Buffy's Journey: To Foster or Not to Foster?

Buffy and Casey in the backyard; Buffy cuddles up on Casey; Buffy posing for the camera. Photos provided by Casey Bilger.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Casey Bilger, who stumbled upon pet fostering rather unexpectedly when the cat, Buffy, made surprise visits to her backyard. Buffy was a regular among the community cats who lounged on the patio set. She started warming up to Casey, even nuzzling and asking for pets. They’d have these routine hangouts several nights a week, ending with Buffy slinking away to a dark corner with the other community cats. 

It wasn’t until one snowy night that Casey looked out the window, where her furry friend lazed. “Buffy was curled up in the backyard, snow just collecting all over her fur. I figured outdoor cats can care for themselves pretty well, but it was so cold outside.” Casey watched Buffy walk up to the window, patiently waiting for company. Casey went to open the door, and Buffy darted in, shaking off the snow and eager for a snack. 

Once warmed up and checked for fleas, Buffy never left Casey’s side. The snowstorm had passed the next day, but she made it clear that she did not want to go back outside. “The way that she warmed up to me immediately melted my heart. She was only around 7 months old when I found her, so it was impossible not to fall in love,” Casey said. That night, Casey named her Buffy after the iconic TV vampire slayer. Casey had been binge-watching the show, and Buffy reminded her of the feisty lead character. 

Buffy’s affectionate and sweet soul made it heartbreaking for Casey to think about putting her back outside. She made preparations to keep Buffy as her pet. Casey went out and bought her everything: food, bowls, litter, the litter box, a scooper, and toys. “As a college student, my disposable income is already tight. Pets can be expensive, but I knew it was worth it making sure Buffy was happy and comfortable.” 

While Casey was ready to make the leap and adopt her furry friend, her roommate expressed concerns about having a pet in their living space. “It was one of the most heartbreaking moments, realizing I wasn’t keeping Buffy forever. But it just came down to circumstances, and I was focused on finding this love bug a new home.” 

To Casey’s surprise, rehoming a cat is not an easy thing to accomplish. “It was difficult at first. I wanted to make sure she went to somebody I could trust, so I contacted a friend who fosters cats often to see if he had any leads about takers.” As he made her aware that available fosters were hard to come by at the moment, she turned to new avenues. 

“I made a post on Facebook to the local UCity community, as well as my family's neighborhood in Northeast Philly. I made several posts, too, as the first few got no traction.” It was a few days before Casey would hear anything back, with a friend of a friend in the market for a cat. “It turned out for me that word of mouth was the most effective tool.”  

Casey credits Buffy’s short stay as an eye-opening experience. “As much as I loved Buffy, I was not prepared for the expenses of owning a cat. I would definitely recommend that fostering is something you plan out and not take up on a whim,” she laughed. As for fostering another animal, she doesn’t think she could part with another animal. 

“Remember the main goal: finding the animal a loving forever home. And someday, I want to be that forever home!” As eager as Casey is to become a pet owner, she recognizes the importance of saving up and making sure she’ll be prepared when the time is right. Buffy is enjoying her new home in East Falls, Philadelphia, with a young couple. Although Casey doesn’t keep in contact with them, she’s happy Buffy is in a safe and loving home. 

If you want to become a foster, Philadelphia shelters have many great resources to get you started. The most important step is recognizing what you’re willing to take on and going from there. Ideally, someone seeking to foster would fill out an application at one of the local shelters, like the ACCT Philly, and care for a dog or cat who is unlikely to be adopted and potentially euthanized. 

However, your capacity for care is important for these animals, so choosing an animal you can successfully foster is key. You could decide to foster any animal in a shelter or go the route of finding animals in need of fostering on Facebook or other websites. Whatever you choose to do, fostering and extending care to an animal in need is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things a person could do. If you were thinking of fostering, this is your sign to take the leap and do it now!