By Luke Voogt
Leopold mother Melissah Hetherington admits she was never a cat fan, until she signed up to foster dogs about a year ago.
“But we ended up fostering cats and becoming cat people instead,” she said.
“Now I love them – crazy cat lady!
“They love the cuddles, but they don’t lick or get all up your face, and they come and go as they please. If you’ve had a hard day they’re quite soothing to pat.”
Melissah is urging Geelong locals to take home a purr-ty tabby right meow in Geelong Animal Welfare Centre’s (GAWS) latest foster campaign.
“Just go down, there’ll be a cat you’ll bond with,” she said.
Melissah began fostering after quitting as a flight attendant to be closer to her children Holly, 8, and William, 6.
“All the cats we’ve fostered have really bonded with my children,” she said.
The only hard part was taking them back when GAWS finds the paw-fect “forever home”, she added.
The family is currently looking after Poppins, after owners surrendered the then-pregnant cat to GAWS on Christmas Eve.
Poppins gave birth to four healthy kittens on 30 December – a great birthday surprise for Holly.
She and William share their mother’s love of cats.
“I like the colour of her fur and her eyes,” Holly said.
“They’re real calm and fun to play with, especially if they’re furry.”
GAWS has more than 400 cats and has reduced adoption fees to just $35 until 20 January in its new campaign: I’m a shelter cat, get me out of here!
The fee includes initial vaccination, microchipping, flea and worming and desexing.
