Amber and Richard C. don’t usually make a habit of adopting the kittens they foster.

“We foster pretty steadily,” says Amber, whose family — including two teenage sons — has fostered four to six litters annually since 2019. “We’re used to caring for kittens and sending them off when they’re ready to be adopted.”

As soon as Simone, a domestic shorthair named after the famous gymnast, and her brother, Shadow, a Siamese/Tabby-mix, entered the ASPCA Los Angeles Foster Program, they were placed with Amber and Richard. The kittens arrived at the Downey Animal Care Center in Los Angeles County on July 25 — during the Paris Summer Olympics, hence Simone’s name — at just two weeks old.

“Their eyes had just opened,” says Amber. “We watched them grow, bottle-feeding and socializing them.”

Shadow, left, and Simone are littermates and best friends.

The family nursed both kittens through upper respiratory infections, and later, bad bouts of diarrhea that required medication and an emergency vet visit for Simone. Once they reached eight weeks, they returned to the ASPCA for their spay and neuter surgeries.

“We didn’t expect to see them again,” says Amber. “But Simone had mysterious wounds on her nose and ear, so at the ASPCA’s request, we agreed to continue to foster her until she healed.”

The couple kept Shadow, too, since the two kittens were “inseparable and didn’t know a life outside of each other,” according to Richard. They also grew concerned that Simone’s as-yet-unknown medical condition might eventually affect her adoption eligibility.

“Whatever it was, we were prepared to deal with it,” Amber says.

An Alarming Diagnosis

ASPCA veterinarians diagnosed Simone with a condition called Pemphigus Foliaceus, caused by an autoimmune reaction. She developed lesions and blisters on her nose, ears, paws and belly which ruptured easily and left her skin crusty and infected.

Simone’s condition was treated with a steroid medication.

“This condition causes the body's immune system to attack its own tissues,” says Dr. Casey Connors, Community Medicine medical director for the ASPCA’s western region. “This leads to the breaking of the skin barrier, introducing bacteria into the area. The exact trigger is unknown, but it may involve genetic factors or environmental exposures.”

Simone was treated with Prednisolone, a steroid, and made a marked improvement. But veterinarians warned her condition could be an ongoing management process.

“Her symptoms disappeared after two weeks,” says Richard, adding that he and Amber worked with their veterinarian to wean Simone off her medication. She was then spayed, and Shadow was neutered.

“Poor Simone had it rough from the start,” says Nicole Marquez, an ASPCA registered veterinary technician and manager of Animal Placement and Logistics. “She entered our program with an upper respiratory infection, developed diarrhea, and once recovered from those, developed this skin issue.”

Shadow and Simone following their spay and neuter surgeries.

On Board for Adoption

Amber and Richard’s sons are Nathan, 17, and James, 13. Several years earlier, when James was in second grade, he underwent surgery that required him to stay home.

“We wanted something to keep him occupied with an activity that was non-electronic,” Amber says. “Richard and I took care of the work, and the boys took care of cuddles. James especially loves small, sweet animals and is a good socializer. He quickly grew attached to these two.”

James, at left, and Nathan with Izzy, Simone and Shadow.

Once Simone’s condition was under control, the family — which includes a 12-year-old cat named Rosie and a four-year-old Cockapoo named Izzy — adopted both kittens, making it official in early October.

Simone with Izzy, left, and Shadow, right.

“We talked with the boys, and everyone was on board,” Amber says. “Simone’s since been a healthy, happy kitty. We’ve been fortunate there’s been no recurrence but are prepared nonetheless.”

“Two Kittens Are Better Than One”

Amber and Richard say fostering benefits their entire family.

“We have room to make it happen,” Amber says. “We put a lot of love, work and time into our foster animals, especially these two.”

Nathan relaxes with Shadow and Simone.

“It’s nice to have an opportunity to help in this way,” says Richard, adding they decided to adopt because “two kittens are better than one.”

“At first they have no concept of the world around them,” says Amber, describing the foster kittens when they first arrive. “But by the time they leave us, they are used to adults, kids, dogs and other cats; they’ve been exposed to a lot.”

Amber adds that her family may resume fostering in the summer.

“There’s always going to be more kittens,” she says. “It’s rewarding to see them blossom and thrive.”

Interested in caring for foster animals of your own? You can sign up to foster for the ASPCA in Los Angeles (cat fosters only), New York City, Columbus, Ohio, and Weaverville, North Carolina (dog fosters only). Not in any of these areas? Sign up through your local shelter!