December 15, 2023 • 34 mins
Ever imagined opening your home to a furry four-legged friend temporarily and profoundly impacting their lives and yours in return? In the latest episode of 'The Story of My Pet', we talk about all things cat fostering! We have an engaging chat with Sam Proof, a cat lover and a live streamer, who reveals how fostering cats and kittens can save lives and make space in shelters. Experience the whirlwind journey of fostering through Sam's stories and learn how his love for these adorable felines turned into a live 24/7 cam show capturing their charming antics.
Sam, and his wife Amanda, have made it their mission to foster and have helped over 170 cats through Kitten Rescue LA. They share their heartwarming tales of nurturing bottle babies, adult, and senior cats, alongside the unique challenges and gratifications that come with it. Learn how even fostering one cat can make a huge difference in the animal rescue world, and why working with reputable rescue organizations is an advantage. Don't miss out on their poignant narrative of a devastating experience with a litter of sick kittens.
The exciting path from live streaming to podcasting about pet rescue and fostering. Listen to their anecdotes about the chaos, joy and the bittersweetness of fostering and how community support plays a significant role in caring for these rescued animals. We wrap up our chat with Sam, as he talks about his upcoming Catmus interactive experience that combines fun and philanthropy. So, listen up and get ready to be inspired, educated and entertained, and who knows, you might just find yourself fostering a little furball soon!
To learn more about Cute Avalanche and watch the 24/7 feed via their Website, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
To learn more about Kitten Rescue LA, check out their Website, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Support the Podcast by buying cute merch! Check out the Your Story Matters Official Store with items supporting both The Story of My Pet Podcast. & Podcast Your Story Now.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hello, my friends and fellow animal lovers, welcome
to another episode of the storyof my pet podcast.
I am your host, julie MartyPearson, and I'm happy to bring
you a brand new episode allabout cats and kittens and the
importance of fostering.
I hope you enjoy this interviewand I hope it inspires you to
think about fostering some catsor kittens in need in your local
(00:33):
community.
I am happy to be here with anew guest.
I'm welcoming Sam proof to thepodcast.
Hello, sam, thank you so muchfor being here.
Oh, thank you for having me.
I definitely have to say Ithink you're the first person
I'm having on that has a 24-7live cam of cuteness for cats.
(00:59):
Oh, that's something I actuallyfound out about you and then we
connected to be on the podcast.
So can you talk a little bitabout what you call the cute
avalanche that is, your 24-7 catcam?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, sure.
So I have been a live streamerfor a very long time.
I was like an early adopterinto the whole YouTube world and
at that time there was a sitecalled Stick Am that did live
streaming and I was very activeon that myself.
And then life happened I gotmarried, became a dad and had to
put all of that fun stuff away.
(01:32):
And my wife started talkingabout fostering cats, to which I
reply if we do that, can I livestream?
That's the condition.
And she was like a littlehesitant at first but she was
like sure.
So a year or two later, when weactually started fostering, I
set up a live stream andoriginally it went out to
(01:53):
Facebook and then we modified itand went to different places
until we landed on Twitch andtechnically we landed on Mixer,
but Mixer doesn't exist anymore.
But now we're on Twitch, whereit's 24 and our live stream has
about seven different camerasthat our chat can actually
control, so they can just,through the prompts in the chat,
(02:13):
decide what's on screen at anygiven time.
And yeah, it's the room thatour fosters are in, which also
happens to be our master bedroom.
So at night time it either goesto a very specific camera that
they can't change, or if wecan't get to that for reasons,
it goes to a playlist, but forthe most part it is just live
chaos or live napping, which isthe only two extremes with cats.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Absolutely.
Those are the two channels.
Cat lives on Chaos or sleep.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Have you always been a cat lover, a pet lover?
Did you grow up with pets?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Oh yeah, we've always for the most part always had
dogs and cats.
Like when I moved out on my own, I was in an apartment, so for
a long time it was somethingthat I always wanted, and then I
just couldn't bring myself todo that for one reason or
another.
And eventually one of myfriends found herself in a weird
living situation and she hadthree cats and she was like I
(03:11):
really need someone to justhouse them for a while and she
was like would you do that?
This ended up being like twoyears, so I had cats again and
then, after that, went and gotmarried and then we had cats
again.
Yeah, I've always pretty muchbeen a cat person, but also dogs
.
I like dogs.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
We are an equal opportunity animal lover podcast
, for sure, but I feel like withcats, once you get one, it just
doesn't stop.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, and especially when you're fostering it is very
hard to not take them all.
But early on in our fosteringprocess we really got a glimpse
at what was happening in thelocal shelter scene and just how
important it was to take catsout of that so other cats that
needed that could be there Everylitter worth of cats.
(03:59):
Somebody comes on the streamand is like you're going to
adopt this one and we're like ifwe adopt this one, at least a
dozen this year can't befostered Right.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I think that's an important thing to talk about
with fostering, because there'skind of two sides of it.
There's the one side thatpeople are afraid to foster
because they think they have toor will automatically want to
keep them, and then, there's theother side of when you do
fostering a lot and peoplefollow you and love the content,
it's just the automaticresponse.
Well, are you going to keep itor which?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
one are you going to?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
keep, and it's like I would say it's a balancing act.
What do you think about?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
that, oh for sure.
I mean there are people that gointo fostering with the
hesitation of I want a cat, butI just have commitment issues,
so maybe fostering is a goodidea, and then they end up
adopting that cat because reallythat was what their
subconscious wanted all along.
But I think if you go into itwith the mindset of I am trying
(04:57):
to do good in the world ofanimal rescue, then yeah, you
have to make that sort ofestablished mission of I can't,
I just can't take more, becausethe more I take, the less I save
.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Absolutely yeah, and I think that's so true.
Fostering is great in a lot ofways.
Like you said, if someone'sconsidering a cat or a dog and
they're just not sure and theydon't know what that life is
going to look like, it is agreat stepping stone to figure
out is it right for you, is thisthe right animal, and all of
that.
But ultimately, people who arededicated fosters, like you and
(05:30):
your wife and do it constantlyor time after time, it's more
about, be that in between, fromthe shelter and the adopted home
, that allows the cat tosocialize and have a safe space
and all of those things andallows the shelter more space.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, for sure, I think, a misconception people
have with shelters themselves.
If you put kittens in there,they're going to take care of
them.
Kittens are, like almost alwaysthe first on that euthanasia
list because they require somuch more attention, especially
the very, very young kittenslike eight weeks and younger.
And we're seeing so many ofthem in Los Angeles right now in
(06:10):
the shelters and like it hasn'tstopped.
So at the time of year thatwould be done, like kitten
season would be over.
We're still seeing just bottlebabies showing up in the shelter
and it's because during manyyears they're going to have to
pay about 20 today because evenmore mice are coming out doing
their medical services.
