Fostering cats is Elliott's life's work
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By Ashley Martin
QC Magazine, The Leader-Post, April 18, 2013
Elliott has fostered 128 cats in the past four years. She also has three cats of her own, and a big dog named Sebastian, who she adopted six years ago from the Humane Society.
“Anybody that says dogs and cats can’t get along needs to meet Sebastian. He has won over every foster I’ve had,” said Elliott.
Elliott recently took on a mother cat named Rosie and her six kittens. When two more newborns were found outside the city, Rosie adopted the orphans as well. That brought Elliott’s household total to 15 cats in March, before Rosie’s six kittens were adopted out.
“When you’re feeding as many cats as I am around here you go through a lot of bags of food. Superstore usually looks at me crazy when I go in and buy four big nine-kilogram bags. I usually get asked how many cats I have.”
Q: Tell me about Rosie.
A: She started hanging around as a stray/feral outside (her owners’) house about two years ago and they started feeding her. ... At the end of October when the snow hit, she showed up on their back deck the one day making quite a bit of ruckus. When they went out to check what was going on, she had a litter of four babies sitting on their deck.Before she was done weening the first litter, not realizing that she could get pregnant while she was nursing, she ended up pregnant again with this litter.
Q: How did she come to adopt the two new kittens?
A: They were found by a concerned citizen out on a farm outside the city. I guess mama had decided to give birth in a cow stall and, after giving birth to these two little munchkins, got trampled. ... These guys were a couple of hours old and when they showed up here I didn’t think they’d make it the night. They were so very cold.Megan was 103 grams and Brigid was only 92 grams, so we’re talking two chocolate bars comparative weight. But all of Rosie’s kittens piled on top of them and warmed them up.
Rosie took over and did all the heavy lifting and it’s just been the last couple of days that she’s decided if I’m home I have to take care of them.
Q: Do you ever wish you could have some peace between bottle feedings and caring for so many cats?
A: There are the occasional moments when I wish my house wasn’t a zoo, but honestly I love what I do. Not everybody’s cut out for it and that’s OK ... but for me, this works. This is my life.I’ve gotten so used to it now that anything less than 10 just feels empty. That’s a sad statement to make; I realize that. (laughs)
Q: How does it feel when you have to give up your foster cats?
A: I go into it knowing that they’re temporary residents. The ones that are skittish or have been in less than desirable situations, my job is to let them know that humans can be affectionate and loving and what pet ownership is supposed to be. And then when they’re ready to go and the right home comes along, I feel gratified that they’re going to a good, loving home. ... It’s kind of nice when you watch somebody come and meet them and the connection being made, the bond being formed already.
Q: How do you know if it’s the right fit between a pet and a person?
A: The running joke is humans pick their dogs, but cats pick their humans. ... If you’re looking for a good-fit cat, you’re looking for a cat that wants to be interacting with you. And that’s the advantage to fostering. ... In the foster home you get a better sense of their personality. A cat that might be bouncing off the walls in a cage might not be all that energetic when they have free run of a house.I want them to go to the best home, not just a home. And sometimes that means they hang around for a while. My longest foster so far is nine months. The longest foster that we have currently with PFA has been with us for two years.
Q: Do you ever see a day where you won’t foster cats?
A: No, never. Can’t imagine it. I’ll be 90 years old in my rocking chair and I’ll still be fostering. And if I keep fostering the numbers I’ve been fostering, I’ll be well into the thousands by then.Last summer PFA had 149 cats in its care, and only euthanizes pets if there’s a medical reason to do so. PFA is always looking for foster homes.
If you can’t foster, you can otherwise volunteer. Visit pfasask.com to learn more, and to view the animals up for adoption.
Direct link to story: http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Fostering+cats+Elliott+life+work/8255395/story.html#ixzz2QsnEey3l
QC Magazine, The Leader-Post, April 18, 2013
Jaimie Elliott of People for Animals holds a litter of kittens
she has been fostering in her home in Regina.
she has been fostering in her home in Regina.
