Cat update!

Hi, all!

I just got word that Easton got adopted! Yay! He's my first official one, that I've received word of.

Currently, I have Poseidon and Plato, two kittens that I think are from different litters. One of them isn't eating so much, so he's headed to the vet tomorrow morning, to get his eating habits back up to where they need to be. Plato eats anything I put down, with a little help from the KMR formula I have been mixing in. Here is a photo of the babies I currently have.

Plato is a little larger than Poseidon. As a side note, it's worth mentioning that as a new foster, I've learned somuch in such a short time. Since I started during kitten season, that means there is a giant need for homes for kittens. I've realized over the past couple weeks that if you're dealing with kittens, no case is ever the same. Eleanor and Evelyn were under-socialized and Poseidon now has some food issues. I'm realizing very quickly that nothing is ever set in stone, each situation is different, and as a foster you have to learn to expect anything. Nothing is ever routine, and I think that's the hardest part of fostering that I've had to come to terms with. I guess if you're looking to do this, make sure you're giving it plenty of time before and after your work schedule. I get up at 7 a.m., and don't leave work until about 9 a.m., just because everything always takes longer than expected.

I often feel easily discouraged, rather quickly, especially with the less time I allow myself (especially in the morning) before work. I can't stress enough that when you think something will only take 30 minutes, it might take an hour. I didn't expect that I'd have to feed Poseidon with a spoon, then get kitten formula, and now, I'll have to feed him in the bathroom, so that there are no other distractions. And all the while, I keep having to remind myself that this is a process, that takes time to learn, like how a kitchen is too big for two tiny kittens, or how blocking off the radiator, so that they can't crawl under it, is something that likely will save me eons of time, in an attempt to avoid having to get them out.

So for now, I guess I'll keep repeating to myself: patience and time, as that is what is needed to be successful as a foster, and that nothing is ever routine. I guess I got what I wanted, when I wanted something that would keep me busy, because I sure got just that!

The "Cat"astrophe of Easton, Evelyn, and Eleanor

In the several weeks that I've been fostering cats, here are some of the things I learned, that no one told me.

     1: Liquid doxcycline is a godsend. It comes in powder form, but you shouldn't HAVE to crush it if you're new to fostering.

     2: Feral cats are different than "just regular" kittens. The last bunch of cats I had, had been accustomed to some sort of human contact. The ones I have now, ehhhh--2 out of 3 have not. I didn't know this going in and have had a very difficult time socializing the two girls I have. People keep telling me to give it up, that this isn't for me, that I should find something else, but if I do that, cats without homes have one less place to go. So, I'm not giving up.

     3: I wish someone told me that it might be easier to handle ferals if I have a large metal cage. This is also information that I just found. Maybe I won't time before these ones go back to PAWS (Friday, at the request of PAWS, if they're healthy), but I am definitely going to invest in one of those.

     I am not experienced with feral cats, so socializing them has been a challenge every day. At night, i go home to feed the cats, also giving myself time to unwind, and then spend at least an hour and a half throwing treats across the floor and playing with the kittens.  The funny part is, Easton always runs to the treat before the girls can get to it. I think we'll be doing 1 on 1 playtime tonight. I'm learning very quickly that this is all a complete learning process for us all.

Pet Foster

     So I recently decided to foster cats with a small rescue group in the area. I have never done this before so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I applied online, and within the same day I got a call to pick up one cat within 24 hours, and a second the next day. This was quite fast, as I thought I would have to go through some kind of training, or moreover, that someone would call me and ask what my experience/qualifications are as a pet foster. This was not the case. Within the two days, I had to pull money together to get a litter box, cat litter, a couple cans of cat food, etc.: the basics. Luckily I had enough money to do so, but I was worried that I wouldn't have enough, and hadn't planned on getting all of this before last weekend, as I didn't know the process would move so quickly.

     The second cat ended up having a URI or upper respiratory infection, and I was told I needed to make a concoction with two doxycycline pills, mixed with Karo corn syrup and water, put it into a syringe and give it to both cats ( the one that was well just as a precaution) according to their weight. For someone who has never done this before, I was freaked out. Some of the group members reached out to me, but no one volunteered to take the time to show me exactly how to do this. The sick cat was very congested, coughing, and sneezing. I was majorly concerned that I would over-medicate the cats if I couldn't get their weight correct, not to mention, I had bought a food scale, that I was having trouble reading, and didn't know how to get the cats to stay still long enough to get the weight. This was slowly becoming a complete frustration, and I felt that maybe I made the wrong decision to foster animals. I was beginning to feel completely defeated.