The recent pandemic all theshelters closed down and told
people to just put the cats backand now there's just an
explosion of cats everywhere andyou almost want the shelters to
(06:35):
only be taking in those lostpets and things like that that
have microchips and that arejust waiting for their owners to
find them again.
And if you do find like kittensor ferales or things like that,
contact a rescue first and seewhat they want you to do.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Right and yeah, so many yeses to all the things
that I live in Kern County,which is just north of LA County
, and we are in desperate,overcrowded shelters crisis for
more so for dogs, with the sameis true for cats.
And the same thing I fosteredthis time last year and it was a
litter that came in there abouttwo weeks old and it was pretty
(07:12):
uncommon in October for alitter to be coming in, because
there is this thing we callkitten season, that in the
warmer months, spring and summer, is when kittens, cats, are
more active, get pregnant, havebabies, and I mean now in
California it could always bethat.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
But there's still is always a natural slowdown in the
cooler months.
We still have that ebb and flow, but I keep seeing my shelters
posting.
We need cat fosters, we havesingles, we have doubles, we
have litters that have upperrespiratory that need this or
that, and usually this timeyou're not seeing that pleading
for the kitten fosters.
So it is definitely a time.
(07:52):
If anyone out there islistening to this and is
thinking about being a cat orkitten foster, please look into
it.
We will link the shelters inboth of our areas as well as
kitten rescue LA that Sam workswith this time is better than
any, because they aredesperately needed.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah for sure, get involved If it's just something
you've thought about doing.
No matter what your hesitationis, there's going to be a way to
make it happen.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Absolutely, and most rescue shelters are going to
give you all the supplies, thefood, everything you need.
You're literally just givingspace in your home and time.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
The amount of time depends on how young they are.
Bottle babies take a littlemore time.
Have you guys thought of bottlebabies?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, so early on, when we really got started, we
realized that one of the bestthings we could do is focus on
those kittens that were eightweeks or younger, including
bottle babies, to clear shelterspace, because it's not
something that the typicalperson's going to come in and do
, because that is a much moreskill set of things you have to
(08:57):
be able to do.
It's just easier for the personthat is fostering for the first
time to come and get an adultcat that does not have special
needs of any kind.
So we take in those bottlebabies and my wife has
specialized in all of that kindof stuff.
We recently, like the last year, took in a cat.
(09:17):
It was part of a bigger litterand we got this one cat that
just wouldn't eat and that catwould normally die Any normal
person, any shelter situation.
That cat would have been deadin 24 hours, 48 hours, and she
had to learn to tube feed thiscat.
Oh wow, and it didn't stop.
It was like a two week processof like every three hours
(09:38):
throughout the night.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
So yeah, like we've made it our mission to take in
the smallest, and that's soimportant because, like you said
, I don't think people realizein shelters most shelters, yes,
the cats get fed maybe twice aday.
I know the one that I volunteerwith they clean and feed them
in the morning and they cleanand feed them at night and the
rest of the time they're just inthe cages.
(10:00):
And so you can imagine a two orthree week old that's not going
to work because one they don'tknow how to get on their own,
and the shelter staff, they'realready so overextended they
can't get bottle feeding and,like you said, unfortunately
those youngest ones end up onthe euthanasia lifts, not
because there's anything wrong,but there just isn't anyone to
(10:21):
care for them and that is.
I would say some of the hardestpart I've had just being in a
shelter and realizing theprocess and what happened.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, there's plenty of adult and senior cats that
just need a place to live.
They don't have any specialneeds.
So if you can take on a foster,you do it.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
They just need maybe some socialization.
They've been in the street.
They may not be feral.
Maybe they got left outside onpurpose or accidentally.
There's so many differentsituations and sometimes if I
was a cat I'd be a little scaredof the shelter it's loud and
uncertain and you're in a littlemetal cage.
So many ways people can help.
(10:59):
So when you guys first gotstarted as fosters, were there
any stories?
You have that?
Maybe you realized this is whatwe should be doing or maybe we
made a mistake at first.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So the second litter we got was a mom and like five
or six babies.
Like within 48 hours or so ofbeing under our care, they all
started to get sick.
They stopped eating mom gotlethargic and pretty much
stopped nursing and we found outthrough our rescue contact that
(11:32):
they thought they might havePan Luke, which ended up being
the case.
Anyone who doesn't know PanLuke kind of like Parvo and dogs
, it is.
At that time this was 2017,there was no treatment
whatsoever.
Really, there's still no actualcure.
It's not been approved by theFDA.
There are things out there.
It's just a devastating diseasewith almost zero survival rate
(11:57):
almost zero.
So we ended up turning theentire litter over to kit and
rescue and they worked on tryingto save those cats.
Like they had staff dedicatedto them 24, seven and just day
by day we got updates of this.
One passed, that one passeduntil they were just all gone
and it was just devastating andmy wife was like don't do this.
(12:21):
And that was the second litter.
So we almost stopped completely, but we didn't.
And here it is, six years later.
We have fostered 170 cats now.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Wow, 170.
Group esasn't prizes rising inthe back.
That is a huge impact that youguys have had.
I've only, at this point, doneseven, so a hundred and seven.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
That's still good.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And, like I say, I always say, every single animal
counts.
We even had a possum for awhile, so it all matters.
That really shows your guysdedication and continuing to do
it and making an impact.
And I know LA County is sooverrun with need in terms of
cats and kittens.
So how did you guys getconnected specifically with
(13:07):
Kitten Rescue LA?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So one of my wife's best friends, who was actually
at the time a pretty popularYouTuber, bridget Dale, had
actually fostered through KittenRescue and when we started
fostering it was something thatalmost accidentally happened.
Where she had reached out tosomeone on, it was either
Nextdoor or a Facebook post andthat actually didn't happen that
(13:32):
particular cat that she hadtried to foster.
But somebody saw her commentand replied to that and was like
hey, I have other cats ifyou're interested.
So we got these just randomcats with no rescue really
directly involved.
But once we got started,bridget was like this is the
rescue that we did Kitten Rescueand here's the contact for that
an X, y and Z.
(13:52):
And she got us set up with thatand yeah, we never looked back.
Kitten Rescue has been greatand it's a really awesome
organization.
They are just California basedat this time but yeah, we've
been involved so much that it'slike I don't know that we could
ever go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Right.
Well, I know I followed themfor years and I've always heard
really great things about themand everything that they do.
And if you're not in the LAarea or California area, there
are Kitten Rescue wherever youlive.
Trust us and you can also dolike I did.
I've fostered directly throughone of my shelters, so there are
many ways you can sign up tofoster.
(14:30):
But it's also great when youfind a good shelter or rescue
and you get to know the peopleand you know the process,
because then it's just verysmooth transition bringing the
cats in and out and new ones andall of that and they get to
know you and know what you canhandle and the best ways for you
to help them in terms of whenthey get new kittens in, I'm
sure.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Oh yeah, for sure, and there's some really good, I
think.
