Published Mar 26, 2025
Have you ever dreamt of fostering kittens? It’s tough but rewarding work, as David Loop explains. He fosters kittens each year, including some of his recent fosters: Javie and Joaquin.
An abandoned kitten
David was first contacted by a man who’d seen a mama cat give birth to three kittens in his front yard. She returned to move two of them, but never came back for the third!
It’s important not to separate newborn kittens from their mother if possible, but in this case the kitten was still there after 24 hours. David took him in and named him Javie.
As newborns, kittens need to be bottle fed every two hours. They also cannot potty on their own and need to be stimulated with a soft cloth. It’s a lot of work!
Once Javie was a bit older, he could wait longer between bottles, and was eventually weaned to solid foods. David would still wake up to check on him at night since he was so young, and all by himself.
In the mornings after breakfast, David would pack Javie into his carrier and bring him to work.
Mama cat sighting… and another abandonment!
Just when they thought mama cat was never to be heard from again, she was spotted on a ring camera. Unfortunately, she was carrying a second kitten back to where she’d left Javie.
The same man called David to pick up the second abandoned kitten, saying, “I have Javie’s brother here.” David named this second kitten Joaquin.
Since the two were litter mates, and it’s important for kittens to grow up together if possible, David wanted to get the two reintroduced right away. However, he had some concerns.
Joaquin had spent extra weeks outdoors, which could have exposed him to parasites or contagious diseases. If this were the case, he might pass them to Javie and they’d both be sick.
After weighing the pros and cons, David decided to go through with the introduction. Luckily, Joaquin wasn’t carrying any contagious ailments, and the two kittens got along fantastically!
He says that the two have very different personalities. Since Javie was taken in immediately, he’s spent his whole life protected and safe. It made him fearless! Joaquin, on the other hand, is more reserved and enjoys watching his brother’s antics rather than following his lead.
Becoming a kitten foster parent
David describes raising his bottle babies as a rewarding experience. These kittens end up very well-socialized to humans since they spend so much time with their fosters.
Of course, there are also downsides to fostering kittens this young. It’s important to expect hard work and some losses, especially when raising orphaned bottle babies as they’re quite fragile at this age.
Many shelters and cat rescues are constantly looking for foster homes, as it helps them save more lives and have someplace for the cats to go where they’ll be warm, safe, and cared for. If you’re willing to offer your home to kittens or older cats, The Kitten Lady is a great resource for those looking to get started.
David also shares his fostering adventures on his Instagram, whether you want to learn more or keep up with his current fosters.
