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The Philly Kitty Lady Fosters, Philadelphia, PA (2025)

07/16/2025

Long time, no post!

It’s been over a year and a half since I moved to Tokyo, Japan! I’m still doing pretty well, as are Forest, Phoebe, and Sloane.

Because my life can never be easy, I learned a few months ago that I have to move out of my apartment when my lease is up in a couple of months. It’s a long story, but basically the real estate company misled me with the contract terms and fight as I might, I haven’t been able to make any progress. So, I have to move.

The nice thing about Tokyo is you can actually find somewhat affordable apartments, but the bad thing is it costs on average 4-6 months’ worth of rent to move into a new place. Real estate companies also openly discriminate against foreigners, and being foreign and having cats puts two major strikes on my applications. And, since I have cats, most places charge an additional month of rent for pets.

Because of this I’ve been working 7 days a week since I found out I had to move. I’m currently working my full-time job, a temporary gig for the month of July, a new part-time job, and I’m teaching in person and online private English lessons in between.

This was also my main reason for finally launching my Etsy store, and I’m so happy for the orders I’ve received so far. I’d you’d like to support me and my kitty family, please check out my Etsy shop ❤️

I miss you all 💕

03/05/2024

I had my first day off work today in 2 weeks and I ran errands including buying cat food 🤣 One of my students told me about a discount grocery store chain and she said they sell cat food so I had to check it out.

I went to the one closest to where I live and unfortunately that location didn’t have pet food, but I found a pet supply store nearby. Pet food in Japan is cheaper than in the US if you only look at the face value - in proportion to income, though, it’s actually not a great deal. I don’t have a high paying job so I have to be really conscious of how much I spend on everything, including my cats and I’ve been trying to find the most economical way to keep my 3 cats fed.

I don’t think I’ll go back to this store regularly because it didn’t seem like the prices were great 😢 I spent ¥5898 (currently about $39 USD) on 23 packets of food (packets are way more common than cans), 2 cans of food, a 3.3 pound bag of dry food, 2 bags of treats, and a toy. To compare, my weekly grocery bill is usually around ¥2000 😬

If you live in Tokyo and have cats and have any money saving tips, please let me know!

… or if you’re a cat food brand and would like to sponsor me, lmk 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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01/28/2024

Happy belated birthday, Phoebe 🩷🎉🥳

On January 19, 2023 I was working at when this little kitten was dropped off. It was the end of the day, most of the staff had left and I was still there because I offered to help the doctor do some exams. A foster coordinator came into surgery and said someone had just dropped off a kitten, and the kitten needed somewhere to stay for the night because she was too young. I really wasn’t looking for a new foster kitten but I said I’d take her home anyway.

Phoebe had a mangled, infected right hind foot which we thought was an umbilical cord strangulation. We immediately started her on antibiotics and I brought her home to provide round the clock care. She was about 3.5 weeks old so she wasn’t completely weaned. Phoebe soon gained a large fan club online and she settled in immediately with my boys. I eventually brought home my next foster kitten and she took that baby (Parker) under her wings.

Now, Phoebe is living in Tokyo, Japan! I estimate that she was born at the end of December 2022 or early January 2023, making her a year old now 🩷 She weighs just under 6 pounds! She’s the first female cat I’ve ever owned, and she seems so tiny compared to her brothers (especially Sloane 🤣). She’s still full of kitten energy and she gets the nightly zoomies!

Drop a comment wishing Phoebe a happy birthday so I can show her how much she’s loved 🩷
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10/06/2023

Enjoy this flashback of baby Phoebe and Baby Parker!

The left a few days ago (I have no concept of time these days) to head to their new digs at , where hopefully they will find their forever homes soon (thanks to for arranging).

I’m trying to remember if there’s been much time sans kittens since I brought Phoebe home. We went from Parker to the bathroom babies to CB. Now that there are no kittens, Phoebe has been acting strange. Last night she was carrying around a toy in her mouth and making those sad cat sounds 😹 I’ve never seen her do that before! She’s also been super clingy and tripping me everywhere I walk. I doubt we’ll be able to foster kittens in Japan, so I hope she gets over it 😭

I thought once I got word that some paperwork I was waiting on to process was cleared that I just had to go to the Japanese embassy in NYC to file for the visa. So, I bought megabus tickets at 1 am (I got my forms via email at midnight), printed the last bit of forms and documents and gathered all of my things. Then, I went back to the embassy website and realized you have to make an appointment, and there are no appointments until the end of the month. So, long story short I wasted $50 on megabus tickets 😭 I also learned you can mail your documents!! So today I sent everything off. From everything I can find, this is the second to last step and should take 1-2 weeks (last step is going to the embassy). Fingers crossed it doesn’t take longer - my goal is to be in Japan before the end of the month!
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09/30/2023