I just want to point out BestFriends Animal Society, which is
a national rescue which we'vedone a little bit of other stuff
with.
So if you can't, if for somereason you're in an area where
it's just I can't find anything,I bet you can find that.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Yes, absolutely, as well as SPCA, they have places.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, spca is for sure.
Between those two you're gonnafind something in your area.
Yeah, NQMain Society yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
So I know that you recently started a podcast, just
getting around, so you can talka little bit about why you
started that and what kind ofyour purpose is with it.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Yeah, so we'd been going for six years with the
stream and I'm always looking todo more stuff and more
interesting things, and I wasstarting to focus on a YouTube
channel and this kind of cameout with that intention of doing
things outside of the Twitchand made all these contacts at
(15:49):
this point to other people inthe rescue world.
I feel like I think part ofthis is straight out of imposter
syndrome, where I was like Iguess I have a lot of this
knowledge, but I feel like theseother people have the
credentials to be like they havethe knowledge, so I can just
pull that knowledge out of them.
(16:10):
And that was the thing.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Totally get what you're saying.
I've always felt like I know alot, I'm an animal lover, I know
these things, but then I'm likebut they really know it and I
want them to be the one to sharethat.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, plus I think just doing podcasts that are
interview and conversationalstyle are just more interesting
to absorb that kind ofinformation.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
What have you found in doing the podcast?
Are you just being connected tomore incredible pet people, or
you just find that you're ableto spread more awareness and
education?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I mean I think it's a little bit above.
We're only two episodes in.
We've been really taking ourtime with it to analyze, do what
I do and then analyze it and belike is this the direction I
want it to go?
So I'm being a perfectionistcompletely about this whole
thing.
But yeah, I just I wanted tomake it something interesting
and be able to curate it as Iwent.
(17:05):
So I think a lot of it ispulling in on those connections
I had and getting those peopleinvolved and just making
something educational, whereas alot of our other stuff is just
cute and fun.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
It's something I've struggled with too.
Like I started, I love pets.
Let's talk about pets, it's fun.
And then through that processit has become more advocacy and
education and so I want to makesure people get the information.
But we still want to just sharethe fun stuff, the cute stuff,
the reason that we love thoseanimals and how they help us get
through hard times.
So, as somebody who's beendoing live streaming for a long
(17:42):
time gaming, obviously intalking about podcasts I have a
lot of friends who listen, whohave their own podcast or who
thought about it.
I'm working with some peoplestarting their own.
What would be, as a person whohas been doing the live
streaming in that side of it andmoving into more of the podcast
side, what would do you thinkwould be like one piece of
advice you would give to someonewho's like I don't really know
(18:04):
what I'm doing, like thatimposter syndrome.
But they know they want to putout something into the world.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yeah, I think as far as advice goes is don't stand in
your own way, get started, justdo it.
If you have that inclination todo it, just start doing it and
watch back everything you'redoing and be like was this good,
do I wanna change this?
Do I do this a different way?
And I actually do.
I host a show with a friend ofmine every Friday on my own
(18:32):
channel about video and livestreaming, and something we say
is you may find out that this isnot for you.
You don't want a live stream,you don't want a podcast,
whatever it is, but you'll getthat knowledge early on, as
opposed to I'm gonna work onpreparing this idea for six
months until I actually do it.
Don't do that, just get started.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Absolutely.
And I say and this is what Idid.
I always say just start messy,and then you figure it out as
you go.
I mean the first few episodesof my podcast.
I didn't do any editing at alland so please don't listen to
this, but there's dogs barking,all sorts of stuff going on, but
that's okay.
Podcasting is really just aboutsharing your story and your
(19:13):
voice and whatever that passionis for you.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, I mean our podcast is recorded live.
We actually do stream it liveto the YouTube when we do it, so
there is almost no editingwhatsoever, because I just again
perfectionist, if I go downthat road, I'm gonna spend way
too much time doing it.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Okay, so I know one thing that you guys, I think,
are currently doing is a fooddrive.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Yeah, it's ongoing right now.
We do a lot of mini fundraisersthroughout the year and because
we just brought in a mom withseven kittens, like we need to
do a food drive because thosekittens won't be eating off of
mom for very long, which they'realready weaned at this point.
I think they still nurse onceor twice a day, but for the most
(19:59):
part they're eating four mealsa day.
So, yeah, we're running a fooddrive, which may only cover
these cats but yeah, the reasonwe were able to get to 170 cats
fostered is because we do havethis amazing community that
watch the live stream and dodonate either monetarily or off
(20:21):
our Amazon wish list, andbecause of them we're able to
foster like three to five timesthe amount of cats that we'd be
able to do if it was just basedon my own salary.
Yeah, kitten rescue itself isamazing.
They cover all of the medicalneeds.
They cover like vaccines anddewormer and flea meds and the
microchips and the spay andneuter surgery.
(20:41):
If we can't get vouchers forthose, those are covered by
kitten rescue.
But they don't actually coverlike food and litter and toys
and nutrients and supplementsall that stuff we supply, so
like when our community can comein and drop those things on.
It helps out immensely.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, I did a litter of six kittens this time last
year.
And you cannot imagine how muchfood people who've never done
it six kittens go through injust a day.
Yeah, I was going to theshelter two or three times a
week, because once they're onwet food, wow, they go through
it Like nothing you've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, I mean they're eating three, if not four times
a day, depending on who's doingit.
We're doing four times a dayand it is.
I can't do the math right now.
We go through a case of food aweek, something like that.
I don't know.
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
It is crazy, but it's also so wonderful because as
you see them grow and becomemore active, it's just wow.
You little being are coming,this kitten that unfortunately
may not have made it if theyhadn't been rescued or brought
into the shelter.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
And right now our kittens have entered full on
into chaos mode.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
so oh chaos.
Yes, Remember the point atwhich my husband looked at me
and said I think it might betime for you to take him back to
the shelter.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Yeah, there's generally a time where I get to
like my wife is a little morepatient than me.
I love everything about it, butthere is a point where I'm like
these are ready to be adoptednow.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah, when the activity level gets to a height
where it's okay, there's notenough space for all of you in
here anymore.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
It's exactly what it is.
Yeah, because they're confinedto one room and it's seven cats,
not enough room.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
When they get to that six to eight week and they're
approaching that two pound mark,that's when like, okay, you
guys all need your own space now.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Yep, that's exactly where we're at.
Yep.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Yeah, I totally feel it.
She was just in here.
My pumpkin is actually thefoster fail of that litter.
I did end up adopting one fromthere and I was looking back on
some photos and videos recently,realizing she was just so
little when I got her and shecontinued to grow and I just
think of all those other catsand think they're each in their
(22:57):
own home doing the same thingsand it was hard in a lot of ways
doing it and I'm sure it is foryou guys.
I know you have human kids aswell.
You have your lives, but therewards of fostering, I think,
far outweigh any of the stressthat can come with it.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Yeah, no, we love it completely and we love all of
the cats and it gets it.
