October 2026
Note: These fosters love to take pictures! Scroll down for some themed kitten photos.
Meet Kristi and Hailey
Our October Fosters of the Month joined SAFe’s team in 2025, but they’ve worked with rescues for over a decade.
Kristi and Hailey started volunteering at various shelters in 2015. In 2023, the mother-daughter duo transitioned to fostering with Hidden Gem Cat Rescue.
“We really enjoyed being around kittens,” Kristi explains. “We wanted a way to incorporate them into our lives while supporting rescue work in the area.”
When Hidden Gem merged with SAFe, Kristi and Hailey were right there with us. They quickly showed that they were equally comfortable sharing their previous experiences as they were learning new things.
Their First Foster Cats
Right out the gate, Kristi and Hailey were faced with a unique challenge.
“Our first set of cats from SAFE was three very checked-out boys who needed a break from the shelter,” Kristi says. “It took weeks before they would make eye contact with us, and even longer before we could touch or pet them.”
Boston, Jello, and Cream were close with one another, but would only venture towards humans if treats were involved. Little by little, Jello and Cream became comfortable being around people and would even interact with them (wand toys were their favorite!) But Boston was still afraid.
Kristi and Hailey reached out to SAFe’s Foster Manager, Michelle. Together, they came up with a strategy to show Boston that it was safe to come out.
Kristi with one of her foster kitties.
Left to right: Boston, Cream, Jello.
After a few sessions – and plenty of time with his emotional support fish bed – Boston finally started approaching Kristi and Hailey for pets. Eventually, Kristi and Boston became so close that she ended up adopting him!
“Seeing the progress he has made every day since he got here has been so rewarding,” Kristi says.
Boston hid from people at first (left photo). With time, he became comfortable and affectionate (right photo).
Hailey and a foster kitten.
Rewards + Challenges
According to Kristi, “The biggest challenge is being unprepared for health issues when they come up.”
“With little kittens, things pop up out of nowhere and can get serious very quickly. Having a great support system has made a huge difference, but it feels like you have to be prepared for everything, always.”
“We’ve gotten some babies through really scary illnesses,” she adds.
Most recently, she and Hailey took in a litter with severe respiratory issues. Though most of the kittens pulled through and were quickly adopted, one kitty didn’t make it.
“It was heartbreaking,” she says.
But for every heartbreak, there are so many beautiful moments. Hailey makes sure to document them, filling SAFe’s foster photo drive with adorable faces and themed photoshoots.
As fun as cat photography is, nothing beats the joy of sending their foster cats to their new homes.
“The kittens and cats let you know when they’re ready to graduate from foster and find their forever homes,” Hailey says. “There’s always a moment when I know they’re ready. It’s bittersweet but it’s a great feeling.”
Highlights from Hailey and Kristi’s kitten photoshoots.
Advice to Future Fosters
For those considering fostering, Kristi and Hailey offer this encouragement and advice.
“It really is as easy as picking up a cat to foster and creating a safe space for them,” Kristi says. “Especially with SAFE’s support system, it’s not as difficult as I think people tend to think it is. If you have some room in your home and heart to share, there will be kittens to fill it.”
Hailey also shares this practical advice: “You need more storage on your phone than you think.”
“People ask me all the time how I get the photos I do of the kittens,” she says. “It has a lot to do with the 80,000 photos on my phone (I try not to check the number often). If you’re ready to foster, be prepared for your camera roll to be all cats all the time.”
Thank you, Kristi and Hailey, for joining SAFe’s foster family. Whether supporting shy cats, caring for sick kittens, or coordinating the cutest photoshoots, you’re always giving it your all!
