COM Outlook Winter 2020

36 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE STUDENT Perspectives STUDENT PERSPECTIVES Labor of Love Provides Unexpected Joys BY BRITTNI PEACH It’s 5:00 p.m., and I’ve returned home after spending most of the day in class during my first year in medical school. I open my apartment door to find my cat, Boogey, trying to nap on the couch while two rambunc- tious kittens playfully paw him, determined to wake him up for playtime. Distracted by my entrance, they rush over to happily greet me with loud purrs. Having three cats as a medical student—especially two kittens—may seem like a lot. But, these aren’t all my cats. Two of them are my foster kittens, Pepperoni and Sausage. I learned about fostering kittens during my first year as a KPCOM student. If you’re unfamiliar with this concept, let me explain. Kittens must be at least eight weeks old, or weigh two pounds, in order to be adopted. If kittens are brought to the shelter prior to this, they are incredibly vulnerable to infection and are too young to be adopted. So, where do they go for the few weeks until they can be adopted? Foster homes. Foster homes allow them to develop to the appropriate age and weight in a safe environment while they adjust to Fostering Kittens