There gets to be a point whereit's hard to give up certain
cats, like we recently took onour first blind, fully blind cat
.
Her name was Monet, that namedafter Monet, who went slightly
blind as he got older and atfirst, like I, was like I don't
(23:35):
think we should.
I feel like blind cat.
We can do it.
It's so much work and by theend of it I was like maybe we
just adopt out one of our housecats.
We keep this one.
She's so awesome and like she'sher own entire show.
But we just started getting theupdates from her new adopter
(23:57):
yesterday and it's just so greatto see her thriving in her own
place.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
That's so great.
I think that's so important,because a lot of people are
afraid of those things aredifferently able cats and dogs
and everything I've seen.
I've never experienced myselfthat.
Even animals that are born thatway, without sight or hearing,
whatever it may be, they areanimals and they innately, their
other senses make up for it andthey sometimes are more
(24:22):
extraordinary than our own normcats.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
It sounds like that was the case for you.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Definitely.
It's so funny because you gointo it thinking, oh, this cat's
gonna need all these specialthings, but like really beyond
clinking the bowl when you putit down so she knows food is
there, she had no qualms aboutbeing sightless and would do
(24:48):
anything that a normal cat woulddo and I was like she's like
jumping up on things and likerunning full speed around the
house and like, okay, she justdad.
That's her learning curve.
Is I run into a wall Sometimes?
Speaker 1 (25:01):
it happens and she bounces right back.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I'm sure and totally.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I'm sure being in your house and being in a home
environment versus a shelter wasprobably so much of a easier
transition for her.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Yeah, I mean, I think , god, if she had stayed in the
shelter, in just like thatlittle room, I don't think she'd
have learned nearly anythingabout being a cat for forever
and would be totally likedisjointed from the world at
this point.
So, yeah, I think having had afoster taker in was like
beneficial to her ability tostay alive, right.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I've seen it over andover where people say or I've
seen it firsthand where animalscan come their personality
changes in a shelter, it's theunknown, and I can imagine,
especially for an animal thathas been in a home and then, for
whatever reason, are notanymore and then they're in this
different place where it's aconfined space.
There's so many things thatfostering helps them with in
(26:00):
terms of whatever trauma maybethey've been through, or just
the environment.
Learning a new environment,being more adaptable, helps them
in the long run, and it soundslike it's exactly what you did
for her and she's in her foreverhome now.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, for sure.
And I mean yeah, it's justbeing out in an actual space
gives them the challenges thatthey need to like.
I think that applies to justeven humans.
Like you couldn't live in a box, right so?
Like you just need externalstimuli and different challenges
every day so that you can growand become a problem solver.
And if you're just stuck inlike a crate for 24 seven?
(26:36):
Yeah you'd be developing moretrauma, right?
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I mean sometimes for an animal you may be considering
adopting or fostering.
We never know their backstoryand sometimes it affects them
more than not.
But they're so adaptable andthe great thing about animals is
they're just so.
All they want to do is give thelove they just want.
Their person, their home,whatever it may be, and you'll
get that tenfold back withwhatever effort you give to
(27:04):
helping them.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Oh yeah, for sure it's a highly rewarding
emotionally.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
The other thing I know that you had given me some
info.
In December, you guys will havea catmiss interactive
experience.
You want to talk a little bitabout that?
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Sure, yeah, we decorate our stream.
There's a big virtual sort offrame that's filled with about
50 baubles like ornaments andthey have like defaults image
and then our viewers on Twitchcan donate.
I believe it's $5.
That sounds about right and itwill replace that ornament with
their user avatar and it'll stayup for the entirety of the
(27:41):
month.
On one side of the screen thereis a catmiss tree which has
like a cat face and some tinseland lights and they can actually
change the color of the lightsand the tinsel with a few chat
prompts and then the face reactsto different emotes that are
placed in chat.
And there's also a cat treetopper, so a hat or a star or if
(28:03):
you pay a donation of $25, ourfriend Insomnia Doodles will do
a cat based on your own fur palthat will be on the tree.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Oh, that's so great.
I am definitely going to bedoing that Nice.
I always love it when I can.
I love creative, artisticpeople who focus on animals and
are able to create images orwhatever it may be.
It's always so fun to seedifferent versions of our fur
babies created for us, so thatsounds like a lot of fun, a
(28:33):
great interactive way for peopleto be involved and donate as
little as five, because every $5, that's a lot of food for
kittens.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It all helps.
We do really hope that in thenext year or two we can
establish our own nonprofit.
We've talked a lot about thefuture five year plan of
becoming like a cat-calf, so ifanyone wants to partner on that
kind of situation, let me know.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yes, I've definitely seen.
I mean I know some went throughhard times with COVID, but I'm
seeing more of that and maybemore connections with cat cafes
and rescues and I think it'ssuch a great way to have cats
interact with people and get toknow them and socialize.
And I know you mentioned thatyou have kids.
How do they fit into yourfostering process?
(29:17):
Do they love the animals orthey over it?
Speaker 2 (29:21):
No, they both probably.
They do love it, but they'realso of the mind of a mom and
dad.
You spend all this time doingthis.
Can we play more?
But at the same time they'vepicked out their favorite foster
and they want to do what theycan do and help more.
It's been pretty good.
They're eight and 10 at thispoint, so the focus is not
(29:44):
really there to actually helptoo much, but they do help a
little bit here and there, whichis great.
They're definitely helpful onthe socializing side of things
and it's a good barometerbecause they are not super young
, but young enough that we cansee how cats react to them and
when we go out to adopt them wecan be like they get along with
(30:04):
kids or they don't, absolutely.
We've had cats where it'sabsolutely no, that's too much
for them.
They need less stimulus.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
And that is such an important thing.
I know when I did dog adoption,that was always something
people would ask us do they getalong with other dogs, do they
get along with cats, do they getalong with kids?
And it's like, well, in theshelter, we just don't know, you
just don't know.
But in a home, in a foster home, you get to see so many more
aspects of an animal'spersonality and for you, for
your kids, to be able tointeract, I'm sure first of all,
(30:34):
that is like you said,socializing them just by that
interaction.
But you get to see how theyindividually react to it.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
And I also think postures like you guys who have
kids.
Then you're also showing yourkids the importance of what
you're doing and how it's justbecome a part of your everyday
life.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Yeah, I think they've really learned a lot about just
responsibility in that vein andeven just creating routines,
because there is a lot ofstructure to this.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Right, I want to thank you, sam, for being here.
I really appreciate your time.
It was great to meet you andlearn about your journey with
the cute avalanche of cats andkittens.
You guys have in your home andI'm excited for listeners to
learn more about you guys and beable to follow along in your
(31:23):
fostering journey too.
Yeah, thank you so much forhaving me.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
And yeah, if you find your way over to our 24-7
stream, let us know that youfound us through here.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That would be great.
