| Spring is here, and with it lots of kittens. If you have | | | | will be the one administering the medicine. |
| an animal shelter near you, perhaps you want to | | | | You will also be responsible for taking care of the |
| consider asking if they send mother cats and kittens | | | | mother and keeping the kittens safe. With a mother |
| to foster homes and opening up your home to | | | | cat and her kittens visiting your home you will not be |
| foster a family of kittens. | | | | as free to go away, especially not on any overnight |
| Many shelters have found that sending the mother | | | | trips. |
| cat and her kittens to a foster home is a great way | | | | Those are the difficulties of being a foster home for |
| to save shelter money and a great way to keep the | | | | kittens. What are the benefits? First, the enjoyment |
| kittens away from diseases that are found at animal | | | | you get from helping these little creatures. Many |
| shelters. | | | | kittens kept at shelters do not survive because of |
| Offering your home as a foster home for kittens is a | | | | disease. It is not the fault of the shelter, but with all |
| great way to help the animal shelters, and a great | | | | the animals coming and going there is little chance |
| way to be involved in helping your community. But | | | | kittens won't get ill. Depending on how weak or |
| there are a few things you need to keep in mind. | | | | strong they are, these diseases can kill them or |
| First, if you already have cats, be sure to get them | | | | weaken them for the rest of their life. |
| vaccinated for the most common cat diseases. The | | | | Second, you will enjoy watching these kittens as |
| kittens and their mother that you take in could be | | | | they get old enough to play with each other. Kittens |
| carrying diseases such as feline leukemia and Feline | | | | are so cute, and you will get to enjoy them at their |
| Infection Peritonitis. | | | | cutest until they are old enough to be adopted out |
| You will also want to make sure your cats do not | | | | (which in some areas is at about three months). |
| have anything that could be harmful to the mother | | | | Third, if you want to get one or two kittens (or |
| and her kittens. Having your cats tested for worms | | | | more) this is a great way to get to know their |
| and given a health exam would be helpful in keeping | | | | character before making any decision. And if you do |
| the kittens healthy while they are at your home. | | | | keep any, you will have the pleasure of having |
| Another thing you want to consider is the | | | | known them since they were very tiny, which is a lot |
| responsibility. During the weeks you have them, until | | | | of fun. |
| they are old enough to be altered and adopted out, | | | | All these are great reasons to host a homeless cat |
| you will be responsible for their care. If they get sick, | | | | and her kittens if you are a cat lover. |
| the shelter will probably cover the expense, but you | | | | |