Meet Joshua, thankful of the work of Gen Crowe and other foster carers helping Canberra’s cats before they move into their forever homes. Photo: Gen Crowe.
When remembering the foster cats that have called her place home, some stand out to Gen Crowe.
One is Joshua, who spent about two months in foster care last year while getting over injuries.
“He was recovering from surgery and he needed time away from the shelter,” Gen says. “When I picked him up, the girls and guys in the cattery team said he’d already been there for two or three months.
“He took maybe two or three weeks to come around to me. He was happy to hang out with me, [but] he’d sit in the corner of the room and just watch me.
“Once he was feeling better, I still remember the first time he lent his head into my hand, let me pet him and started purring. It got to the point where I could brush him, pick him up and cuddle him, and kiss him on the head.”
Now, Canberrans are asked to consider signing on as short- and long-term foster carers of a new four-legged friend from the RSPCA ACT.
CEO Michelle Robertson says the call has gone out as the shelter sees a spike in the number of surrendered animals.
“Traditionally, this [time of year for cats] is the busiest period because kitten season means we have these massive volumes of cats coming in,” she says.
While experienced foster carers are invited to join the RSPCA ACT’s ranks, Michelle says the appeal is also open to first-timers.
“We’re not targeting anyone specifically. It’s a very broad request and a call out,” she says.
“[For the cats that] would require really specialised care, we have more of our experienced fosters that would be more suited because they [the cats] would require a lot of training and a lot of experience.
“Of course, it’s easier if people have experience [looking after cats], but certainly the intent is also to grow our foster network.”
Each cat foster parent will be supplied with food, bedding and other equipment, as well as given access to RSPCA vets.
Helping Canberra’s cats before they move into their forever homes – as with Yuki – is rewarding for animal and human, Gen says. Photo: Gen Crowe.
Once home, the foster parents’ duties include feeding, helping their cats through vet care and socialising – and of course, offering plenty of cuddles and play time.
Michelle says even a short time in foster care can be life-changing for the cats.
“They experience life. They get socialised,” she says.
“They get the sense of the hair dryer and vacuum cleaner and those type of things, which means eventually that when they are ready for adoption, they’ll already be exposed to many of those things.”
While saying goodbye can be difficult, Gen says fostering offers an option for those who can’t commit to full-time pet ownership.
“I can’t afford to have a pet of my own at the moment, so it’s great I can still have have an animal in the house. But I also get to help them,” she says.
“It’s just super rewarding. I can see I’m making a difference with the cats that come into my care.
“Usually they’re sick or they’re quite shy. Then by the time I send them back to the shelter, they’re happy and they like to be petted and picked up and cuddled.”
The RSPCA ACT’s shelter is located at 12 Kirkpatrick Street in Weston (off Cotter Road). It’s open for animal viewings 10 am to 3 pm (Monday to Friday) and 10 am to 3 pm (Saturdays).
Further information on the foster care program can be found online.
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