Devin Caskie, Salsa & Queso.
My current fosters are three tabby siblings named Lather, Rinse, and Repeat.
And its even more amazing when you get to see them grow and thrive in their new permanent homes.
Devin Caskie, Salsa & Queso. (Fosters: Lather, Rinse, Repeat)“So far, I have been the foster mom of 14 beautiful kittens. My current fosters are three tabby siblings named Lather, Rinse, and Repeat. It’s so rewarding to see them grow up from little roly-poly balls covered in kitten food and dirt, into healthy, spunky young cats. And it’s even more amazing when you get to see them grow and thrive in their new permanent homes. In my life, there have been few experiences as rewarding as fostering.”This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please readour disclosurefor more info.
In my life, there have been few experiences as rewarding as fostering.This post may contain affiliate links.
If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission.
yo readour disclosurefor more info.
Sara Anderson & Loki“This cat has more personality and sass than any animal I have ever met. We are inseparable. We are best friends.”
The crazy cat lady is one of modern cultures most enduring stereotypes.
GATChas been a massive success.
Wills is now getting ready for the launch of her firstGirls and Their Catsbook.
Nomi Leasure, Atticus & Scout“Food, it would turn out, was something Atticus really, really enjoyed. Perhaps it was those formative months spent scrounging the unforgiving and un-bountiful city streets that instilled in him the dire desire to dine… In any case, he quickly became a sizable companion whom I lugged – lifting from the legs not the back – from city to city.”
Scroll down to read My Modern Met’s interview.
Sara Anderson & LokiThis cat has more personality and sass than any animal I have ever met.
We are best friends.
Jen Hsieh, Bubba & Jeff Goldblum“As a child growing up, I never had the responsibility or companionship of pets (aside from fish, who I had to learn not to get emotionally attached to, due their short lifespan). So, providing much needed homes to these furry nuggets has been such a game changer. Not only have I learned to love more unconditionally and work on my patience – seriously though, how many plants can one cat knock down – but it’s also given me and my boyfriend a way to strengthen our relationship by caring for Bubba and Jeff Goldblum together.”
Nomi Leasure, Atticus & ScoutFood, it would turn out, was something Atticus really, really enjoyed.
GATCstarted as a way to debunk the crazy cat lady stereotype.
What inspired you to want to dispel this generalization?
Catherine Willett & Edgar“We made eye contact, and the next thing I knew, the staff were giving me the scoop about this new friend… So, I signed the paperwork, named him Edgar after Edgar Degas (there was something quite French about his style) and took him home with me. Within a month or two, he grew to the size he is now to my utter surprise. He must be part Maine Coon because he weighs over 20lbs and is quite large.”
I was just tired of seeing the way cat ladies were portrayed in the media.
So, providing much needed homes to these furry nuggets has been such a game changer.
What is the process for photographing your subjects?
Dr. Alisa Neymark, Koda, Lily & Finnegan“My relationship with a heroin addict was a no-win situation: the more I tried to help Alex (a pseudonym), the more I lost my balance… Alex had grown up with cats. Shortly after he moved in, he expressed disappointment that he was never greeted at the door by a slinky feline, weaving between his legs. Wanting to please him so that he’d stay off the drugs, we adopted Koda.”
Each shoot is about an hour.
I come to their home and we sit for 10-15 minutes chatting and getting to know each other.
It’s also a way for the cat to feel comfortable with my presence.
Tyisha Shaia, Ginger, Piper & Brooklyn“Brooklyn is the most recent addition to the family at 4 years old. She’s a dog in a cat’s body. She comes running to the door when I get home, loves to play, and literally bounces off the walls. She’s everyone’s favorite at house parties.”
The next 45 minutes or so I photograph them in various posed and candid moments.
Within a month or two, he grew to the size he is now to my utter surprise.
He must be part Maine Coon because he weighs over 20lbs and is quite large.
Daniela Gutmann, Kuki Doh & Moka“Her foster mom had named her Duchess….which is funny. We re-named her Kuki Doh on our way home because she reminded me of cookie dough.”
Wanting to hey him so that hed stay off the drugs, we adopted Koda.
The stories of women and their cats are extensiveyou really get to know these cats and their humans!
How do you get your human subjects to open up and share their stories?
Thanu Yakupitiyage, Bug & Fish“My partner and I joke that we got them because we were stressed out by the election, and well, clearly having them around has helped us cope with the aftermath. It felt significant at the time for me to get pets because I had just received my U.S residency card after fourteen years of visas and struggling to stay in the States.”
Shes a dog in a cats body.
Shes everyones favorite at house parties.
Daniela Gutmann, Kuki Doh & MokaHer foster mom had named her Duchess….which is funny.
Ryan Norville & Theo“Until Theo, I had only one other cat in my life. His name was Socks and he lived with me and my mom in the Bronx before she passed away… The bond I have with Theo is so special to me. He is talkative and extremely affectionate. When one of us leaves the house, Theo cries, and when either of us returns, he will actually start meowing when we are still about a block away. When he starts meowing and running to the door that is what lets me know my husband is still about 5 minutes away, it’s absolutely incredible.”
We re-named her Kuki Doh on our way home because she reminded me of cookie dough.
Your project is so popular that you’ve had to stop accepting new applications.
What do you think resonates with people that makes them want to participate inGATC?
