If you ask Jamie Hammond how many cats she’s fostered since August 2021, she might need a minute because there have been so many whiskers along the way.
Jamie and her partner, Scott Manderson, are lifelong animal lovers (especially cats). With two cats of their own already ruling the house, you might think they were at capacity. Think again.
They’ve welcomed all types of cats, from kittens to seniors. There’s been pregnant moms – some who gave birth right in their home. Bottle babies needing round-the-clock care. Semi-feral cats. Fearful cats. “Difficult” cats. The ones who just needed a little extra time, patience, and TLC. Jamie and Scott will care for them all.
Before their foster journey began, they had followed foster animal accounts on social media for a while, watching from afar and imagining what it might be like. Then one day, they made the decision.
And they haven’t looked back.
They even turned an extra room in their home into a dedicated foster space – a safe-haven for nervous paws and uncertain hearts. Jamie says they realized they had the time and the capacity, and that was all the push they needed.
“Fostering has become a regular part of the family,” Jamie said. “When friends and family come over, they always ask who we have at the house now. They’re always curious.”
Curious – and probably a little impressed, because fostering isn’t always easy.
“We love it though,” Jamie said. “It has its emotional highs and lows. It challenges us in many ways, especially those with traumatic past experiences. But the joy and pride it brings to help them is worth it all.”
One specific foster who will always stay with her is a cat named Ralph.
Ralph came to the Nova Scotia SPCA as a feral cat. He was fearful. He hid from everything. Trust was not something he gave easily. Jamie and Scott had to work hard to help him learn that people could be kind.
Slowly, patiently, things began to change. A quiet meow turned into an approved pet. A cautious glance turned into playful interaction. Before long, Ralph was ready for adoption.
Today, he’s living like royalty – spoiled and pampered, spending his days lounging in his very own catio with a furry sibling.
That transformation? That’s what keeps Jamie and Scott going.
“Really, this is fun,” Jamie said. “We get to hang out with cool cats all the time.”
She jokes that their home is like a revolving door for cat care. In fact, they’ve already fostered a cat this year. But behind the joking rotating comment is a deep understanding of what fostering truly means – while welcoming them in their house is joyful, letting them go is something else entirely.
Jamie knows the biggest hesitation people have about fostering is the “goodbye.”
“It’s always tough,” she admits. “I cry. I fall in love with them all. But the goal is to say goodbye. This is how you help more cats. By saying goodbye, you’re setting that cat up for a new, loving home. And then you’re freeing yourself up for the next foster cat. If you never said goodbye, you wouldn’t be able to continue fostering, and then cats would miss this opportunity. That’s the beauty that comes from this – more animals getting help.”
And the good news? You don’t need a mansion or a fully stocked pet store to get started.
The Nova Scotia SPCA provides everything – food, medications, toys, treats. Foster families simply provide time, patience, and love.
“Fostering is a lot of fun and rewarding,” Jamie said for those thinking about foster care. “You don’t need a ton of space. If you’re interested, you just need to try it. And believe me, you’ll love it. It’s definitely worth it.”
For Jamie, fostering isn’t just something she does.
It’s part of who she is.
“I love the Nova Scotia SPCA,” Jamie said. “They are always there to support. They always want to help animals in our community.”
And thanks to Jamie and Scott, more cats get that second chance – one safe room, one brave meow, and one loving “successful” goodbye at a time.