Fostering Birdie and her kittens

I’m fostering a cat and her four kittens from the TAS (the Toronto Animal Services). Back when my sister fostered kittens, I remember them being stinky—but these four little angels just smell like warm milk. I’m sure it’s in no small part thanks to their incredible mama cat. Even though the mom is young herself, she’s attentive and diligent with her babies.

I think the kittens are ~3 weeks old, because their ears have just unfolded and their eyes are open (although they’re still blue). Their first teeth are coming in, and they’re wobbling around the room, exploring. They haven’t quite gotten the hang of playing yet.

I’m not sure how long the group will be with us—the TAS didn’t give me a timeline. But for now, I’m just enjoying their company. It feels nice to be able to give a mother cat and her babies a safe, comfortable place to stay. It never feels like the “right” time to foster, and certainly when the email came in on the Friday before a long weekend, I wasn’t sure if it the right call. But it was Thanksgiving, and we have a lot to be thankful for—why not share some of that with a cat family in need?