Kitten Season Chronicles Pt II

Mark — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:10:47 +0000

I recently returned to see the SPCA foster kitties I first photographed a few weeks ago. Now at 6 weeks they were larger and stronger and no longer needed to be syringe fed. Unfortunately, two of the original 5 had become sick shortly after I visited and didn’t have the strength to fight off whatever illness they’d picked up. This is always an inherent risk with foster kittens, especially extremely young ones. Now there were only 3: Ernie, Oscar and Kermit (I mention this not to dissuade folks from fostering — in fact, it’s fostering programs like this one that actually save countless kittens each year–but it is serious and sometime emotionally difficult work, particularly with the very, very young kittens that everyone should be prepared for)

It was very different visit this time. All the kittens were acting very much like little cats: prowling, playing, batting low-hanging objects, etc. And, if it’s even possible, I think they actually may have gotten even cuter.

I’m planning to stop by again at least once or twice to check their progress but with the three catsketeers growing larger and stronger every day they seem out of danger and on their way to being made available for adoption.

Anyone reading this who wants to help can do so by becoming a foster parent or, if that’s not for you, you can still make a big difference by spaying or neutering your cats, volunteering at a shelter, or donating to a local rescue group.

Ernie in the window

Ernie at bat

Ernie in profile

Kermit practices for Halloween

Oscar the basket case

Oscar and his enormous toy

Ernie on patrol

Ernie Investigating

Kermit

Ernie

So much bigger this time

Kitten Season Chronicles Part 1

Mark — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:00:54 +0000

This post is a bit of a departure for me. It’s the first of several you’ll see in the coming weeks focusing on what’s known as Kitten Season in the animal-welfare world. For those who don’t know about Kitten Season it essentially runs from spring through fall when the warmer weather converges with female cats’ heat cycle and animal shelters start bursting at the seams with unwanted kittens. Organizations such as the San Francisco SPCA are on the front line dealing with this kitty deluge through fostering programs, adoptions and spay/neuter clinics. Other, more species-specific welfare organizations here in the Bay Area such as Nine Lives Foundation (to be featured in an upcoming post) are also extremely busy this time of year.

For this first post I’m focusing on a foster family for the SF SPCA that’s taken on five 4-week-old kitties until they’re stong and old enough to be put up for adoption. It’s tough and exhausting work: the kitties need constant feeding, cleaning and attention and are very vulnerable. The shots below were taken on their second day at the foster home.

Caveat: while photos of kitties are inherently cute I really want to stress how serious an issue Kitten Season is (or pet ownership in general, for that matter) and urge anyone reading this to help by spaying or neutering your cats, volunteering at a shelter, becoming a foster parent or adopting.

Ernie the Foster Kitty

Ernie on the Prowl

Oscar up close

Ernie well in hand

Ernie Grooming

Ernie on watch

Bert the ninja

Bert batting his baby blues

Mary - syringe feeding kittens

Foster Kitten Feeding from Syringe

Bert, Ernie, Cookie & Oscar after dinner (covered in food)

Cookie Gets a Bath

Was that so bad?

Cookie hangs out with Shannon (foster dad)

Smile Like a Dog » Foster Kittens

Kitten Season Chronicles Pt II

Kitten Season Chronicles Part 1

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