06/02/2026
✨ FOSTER SPOTLIGHT ✨
Meet Laurie Friedemann Reesman! Laurie’s involvement with Orphan Angels began as a family tradition. Every Sunday, she and her children would visit the shelter during open adoption hours to donate food and pass out treats to the cats. “We got to know everyone and looked forward to it every week,” Laurie recalls.
Her deeper involvement began unexpectedly over one of these visits. A kitten, found in the engine of a truck, was brought to the shelter. “They cleaned him up and handed him to me wrapped in a towel and said keep him warm. Then they asked if I would want to foster him,” she says. This kitten, originally named Grease Monkey but now lovingly called Baby, was a foster fail and is now ten years old.
Laurie has fostered a mix of kittens and adults over the years, including Magnum, Jasper, and Limo. You may remember Limo as the spirited kitten who came to Orphan Angels last summer with a broken leg. Laurie cared for him while his leg healed and has since adopted him. She is currently fostering Pancake, pictured below with Limo (now Pablo).
Although the rewards of fostering far outweigh the challenges for Laurie, she does find it frustrating to see so many cats and kittens in need through no fault of their own. “People need to spay and neuter,” she says. Still, she has enjoyed seeing frightened or shy cats grow, gaining confidence and blossoming into happy and healthy felines. She reflects on her favorite moments. “Watching them learn how to trust. Watching them learn they don’t have to be afraid.”
To anyone considering becoming a foster, Laurie offers this advice. “Give it a chance. It is hard at first. You want to love them all and save them all. Know your limits. Know what you can and cannot handle. And don't be afraid to ask for help. We are all in this together.”
OA covers all medical expenses for foster cats, but fosters are responsible for providing transportation to bring the cats to their appointments at the Orphan Angels Cat Clinic. Read more about fostering and fill out an application on our foster page https://www.orphanangels.org/is-fostering-right-for-me