Okay, listeners, I will see younext time.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you, my friends andfellow animal lovers, for
listening to this episode of thestory of my pet.
(31:53):
I hope you enjoyed it.
Please share the podcast withyour family and friends so more
people can hear these inspiringpet stories and learn how to
advocate for animals in needthrough rescue, fostering,
adoption and volunteering.
Make sure you hit, follow orsubscribe wherever you are
(32:15):
listening to this episode so youdon't miss any new upcoming
episodes.
You can also now subscribe tothe podcast on YouTube, so
please go over there, hit,subscribe.
Remember to rate and reviewthis podcast wherever you are
listening or watching, whetherit be on Apple, spotify, now on
(32:35):
YouTube.
The more ratings and reviews weget, the more people will see
the podcast and share these petstories.
Thank you for listening.
Much love to you and your pet.
Hello, my friends and fellow animal lovers, welcome
to another episode of the storyof my pet podcast.
I am your host, julie MartyPearson, and I'm happy to bring
you a brand new episode allabout cats and kittens and the
importance of fostering.
I hope you enjoy this interviewand I hope it inspires you to
think about fostering some catsor kittens in need in your local
(00:33):
community.
I am happy to be here with anew guest.
I'm welcoming Sam proof to thepodcast.
Hello, sam, thank you so muchfor being here.
Oh, thank you for having me.
I definitely have to say Ithink you're the first person
I'm having on that has a 24-7live cam of cuteness for cats.
(00:59):
Oh, that's something I actuallyfound out about you and then we
connected to be on the podcast.
So can you talk a little bitabout what you call the cute
avalanche that is, your 24-7 catcam?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, sure.
So I have been a live streamerfor a very long time.
I was like an early adopterinto the whole YouTube world and
at that time there was a sitecalled Stick Am that did live
streaming and I was very activeon that myself.
And then life happened I gotmarried, became a dad and had to
put all of that fun stuff away.
(01:32):
And my wife started talkingabout fostering cats, to which I
reply if we do that, can I livestream?
That's the condition.
And she was like a littlehesitant at first but she was
like sure.
So a year or two later, when weactually started fostering, I
set up a live stream andoriginally it went out to
(01:53):
Facebook and then we modified itand went to different places
until we landed on Twitch andtechnically we landed on Mixer,
but Mixer doesn't exist anymore.
But now we're on Twitch, whereit's 24 and our live stream has
about seven different camerasthat our chat can actually
control, so they can just,through the prompts in the chat,
(02:13):
decide what's on screen at anygiven time.
And yeah, it's the room thatour fosters are in, which also
happens to be our master bedroom.
So at night time it either goesto a very specific camera that
they can't change, or if wecan't get to that for reasons,
it goes to a playlist, but forthe most part it is just live
chaos or live napping, which isthe only two extremes with cats.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Absolutely.
Those are the two channels.
Cat lives on Chaos or sleep.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Have you always been a cat lover, a pet lover?
Did you grow up with pets?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Oh yeah, we've always for the most part always had
dogs and cats.
Like when I moved out on my own, I was in an apartment, so for
a long time it was somethingthat I always wanted, and then I
just couldn't bring myself todo that for one reason or
another.
And eventually one of myfriends found herself in a weird
living situation and she hadthree cats and she was like I
(03:11):
really need someone to justhouse them for a while and she
was like would you do that?
This ended up being like twoyears, so I had cats again and
then, after that, went and gotmarried and then we had cats
again.
Yeah, I've always pretty muchbeen a cat person, but also dogs
.
I like dogs.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
We are an equal opportunity animal lover podcast
, for sure, but I feel like withcats, once you get one, it just
doesn't stop.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, and especially when you're fostering it is very
hard to not take them all.
But early on in our fosteringprocess we really got a glimpse
at what was happening in thelocal shelter scene and just how
important it was to take catsout of that so other cats that
needed that could be there Everylitter worth of cats.
(03:59):
Somebody comes on the streamand is like you're going to
adopt this one and we're like ifwe adopt this one, at least a
dozen this year can't befostered Right.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I think that's an important thing to talk about
with fostering, because there'skind of two sides of it.
There's the one side thatpeople are afraid to foster
because they think they have toor will automatically want to
keep them, and then, there's theother side of when you do
fostering a lot and peoplefollow you and love the content,
it's just the automaticresponse.
Well, are you going to keep itor which?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
one are you going to?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
keep, and it's like I would say it's a balancing act.
What do you think about?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
that, oh for sure.
I mean there are people that gointo fostering with the
hesitation of I want a cat, butI just have commitment issues,
so maybe fostering is a goodidea, and then they end up
adopting that cat because reallythat was what their
subconscious wanted all along.
But I think if you go into itwith the mindset of I am trying
(04:57):
to do good in the world ofanimal rescue, then yeah, you
have to make that sort ofestablished mission of I can't,
I just can't take more, becausethe more I take, the less I save
.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Absolutely yeah, and I think that's so true.
Fostering is great in a lot ofways.
Like you said, if someone'sconsidering a cat or a dog and
they're just not sure and theydon't know what that life is
going to look like, it is agreat stepping stone to figure
out is it right for you, is thisthe right animal, and all of
that.
But ultimately, people who arededicated fosters, like you and
(05:30):
your wife and do it constantlyor time after time, it's more
about, be that in between, fromthe shelter and the adopted home
, that allows the cat tosocialize and have a safe space
and all of those things andallows the shelter more space.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, for sure, I think, a misconception people
have with shelters themselves.
If you put kittens in there,they're going to take care of
them.
Kittens are, like almost alwaysthe first on that euthanasia
list because they require somuch more attention, especially
the very, very young kittenslike eight weeks and younger.
And we're seeing so many ofthem in Los Angeles right now in
(06:10):
the shelters and like it hasn'tstopped.
So at the time of year thatwould be done, like kitten
season would be over.
We're still seeing just bottlebabies showing up in the shelter
and it's because during manyyears they're going to have to
pay about 20 today because evenmore mice are coming out doing
their medical services.
The recent pandemic all theshelters closed down and told
people to just put the cats backand now there's just an
explosion of cats everywhere andyou almost want the shelters to
(06:35):
only be taking in those lostpets and things like that that
have microchips and that arejust waiting for their owners to
find them again.
And if you do find like kittensor ferales or things like that,
contact a rescue first and seewhat they want you to do.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Right and yeah, so many yeses to all the things
that I live in Kern County,which is just north of LA County
, and we are in desperate,overcrowded shelters crisis for
more so for dogs, with the sameis true for cats.
And the same thing I fosteredthis time last year and it was a
litter that came in there abouttwo weeks old and it was pretty
(07:12):
uncommon in October for alitter to be coming in, because
there is this thing we callkitten season, that in the
warmer months, spring and summer, is when kittens, cats, are
more active, get pregnant, havebabies, and I mean now in
California it could always bethat.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
But there's still is always a natural slowdown in the
cooler months.
