The Day I Saved 32 Kittens

Fostering a homeless mama cat and her kittens has become an annual spring ritual for our family.

Really, it is a life-enriching situation for everyone. My daughters (okay, and me too) get their fill of tiny paws and claws, we provide the overflowing shelters some extra room, we save the lives of beautiful, healthy animals, our commitment is typically only 6 to 9 weeks — and someone else gets a fabulous companion down the line.

This past spring was like the ones previously. I sent an email announcing our availability as a foster family. However, the matter-of-fact reply I received back hit me in the gut like a punch from a 300-pound linebacker:

“Thank you for fostering a cat family. Attached are photos of 32 kittens and their mothers. Please let me know which family you prefer and I will pull them from the shelter. They are all slated to be euthanized on Monday.”

WHAT?!! I looked at the pictures with tears spilling, my throat tightening, my heart aching.

How could I choose just one family knowing the rest would be euthanized within three days? I looked at the pictures again. One litter had three fuzzy white kittens with hints of caramel tabby stripes; another had four kittens, all grey and white except one sibling which was a solid Halloween black; another litter had two kittens, one an orange tabby, the other a calico. They all looked through the bars of their cages imploringly or with the natural curiosity of kittens. Little did they know how their fate dangled in such precarious balance. That is when I declared to myself emphatically, “they will all live.”

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Read more: Blogs, Cats, Feline Muse, Pets, fostering, kittens

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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B S.

3:24AM PST on Feb 23, 2012

Lovely story thank you for what you did. However here in UK this would not happen, sanctuaries do not euthanise animals just because nobody wants them. Why do they do that? It's beyond my understanding. The sanctuaries ask for donations, they do sales, have shops with second hand things to make money, etc. etc.

send a green star

Freya H.

3:25PM PST on Feb 15, 2012

Several years ago I took in a pregnant stray cat. Her kittens were a lot of fun, but eventually they had to find their forever homes. A friend took in one, and the others went to my local PetSmart on their adopt-a-cat days so I know that they went with responsible people who had them "fixed." Mama Kitty had the Big Snip, too, and she has been a wonderful pet ever since!

Despina V.

4:07AM PST on Feb 15, 2012

She deserves a medal

Nicole B.

9:12PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

I would have said that I would have taken them all, at once. But then I may not have been able to get them and save them all. I thank her for the deed she has done to save the life of those kittens and their mamas.

Michelle S.

9:01PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Cherise Udell's life reads like a modern-day female Indiana Jones story!

What an amazing woman....such an inspiration. If only more people in the world were willing to do what she and her family did that day.

The world would be a much happier place, especially for thousands upon thousands of homeless cats and kittens.

Last summer I desperately tried to save the lives of over 15 cats in a Georgia "shelter;" all had snappy names, gorgeous photos, wearing sassy little collars around their necks....they were spayed, neutered, clean, innoculated, and socialized.....just WAITING for loving homes.

I emailed, and emailed, and EMAILED Georgia rescues all over the state. I begged, and begged and BEGGED for someone to find them temporary homes until they could find permanent adopters.

Every single cat save one was euthanized. Beautiful. Healthy. Socialized. Available. Disposed of. Forgotten. But not by me.

Vivacious M.

5:55PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Oohhhhhh I would have done the same thing & I cried while reading the story. I move around a lot b/c rentals usually don't work out & most rentals in HI don't allow pets esp. cats b/c of all the feral cats in HI. I would've been kicked out of my rental & been living w/ all the cats at a wild beach! I could never choose knowing the others could die soon. I've rescued & saved hundreds of animals in my lifetime and all I want is some land so I can have an Animal Sanctuary where I take in animals that would die otherwise. THANK U SO MUCH FOR HELPING THE CATS & OTHERS U HELP!!!!

Trudy C.

12:30PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

As they say in the South, 'Bless your heart!', you wonderful, wonderful life saver, you.

tetyana p.

12:24PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

I cannot stop crying! Thank you for saved lives! God bless you!!!

Sarkku V.

12:00PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

So good! Just hoping there would be many more such lovely pro life happening everywhere...!

R Anna B.

10:10AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Wonderful story, but this shows really how awful and monstrous euthanasia of animals as animal control is. Our dog came as a tiny puppy: he beleonged to a litter that was also scheduled to be euthanised at a dog pound in Ireland.