Should you get a cat?
Kerstin Schulze of Shangri-Paw and Project Luni in Singapore has a guide for us wannabe cat fosterers and would-be cat owners so that we can do right by them
As a dog person who recently realised she could be a cat person as well, I have a lot of questions in mind – like “Am I worthy?”
Do I have what it takes to be a cat parent? Because being a pet owner is no joke, even if it is incredibly fulfilling.
No worries, though, because I also have the answers – and they’re courtesy of Kerstin Schulze, the founder of boutique cat hotel Shangri-Paw in Singapore.
Kerstin is also a foster admin for Project Luni, a non-profit dedicated to fostering, rehoming, feeding and providing medical care to Singapore’s street cats. (She used to foster too, and rescued cats with Project Luni for over five years.) Plus she’s a pet photographer who’s “owned” by four cats – Marvin, Zelda, Samantha and Kodak.
What questions should we ask ourselves to find out if we can be good, full-time cat parents?
Kerstin helps clear my mind:
#1 Do I have 30 to 60 minutes each day to care for my cat?
#2 Do I have a system in place for the holidays or if I ever plan to relocate?
#3 Am I willing to take in two kittens (as one will be lonely), or maybe give an older cat a chance at a home?
#4 Have I made a financial plan for any vet emergencies?
“Vet costs are increasing, so it’s important to put something aside for kitty who doesn’t have insurance,” she reminds us.
And what questions should we ask ourselves to find out if we can be good cat fosterers?
Kerstin continues:
#1 Can I deal with the unexpected?
#2 Do I have space to quarantine the kittens or cat from my own pets?
“Sadly, foster kittens or cats often come from difficult situations and may have illnesses or behavioural issues that can take time to resolve,” she says.
#3 Do I have the time and patience to care for them until they get adopted?
If you’re confident and answered yes to all of the above
Then it’s off to your next step, and that is preparing your home for a cat foster and/or forever fur baby.
“Cats dislike change, so make sure you set realistic (low) expectations for the first few days,” Kerstin advises.
#1 Create a base camp
“Have a room with the cat’s supplies and bedding, but no big space to hide,” she says.
“You want to create comfort but not have the cat hide from you for a full week under the bed! Only once they are used to you can you slowly expand their space in the house.”
#2 Promote cat safety
“Do not save money on this! Cats are fast and unpredictable. Make sure all windows and balconies are meshed.”
#3 Use the same food and litter as the fosterer
“Reducing elements of change helps your new cat adjust faster. You can later slowly transition.”
#4 Give it time
“Sit in the room. Offer food when you are there. But let the cat come to you in their own time and don’t rush things. It will pay off with a faster process.”
#5 If you have other pets, make a slow introduction and integration plan
“This may take a few weeks and should not be rushed. Ask for help if needed.”
How to make your cat feel at home
After everything Kerstin has just said, are you ready to say yes to a cat? But don’t jump in just yet – your house may still need a few tweaks and additions. The good news is you don’t have to look far, because you have Shangri-Paw as a guide.
I asked Kerstin for her personal favourite pieces and features at Shangri-Paw to give us a few ideas.
#1 Create a space that’s bright and full of natural light
“Many rooms in the hotel have windows so that the cat can sit on a shelf and look outside, or into the hotel to see what’s going on,” she notes.
#2 Allot different spaces with different functions
“There’s the catification, especially for our luxury rooms. We went all in to create beautiful spaces that cats and humans will love.
“My personal favourite is the New York room, as it’s a little playground for cats. Or Tokyo, with the artistic cat tree that invites a cat to lounge in a beautiful setting and watch the cars drive by on Geylang Road.”
If you want to make yours even more unique and personalised, I also wrote about how to get amazing custom pet furniture here.
#3 There’s the people
Your cat needs you. In Kerstin’s case, she counts on their partners.
“We already have a vet and animal communication partner, and are working on partnerships for mobile grooming (if needed) and homemade treats. We want to support other businesses and create a holistic offering for clients and guests. Of course, we will also help Project Luni to sell their merchandise to support their cats.”
So surround yourself and your cat with the necessities, and always have your cat contacts on hand.
Still worried and unsure?
If you have doubts, try getting involved with Project Luni or any other cat cause of your own choosing to test the waters.
Here’s Kerstin’s most memorable experiences with Project Luni – and you might see yourself in any of the roles she’ll mention.
• As a fosterer
“My first two foster kittens, Loki and Freya, were also my most difficult cases – they were only eight weeks old yet very feral,” she recalls.
