Our Foster Kittens: 14 Kittens from the SD Humane Kitten Nursery

Scythe and Agricola

Our first pair, Scythe and Agricola, completely bonded with each other to the point we were sure they were a true “bonded pair.” Scythe, the boy who looks like he’s wearing a black mask, and Agricola, the sweet girl, had to be some of our most playful kittens.

Cindy and Ty

Cindy and Ty were our only set of kittens who were not siblings. They were “singletons” placed together with us so they would have the opportunity to socialize with other kittens. Ty was a sweet little fluff ball and Cindy was the most affectionate kitten I have ever met. She would purr and squeak on me for half an hour before passing out and snuggling. Unfortunately I have no professional photos of Cindy, so iPhone will have to do!

Benny, Danny, Forrest

Benny, Danny, and Forrest had no lack of energy, although they were quite shy when first brought to our home. A little older than our past kittens, these boys were technically ready for their neuter surgery; however, the surgery schedule was so backed up that these boys needed a place to stay in the interim. They were true escape artists and constantly had us refortifying their pen for safety.

Spark, Joy, Kondo

Our first kittens in our new condo, these Marie Kondo themed kittens were so sweet but extremely messy at mealtimes. I can now say that I have seen a kitten swim in wet food. They basically had to be bathed and blow dried at least once a day.

Somen and Shirataki

Somen and Shirataki came to our home at 3 weeks of age. Our youngest pair, they were bottle fed every 3-4 hours, including overnight. David was out of town the first week we had them, so I was essentially a zombie doing all of the daily feedings. These girls loved being held, carried, and snuggled.

 
Shirataki, in particular, was so snuggly and affectionate that she would lick my whole face while purring. Unfortunately, she contracted panleukopenia during a citywide outbreak. The nursery staff unfortunately had no choice but to humanely euthanize her. We had taken her to the medical team for some tummy issues, which isn’t uncommon for orphaned kittens. We expected to be given medicine and sent home, but were devastated and shocked upon learning of her incurable virus. If you have any room in your charity budget for the year, please consider donating directly to the kitten nursery in her honor.

 
Somen, thankfully, did not contract the virus and was able to stay with a specialized foster parent until she was ready for adoption. She was adopted within a week! We were thrilled!
 

Potato and Chip

Potato and his fluffy sister Chip also came to us at 3 weeks old. Watching kittens rapidly grow and acquire motor skills and new developmental abilities is so fascinating. At 3 weeks, they cannot use the bathroom on their own or regulate their own body heat. By about week 4-5, they begin using the litter box and starting wet food in addition to the bottle. By 6 weeks, they can climb and jump, getting higher and faster with each passing day.

Volunteer Photography

I’ve also been doing volunteer photography for the shelter for the past few months in my spare time. I am thrilled to photograph adoptable dogs’ profile photos. Having clean photos that clearly depict the dog and his/her personality plays a huge role in getting them adopted. People will come to the shelter and ask for a specific dog they saw online, so great photography is such an aid in that discovery. If you ever stop by the shelter on Mondays, you just might catch me in action!