Shelter volunteer gives kittens a paw up

BOTHELL — People from all over the world have watched John Bartlett’s kittens play.

Bartlett, a volunteer foster cat parent for Purrfect Pals, an Arlington-based shelter, last year rigged up a camera in what he calls his “Critter Room.”

First, he posted it on Facebook. Then, after People Magazine posted a link to his Web camera, as many as 21,000 people viewed the site at one time.

More than a year later, the site still draws an average of about 2,000 concurrent viewers, Bartlett said. He’s had hits on the site from nearly every country in the world and drawn donations for Purrfect Pals from several of those countries.

“A lot of people have made friends watching the kittens,” he said.

Bartlett, 42, of Bothell, has been caring for cats for Purrfect Pals since 2008. The shelter doesn’t have space at its main location in Arlington to house all the cats and kittens that come its way. As a result, the organization relies on 85 volunteer foster parents to care for the felines until they can be adopted or there’s room at the shelter, said Kat Dockstader, who manages volunteers for Purrfect Pals.

“Like so many of our volunteers, he has done so much above and beyond for Purrfect Pals — from supporting adoption events, to taking pictures, picking up donations at various locations, and he has saved more than 35 litters of foster kittens and their mamas since his time with us,” she said.

He also plays “Santa Claws” during Purrfect Pals’ December fundraiser and volunteers one night a week at the Woodinville PetSmart store, where the shelter keeps several cats available for adoption.

He got started with the organization by going into PetSmart on his lunch hour to watch the cats. He works nearby as a computer programmer for AT&T.

He showed up at the store so often it was suggested he volunteer, so he did.

Bartlett has been taking in litters through friends since 2003.

“I got fostering in my blood,” he said.

He grew up with cats and still has some of his own — “a single-digit number” — that he keeps separate from the foster groups.

He cares for one litter at a time, sometimes more. Some of the cats are feral. He names the litters and posts photos on the Web.

“Some are with me for a couple of days, some for months,” Bartlett said. The average is about two months, he said.

“I get a lot of sick cats that need a lot of TLC.”

In October 2011, he set up the camera.

“I wanted to see how the kittens were behaving when I wasn’t in there,” he said.

Then he posted the link on Facebook and later on Livestream.

“Besides the sheer geek factor of broadcasting kittens across the web 24-7, I kept the kitten cam to raise awareness for fostering and hopefully to encourage others to foster,” Bartlett said.

One litter, the Spice Kittens, drew $6,700 in donations to Purrfect Pals as of Dec. 1, he said. He estimates that the kitten cam has drawn at least $2,000 in other donations as well.

The money has come from several nations, including Russia, Australia and Croatia, Dockstader said.

Bartlett quickly got feedback from many people who told him they had recently lost a pet or loved one and that watching the kittens brightened their days, he said.

At first, “I never realized just how much the kitten cam has helped others in their lives in dealing with loss and depression,” Bartlett said. “I asked the fans of the Critter Room how the kitten cam has impacted them and hundreds have replied.”

When the kittens are ready to move on, many of them are taken to the Everett PetSmart store on Saturdays, where Purrfect Pals puts them up for adoption.

Often, people who have been watching the cats on camera will line up early at the store to adopt their favorite kitten, Bartlett said.

He said it’s hard for him not to get attached to his foster felines and it can be tough to see them leave.

“It’s never easy,” he said. At the same time, if they’re leaving it means they’ve been adopted or have a chance to find a permanent home soon, he said.

“It’s always bittersweet. Kitten withdrawal is a real thing.”

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.

Videos show romping kittens

John Bartlett’s Critter Room on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCritterRoom

Viewer feedback: tinyurl.com/KittyCamComments

Livestream videos: http://new.livestream.com/ FosterKittenCam

More photos: http://strangejourney.net/cats/main.php/v/Fosters

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.