What does it take to become a foster cat dad? Domenick, aka FormerlyConrad, is here to tell you.

Being a cat dad isn’t just a growing trend or a fashion statement. It’s a meaningful endeavor that takes hard work and dedication. We asked Instagram cat dad Domenick what inspired him to become a foster cat dad to the tiniest felines. Here’s what he had to say.

Catman Begins

“Cats have always been a huge part of my life. Growing up, my grandparents had a cat named Face who was part of the family for over 20 years. My sister and I begged our parents to let us have a cat of our own, and we wore them down to the point that we added several cats to our home over the course of our childhood.

“The most special relationship I had was with an adorable little Bengal named Ciao. She was my shadow: she would sit on my lap within minutes of me sitting down, and whenever I regrettably had to get up, she would follow me to my next destination. She could sense if I was upset (and considering I was a dramatic teen in the throes of middle school, that was often the case) and got me through some of my toughest times when I otherwise felt incredibly isolated.

“Unfortunately, when she was only about three years old, she suddenly stopped having an appetite. Over the course of a few days, we noticed her eating less and less. We took her to the vet, and they took a very aggressive approach in pumping her full of fluids and nutrients—to the point that when we took her home, she could no longer walk. She passed away within a few days, and it was a completely devastating experience. It was my first loss of an immediate family member.”

The Road To Fostering

“In college, I was part of a service organization called Circle K, and because I talked about my love of cats to whoever would listen, I was asked to co-run a weekly service effort at a local animal shelter. I was initially hesitant: yes, I loved cats, but I didn’t consider myself strong enough to face constant exposure to cats who were confined to cages and were at high risk of being euthanized because no one would adopt them.

“I would get emotional even thinking about cats suffering that fate, but I decided it was time to suck it up. This was my chance to help cats in need.

“I made weekly trips to the animal shelter with other student volunteers and discovered that while it was indeed tough to see such sweet and beautiful cats in those circumstances, it was extremely rewarding to spend time socializing and taking care of them.

“I still remember this tiny little kitten named Shane who came in one week looking terrified and malnourished. He immediately clung to me, and I spent a good portion of my time at the shelter that week petting him and getting him to feel comfortable. He thrived and was adopted within weeks.”

The Family That Fosters Together…

“After graduating from grad school and starting a job in marketing at a technology company, my love of cats was as strong as ever, but I didn’t feel like I was in the right place to adopt a cat. I worked long hours and had a two-hour daily commute, so it just didn’t seem feasible to add taking care of cats to the mix.

“However, in August of 2017, I began to work primarily from home. That very same month, my sister, who shares my love for cats, got a call from a friend about a litter of feral kittens in a nearby park. My sister took those kittens in and almost immediately realized that she wanted to do more to help cats in need. She started a rescue organization named Pop-up Paws, which specializes in neonatal kittens. Over the past two years, she has saved hundreds of cats (and dogs) ans found them forever homes.

“With me now primarily working from home, the timing worked out perfectly for me to begin fostering some of my sister’s rescue cats. Again, I was initially hesitant for the same reason that many are wary about fostering: I thought I would get too attached to the cats to let them go, and even if I did, I would be too heartbroken to go through the process over and over again.”

Becoming A Cat Dad

“Fortunately, fostering has turned out to be one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Yes, the first time I had to let a beloved cat go to a new home, I struggled to go through with it. Tears were shed, and I thought I would never get over the loss. But then the next cat in need came in, and I did get over it, because I realized that getting the chance to foster so many amazing animals is a blessing.

“For years, I proudly proclaimed myself a cat person who had no interest in dogs, but now I consider myself an overall animal lover. I’ve even adopted a dog named Jack. I also decided to keep a foster named Tyler who grew especially attached to me, and vice versa. I just couldn’t let him go, and I think that’s okay sometimes when fostering!

“Throughout the time I’ve fostered animals, I’ve decided to share stories about my fosters on Instagram. I think rescuing and fostering is so important, and so many people have told me that they’d love to do it… but they just can’t imagine giving up a cat after investing so much love and care into it. By sharing my fostering journey—including the hard goodbyes—I hope to show that it is an incredibly rewarding and worthwhile effort that’s a completely different kind of wonderful than adopting a pet.”

“Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”

“In an Instagram post, I compared the hard goodbye to Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” While the fosters depart from my world, there’s so many else of the world out there for them to explore, and they’ll get to have so many adventures that they wouldn’t have had it if I didn’t foster them and then adopt them out. Their new family will get so much love and joy from them—and give it right back to them.

“My mission is to encourage everyone to foster—but only if they are in the right place to do so. Fostering is not for everyone, and people should prioritize their own (and their cats’) needs. I don’t ever want to pressure anyone to foster, but I do want to open more people’s eyes to the idea that it doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience. Like I said before, it can be its own kind of wonderful.”

The Meow Place would like to thank Domenick for taking the time to tell us about his fostering efforts and inspiring us all with his love for animals. You can find Domenick on his Instagram at formerlyconrad.