Editor’s note: this story was written in mid-May. We have since learned that Jo’s mother passed away in late May. Our condolences to Jo and her family as they grieve the loss of their family member.

Fostering kittens has been a family affair for Jo Reed. She started fostering through Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) about 20 years ago after moving to the area.

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian or an actress,” Reed said. “I worked in vet clinics for a while. I always was a kitten freak.”

At the peak, when her two children were younger, the family fostered three litters of kittens each season, with three to five kittens in each litter.

“My kids got to learn how to be gentle,” Reed said. “They got to participate in the clean-up. I think everybody benefits from having any kind of pet.”

Reed’s mom moved in with the family years ago to help the single mom raise her children.

“She was cleaning up after kittens, too,” Reed said. “She was always resistant (to getting kittens), and then as soon as the car came into the driveway with the kittens, she’s on the porch.” 

“My mom has always loved having foster kittens,” Reed said.

Now that her mom is 90, with a terminal illness and memory loss, the caregiving has changed. But the family love of kittens hasn’t. Reed paused fostering when her three adult cats (“foster fails”) became elderly and needed more care. But after they passed recently, Reed and her mom were both eager to foster more kittens.

“She may not remember my name but she remembers that we need kittens,” Reed said. “She’ll spend hours in the chair, holding kittens, playing with kittens.”

“You can not have kittens in your house without laughing really hard,” Reed said. “That was my idea for Mom, and with kittens here, she laughs every day.”

Lori Mason, foster care coordinator at RASKC, said that many people who foster or adopt pets report that the benefits go both ways.

“I have another foster mom who has a lot of depression issues and she says fostering has helped her so much,” Mason said. “Not only are the fosters helping us raise these animals but the animals are doing such good for the people as well.”

Get more information on how you can foster, adopt or support animals with a donation at kingcounty.gov/pets.