If you had told me a few years ago that I would be renting an entire house just to turn it into a sanctuary for cats, I might not have believed you. But sometimes, life, and the animals we meet, pushes us exactly where we need to go.
For the longest time, my rehoming efforts looked a bit different. I was actively helping individual rescuers, who were lacking the space and clearly the responsible rescuing, I relied heavily on paid boarding facilities to keep them safe. I poured my heart (and my wallet) into these businesses, trusting them to care for the vulnerable animals these rescuers brought to their doors.
Sadly, that trust was broken. After a while, the harsh reality set in: these facilities simply weren’t giving the cats the standard of care they desperately needed and deserved.
The decision to do it myself
The realization was heartbreaking, but it made my next decision incredibly easy. I couldn’t rely on others anymore; I had to do it myself. I decided to find a house and transform it into a dedicated, safe, and loving foster home.
A special thank you: I have to pause here and say that this massive leap wouldn’t have been possible without Karim. His help and support were the foundation that made this entire fostering journey a reality.
By May 2023, the plan was in motion. We had the house, but we weren’t quite ready to move in. The setup wasn’t finished, the supplies were still being organized, and I thought I had a bit more time before our first resident arrived.
The universe, however, had a different timeline.
Enter Kimi: An unexpected weekend guest
Just as we were trying to get our bearings, an emergency struck. A tiny, incredibly sick kitten needed an urgent foster home just for the weekend. Ready or not, the house was opening its doors.
That is how Kimi became my very first foster baby.
That first weekend was a trial by fire. Kimi was in rough shape, she was weak, frighteningly cold, and barely eating. Because it was the weekend, our regular vet clinic was closed, meaning we were on our own until Monday, May 15th.
Those 48 hours felt like a lifetime. We did everything in our power to keep her tiny body warm and coax her into taking just a little bit of food. It was exhausting and terrifying, but looking at her little face, every ounce of effort was worth it.
The vet verdict and a beautiful beginning
When Monday finally arrived, she was rushed to the clinic. I was bracing myself for terrible news, given how fragile she had been.
The vet gave her a thorough check-up, and to our massive relief, there were no underlying diseases or major medical conditions to note. The diagnosis was simple: she had just been severely neglected by the streets. All she really needed was to be kept warm, given high-quality food, and surrounded by love.
As I watched her finally begin to thrive, it hit me. This tiny, fragile baby was one of the reasons I took this leap. I am so incredibly glad that my fostering journey started with saving Kimi. She didn’t just get a second chance at life that weekend, she gave my new foster home its very first heartbeat.