We still have that ebb and flow, but I keep seeing my shelters
posting.
We need cat fosters, we havesingles, we have doubles, we
have litters that have upperrespiratory that need this or
that, and usually this timeyou're not seeing that pleading
for the kitten fosters.
So it is definitely a time.
(07:52):
If anyone out there islistening to this and is
thinking about being a cat orkitten foster, please look into
it.
We will link the shelters inboth of our areas as well as
kitten rescue LA that Sam workswith this time is better than
any, because they aredesperately needed.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah for sure, get involved If it's just something
you've thought about doing.
No matter what your hesitationis, there's going to be a way to
make it happen.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Absolutely, and most rescue shelters are going to
give you all the supplies, thefood, everything you need.
You're literally just givingspace in your home and time.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
The amount of time depends on how young they are.
Bottle babies take a littlemore time.
Have you guys thought of bottlebabies?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, so early on, when we really got started, we
realized that one of the bestthings we could do is focus on
those kittens that were eightweeks or younger, including
bottle babies, to clear shelterspace, because it's not
something that the typicalperson's going to come in and do
, because that is a much moreskill set of things you have to
(08:57):
be able to do.
It's just easier for the personthat is fostering for the first
time to come and get an adultcat that does not have special
needs of any kind.
So we take in those bottlebabies and my wife has
specialized in all of that kindof stuff.
We recently, like the last year, took in a cat.
(09:17):
It was part of a bigger litterand we got this one cat that
just wouldn't eat and that catwould normally die Any normal
person, any shelter situation.
That cat would have been deadin 24 hours, 48 hours, and she
had to learn to tube feed thiscat.
Oh wow, and it didn't stop.
It was like a two week processof like every three hours
(09:38):
throughout the night.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
So yeah, like we've made it our mission to take in
the smallest, and that's soimportant because, like you said
, I don't think people realizein shelters most shelters, yes,
the cats get fed maybe twice aday.
I know the one that I volunteerwith they clean and feed them
in the morning and they cleanand feed them at night and the
rest of the time they're just inthe cages.
(10:00):
And so you can imagine a two orthree week old that's not going
to work because one they don'tknow how to get on their own,
and the shelter staff, they'realready so overextended they
can't get bottle feeding and,like you said, unfortunately
those youngest ones end up onthe euthanasia lifts, not
because there's anything wrong,but there just isn't anyone to
(10:21):
care for them and that is.
I would say some of the hardestpart I've had just being in a
shelter and realizing theprocess and what happened.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, there's plenty of adult and senior cats that
just need a place to live.
They don't have any specialneeds.
So if you can take on a foster,you do it.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
They just need maybe some socialization.
They've been in the street.
They may not be feral.
Maybe they got left outside onpurpose or accidentally.
There's so many differentsituations and sometimes if I
was a cat I'd be a little scaredof the shelter it's loud and
uncertain and you're in a littlemetal cage.
So many ways people can help.
(10:59):
So when you guys first gotstarted as fosters, were there
any stories?
You have that?
Maybe you realized this is whatwe should be doing or maybe we
made a mistake at first.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So the second litter we got was a mom and like five
or six babies.
Like within 48 hours or so ofbeing under our care, they all
started to get sick.
They stopped eating mom gotlethargic and pretty much
stopped nursing and we found outthrough our rescue contact that
(11:32):
they thought they might havePan Luke, which ended up being
the case.
Anyone who doesn't know PanLuke kind of like Parvo and dogs
, it is.
At that time this was 2017,there was no treatment
whatsoever.
Really, there's still no actualcure.
It's not been approved by theFDA.
There are things out there.
It's just a devastating diseasewith almost zero survival rate
(11:57):
almost zero.
So we ended up turning theentire litter over to kit and
rescue and they worked on tryingto save those cats.
Like they had staff dedicatedto them 24, seven and just day
by day we got updates of this.
One passed, that one passeduntil they were just all gone
and it was just devastating andmy wife was like don't do this.
(12:21):
And that was the second litter.
So we almost stopped completely, but we didn't.
And here it is, six years later.
We have fostered 170 cats now.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Wow, 170.
Group esasn't prizes rising inthe back.
That is a huge impact that youguys have had.
I've only, at this point, doneseven, so a hundred and seven.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
That's still good.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And, like I say, I always say, every single animal
counts.
We even had a possum for awhile, so it all matters.
That really shows your guysdedication and continuing to do
it and making an impact.
And I know LA County is sooverrun with need in terms of
cats and kittens.
So how did you guys getconnected specifically with
(13:07):
Kitten Rescue LA?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So one of my wife's best friends, who was actually
at the time a pretty popularYouTuber, bridget Dale, had
actually fostered through KittenRescue and when we started
fostering it was something thatalmost accidentally happened.
Where she had reached out tosomeone on, it was either
Nextdoor or a Facebook post andthat actually didn't happen that
(13:32):
particular cat that she hadtried to foster.
But somebody saw her commentand replied to that and was like
hey, I have other cats ifyou're interested.
So we got these just randomcats with no rescue really
directly involved.
But once we got started,bridget was like this is the
rescue that we did Kitten Rescueand here's the contact for that
an X, y and Z.
(13:52):
And she got us set up with thatand yeah, we never looked back.
Kitten Rescue has been greatand it's a really awesome
organization.
They are just California basedat this time but yeah, we've
been involved so much that it'slike I don't know that we could
ever go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Right.
Well, I know I followed themfor years and I've always heard
really great things about themand everything that they do.
And if you're not in the LAarea or California area, there
are Kitten Rescue wherever youlive.
Trust us and you can also dolike I did.
I've fostered directly throughone of my shelters, so there are
many ways you can sign up tofoster.
(14:30):
But it's also great when youfind a good shelter or rescue
and you get to know the peopleand you know the process,
because then it's just verysmooth transition bringing the
cats in and out and new ones andall of that and they get to
know you and know what you canhandle and the best ways for you
to help them in terms of whenthey get new kittens in, I'm
sure.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Oh yeah, for sure, and there's some really good, I
think.
I just want to point out BestFriends Animal Society, which is
a national rescue which we'vedone a little bit of other stuff
with.
So if you can't, if for somereason you're in an area where
it's just I can't find anything,I bet you can find that.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Yes, absolutely, as well as SPCA, they have places.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, spca is for sure.
Between those two you're gonnafind something in your area.
Yeah, NQMain Society yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
So I know that you recently started a podcast, just
getting around, so you can talka little bit about why you
started that and what kind ofyour purpose is with it.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Yeah, so we'd been going for six years with the
stream and I'm always looking todo more stuff and more
interesting things, and I wasstarting to focus on a YouTube
channel and this kind of cameout with that intention of doing
things outside of the Twitchand made all these contacts at
(15:49):
this point to other people inthe rescue world.
