We have just taken on a new indoor fosterer. He's a really lovely if somewhat 'soft' gentleman, lives alone and no other pets.
He's a professional Doctor of Philosophy!
Anyway, he works from home writing lectures and other scholarly stuff and wanted feline company but didn't want a full time cat so contacted us.
We like to start them with a really easy cat and break them into the tougher ones slowly. We picked a cat from our waiting list - a really stunning, friendly and easy going tabby female. She was with him no time at all before being snapped up.
He was a bit sorry to see her go but at the same time he met the family and they were lovely so he was happy to have played a part.
We thought we had best keep him keen and asked if he would be prepared to take another one. He readily agreed. Somehow the communications got a bit blurred and he was not expecting me to call this morning. He was expecting another week!
I started to panic as all arrangements were made for this new cat to come in and now suddenly it might have nowhere to go.
Then he breaks it to me... he's arranged to go shopping with his Aunty on Thursday so the cat will be alone for 2 hours. He's worried the cat might get stressed to be left that long.
Then he tells me he never left his first foster cat for one second and had Tescos deliver to them so he didn't have to leave her.
Naturally I explained that many fosterers go out to work and their cats are fine - we pick the correct cat to fit the fosterers abilities and lifestyle.
I wanted to hug the guy for being so dedicated, caring and thoughtful.... but I also couldn't help a good chuckle when I put the phone down.