A DELIGHTFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

It's a normal Wednesday morning and I do what one normally does after getting out of bed to start one's day ... check email. I received an email from VOKRA entitled "VOKRA Volunteer of the Month of January". Oh, how nice. Let's see who is being recognized this month for their work. Low and behold, it's ME! I run over to my husband and shove my phone into his face and enthusiastically bellow: "READ THIS!"

It's from VOKRA's Board Director-at-Large, congratulating me for being nominated and selected as VOKRA's Volunteer of the Month for February and if I could answer a few questions in writing about my work with VOKRA.

Well, after a little happy dance around the room celebrating my nomination and selection, I answered the email with an enthusiastic "YES!"

Below are the questions, and my corresponding answers:

Q: How did you start volunteering with VOKRA?  

A: My two beloved cats, Runners and Hobbies, were with me from kittens until their passing at ages 14 and 16 years respectively. 

Although I missed the pitter patter of kitty paws around my home (and due to the constant travel for work, plus the commitment of another 15 - 20 years of owning another pet), my husband and I thought it best to go the route of fostering instead of getting another kitty of our own. That's when I reached out to VOKRA to offer my volunteering services. After a quick questionnaire and a brief conversation with a VOKRA volunteer, I was bestowed my first batch of kittens in Nov. 2013.

Batch Numero Uno

To say that I maxed out my phone's storage from taking so many pictures of these kittens is a total understatement.

Q: How long and in what capacity have you been volunteering?

A: Come this November, I will have been volunteering for VOKRA for 10 years! Twenty six batches of foster kittens to date, totalling over 100+ Mommy cats and their kittens. My capacity has simply been to care for kittens from the age of newborn to adoption age (between 8 - 12 weeks old).  

I also help out other VOKRA fosters with administering medication and performing manicures/pedicures, as I have years of experience executing these procedures with my own fosters and pets.

Q: What is your favourite part of volunteering?

A: Simply this: I have (or could have) kittens in my home ALL-YEAR-ROUND. The sheer joy that I experience from raising a batch of kittens to adoption age is insurmountable. I am a very hands-on, cuddle-till-you-drop, kiss-them-incessantly kind of foster Mom. I have 6 siblings, 5 nephews and 1 niece that are the same way. So, when they find out that I have a new batch of foster kittens, they all descend upon my home and give the kittens added cuddles and kisses. This is a great way to socialize the kittens and get them used to being man-handled by different people and small children.

Q: Do you have a favourite kitty(s) you have met or a favourite story from your time with VOKRA?  

A: All my foster kittens/Mommy cats had their own distinctive personalities that made them adorable and sweet, but two kitties stand out from the 100+ fosters that have come through my home.

The first one is Hamimelon (now called "Blaze"):

Hamimelon (and her whole batch) did not meow. When they tried to meow, it just sounded like a snake hissing. It was the most unusual thing. Hamimelon was so easy going, loved to cuddle and would tolerate any kind of affection/attention from little hands constantly grasping and groping her. I adored her.

The second kitty is Mama Pasta. Her new family decided to keep her foster name, so she's stilled called Mama Pasta to this day!

This beauty came to me at a spice level of 10. It took me approximately two weeks of constant interaction and talking to her to get her down to a manageable spice level where I could pet her and her kittens. I was even able to give her a manicure so that I didn't suffer the wrath of her sudden smacks against my hands.

Spice Level: 10

Spice Level: 10

In the end, she turned out to be the cuddliest Mommy cat ... always demanding that I pick her up, carry her over my shoulder and lavish her with love. She would lounge around in bed with me for hours on those lazy days when I didn't have a lot of work to do. I miss her adorable face immensely.

 Q: Anything else you would like to add?

I have a terrible memory, so to help keep track of all the foster kitties that have come through my home, I have an Instagram page (@fostering_kittehs) and a blog (www.miraclekitties.blogspot.com) to keep everything organized. I also make jewelry in my spare time and have an IG page (@jewels.for.kittehs) where I donate 5% of sales to animal rescue organizations. Since I have been travelling so much, I haven't had that much time to devout to jewelry making for the kitties, but I'm hoping when I am home for a longer period of time, I can start that up again.

