of foster volunteers who nurture mama cats and their kittens until they’re ready to be adopted. She also cares for adult cats who need extra TLC. We recently spoke with Jessica about her experience.

How did you get started fostering kittens?

I kind of just fell into it, really. I had noticed on Baypath’s Facebook page they needed an emergency foster for a pair of adult cats. It was only going to be for two weeks. I offered and took them home. After the two weeks was up, I brought them back and they were adopted out. A little time later I received a call about a mom cat and kittens who needed help, so I fostered them until they were ready for adoption. In 2013, I received my first set of orphaned kittens and have been fostering ever since.

What do you like best about fostering?

The constant flow of kittens. What is there not to like. I always have cuteness in my house!

Seriously though, the ability to help save lives. Many of my fosters are rescued from the streets. Without our intervention they'd live a very hard and short life.

Is it hard to give up the kittens when they're adopted?

It is the hardest part of the whole process. But the love and joy that overwhelms me when a scared kitty finally opens up and shows affection far outweighs any sadness that will come when it's time to let them go. They are adoptable because of the effort and time we put into their health and well-being. There is no greater reward then seeing them happy and loved in their new furrever home. Letting them go opens up my home to be able to help more kittens.

Do you foster adult cats as well?

Yes. Sometimes when cats come in, the shelter life can be overwhelming and they don't adjust well. Getting them into a home can help put their nerves to rest and help them get adopted quicker.

How long have you been fostering and how many kittens have you cared for?

Six years, and I've probably had close to 300 kittens.

What does fostering entail?

Lots of love, patience, and an open room. Kittens need to be separate from any other pets in the home, so it's best to have a room just for them. Kittens also need vaccines every two weeks so they'll need to be brought to the shelter for those.

Can you share a particular fostering experience that stands out to you?

One moment that stands out is when I had 13 kittens at once. That was fun! At the time we didn't have many fosters but were inundated with kittens, so I opened my home to as many as the shelter needed me to take.

Learn more about fostering.