“It took me two months of clicker training, lots of boiled chicken, and hours spent on the toilet floor to socialise them and turn them into happy kitties. Martin and Zelda were naturals, and took on pawrenting roles.
“Another one might be when I actually rescued a cat family in my area – from discovering them in a dirty hole, to trying to locate the feeder, to gaining their trust and trapping them, to finding a foster home and finally seeing their adoptions.
“I think any story you can witness from beginning to end leaves the biggest memories.”
• Seeing others volunteer, and their dedication
“We have many students taking on great responsibilities as fosterers, or helping to raise funds or at events,” she says.
“But really, all of our Luni volunteers help in any way they can, and it’s heartwarming to have such a great mix of people working on a cause to help Singapore’s cats.”
• Participating in cat projects
“What you can make happen when you give others the benefit of the doubt or trust them to do their best,” Kerstin muses.
“I coordinate two bigger projects. One is with Zul, a worker at a fish farm who ended up with 27 abandoned cats in an enclosure. We are not helping with food, healthcare and rehoming, and he is the best caretaker those cats could wish for. We regularly have volunteers going over to help as well now.
“Second is the Jamiyah Halfway House, which created a cat room that we now use as a halfway house for rescue cats before they can move into foster homes,” she adds.
“The residents there give the best care to those cats and ensure they get socialised, fed and cared for. Maybe people would not give those residents another chance, but through the cats they learn to take responsibility. They can also talk to them without being judged.”
• Seeing the plight of Singapore’s street cats
“This shocked me at the beginning,” Kerstin says.
“I didn’t expect so many cats to be living on the streets. However, after noticing how many kind and loving feeders there are out there, it felt better. I wish they would receive more support, understanding and financial support.
“Community cats can live a good life – I know many in my area along with their feeders that are doing very well. But of course, it’s always tricky when the cats get sick! Project Luni tries to help when we have funds, but sadly, there’s never enough.
“With more effort in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), we can hopefully reduce the numbers and give existing feeders more support. Sterilisation really is key to solving this issue – and educating the next generation to create kind and compassionate humans!
“Community cats often do quite well compared to those that sadly get abandoned and have no idea how to survive.”
• Planning a good future for Singapore’s cats
“I hope that we can soon change the mindset of more people regarding cats in HDBs (housing estates in Singapore). New laws and policies are in the works, and I am part of the focus groups along with many other stakeholders. With well-designed laws and regulations such as registering cats, microchipping and sterilisation, we can soon hopefully have more responsible families giving cats a new home.
“But I do urge people: Never abandon your pet cat! They suffer immensely and often cannot make it on the street. Shelters and rescues are currently overflowing, and it breaks our hearts when someone reaches out and we have to tell them we cannot help.”
Finally, if you’re dead set on getting a cat
Kerstin has a few more words of wisdom to share.
#1 Pick your cat based on their personality, not their looks
#2 Do you want an active kitty?
“Do you have the time (or kids) to play with them? Do you want a lap cat but are not home most of the day? The kitty may get depressed!”
#3 Two is better than one
“Also, if you can: Take two! I adopted one (Marvin) as my first cat. The moment he was alone in a room he was crying out. So four hours later, I drove back to the shelter to collect his sister (Zelda)! Best decision ever!”
And don’t believe everything that’s being said about cats
Kerstin knows these things to be true:
#1 Contrary to popular belief, cats aren’t loners or independent
“Many cats love and need humans as much as dogs,” she points out.
“My cats wait for me at the door and rush there the moment they hear the elevator. They come and snuggle under my blanket or T-shirt. I see cats not only running to their feeders and carers for food, but also for comfort and cuddles. I even have a street cat stopping me on my bike just to demand cuddles!”
#2 Cats love each other’s company
“They can give each other snuggles and comfort and ways of play that we humans are unable to,” she concludes.
Ready to embrace the cat person in you? Find Shangri-Paw here and on Facebook and Instagram. Find Project Luni here and on Facebook and Instagram too.
Extra: How to take pictures of your cats
Let’s tap into Kerstin’s pet photo-taking expertise while we’re at it – because we can never have too many cat photos!
#1 Make sure you have sufficient light
“The light source needs to be behind you.”
#2 Enlist a helper
“Usually for me that’s the owner or fosterer who can deliver treats or operate some toys.”
#3 Get on the floor with them or put them on a higher level
“Always be on eye level.”
#4 Be patient
“Don’t expect a perfect shot in five minutes,” she says. “I often click a few hundred to get a handful of great snaps.”
Have fun with your cat!