Christina Nguyen & Bentley“I had just graduated college and was feeling a bit lost navigating the real world. I thought taking care of a little kitty would give me some purpose and I knew I was ready to take on the responsibility since I was no longer in school. So, I started looking for cats on Craigslist and I found a post that said “free kittens”. Apparently, the owner’s cat escaped their home for some time and came back very pregnant.”
I think everyone just wants to share their special story and have nice portraits with their cats.
I don’t blame them.
What’s next forGATC?
Sarah Hood & Princess (Fosters: Medeva & Tigress)“Years ago, I was battling terrible depression. PTSD from past trauma was taking a toll on me to a point where I lost all desire to live. In an effort to take back control of my life, I started fostering as therapy. I knew that when I was depressed, my cat Princess was the reason for living. She loved me and needed me. Fostering gave me a purpose I desperately needed, helping animals and my community. I knew that if I wasn’t there for them then no one would be there to feed them, give them their medicine, or take care of them, and I could never abandon a cat in need.”
Maybe internationalGirls and Their Catsone day.
What can you tell us about theGirls and Their Catsbook?
Girls and Their Catsthe bookfeatures 50 profiles of cat ladies around the U.S.
Malia Griggs & Yam“Where do I begin? I am obsessed with Yammy, Yamyam, Yammers, Yamburger, Yambaby. He has silky, ginger fur with soft, hieroglyphic-like patterns. His most distinctive feature is his tongue, which permanently sticks out. The animal shelter told me that this is because of an injury he suffered to his jaw, most likely the result of a car accident. Luckily, he’s in no pain, just requires a diet of wet food.”
It’s an extension of the website in that each profile has a portrait and a story.
And an underlying message of the book is adopt don’t shop.
Ryan Norville & TheoUntil Theo, I had only one other cat in my life.
Aelfie Oudghiri & The Shah“We adopted The Shah from a shelter in East Harlem. At the time, I was a student and my husband was in between work. We were 20 somethings living together for the first time in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time in our apartment.”
His name was Socks and he lived with me and my mom in the Bronx before she passed away…
The bond I have with Theo is so special to me.
He is talkative and extremely affectionate.
Brie Statham, Charlie, Louis & Pigeon“Charlie was my very first pet. I didn’t really have much of an opinion on cats at the time, besides knowing that my mom was terrified of them, but I had always found them to be interesting animals. I rescued Charlie from the Detroit Humane Society when she was six months old. I went in just to look, and I saw her and liked her but was unsure. When I turned around to leave, she stuck her paw out. I was a goner. She was named Precious, but it didn’t fit her. I renamed her Charlie, after Charlie Brown, because I am a big Peanuts fan.”
Christina Nguyen & BentleyI had just graduated college and was feeling a bit lost navigating the real world.
So, I started looking for cats on Craigslist and I found a post that said free kittens.
Apparently, the owners cat escaped their home for some time and came back very pregnant.
Lizz Hill Wiker, Prince & Stevie“[Me and my husband’s] lives have shifted in such wonderful ways in the short months since we’ve had them. Prince and Stevie are the absolute love of our lives and we’ve realized we feel like a family now, not just a couple.
Sarah Hood & Princess (Fosters: Medeva & Tigress)Years ago, I was battling terrible depression.
In an effort to take back control of my life, I started fostering as therapy.
I knew that when I was depressed, my cat Princess was the reason for living.
Gabi O’Connor, Kit & Meatball. Fosters: Newby, Hop, Eleven“My two cats couldn’t be more different from each other in every way. One is the cat that couldn’t find a home and the other is the one everyone wanted.”
She loved me and needed me.
Fostering gave me a purpose I desperately needed, helping animals and my community.
Malia Griggs & YamWhere do I begin?
Laura Weiszer & Chester“In 2012, my then-boyfriend and I decided to adopt a cat together. I wasn’t a cat person at all, so I’m not really sure why I agreed to it, but as soon as we started the adoption process and met the tiny kitten we would later name Lord Chesterfield, I fell in love. When we later split and went our separate ways, my ex kept the couch and I, fortunately, kept the cat.”
I am obsessed with Yammy, Yamyam, Yammers, Yamburger, Yambaby.
He has silky, ginger fur with soft, hieroglyphic-like patterns.
His most distinctive feature is his tongue, which permanently sticks out.
Luckily, hes in no pain, just requires a diet of wet food.
Aelfie Oudghiri & The ShahWe adopted The Shah from a shelter in East Harlem.
At the time, I was a student and my husband was in between work.
We were 20 somethings living together for the first time in the aftermath of the Great Recession.
Needless to say, we spent a lot of time in our apartment.
Brie Statham, Charlie, Louis & PigeonCharlie was my very first pet.
I rescued Charlie from the Detroit Humane Society when she was six months old.
I went in just to look, and I saw her and liked her but was unsure.
When I turned around to leave, she stuck her paw out.
I was a goner.
She was named Precious, but it didnt fit her.
I renamed her Charlie, after Charlie Brown, because I am a big Peanuts fan.
Gabi OConnor, Kit & Meatball.
Fosters: Newby, Hop, ElevenMy two cats couldnt be more different from each other in every way.
One is the cat that couldnt find a home and the other is the one everyone wanted.
Laura Weiszer & ChesterIn 2012, my then-boyfriend and I decided to adopt a cat together.
