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

“In eighteen months I’ve successfully fostered 9 kittens; It usually starts with Kate in cattery saying ‘Liz, come and look at these kittens’…… I often tell friends I’m taking a break, but none of them are ever surprised when new kits arrive in my living room within a week of rehoming the previous tenants!

I’ve had some of them from a couple of days old, blind and deaf and needing to be fed every 2 hours and made to pee and poo. That was a revelation to me! They’re often no bigger than my hand when they arrive. Those 2 hourly feeds can be exhausting, but often I’m able to share the responsibility with a Mayhew staff member. The 2 hourly feeds soon change to 3, then 4 hours, so those first few weeks are quite challenging and restricting as I can’t leave home for long and sometimes it’s just hard work; I’ve had more than one late night emergency trip to the RSPCA hospital in north London, but with their help and the expertise of the Mayhew vets and staff all my kittens have thrived.”

“Other kittens have been older; a couple who needed encouragement to eat, one who was severely under socialised. That’s been so rewarding; from her running for cover every time I came near to now demanding lap time, attention and strokes.

A question I’m often asked is don’t I want to keep one? No. My joy comes from nurturing the wee things, helping them wean onto solid food, seeing them take their first brave steps out of their crate, discover toys, and laps and stairs, and climbing all over my living room. And of course playing with them, cementing our bond, and trying to teach them that no means no; not always 100% successful there, they are cats after all! Fortunately I live alone, so can easily adapt my life to fitting around their needs, a lot of which means me lying on the sofa while kittens snooze on my chest, always their favourite place.  It’s a tough time!”

“Of course I get attached, to all of them. I’m lucky to be able to meet the potential adopters, and it’s so great when they want my kittens, I feel I’ve done a good job in bringing up happy well behaved cats. Sometimes I’ve been able to visit them in their new homes a few weeks after they leave. The new owners are always surprised by the reaction I get; ‘Oh wow, he never comes to greet people like that/she never sits on our laps like that!’ I love that the kits remember me.”

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.