I feel like I think part ofthis is straight out of imposter
syndrome, where I was like Iguess I have a lot of this
knowledge, but I feel like theseother people have the
credentials to be like they havethe knowledge, so I can just
pull that knowledge out of them.
(16:10):
And that was the thing.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Totally get what you're saying.
I've always felt like I know alot, I'm an animal lover, I know
these things, but then I'm likebut they really know it and I
want them to be the one to sharethat.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, plus I think just doing podcasts that are
interview and conversationalstyle are just more interesting
to absorb that kind ofinformation.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
What have you found in doing the podcast?
Are you just being connected tomore incredible pet people, or
you just find that you're ableto spread more awareness and
education?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I mean I think it's a little bit above.
We're only two episodes in.
We've been really taking ourtime with it to analyze, do what
I do and then analyze it and belike is this the direction I
want it to go?
So I'm being a perfectionistcompletely about this whole
thing.
But yeah, I just I wanted tomake it something interesting
and be able to curate it as Iwent.
(17:05):
So I think a lot of it ispulling in on those connections
I had and getting those peopleinvolved and just making
something educational, whereas alot of our other stuff is just
cute and fun.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
It's something I've struggled with too.
Like I started, I love pets.
Let's talk about pets, it's fun.
And then through that processit has become more advocacy and
education and so I want to makesure people get the information.
But we still want to just sharethe fun stuff, the cute stuff,
the reason that we love thoseanimals and how they help us get
through hard times.
So, as somebody who's beendoing live streaming for a long
(17:42):
time gaming, obviously intalking about podcasts I have a
lot of friends who listen, whohave their own podcast or who
thought about it.
I'm working with some peoplestarting their own.
What would be, as a person whohas been doing the live
streaming in that side of it andmoving into more of the podcast
side, what would do you thinkwould be like one piece of
advice you would give to someonewho's like I don't really know
(18:04):
what I'm doing, like thatimposter syndrome.
But they know they want to putout something into the world.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yeah, I think as far as advice goes is don't stand in
your own way, get started, justdo it.
If you have that inclination todo it, just start doing it and
watch back everything you'redoing and be like was this good,
do I wanna change this?
Do I do this a different way?
And I actually do.
I host a show with a friend ofmine every Friday on my own
(18:32):
channel about video and livestreaming, and something we say
is you may find out that this isnot for you.
You don't want a live stream,you don't want a podcast,
whatever it is, but you'll getthat knowledge early on, as
opposed to I'm gonna work onpreparing this idea for six
months until I actually do it.
Don't do that, just get started.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Absolutely.
And I say and this is what Idid.
I always say just start messy,and then you figure it out as
you go.
I mean the first few episodesof my podcast.
I didn't do any editing at alland so please don't listen to
this, but there's dogs barking,all sorts of stuff going on, but
that's okay.
Podcasting is really just aboutsharing your story and your
(19:13):
voice and whatever that passionis for you.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, I mean our podcast is recorded live.
We actually do stream it liveto the YouTube when we do it, so
there is almost no editingwhatsoever, because I just again
perfectionist, if I go downthat road, I'm gonna spend way
too much time doing it.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Okay, so I know one thing that you guys, I think,
are currently doing is a fooddrive.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Yeah, it's ongoing right now.
We do a lot of mini fundraisersthroughout the year and because
we just brought in a mom withseven kittens, like we need to
do a food drive because thosekittens won't be eating off of
mom for very long, which they'realready weaned at this point.
I think they still nurse onceor twice a day, but for the most
(19:59):
part they're eating four mealsa day.
So, yeah, we're running a fooddrive, which may only cover
these cats but yeah, the reasonwe were able to get to 170 cats
fostered is because we do havethis amazing community that
watch the live stream and dodonate either monetarily or off
(20:21):
our Amazon wish list, andbecause of them we're able to
foster like three to five timesthe amount of cats that we'd be
able to do if it was just basedon my own salary.
Yeah, kitten rescue itself isamazing.
They cover all of the medicalneeds.
They cover like vaccines anddewormer and flea meds and the
microchips and the spay andneuter surgery.
(20:41):
If we can't get vouchers forthose, those are covered by
kitten rescue.
But they don't actually coverlike food and litter and toys
and nutrients and supplementsall that stuff we supply, so
like when our community can comein and drop those things on.
It helps out immensely.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, I did a litter of six kittens this time last
year.
And you cannot imagine how muchfood people who've never done
it six kittens go through injust a day.
Yeah, I was going to theshelter two or three times a
week, because once they're onwet food, wow, they go through
it Like nothing you've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, I mean they're eating three, if not four times
a day, depending on who's doingit.
We're doing four times a dayand it is.
I can't do the math right now.
We go through a case of food aweek, something like that.
I don't know.
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
It is crazy, but it's also so wonderful because as
you see them grow and becomemore active, it's just wow.
You little being are coming,this kitten that unfortunately
may not have made it if theyhadn't been rescued or brought
into the shelter.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
And right now our kittens have entered full on
into chaos mode.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
so oh chaos.
Yes, Remember the point atwhich my husband looked at me
and said I think it might betime for you to take him back to
the shelter.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Yeah, there's generally a time where I get to
like my wife is a little morepatient than me.
I love everything about it, butthere is a point where I'm like
these are ready to be adoptednow.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah, when the activity level gets to a height
where it's okay, there's notenough space for all of you in
here anymore.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
It's exactly what it is.
Yeah, because they're confinedto one room and it's seven cats,
not enough room.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
When they get to that six to eight week and they're
approaching that two pound mark,that's when like, okay, you
guys all need your own space now.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Yep, that's exactly where we're at.
Yep.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Yeah, I totally feel it.
She was just in here.
My pumpkin is actually thefoster fail of that litter.
I did end up adopting one fromthere and I was looking back on
some photos and videos recently,realizing she was just so
little when I got her and shecontinued to grow and I just
think of all those other catsand think they're each in their
(22:57):
own home doing the same thingsand it was hard in a lot of ways
doing it and I'm sure it is foryou guys.
I know you have human kids aswell.
You have your lives, but therewards of fostering, I think,
far outweigh any of the stressthat can come with it.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Yeah, no, we love it completely and we love all of
the cats and it gets it.
There gets to be a point whereit's hard to give up certain
cats, like we recently took onour first blind, fully blind cat
.
Her name was Monet, that namedafter Monet, who went slightly
blind as he got older and atfirst, like I, was like I don't
(23:35):
think we should.
I feel like blind cat.
We can do it.
It's so much work and by theend of it I was like maybe we
just adopt out one of our housecats.
We keep this one.
She's so awesome and like she'sher own entire show.
But we just started getting theupdates from her new adopter
(23:57):
yesterday and it's just so greatto see her thriving in her own
place.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
That's so great.
I think that's so important,because a lot of people are
afraid of those things aredifferently able cats and dogs
and everything I've seen.
I've never experienced myselfthat.
