Conversations with Niki Bornes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Bornes. 

Hi Niki, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
In November of 2017, I lost my soul kitty, Tecwyn. He was a senior with kidney and thyroid disease, so I knew it was coming, but nonetheless, I was completely devastated. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt a loss so acutely. I felt like I’d lost my best friend and closest family member. Anyone who has lost a pet, I’m sure can understand the feeling. I’d been considering fostering for many years but with two cats, I didn’t think I had the space. After Tec passed away and his sister, Arrianna, became an only-kitty, I wanted a way to honor him, so I contacted Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue about fostering an adult cat.

That’s how Ruthie walked into my life. She was my first foster, and I ended up adopting her. Three years later, I’ve fostered well over 100 kittens and cats and a few pups too. About 2 years ago, I started an Instagram account called @denverkittens. I only did it so my friends and family could opt into seeing kitten photos every day, rather than being forced to see them via text. I had no idea the reach I would get or the impact I would be able to make using it. Thanks to that account, I’m able to personally find homes for just about every foster that comes into my home. In addition to fostering, I’ve helped with the intake/rescue of 100s more cats and kittens, finding and mentoring other fosters, marketing and raising awareness for local rescues and TNR (trap, neuter, return) efforts, and fundraising thousands of dollars for rescue efforts. I must say, my supporters are really incredible and generous, and I couldn’t have the impact I’ve had without them. The online cat community is really quite amazing!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish I could say it has been all kittens and rainbows, but the sad reality is fostering and animal rescue can be both very rewarding and quite heartbreaking at times. There have been more than a few kittens I’ve worried about losing to illness. I did, in fact, lose one named Jay, and it still makes me tear up thinking about him.

Also, unfortunately, without foster and forever homes and more robust spay and neuter efforts, a lot of healthy animals are euthanized in shelters every single day. It can be really traumatizing seeing those “lists” and pleas day after day. Because I am but one person, there’s a perpetual battle in my head and heart, feeling like I’m constantly doing too much and yet not enough at the same time. I know many other rescuers feel the same.

But it’s important to remember that I also get to experience a lot of unconditional love, cuteness, and loads of endless entertainment day after day. I get to know I’m making an impact, however small, and nothing else gives me a feeling of purpose quite like rescue work.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a volunteer foster, primarily. I have a real, full-time job, so all of my fostering and rescue work is after-hours, unpaid work. In addition to fostering kitties, I also try to raise awareness about some of the issues I see working in rescue in an effort to end the cycle and stop some of the suffering at the source.

For example: TNR (trap, neuter, return). Most kittens who end up in shelters are born outside to strays or community/feral cats. TNR efforts work to spay and neuter those cats, so no more babies are born. It’s the most humane way to deal with cat overpopulation. But there are also a ton of owned cats who are not sterilized, and those kitties also end up in the shelter system. So, I try to use my platform to promote and raise money for spay and neuter, along with other issues like vaccines and other medical care, fostering, adopting (as opposed to buying), and other ways people can get involved.

I think what sets me apart is although many of these issues are serious and things I care deeply about, I don’t take myself too seriously. Most of the time, I try to promote it all in a way that is fun and (hopefully) funny. I think people who follow my account know they’re not only getting cute kittens but are also learning a bit along the way.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is being able to save as many lives as I possibly can. That’s the reason I do all of this: the Instagram account, fostering, fundraising…It’s all in an effort to save lives.

Why? Because isn’t that part of what makes life worth living? Leaving the world in a better place than we found it. I can only hope that’s what I’ll be remembered for.

Contact Info:

• Email: denverkittens5280@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/denverkittens
• Facebook: facebook.com/denverkittens

Image Credits
Mike Olmsted
Niki Bornes