By Amy Richards

Fostering kittens is an investment.

First and foremost, it is an emotional investment. No one can take in an animal, even a healthy and well-adjusted one, and not get somewhat attached. And, then there is the time investment — from learning how to bottle-feed and dispense medication to socializing the little ones to get them ready for adoption.

But, one of the biggest hurdles rescue organizations face in attracting kitten fosters is the financial investment that is sometimes required of the foster parents themselves. Vet care is traditionally covered and some of the basics may be as well. But there’s always food, litter, toys, supplies, etc. that aren’t always provided as rescues spread out their limited resources across various programs. And, newborn kittens, in particular, need many essential items to keep them safe and secure as they grow into healthy young kittens.

What kittens need

What a kitten needs depends on how tiny they are and where they came from. If they don’t have a mother then they need something to keep them warm until they are approximately four weeks old. A SnuggleSafe (microwavable disc) or pet-safe heating pad are ideal. Regular heating pads can overheat the kittens and don’t work well for transporting them. If they don’t have a momma, a Snuggle Kitty plush works as a soothing stand-in and even has a battery operated heart to make them feel safe in “her” care. They also need soft, snuggly blankets to cover the heat sources and make them cozy and comfortable.

If the animals are dirty or infested with fleas, they will need a bath with kitten safe soap. Either Original Dawn dish soap or Johnson’s Baby Shampoo are preferred. They are gentle enough for use with kittens but will help get rid of any parasites that are bugging them. After bath time, they need to dry off, ideally with cotton washcloths. And for potty time and spot clean ups, fragrance-free baby wipes do the trick.

Now we can discuss the all important mealtime. Kittens can’t drink regular milk; they need Kitten Milk Replacement Formula. The two most commonly used brands are KMR by PegAG and Breeder’s Edge Foster Care. KMR requires refrigeration after opening the container whereas Breeder’s Edge is more shelf-stable. And, just like bottle-fed human babies, they need plenty of bottles and nipples. Miracle Nipples are recommended as they are generally safer and help reduce the chances of a kitten getting formula in their lungs. They also stand up better to wear and tear reducing the chances of a kitten biting a piece of the nipple and swallowing it.

How you can help

You can see how the costs of fostering quickly add up. So, to help reduce the financial burden on our wonderful fosters, HSLC created a Kitten Registry on Amazon.com. If you are able, please visit the registry today and select an item or two. Before checking out, make sure the shipping address is “Amy Richard’s Gift Registry Address”. Because HSLC is a foster-based non-profit organization with no physical shelter, I collect items for the foster caregivers and distribute them from my home.

Thank you for playing a pivotal role in saving the tiniest of lives in our community!

Calling all cat lovers! Celebrate all things cat at the library by making kitty crafts, sharing your favorite cat videos, and of course talking about your favorite felines.  The Humane Society of Loudoun County will have kittens and cats for you to meet, fall in love with, and adopt.

Check out the event on FaceBook to see more infomation.

To sign up to Volunteer and/or bring your Foster – click on the following link or copy the link into a new browser window: Sat. Sept. 22nd Volunteer and Foster Sign Up