    24 hours into getting the medication issue out of the way, the sick cat was still coughing and congested, and I told the owner of the rescue that I planned on bringing the cat to the vet the next morning. This was Saturday night. I then messaged her the next day, as I was leaving for the vet the next morning, AND called her. Her calls were going to straight to voicemail, and she had just gone on vacation a couple days ago. When I called one of the core foster contacts, she she said that the owner was on the west coast, and probably wasn't answering due to the time change. I would have paid, but with all the lack of communication I had had thus far, I didn't feel comfortable paying for the vet bill, and facing the risk of not getting reimbursed, so she offered to pay for it. When I arrived at the vet's office, the authorization still hadn't been called in. It only got called in while I was standing at the front desk. I really thought this cat was NOT going to be seen today. Even after the vet issued liquid medication for the cat, the owner complained to me how it's expensive to get the medication in liquid form.

     Fast forward two days, and I have decided that I will no longer be taking care of these animals and will be bringing them to one of the locations within the rescue group. I have thought about keeping these cats until they're adopted, but with how terrible the whole process has been with things like a major lack of communication, not being informed, and not having the full process explained as to how it works, I have had enough. I feel that in an effort to avoid having to deal with this group anymore, it is in my best interest to have them take care of the cats from here on out.

     I looked up how to turn a bad experience into a good one, as I am having a hard time telling myself that I didn't fail, and that I should continue to foster animals. I learned that when you have never fostered before, it's better to go with a larger, more reputable rescue group. I have since applied for PAWS, and am awaiting to hear back about the next steps. I have learned that all rescue groups are not the same, and if these small things are issues that you, yourself don't feel comfortable with, don't be afraid to tell the group owners. If I knew then what I know now, I would have asked them what the process for administering medication was. I would have asked if there is a backup person to approve authorizations, and I would have asked how new foster volunteers are trained. I try to keep in mind that I helped saved two lives, and those two happy-go-lucky cats are now playing and running all over my apartment together. I am proud of myself for speaking up when I felt something was wrong, even when I was accused of having a negative attitude. The group's criticism made me come extremely close to giving up and quitting for good. I'm glad that I haven't.
   
     I originally got into this because I have anxiety, and know that pets can be a relief for that. I also just wanted to help be a temporary home for animals, as I am now allowed to have cats in my new apartment, and want to help as many of them as possible, and I can do just that by fostering. I know that this isn't an easy process, and it's not one in which I didn't expect to work, and have some bumps in the road. But to be left on my own to crush pills, measure them, and administer them, is not something that I signed up for, nor is it something that they should have left me to do on my own, for the first time.

     I am now looking forward to volunteering for a more organized, structured rescue group, and know that my efforts will be rewarded when I see the cats I've fostered go to good homes. I know that I'll have much better support with PAWS, and that though there will be some difficult times, I won't be left feeling alone. More to come later...

Here we go!

    Tomorrow I will take the first of several steps to have a better life. I suppose in a way, I've already done that, by choosing to attend college, but tomorrow is a fresh start, of sorts. It's my last day at a job I've been at for three years, as a receptionist for a law firm. To say the least, I've loved the place I'm at, but I've simply outgrown in, with graduation approaching (Sunday!), and the student loans to come soon, as well. I've also finally recently acquired my very own apartment, in which I'll be moving into September 1st! I cannot wait! With so many changes approaching, I thought it was time to look for a new job, as I just got back a couple weeks ago from Luminosity Beach Festival in Amsterdam.

     After emailing Beacon Staffing in Chicago, and a slightly tedious process (as the new job process can often be), I took one of two job offers that I received (TWO! 😖) and I can't wait to start next week. This job will allow me to end my ride-sharing career (if I want), and have much more time to do fun things. I think it's a nice way to end one chapter, and begin a new one, especially with the extra added time I'll have on my hands, now that I will have graduated. So, with that said, I've started applying for places to volunteer including AARP's Drive to End Hunger, a potential volunteer position at Chicago Animal Care and Control, and even with Musicians on Call!

     Also, I'll have my hands full with this princess! Her name is Twix, and she belongs to my brother, but my sister, Kelly and I are keeping track of her whereabouts lately. For now, anyway. 

     Here's to much better Caturdays and fun! 

If there's one thing I'm grateful for, it's the addiction to plants that my Grandma passed down to me. While she was an absolute pro at making orchids bloom (something far too advanced for me to even fathom), I'm grateful that I've been successful at growing and splitting bunny eared cacti, kept a ball cactus alive since 2013, and replanted various other cacti. Just to be able to split plants and re-pot them is something that feels so cool, as it becomes even more fun to watch it thrive soon after. It's so cool to watch something blossom, bloom, and grow after I've replanted it. This act of replanting, and growing plants is something I will carry with me anywhere I go, and every time I do so, I can't help but think of how proud my Grandma would be, of me, in making things beautiful and renewed over and over again.

Wow, yall! It's been a really long time!

I've been traveling over the past couple years, and I think I want to start blogging about my travels, adventures, excursions, stories and places I've been. Like Amsterdam! I'll be going back soon, and I'm currently looking into Ireland with my mom, as she's ALWAYS wanted to go there. We're finally going to make it happen. More to come soon! :)