Sitting on my computer, Babri stared me in the eye and meowed as loud as he could to compel me to stop working and to do his bidding instead. This hourly showdown brought me to the conclusion that our playful, mischievous Bengal needed a furry companion — fast. My husband and I came up with an inventive idea: Foster kittens until we found the right fit. It’s kind of like “try before you buy” but with a humane twist. In addition to finding a compatible companion for your cat, it also gives deserving homeless animals a second chance at life. The Humane Society of the United States cites that three to four million homeless pets are euthanized each year simply because there aren’t enough people willing to adopt them. According to Alley Cat Allies, 70 percent of cats brought into shelters are killed. We had fostered a few felines already through our local no-kill rescue group, Homeless Cat Network, but had to find other homes for the cats since Babri didn’t like them much — he either sat on their heads or ignored them. Then we fostered Mango, a rescued 4-month-old buff-colored tiger trapped in a kitten’s body.

**Get the December 2008 issue of CAT FANCY to read the full article.**.