An insight into what it’s like to be a Foster Volunteer at Mayhew, from Hannah: 

The first time my partner and I fostered was 10 years ago, back when we were footloose and child-free! We both worked full-time and had a lovely adult cat already, so we weren’t sure we’d be allowed to foster. But we filled in the application form, and not long afterwards we were entrusted with three gorgeous six-week old kittens!

Their mother was feral. She and her six newborn kittens had been found in a bush by a little boy, whose parents contacted the Mayhew for help. The mum was too old to adapt to home-living, so once the kittens were weaned, she was spayed and released back where she had been found, to continue her life without the burden of continually being pregnant or trying to provide for multiple kittens.

We got the three girls (the three boys went to another foster home) and from the first day they were so affectionate and playful. Many of our friends and family came to visit the kittens and we joked that we had never been so popular! All that socialisation helped them develop into super confident and friendly kittens.

Two of the kittens (Maggie and Holly) were adopted together. The third (Chrissie) we adopted ourselves as we just couldn’t bear to part with her! She’s a cat in a million and we’re so grateful for our first (but hopefully last!) foster fail!

Soon after, we were asked if we could help socialise a little kitten named Olive. She was a cowering, hissing bag of bones when she arrived, but within a week she was stretched out on our laps with her legs in the air and purring up a storm! She was quickly adopted, too.

After that, our circumstances changed for a while, and we had to take a break from fostering. It wasn’t until a few months ago that we submitted a new application form.

This time we had to declare not only two adult cats but also two young children! Luckly, that didn’t put off the Mayhew foster team, and once we got through the approval process we were entrusted with a very timid 3-month-old kitten named Jayne. That was just two weeks ago.

Poor little Jayne spent the first 36 hours hiding under our sofa. I began to worry that she would never come out! But now, I’m trying to type this with Jayne draped across both my arms and her big ears partially blocking the screen! (Any spelling mistakes, please blame Jayne!) She has totally transformed. She’s a big cuddler, and loves nothing more than chasing round the living room with the children until they’re all exhausted! She’s even taught herself to play fetch!

So far we’ve only had time to do a couple of introductory sessions with our adult cats. There was a little bit of hissing at first (from Jayne!) but we’re already seeing improvement. I just wish we could introduce her to a friendly dog as well! We’re keen to do everything we can to make her more adoptable, and of course to help her be a happy and well-adjusted cat for the rest of her life.

People have asked me if I’m worried how the children will react when Jayne gets adopted and we have to give her back. But even though they’re only 3 and 5 years old they seem to have grasped the concept of fostering really well. They understand that we’re just looking after Jayne until she can find her “best home” (as my son calls it). My son did say that Jayne is his best friend and asked if we would ever see her again after she’s adopted. But he was quick to acknowledge that if we kept all the kittens we fostered we wouldn’t be able to help anymore because we’d run out of room! We have a potential adopter visiting soon to meet Jayne and both our children have everything crossed that they will decide to give her the “best home” she deserves.

Gaining an animal’s trust is a uniquely rewarding process, and both the children have really benefited from being an integral part of it. Jayne rushes to meet them when they come in the room, and they’re so pleased and proud of her incredible progress! We hope to foster many more kittens and are grateful to the Mayhew for all their support and trust!

If this story has inspired you to volunteer with us, we’d love to have you! Please visit https://themayhew.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/ to find out more.