Each year in the United States, approximately 6.3 million pets end up in a shelter, with about half of those being cats. It’s hard to imagine, right? Of those 6.3 million pets, about 920 million pets are euthanized each year. Approximately 530,000 euthanized animals are cats. These are alarming statistics. It’s heartbreaking to think that so many pets who were once loved, or who at least wanted to be loved, end up alone and scared in a place they don’t know.
Numbers like this can make us feel helpless and think, “But what can I do?” Especially when we aren’t in a position to adopt, perhaps because life doesn’t warrant a long-term commitment right now. But there is something you can do. Fostering is a great option when you can’t adopt but still want to help. Here are five reasons why fostering is awesome.
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You save a cat who might otherwise be euthanized.
If you foster a cat in need, then very simply you’re helping to save their life. You’re giving them a chance to feel safe and loved while they wait for their forever family to find them. A cat who feels safe and loved is more likely to get adopted.
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You give a cat a chance to stress less so their true self can shine.
Some cats do fine in a shelter, while others don’t. When you take a cat out of a shelter, you give them a chance to transition out of constant fight or flight mode. As they get more comfortable, their personality starts to shine, which helps them to truly meet and get to know their forever family.
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You support a cat’s critical transition.
As a foster, your role is transitional. But let’s not downplay a transitional role. You get to be the bridge between homelessness and home. Your transitional role is crucial and incredible.
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You open up space in the shelters for other cats.
Every cat that leaves a shelter, whether through adoption or fostering, creates space for another homeless pet. So you’re not just saving the life of the pet you foster. You’re saving the life of another pet too. That’s paying it forward.
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You get to gear up for the big cry.
If you love animals, then let’s face it… when your foster does find their forever family, you’re probably going to feel sad or even cry. When you foster with CFFR, you take an active role in finding the right adopter match for your foster cat. After they’re gone, you’ll miss them, you’ll worry and you’ll wonder what they’re doing. But it’s better to love and let go than to do nothing. And plus, many CFFR fosters keep in touch with adoptive families. Lastly, you just might decide to foster again.
Former foster kitty, well adjusted and living her best life in her forever adoptive home!
Thank you for considering being a foster! To learn more about being a foster, visit Colorado Feline Foster website’s Foster page. This page explains what CFFR needs from its fosters, what you can expect when you foster and the application to become a foster.
Sources:
- ASPCA Pet Statistics: Provides statistics about the average number of pets who end up in a shelter each year and the number of pets that are euthanized each year in the US.
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