Our Volunteers #1 – Cat Fosterer Lisa

Tell me a little about you

I’ve had animals in my life from the day I was born – dogs, rabbits, cats and even a couple of goldfish.

When not doting on my furry friends, I’m very much a water baby. I used to teach scuba diving (many moons ago when travelling) and being a Yachtmaster, have seen quite a bit of the world by boat.

My most ambitious trip was hitchhiking to the Galapagos Islands, where I then worked as a dive instructor. After an initial water phobia that lasted about 30 years, I now practically have gills and am fascinated with marine life, especially the octopus. I respect their intelligence.

I swim regularly without a wetsuit in temperatures as low as 0.5 degrees, and last year was part of a four-person relay swimming to France. Some people will do anything for a foreign holiday during a pandemic. Does three minutes on a French beach count?

After graduating in Biology, specialising in animal behaviour and primatology, I fell into a sales job after my PhD funding fell through. I was lucky enough to travel extensively, but this meant no animals as I was out of the country for extended periods. I missed them so much.

I progressed to Sales Director, but after another decade of all work and no play, decided on a work and lifestyle change. I qualified as a personal trainer, life coach, swimming teacher and open water coach, with the freedom to choose my own hours and finally have cats of my own. Hurrah!

Do you have any of your own furry friends?

Yes, my merry band includes rescues Seb and Stan from 2015 and old man Teddy, an adorable foster from a year ago.

This is one time I’m happy to have failed at something – he stole my heart and I couldn’t return him. 14 years old, he’d been in rescue for months after his owner died, and being senior with IBD, no one wanted him. Now, he demands cuddles but gives so much back, and is very much enjoying his retirement.

Collectively, they are @purrblack on Instagram, and are far more popular than I’ll ever be.

How do you stop yourself getting too attached to the animals you foster, knowing that one day they will leave you for their forever home?

Every foster case is different, but I’d be fibbing if I said I didn’t get attached. If you love animals, you can’t help it.

They often arrive with sad tales attached such as owners passing away, becoming homeless or going into care, developing allergies, getting a new puppy who doesn’t get on with cats or callously, moving home and leaving them behind.

Sometimes they are simply found with no history – they could have been wondering the streets for months or years. Whatever the reason, they can arrive scared, confused and sometimes in recovery after being neutered or having vet treatment. My role is to offer a place of safety and comfort until they are ready to find their final forever home.

They can’t go outside or mix with my boys, so enjoy a private room filled with hiding places, comfy beds, scratchers, perching spots, toys, and even a windowsill where they can watch the world go by.

Everything is provided, so my role is straightforward. Apart from the basics like food, litter and meds, all they want is time and love. It’s a simple yet rewarding role, knowing that I’m the link between the street and a happy home.

Who are you currently fostering?

They were discovered as part of a small colony living in a garage. It’s believed their dad was abandoned and found a mate with a couple of litters produced.

Groucho and Essie are the oldest kittens at 4/5 months old, with no human contact in their short lives. Socialisation becomes extremely challenging past the first few weeks, but it’s always worth a try.

I very quickly discovered the usual spare room wasn’t going to work as they weren’t budging from under the bed, so set up a large four level crate in the living area to get them used to the sights and sounds of a household. They refused to be touched or picked up, which made vet visits interesting, and would only eat their food once I’d left the room.

I gave them what they needed – patience and time. I sat near them, and without looking, read aloud so they became used to my presence and voice. I used every trick in the cat behaviour book to try and socialise them and slowly, slowly they started to accept I wasn’t a threat.

A month in and they’ve made amazing progress. I can stroke Groucho until she falls asleep and, although Essie (SC- Scaredy Cat) is more timid, she’s beginning to allow contact too. As they respond so well to my boys, trilling hellos and napping in their company, a home has been found with a big sister, who can teach them how to be domestic cats.

I’ll be sad to see these little characters go, but am safe in the knowledge they’ll have a wonderful life ahead of them in a loving home.

Then it will be time to open my home and heart again for the next furry friends, giving them an opportunity for their very own happy ending!

Thank you Lisa, you do an amazing job and thanks to the likes of you many cats can be given that second chance of happiness.

If you would like to be considered as a cat fosterer like Lisa, please take a look at our volunteering page on this website. It is a great way to help and you can get a good idea of what it entails from reading Lisa’s account.

If you can’t right now but would like to help, we would always welcome donations towards their upkeep while they’re prepared for their forever home. 

If you are able to please click on the donate button to the right hand side of this page. We are always extremely grateful for any donation, without which we could not fund our important animal welfare work.