Meet Kate, the foster carer (and cat doula!) giving Adelaide’s rescue cats a second chance

When you walk into Kate O’Leary’s home in Magill, South Australia, you’re likely to be greeted by a flurry of paws – sometimes ten kittens at once, along with a heavily pregnant queen tucked safely in her own quiet room.

For Kate, fostering for Ginger Ninja Rescue, an affiliate member of Companion Animal Network Australia, has become an essential part of her family life. Over the years, she and her daughters, aged 8 and 11, have welcomed all kinds of feline cases into their home, from overnight emergencies to long-term recovery cats.

“I have fostered a range of cats and kittens,” Kate says. “A queen and her six babies, a cat with a broken pelvis, a very overweight one-eyed ginger darling on a strict diet, a bottle-fed baby that reminded me of having a newborn again, and a very special kitten needing surgery that became one of the great loves of my life.”

Potato arrived with his six siblings after being found cold and alone in Meadows, a town nestled in the Adelaide Hills. His legs were deformed, and in many other circumstances he may not have survived. But Ginger Ninja Rescue believed he deserved a chance, and so did Kate.

“They had been living in a church, and I joked it was divine intervention that made this litter so special,” Kate says.

Potato was around 16 weeks old, full of love and gratitude despite the discomfort he lived with daily. X-rays confirmed a serious case of double luxating patella, and after his first surgery, one leg required a second operation. Through it all, Potato remained gentle, determined and impossibly sweet.

“From the beginning Potato showed his determination,” Kate says. “Throughout his recovery we forged a very deep connection, and it was at that point I felt he needed to stay.”

Today, Potato isn’t just a beloved companion; he’s become an essential part of the household’s foster ecosystem.

“I often find him cuddled up or grooming the little kittens,” Kate says. “I’ve watched him show the most timid cats that humans are safe and our home is a safe place for them. He is a very special and wise cat and I’m grateful for him every day.”

Fostering has also had a profound impact on the children.

“My daughters have learnt responsibility and compassion they couldn’t have learnt any other way,” Kate says. “They have also learnt about loss and love and had the most outrageous belly laughs over real life cat memes in our lounge room.”

The girls’ friends also love visiting to see “all the cats!”

The truth about letting go

One of the biggest misconceptions?

“People always say to me ‘I don’t know how you do it, I’d want to keep them all!’” Kate says.

But for her, adoption day is a joy, not a heartbreak.

“I am delighted when they go to their forever home. It is such a beautiful and special time for the animal and adoptive family,” she says. “There are some little ones that are extra special, and I have a little tear when they leave but mostly I’m just so grateful to be a tiny part of their journey.”

For Kate, fostering is not just about saving animals;  it’s about strengthening family bonds and making a tangible difference.

“Fostering, especially as a family, deepens connection with each other. Working together for the collective cause,” she says. “As a parent and animal lover it is one of the most rewarding, funny and beautiful things you can do. If you have the emotional and physical space, it will surpass your expectations.”

To learn about fostering for Ginger Ninja Rescue, please visit www.gingerninjarescue.com.au/new-page-2