I still get my cat fix while travelling as my husband and I pet sit wherever we go during our travel adventures (IG @miracle.sitters) and even help out local rescue organizations in cities/countries that we're travelling to. My husband even started an Instagram page of all the kitties that we've encountered throughout our time abroad (@worldwide_meows). Taking care of animals plays a big part in our lives, whether we are at home or overseas. We love what we do and hope to continue working with VOKRA and other rescue organizations for as long as we are physically able to.

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

BATCH #26 - ALL ADOPTED

In less than a month, my Thailand-themed kittens have all been adopted. Samui is going to the home of one of my previous 2018 foster adopters, who tragically lost one of their cats unexpectedly. They felt that their remaining cat needed a companion as he had always had one throughout kittenhood and the transition through to adoption. They chose Samui's quiet, shy nature so that he would not over-power their shy resident cat.

ADOPTED: Samui
Pick-up date: Nov. 28/22

The fluffy kittens, Jomtien and Pattaya, are going to be joining a household full of fur siblings: 2 dogs, 1 cat and probably a partridge in a pear tree.

The adopters were contemplating only taking one of the kittens to buddy up with their 5-year old cat, but VOKRA did not deem the age of the cat age-appropriate enough. So, the family decided to adopt the two kittens together (much to the delight of the daughter, I might add, who was keen on adopting them both).

When an adopter is looking to adopt a kitten for their resident cat, they must first look at the energy level and personality of both the cat and the kitten to see if they're a good match. Some older cats do not like (or appreciate) the spunk and energy level of a kitten and might just outright refuse the kitten. This is why kittens will need to be adopted as a pair into a household that already has a resident cat, which is the case with Jomtien and Pattaya.

My family are all coming over the day before Jomtien and Pattaya are to be picked up by their new family. Final snuggles, kisses and good-byes will be given to the fabulously floofy duo who have stolen (and broken) a few hearts along the way.

ADOPTED: Pattaya & Jomtien
Pick-up Date: Nov. 19/22

Samui will stay with me for another week to 9 days, awaiting his family's return from work-related travels. I'll need to give him plenty of attention as I know he will be missing his siblings terribly.

 

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

BATCH #26 IS HERE IN ALL THEIR FLOOFYNESS

I have been on a travelling bonanza pretty much non-stop since November 2021, when the borders were opened up after the COVID lockdown. It's been almost a year since I've had any foster kittens and let me tell you ... I've missed fostering!

I have been all over the place travelling: Hawaii, Las Vegas, California, Mexico, Portugal and Spain. But my longest trip was to Thailand. I spent almost four months there and loved it so much that these kittens were named after a few of the places that I stayed there. Say hello to my "Thailand Kittens":

JOMTIEN

PATTAYA

SAMUI

When I picked these kittens up at VOKRA Operations, I could not get over how CUTE they were. And the two floofy kittens, Jomtien & Pattaya, were soooooo floofy! I wonder why Samui never took on that trait.

Samui is definitely the most shy of the three of them. He's pretty much scared of anybody that comes into the room, but slowly warms up to you after a while. 

Jomtien is by far the fan favorite with his perfect face and easy-going demeanour. I probably kiss his face over 100x a day, and he just sits there absorbing all my adoration.

Pattaya, is the only girl in this batch of 3 and is definitely the little diva. She loves her mane to be brushed, but has words with you when you hold her when she's not 'feeling' it. But, if you know me, I don't really care ... I have to kiss her adorable face over and over again. She's just so darn cute.

These little guys are such purr machines. They purr so loud and often. Anytime I pick them up, they are purring. I love it.

These kittens (especially the floofy ones) were also really good with being man-handled by my family and my three nephews. 

Samui has a viewing today with a family that adopted two of my Harry Potter kittens back in 2018. Unfortunately, one of those kittens passed away suddenly and they are now looking to get their single kitty another buddy.

