While the Furry Friends volunteer team is divided into sections which focus on different areas of the organisation (human resources, social media etc), one of the most crucial aspects of our operations is our foster carers. Without them, none of our work would be possible.
Around ‘[two] and a bit years ago’, a foster carer named Astrid joined our ranks. ‘I have grown up with cats and felt that I wanted to help cats ... get a second chance,’ Astrid explained when asked about her motivation to foster for Furry Friends. There are a number of qualities that we look for in our foster carers, but the main one that Astrid would describe herself is ‘calm’. ‘[In regards to being calm] I think that benefits when fostering, to show the kitties that they can find ... trust again,’ Astrid says. ‘When they [are] at our place, they get cuddled, proofed and spoiled.’
Though she’s a hands-on carer, always ready to shower her cats with attention, Astrid’s vast experience has given her valuable insight into how cats integrate into a household. ‘I find it easy to look after cats, they entertain themselves,’ she says. ‘They are very curious individuals and let’s be honest, there is no privacy if you have cats.’ She reassures us that they need to know everything.
When asked about what advice she’d give to potential foster carers, she replied ‘there is nothing to be afraid of [when] becoming a foster carer ... Fostering is such a rewarding thing to do, and yes, it hurts when they go, but it feels amazing to know that it was you that helped to give them a new chance to find a loving family.’ For Astrid, receiving photos of her former charges from their new owners will never not bring a smile to her face.
All of our foster carers have warm hearts, and it’s clear to see that Astrid’s heart will continue to beat for cats in need. ‘If I counted correctly, I had [fostered] around 65 cats ... [who] have all found a loving family they call home now,’ she revealed. An incredible feat from an equally incredible woman.
Fun fact: Astrid is in the middle of writing a book!
P.S. Want to be like Astrid? Ready to save the life of a cat in need? We want you.
Written by Matthew Leong for FFARQ
Around ‘[two] and a bit years ago’, a foster carer named Astrid joined our ranks. ‘I have grown up with cats and felt that I wanted to help cats ... get a second chance,’ Astrid explained when asked about her motivation to foster for Furry Friends. There are a number of qualities that we look for in our foster carers, but the main one that Astrid would describe herself is ‘calm’. ‘[In regards to being calm] I think that benefits when fostering, to show the kitties that they can find ... trust again,’ Astrid says. ‘When they [are] at our place, they get cuddled, proofed and spoiled.’
Though she’s a hands-on carer, always ready to shower her cats with attention, Astrid’s vast experience has given her valuable insight into how cats integrate into a household. ‘I find it easy to look after cats, they entertain themselves,’ she says. ‘They are very curious individuals and let’s be honest, there is no privacy if you have cats.’ She reassures us that they need to know everything.
When asked about what advice she’d give to potential foster carers, she replied ‘there is nothing to be afraid of [when] becoming a foster carer ... Fostering is such a rewarding thing to do, and yes, it hurts when they go, but it feels amazing to know that it was you that helped to give them a new chance to find a loving family.’ For Astrid, receiving photos of her former charges from their new owners will never not bring a smile to her face.
All of our foster carers have warm hearts, and it’s clear to see that Astrid’s heart will continue to beat for cats in need. ‘If I counted correctly, I had [fostered] around 65 cats ... [who] have all found a loving family they call home now,’ she revealed. An incredible feat from an equally incredible woman.
Fun fact: Astrid is in the middle of writing a book!
P.S. Want to be like Astrid? Ready to save the life of a cat in need? We want you.
Written by Matthew Leong for FFARQ
Photo by Ilse Orsel on Unsplash
RSS Feed
