I have spent my entire life with cats (and dogs and rabbits and lizards and whatever else children bring home). Currently, I have four of my own cats and two hens, all of them rescues.
I feel fortunate to be able to devote time to these fascinating creatures with great spirits who ask for nothing but respect and affection. And they give us so much more in return, it’s an endless payoff. I think that human beings are privileged to live alongside animals, and that any amount of time spent with them creates great personal rewards. I have volunteered at the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter for nine years as a feline socializer and feline volunteer mentor. This has exposed me to cats undergoing all manner of strife, from being feral in a caged environment to the abandoned or abused, or experiencing the loss of their caregiver and home. It is incredibly fulfilling to make their lives a little bit better, and help them find the right forever home. I’ve also fostered cats recuperating from surgeries and motherless kitten babies who need bottle feeding every two hours. As a pet owner, I understand how hard it is to leave your best friends in the care of a stranger and I strive to make the experience as gentle and trustworthy as possible.