Whichever kitten they end up choosing will be a good choice. All my kittens are all taught to be friendly and loving. 

Let's keep our fingers crossed, shall we?!

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

M.I.A.

I have been TERRIBLE with keeping up with this blog. Days turns into weeks, weeks turns into months and then all of a sudden all of your foster kittens are ready for adoption and are out the door before you know it. I didn't post once about Batch #25 (my "Rock Star" kittens that I took over from another foster). They had already been named, so these names are not of my choosing. I had this batch back in September, 2021 so my memory of where they went to and who adopted them is very fuzzy. But alas, I do have lots of pictures of them! 

BOWIE

DYLAN

HENDRIX

JAGGER

I love this picture of Jagger. Catching him in mid-meow makes him look so ferocious, doesn't it?

LENNON

MARLEY

JOPLIN (Mom)

ADOPTED - HONEYDEW & WATERMELON

Timing is everything. I truly believe this.

Hamimelon was adopted on Aug. 28 by a lovely couple who had a resident cat at home to keep Hamimelon company. They took all the necessary steps to introduce Hamimelon to their resident cat, even reviewing all of Jackson Galaxy's videos on how to properly introduce a new cat into their home. Unfortunately, nothing worked and Hamimelon was relegated to the bathroom for the three weeks that they had her for fear of being attacked by their resident cat. They made the heartbreaking decision to return Hamimelon back into VOKRA's care for the betterment of both cats.

I had wanted to pair Hamimelon with her sister but as luck would have it, on the day that Hamimelon was returned to me was the same day that a viewing was set up for Mom and Watermelon. The adoptions coordinator and myself informed the potential adopters of Mom and Watermelon that they also had the option of adopting the two siblings as well.

They ultimately chose to keep to their adoption plan and go with Mom and Watermelon. They will be picked up on Sept. 26, which means that Hamimelon would be adopted out as a single kitten again. I know that the adoptions team (and myself) will be extra vigilant in ensuring that the next home Hamimelon goes to the resident cat will be either (a) an easy going cat; or (b) used to having other cats in their space. I would hate to have Hamimelon returned back to VOKRA again or live a life of fear in a home that she is not welcomed in (by the resident cat).

* ADOPTED *
Honeydew & Watermelon
(Sept. 26, 2021)

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

ADOPTED - CATALOUPE & WINTERMELON

Cataloupe and Wintermelon have found their forever home! They have been adopted together by a wonderful family with two young kids, aged 5 and 7 respectively. Each child chose the kitten that they wanted by the kittens' profile pictures. The little boy chose Wintermelon, while the little girl chose Cataloupe.

The kittens will be staying with me for a few more weeks while their furever family goes on holidays before picking them up on Aug. 29. The kittens will almost be 13 weeks old by that time, so two weeks longer than I would normally have them. Kittens are all ready for adoption after all of their vaccinations/deworming/defleaing have been done and when they reach 11 weeks of age.

Cataloupe and Wintermelon are going to have so much fun playing with their new brother and sister!

- ADOPTED -
Wintermelon & Cataloupe (Aug. 29, 2021)

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

BATCH #24 - TORTIE INVASION

I picked up Batch #24 shortly after seeing the call out for foster homes by the owner of VOKRA. Apparently 40+ cats & kittens were surrendered from a hoarding situation in Abbotsford and Ops was overrun by all these kitties that needed foster homes ASAP.

I am now fostering a young Mom (probably 1 or 1.5 years old) and four of her 7.5 week old kittens. As they are all torties, they are all female. A male tortie is very rare to behold. I haven't had torties since my very first batch of kittens, way back in Nov. 2013.

The Mom and one of her kittens are very shy and were hiding and showing a lot of fear in their eyes and posture, while the other three kittens had no issues with being picked up, pet and cuddled by me.

My sister used to own a cat named 'Melon' with very similar coloring to this batch. So, I thought I'd name this batch after different kinds of melons:

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/