Even animals that are born thatway, without sight or hearing,
whatever it may be, they areanimals and they innately, their
other senses make up for it andthey sometimes are more
(24:22):
extraordinary than our own normcats.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
It sounds like that was the case for you.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Definitely.
It's so funny because you gointo it thinking, oh, this cat's
gonna need all these specialthings, but like really beyond
clinking the bowl when you putit down so she knows food is
there, she had no qualms aboutbeing sightless and would do
(24:48):
anything that a normal cat woulddo and I was like she's like
jumping up on things and likerunning full speed around the
house and like, okay, she justdad.
That's her learning curve.
Is I run into a wall Sometimes?
Speaker 1 (25:01):
it happens and she bounces right back.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I'm sure and totally.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I'm sure being in your house and being in a home
environment versus a shelter wasprobably so much of a easier
transition for her.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Yeah, I mean, I think , god, if she had stayed in the
shelter, in just like thatlittle room, I don't think she'd
have learned nearly anythingabout being a cat for forever
and would be totally likedisjointed from the world at
this point.
So, yeah, I think having had afoster taker in was like
beneficial to her ability tostay alive, right.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I've seen it over andover where people say or I've
seen it firsthand where animalscan come their personality
changes in a shelter, it's theunknown, and I can imagine,
especially for an animal thathas been in a home and then, for
whatever reason, are notanymore and then they're in this
different place where it's aconfined space.
There's so many things thatfostering helps them with in
(26:00):
terms of whatever trauma maybethey've been through, or just
the environment.
Learning a new environment,being more adaptable, helps them
in the long run, and it soundslike it's exactly what you did
for her and she's in her foreverhome now.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, for sure.
And I mean yeah, it's justbeing out in an actual space
gives them the challenges thatthey need to like.
I think that applies to justeven humans.
Like you couldn't live in a box, right so?
Like you just need externalstimuli and different challenges
every day so that you can growand become a problem solver.
And if you're just stuck inlike a crate for 24 seven?
(26:36):
Yeah you'd be developing moretrauma, right?
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I mean sometimes for an animal you may be considering
adopting or fostering.
We never know their backstoryand sometimes it affects them
more than not.
But they're so adaptable andthe great thing about animals is
they're just so.
All they want to do is give thelove they just want.
Their person, their home,whatever it may be, and you'll
get that tenfold back withwhatever effort you give to
(27:04):
helping them.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Oh yeah, for sure it's a highly rewarding
emotionally.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
The other thing I know that you had given me some
info.
In December, you guys will havea catmiss interactive
experience.
You want to talk a little bitabout that?
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Sure, yeah, we decorate our stream.
There's a big virtual sort offrame that's filled with about
50 baubles like ornaments andthey have like defaults image
and then our viewers on Twitchcan donate.
I believe it's $5.
That sounds about right and itwill replace that ornament with
their user avatar and it'll stayup for the entirety of the
(27:41):
month.
On one side of the screen thereis a catmiss tree which has
like a cat face and some tinseland lights and they can actually
change the color of the lightsand the tinsel with a few chat
prompts and then the face reactsto different emotes that are
placed in chat.
And there's also a cat treetopper, so a hat or a star or if
(28:03):
you pay a donation of $25, ourfriend Insomnia Doodles will do
a cat based on your own fur palthat will be on the tree.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Oh, that's so great.
I am definitely going to bedoing that Nice.
I always love it when I can.
I love creative, artisticpeople who focus on animals and
are able to create images orwhatever it may be.
It's always so fun to seedifferent versions of our fur
babies created for us, so thatsounds like a lot of fun, a
(28:33):
great interactive way for peopleto be involved and donate as
little as five, because every $5, that's a lot of food for
kittens.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It all helps.
We do really hope that in thenext year or two we can
establish our own nonprofit.
We've talked a lot about thefuture five year plan of
becoming like a cat-calf, so ifanyone wants to partner on that
kind of situation, let me know.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yes, I've definitely seen.
I mean I know some went throughhard times with COVID, but I'm
seeing more of that and maybemore connections with cat cafes
and rescues and I think it'ssuch a great way to have cats
interact with people and get toknow them and socialize.
And I know you mentioned thatyou have kids.
How do they fit into yourfostering process?
(29:17):
Do they love the animals orthey over it?
Speaker 2 (29:21):
No, they both probably.
They do love it, but they'realso of the mind of a mom and
dad.
You spend all this time doingthis.
Can we play more?
But at the same time they'vepicked out their favorite foster
and they want to do what theycan do and help more.
It's been pretty good.
They're eight and 10 at thispoint, so the focus is not
(29:44):
really there to actually helptoo much, but they do help a
little bit here and there, whichis great.
They're definitely helpful onthe socializing side of things
and it's a good barometerbecause they are not super young
, but young enough that we cansee how cats react to them and
when we go out to adopt them wecan be like they get along with
(30:04):
kids or they don't, absolutely.
We've had cats where it'sabsolutely no, that's too much
for them.
They need less stimulus.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
And that is such an important thing.
I know when I did dog adoption,that was always something
people would ask us do they getalong with other dogs, do they
get along with cats, do they getalong with kids?
And it's like, well, in theshelter, we just don't know, you
just don't know.
But in a home, in a foster home, you get to see so many more
aspects of an animal'spersonality and for you, for
your kids, to be able tointeract, I'm sure first of all,
(30:34):
that is like you said,socializing them just by that
interaction.
But you get to see how theyindividually react to it.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
And I also think postures like you guys who have
kids.
Then you're also showing yourkids the importance of what
you're doing and how it's justbecome a part of your everyday
life.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Yeah, I think they've really learned a lot about just
responsibility in that vein andeven just creating routines,
because there is a lot ofstructure to this.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Right, I want to thank you, sam, for being here.
I really appreciate your time.
It was great to meet you andlearn about your journey with
the cute avalanche of cats andkittens.
You guys have in your home andI'm excited for listeners to
learn more about you guys and beable to follow along in your
(31:23):
fostering journey too.
Yeah, thank you so much forhaving me.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
And yeah, if you find your way over to our 24-7
stream, let us know that youfound us through here.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That would be great.
Okay, listeners, I will see younext time.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you, my friends andfellow animal lovers, for
listening to this episode of thestory of my pet.
(31:53):
I hope you enjoyed it.
Please share the podcast withyour family and friends so more
people can hear these inspiringpet stories and learn how to
advocate for animals in needthrough rescue, fostering,
adoption and volunteering.
Make sure you hit, follow orsubscribe wherever you are
(32:15):
listening to this episode so youdon't miss any new upcoming
episodes.
You can also now subscribe tothe podcast on YouTube, so
please go over there, hit,subscribe.
Remember to rate and reviewthis podcast wherever you are
listening or watching, whetherit be on Apple, spotify, now on
(32:35):
YouTube.
The more ratings and reviews weget, the more people will see
the podcast and share these petstories.
Thank you for listening.
Much love to you and your pet.
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