Photo by Bryan Schlosser, Regina Leader-Post
The pitter-patter of little feet is a constant sound in Jaimie Elliott’s house. For the past four years, the Regina woman has fostered cats for the non-profit animal rescue group People For Animals (PFA). When she found a stray in her back yard but knew she couldn’t afford to support another cat, her neighbour told her about fostering. She hasn’t looked back.Elliott has fostered 128 cats in the past four years. She also has three cats of her own, and a big dog named Sebastian, who she adopted six years ago from the Humane Society.
“Anybody that says dogs and cats can’t get along needs to meet Sebastian. He has won over every foster I’ve had,” said Elliott.
Elliott recently took on a mother cat named Rosie and her six kittens. When two more newborns were found outside the city, Rosie adopted the orphans as well. That brought Elliott’s household total to 15 cats in March, before Rosie’s six kittens were adopted out.
“When you’re feeding as many cats as I am around here you go through a lot of bags of food. Superstore usually looks at me crazy when I go in and buy four big nine-kilogram bags. I usually get asked how many cats I have.”
Q: Tell me about Rosie.
A: She started hanging around as a stray/feral outside (her owners’) house about two years ago and they started feeding her. ... At the end of October when the snow hit, she showed up on their back deck the one day making quite a bit of ruckus. When they went out to check what was going on, she had a litter of four babies sitting on their deck.Before she was done weening the first litter, not realizing that she could get pregnant while she was nursing, she ended up pregnant again with this litter.
Q: How did she come to adopt the two new kittens?
A: They were found by a concerned citizen out on a farm outside the city. I guess mama had decided to give birth in a cow stall and, after giving birth to these two little munchkins, got trampled. ... These guys were a couple of hours old and when they showed up here I didn’t think they’d make it the night. They were so very cold.Megan was 103 grams and Brigid was only 92 grams, so we’re talking two chocolate bars comparative weight. But all of Rosie’s kittens piled on top of them and warmed them up.
Rosie took over and did all the heavy lifting and it’s just been the last couple of days that she’s decided if I’m home I have to take care of them.
Q: Do you ever wish you could have some peace between bottle feedings and caring for so many cats?
A: There are the occasional moments when I wish my house wasn’t a zoo, but honestly I love what I do. Not everybody’s cut out for it and that’s OK ... but for me, this works. This is my life.I’ve gotten so used to it now that anything less than 10 just feels empty. That’s a sad statement to make; I realize that. (laughs)
Q: How does it feel when you have to give up your foster cats?
A: I go into it knowing that they’re temporary residents. The ones that are skittish or have been in less than desirable situations, my job is to let them know that humans can be affectionate and loving and what pet ownership is supposed to be. And then when they’re ready to go and the right home comes along, I feel gratified that they’re going to a good, loving home. ... It’s kind of nice when you watch somebody come and meet them and the connection being made, the bond being formed already.
Q: How do you know if it’s the right fit between a pet and a person?
A: The running joke is humans pick their dogs, but cats pick their humans. ... If you’re looking for a good-fit cat, you’re looking for a cat that wants to be interacting with you. And that’s the advantage to fostering. ... In the foster home you get a better sense of their personality. A cat that might be bouncing off the walls in a cage might not be all that energetic when they have free run of a house.I want them to go to the best home, not just a home. And sometimes that means they hang around for a while. My longest foster so far is nine months. The longest foster that we have currently with PFA has been with us for two years.
Q: Do you ever see a day where you won’t foster cats?
A: No, never. Can’t imagine it. I’ll be 90 years old in my rocking chair and I’ll still be fostering. And if I keep fostering the numbers I’ve been fostering, I’ll be well into the thousands by then.Last summer PFA had 149 cats in its care, and only euthanizes pets if there’s a medical reason to do so. PFA is always looking for foster homes.
If you can’t foster, you can otherwise volunteer. Visit pfasask.com to learn more, and to view the animals up for adoption.
Direct link to story: http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Fostering+cats+Elliott+life+work/8255395/story.html#ixzz2QsnEey3l
