As part of an effort to encourage more families to foster rescued kittens until their permanent homes can be found, the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Berks County recently hosted a Kitten Shower at Ridgewood Winery in Birdsboro.

According to Jose Joel Delgado-Rivera, ARL's chief communications officer, every year, thousands of kittens in all stages find their way into the shelter system with the need of families to care for them. In 2023, the shelter placed a total of 2,834 kittens with foster families.

"Many of the kittens we received at the ARL need around-the-clock care until they are ready to eat by themselves," he said. "Our foster families are a very important part of the work we do at the ARL."

Featured at the event were a number of fosters, who explained how they care for the kittens staying at their homes. This includes regularly scheduled bottle feeding.

Debbie Martin is currently fostering three kittens that were found abandoned in a yard. "At this point, I feed them every four hours. When I started, it was every two hours," said Martin, who has been an ARL foster for five years. "These are my 77th, 78th and 79th foster kittens."

She said that the ARL keeps a list of fosters that are contacted when there is a need. "They send out an email with whatever kittens are available and their information - how old they are, if they have anything medical going on and how many there are in the litter," she noted.

Martin pointed out that the animals will be spayed or neutered at 8 to 10 weeks of age and then be available for adoption, adding that returning them is difficult but part of the foster's commitment. "I've only kept two, and they were from the second litter, but the more you do it, the easier it gets to give them back knowing they are going to good homes," she stated.

Lauren Reinhart has been fostering for five years and found her most recent foster kitten under a friend's porch. "I have an incubator at home, and I do bottle feeding," she said. "It was up to me (to help) and since I had all these supplies and skills."

She also expressed that it can be difficult to give the kittens back to the ARL prior to adoption. "It's tough and I cry almost every time, but grief has taught me a lot," she said. "These are my 97th and 98 fosters, and (fostering) is absolutely a passion."

According to information provided at the event, fosters must be at least 18 years old and have an ability to travel to and from the ARL, located at 58 Kennel Road, Birdsboro. While a specific foster room is not required, there should be space in a foster home that is separate from the other animals that live in the house. Supplies that are provided include food, litter and treats.

To learn more about ARL's foster program, visit http://www.berksarl.org/foster.

Also on hand at the Kitten Shower was the newly unveiled mobile adoption and clinic unit. Housed inside the vehicle were adoptable cats, including Mogget, 13, a male domestic longhair cat. He is described as a "tranquil and amiable companion." Upon request, Sierra Ortiz, ARL's client services supervisor, let people inside the unit to view the cats.

Attendees were also encouraged to donate food and supplies for the kittens. Needed items include Fancy Feast kitten food, Purina Kitten Chow, Tiki Cat Baby Thrive pouches, heating pads, soft blankets and soft pet playpens. A complete list of needed donations can be found at http://www.berksarl.org/wishlist.

To learn more about the ARL and to view adoptable animals, visit http://www.berksarl.org or www.facebook.com/berksARL.