
Are there any men who foster rescue cats? This is a just a straight question and the reason why I ask is because I have made two applications to be a cat fosterer to rescue organisations who say they need fosterers (one of them say they are desperate for fosterers – see the image above) and after waiting several days for a response to my several emails I am still waiting. I left a voicemail as well; no response.
I find this very strange as they advertise for fosterers. I would have at least expected a fairly prompt response saying they no longer require fosterers.
I live in a place recognised as good for cats meaning it is as safe as it can get in Greater London.
I have this dread feeling that there might be a certain amount of sexism in the cat fostering world. I could be badly mistaken and I hope I am wrong but I have drawn a complete blank when I feel I should have at least received a response.
The two places I applied to are: the famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Animal Rescue & Care (Richmond – near to where I live). Battersea is not far either.
The question I have is: is there sexism in cat fostering?
I love both Male and female. You are Probably right. I guess it comes to that usually Cat Carers are Female. Its very unusual to see Males. But i think its a good thing like changing of the times it used to be. As there are alot of feeling/empathic/sensitive Men out there. Which is always a good thing i believe.
Thanks Jayme. I do feel there is sexism in the fostering world. Or they know me from the website or my Google Plus profile page and have decided I am TROUBLE 😉
I wanted to foster for a while. I feel I need to nurture a cat. I have a need to nurture generally. To be a father. And I am lonely and bereft without Charlie.
You’d better come over and pretend you are me, then they’ll let me foster 😉
Would you like to foster Sidney Vicious for the next 20 years? Can’t keep him. Can’t get rid of him.
As anyone knows, the clergy is a minority – a subculture. So are matchbook and stamp collectors. Peace Corp volunteers. Model train buffs. Teetotalers. Nudists. Parakeet breeders. Protest marchers. Shriners. Spelunkers. Bibliophiles. Greenpeacers. Vegetarians & vegans. People who rescue cats. All are minorities.
But are slackers a minority? ‘. . .the production of unwanted cats at the source – irresponsible cat ownership by a minority?’ [MB]
If you walked them through the ABCs of caring for cats – neutering, a varied diet, ear-mite, flea and worm preventions, vaccinations, medical and dental care, fresh litter, a comfortable shelter – and costs, over the cat’s lifetime, not of hundreds but thousands of dollars, how many slackers would gaze at you with a vacant half-smile and profound incomprehension? Then tell you how much they love their cat?
Conversely, how many responsible people leave nothing undone in caring for a cat they neither want nor love? How many know that love for a cat leads them into wastelands of sorrow when the cat dies? How many are stuck with a new cat they cannot find a home for?
What caregiver with a grain of compassion can dump a cat at a ‘no-kill’ shelter? Or if ‘no-kills’ are a reality, how can he know the cat he’s walking away from won’t sit in a cage for months and years? And unless he’s naïve, what caregiver surrenders a cat to the first comer who offers to adopt it?
For many adopters do not feed cats – or cannot afford – a varied diet. Some also declaw. Neglect to provide the cat with medical/dental care. Shelter. Neutering. Protection from noise and unsupervised kids. Access to sunlight and fresh air. Rescuers know too many adopters who champion the view that ‘a cat’s only a cat! So lighten up!’
And what if a caregiver favors a certain type of adopter: a reasonably learned, peaceful couple, solvent, sessile and committed to each other for the lifetime of the cat?
Would caregivers swayed by this vision inflame potential adopters? Would some tell him what he could do with his cat?
That’s okay. The shelves of supermarkets and feed stores are crammed with high-quality cat food. Vet clinics are crammed with parents willing to spend their last dime on their fur-kids. And many potential adopters have fenced yards or enclosed fresh-air porches.
As for the joys of caregiving, can a cat fill the ‘hole’ in a caregiver’s ‘psyche’ and ‘life?’ [MB] He might to some extent, when he is young. But when he is old, he fills his parent with sadness. And when he dies – and long after he’s died – he fills him with more sadness. Doesn’t suffering build character? Not without the unlimited funds and resilience that power the zest to keep adopting cats.
As for being tied down:
‘The personal relationships of animal rescuers can also suffer. It makes me think. Dedicated cat rescuers are going to have to go it alone because it would seem that there is little room in their lives other than the animals they are rescuing.’ [MB]
Could a lifetime of this mean a rescuer gives a subsequent cat every tangible good that love provides, without loving the cat? Does he feel only a wearied benevolence toward a cat he doesn’t want, but won’t release to strangers? Does he give it a home because he feels this act of mercy is enriching and affordable? What if he feels nothing of the sort? What if he does it because he cares about its welfare? A state of mind akin to love, but light-years from enjoyment.
Potential adopters need to be grilled. The interview can be friendly. It needn’t be abrasive or pliant. No one but those unable to offer adequate care will take umbrage. If the staff is short on time, a caregiver worried about the cat can pay them to sift applicants through a fine-mesh screen. Better yet, the caregiver, himself, might be the best person to interview the applicant. After thirty minutes of this, those with a casual take on adoption would winnow the chaff by walking out the door. But applicants who welcomed the interview and understood its purpose would give the cat a decent home.
__________
So much for that pipedream.
Shelters pass out brief applications. Ask a few questions. The cages are filled. The turnover needs to be brisk, and animals are sold to nearly anyone. Or given the needle.
You want my cat? He has twin kiwi-gonads. White teeth. He learned to use litter box last week. He sleeps in his snuggy-loo in the garage for twelve hours a night.
Nothing to look at by Helmi’s standards. Picturesque, though. A mass of dark brown & golden-brown flecks w/white chest & paws. Left ear droops a mite. No visible scars. Pinned down last week with long-handled fishnet and dabbed with Advantage.
Ate vermifuge pill a few days ago. Stared aghast, but gulped it down when crushed into cat food. Will not touch kibbles. Only canned cat food. Has gained weight. Eats @ 14 oz.+ of cat food per day. No longer feel protruding spine & hip sockets.
Will pay his air fare. He’s yours, if you want him. A dashing little man.
You would!!! I was wondering how you were coping as I know you been so busy writing articles. I just hope your coping ok. I think Michael you have a special Caring Personality nature. I think as both yourself and marc and we we all are here are Very Sensitive/understanding to cats Needs. Also it might help take your mind off Charlie’s Passing. I would foster if i could, but I got too many Cats now. With Moving Next Year I don’t want to add anymore. What do you think, do you think your be able to foster Cats? Also with your knowledge that you’ve put on this website you would be a perfect candidate.
it indicates that cats are a human substitute! More Freudian stuff
HAHAHAHAHAhahahaha
🙂 There is a lot of sexism in the UK at work and the world of cat rescue is run by women. I have not seen a male cat fosterer.
As for male and female cats: I prefer female cats. I think you’ll find that women prefer male cats and men prefer female cats. Normal I guess but it indicates that cats are a human substitute! More Freudian stuff 😉