Catherine says: I began fostering kittens in 2007, about a year after my beloved Smoggy passed away at almost 18 years of age. No kitty could ever replace him, so I thought fostering little ones in honor of Smoggy would be a better way to make a difference... saving lives one kitten at a time. I began volunteering for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and have rarely been without kittens in my house ever since!

It was in October 2008 that the eighth session of foster kittens arrived, this time with a difference -- mum came too! It was my first hands-on experience with a mother cat and her babies. I went in to pick up two kittens and instead came home with a mum and four babies, two boys and two girls. I had been given a choice of the two little ones, who were truly adorable, or this touching little scene. I had never seen newborn babies in the flesh before so my eyes welled with tears and my throat got all dry and I said yes to five new fosters. I named the boys Colin and Robert, the girls Flicker and Pearl, and the mum Audrey.

Audrey was a stray and about six months old, which was sad as she was already having kittens when she was still baby herself. We had a few sleepless nights getting her settled in, but eventually she started to feel safe and she was such a gorgeous mum. Colin was a little black and white boy who became quite the character and enjoyed chin rubs. :D Pearl, the biggest and fluffiest of them all, was a funny tortie girl who always liked to have a chat anytime. Robert was a little lion and such a cutie. He was a bit of a mummy's boy too, not that there's anything wrong with that! And Flicker was the littlest gal on the block, always in there trying to get a feed but just never getting quite enough. Still, she gave everyone else a run for their money. And for a stray kitty, mum Audrey adjusted very well to being an indoor mum and loved pats and kisses and became very, very smoochy. She was such a doll!

After Audrey "graduated" and went back to the shelter, it was just me and the four little kitties for a little while longer. And what a journey we had. Seeing them grow from tiny little handfuls to big, burly kittens... that was a joy. And it was very hard to say goodbye to them when we took them back in. But happily they were all adopted, even Audrey!

Smoggy's Friends: Edmund, Delilah & Mouse
Smoggy's Friends: Milly, Polly, Cocoa, Boots & Randi
Smoggy's Friends: Mitey & Tufty
Smoggy's Friends: Latte, Leccy, Tabby & Carla

All Photos Courtesy of and ©: Catherine D.
Catherine is a professional graphic designer;
please visit Faster Pussycat Productions to learn more about her work

Catherine volunteers for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne, Australia,
a 75-year-old not-for-profit organization that relies entirely on community and corporate supporters to provide services for needy and homeless animals

Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten
Smoggy's Friends: Robert, Colin, Flicker & Pearl [redux]  kitten

Comments and LOLs:
Darcy -
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Darcy
gold kitten pointsgold kitten points
1234 points
katzenmother -
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katzenmother
gold kitten pointsgold kitten points
1030 points
Cuteness overload alert!!! What a sweet family with Audrey and her four adorable little kid kittens:) I have put this page on speedial as I so love the added videos. Bless you many times over for the work you do for the shelter. My condolences over the loss of your Smoggy. Thank you so much for this fantastic mama kitty/kitten presentation. Was like given a gift.
amycats -
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amycats
gold kitten points
641 points
Now that Robert seems to have the right "attitude"!
MissyofMissylandia -
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MissyofMissylandia
gold kitten points
780 points
It is so lovely to see how loving Audrey was her babies.
jtsagen -
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jtsagen
gold star pointsgold star pointsgold star partial points
59 points
I just love this bundle of fur!
Natthecat -
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Natthecat
gold kitten pointsgold kitten pointsgold kitten pointsgold kitten points
∞ points
Catherine D--You did fine work with these little wrigglers and their mom Audrey. The videos show how quickly these rascals grow! And they honor your Smoggy. The cat tree is so wonderful, too. I would love one.
catgirl711 -
catgirl711
silver star pointssilver star partial points
8 points
I used to have a cat named Pearl too! What a cute bunch! Looks like they have a lot of personalities :)
megatha427 -
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megatha427
black kitten pointsblack kitten pointsblack kitten points
381 points
This made me LOL! So cute!
megatha427 -
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megatha427
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381 points
Who doesn't love a pile of sleeping kittehs?!
megatha427 -
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megatha427
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381 points
Audrey is beautiful and looks like a great mama! <3 Glad everyone found wonderful homes!
Laura42 -
My Emily was like Audrey, a little girl herself who was rescued with two kittens when she was less than a year old. 17 years later she's still a silly, loving kitty. I bet whoever adopted Audrey got a wonderful companion, too -- and she is such a beautiful girl!!
paulajeanne -
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paulajeanne
gold kitten points
629 points
paulajeanne -
paulajeanne
gold kitten points
629 points
I love the Mushroom Castle in the last video. Very pretty, and would fit in my living room nicely! Just sayin'.
kibblegirl -
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kibblegirl
gold kitten pointsgold kitten points
1057 points
Wonderful story with the greatest ending, all the fosters got adopted.
mrcatman -
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mrcatman
gold kitten points
836 points
NoOneInParticular -
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NoOneInParticular
silver star pointssilver star pointssilver star pointssilver star points
23 points
Ah. Nothing like a good filing system to keep your workplace organized and boost your productivity ;D
ThaiCats101 -
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ThaiCats101
black kitten points
232 points
your kitties are all so adorable! I loved the videos. thanks for sharing!
kathyis -
kathyis
silver star pointssilver star pointssilver star partial points
12 points
so cute
kittiesmama -
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kittiesmama
black kitten pointsblack kitten points
314 points
how sweet a picture this is.
MsKabibble -
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MsKabibble
black kitten pointsblack kitten pointsblack kitten points
417 points
OMG, this really did make me LOL! How perfect! I wish I could vote for them all individually, they are so adorable! Mom is a very pretty girl & I'm glad she was adopted as well. She deserves a nice quiet life.
MsKabibble -
MsKabibble
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417 points
@NoOneinParticular,
That made me lol even harder!!!
MsKabibble -
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MsKabibble
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417 points
michael -
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michael
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403 points
So adorable!
michael -
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michael
black kitten pointsblack kitten pointsblack kitten points
403 points



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