I got to hang out with CB tonight while her foster mom is out of town. She acted like she didn’t know who I was at first, but after lots of sniffs I think she figured it out 🤣
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09/22/2023

🇯🇵 Tokyo update 🇯🇵
I pretty much figured this would happen, because nothing in my life is ever easy or goes to plan, but I was supposed to be moving early next week. And, the paperwork that’s needed in order to issue my visa (called a certificate of eligibility) still hasn’t been processed. They just have a large volume right now. So, I’m now looking at an October move date.

This sucks because I already effectively quit my job (I had to let all of my clients know I was moving so they could plan accordingly) and because I thought I was moving the end of September, I have no work lined up for October. I had also budgeted for September to be my last month in my apartment, which I already paid for when I moved in, but now I have to pay the rent because October will now be my “last month”. With my new job in Tokyo, you don’t get paid for a month after you start working. So, I’ll probably be going about 2 months with no income. Which is fine. Just not what I was planning for 😭

I’m trying to look at the bright side which is I get to spend a little more time with my cats (they have to stay stateside for a few months after I move in order to finish their mandatory quarantine). And I have a little more time to tie up other loose ends.

I also have a TON of stuff I need to sell and get rid of. I have a lot of vintage stuff including Pyrex and knickknacks if that’s your speed 😹

Anyway, trying to take it one day at a time!
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09/18/2023

Phoebe is being extra cuddly today… with CB being gone, I think she likes being the baby again 😹😹

I’ve had updates from CB’s new foster parent and so far CB is doing amazing!!
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09/16/2023

Can you believe CB’s glow up?!
I need to find a new foster home for CB since I’m moving. I’m fostering her through . If you’re an approved ACCT foster parent and are able to take her in, please let me know! I also have a lot of supplies I’ll give you ♥️
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09/10/2023

So… yeah, that’s my news! It feels great but also scary to get this off my chest.

I know I don’t owe anyone an explanation, but I’ve already received so many questions from friends and clients, and I want people to know that this wasn’t a rushed decision.

When I moved to Philadelphia in 2007 I never intended to stay as long as I have. Philadelphia was just supposed to be the next stop of my nomadic life; prior to moving here I’d moved at least 14 times including overseas. But, due to many reasons I “got stuck”. I tried to make the most of it and became entrenched in cat rescue which has simultaneously been the best and worst decision of my life. Because I worked jobs that fueled my passion but didn’t pay well, I spent many years unable to afford to move.

During lockdown I reassessed my desire to move and started thinking about new cities, but I still didn’t have any money. In the spring of 2021 I took a leap of faith and quit my full time job and grew my cat sitting business into a lucrative and full time job instead of a side hustle (as it had been for years). For the first time in my life I was able to save money, and it seemed like moving might actually be an option.

I decided on Japan and began studying the culture, and applying to jobs. Months went by where I didn’t hear anything, and then I had a couple interviews but the jobs weren’t based in Tokyo so I didn’t went to accept them. There was a lot of stalling and a lot of back and forth, and finally I found a job in Tokyo. But even then, the application process had multiple steps and I still didn’t know whether or not I had a job for certain until a few weeks ago, when all of my paperwork was accepted for my visa application. I still don’t have a departure date as I’m waiting for my visa, but I was given an estimated date at the end of this month.

I needed time to let all of my clients know; leaving my business has been one of the hardest parts of this whole decision. There are many cats that I’ve watched for 5-10 years, and it breaks my heart.

Continued…

09/07/2023

Charmin, Crest, and Colgate are still looking for homes. I need to get them placed ASAP. Please, please share and contact me if you’re serious about adopting ♥️🙏
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09/01/2023

I think CB is starting to look like a real kitten, what do you think?!
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I’m a veterinary technician, cat sitter and kitten rescuer in Philadelphia, PA. Fiollow me for daily kitten content! Check my links in my bio to learn more about me and how you can support my rescues 💕
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08/29/2023

Baby CB hopes you’re having a nice day!
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I’m a veterinary technician, cat sitter and kitten rescuer in Philadelphia, PA. Fiollow me for daily kitten content! Check my links in my bio to learn more about me and how you can support my rescues 💕
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The Philly Kitty Lady Fosters

07/16/2025

03/05/2024

01/28/2024

10/06/2023

09/30/2023

09/22/2023

09/18/2023

09/16/2023

09/10/2023

09/07/2023

09/01/2023

08/29/2023

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