Rebecca Slater likes nothing better than to sit and play with Amber, Ginny and Bilbo.

She loves the lively kittens who romp around the conservatory at her home, and gives them pieces of string to chase.

The sight brings a smile to the face of Rebecca’s mum Nicola, who loves to watch the interaction between her daughter and the young cats.

“They have made a big difference to our lives. We love looking after them,” she says.

Nicola, from Bingley, is one of a number of foster carers for kittens, helping to look after them for local charity Haworth Cat Rescue.

Not only are they a pleasure to care for, but the animals are helping Rebecca, ten, who has severe learning difficulties.

“They have a really positive effect upon her,” says Nicola. “She has started giving them bits of string to play with, and when she isn’t with them, she cries and points to the conservatory.”

While pregnant, Nicola suffered from polyhydramnios – an excess of amniotic fluid. “I had to have two litres drained every two weeks, it was really harrowing,” she says.

Before Rebecca was born, she was diagnosed with trachioesophageal fistula, an abnormal connection between the esophagus and the trachea. “It basically means that there is a gap between the throat and stomach,” explains Nicola.

After her birth, other serious conditions were detected. “It was discovered that part of Rebecca’s food pipe was connected to her lung, so if she had eaten food she would have drowned,” says Nicola.

While in intensive care, further tests were carried out on her baby. “They found a hole in the heart and tubes that should have been attached to the left side of the heart were draining to other parts of her body,” says Nicola.

With the support of her mum, Rebecca has battled through years of operations. She also suffers from epilepsy, is deaf, and has the neurodevelopment disorder microcephaly.

Despite her multiple health problems, Rebecca, who has a brother, Charlie, 13, is becoming more responsive as she grows older. A cochlear implant has helped by enabling her to hear.

Further testing more recently at Leeds General Infirmary led to a possible diagnosis of CHARGE, a rare condition that can affect different parts of the body, the most common problems being with the ears, eyes, heart, nasal passages and growth, although it varies from person to person.

Nicola’s life changed dramatically after Rebecca’s birth. “I find it hard to find a balance bringing both children up,” she says, “Rebecca’s needs are so great – sometimes she has eight appointments a week, and I have so many forms to fill in. I’m always chasing my tail.”

You would think that taking on more responsibility would be the last thing Nicola wanted, but helping out a local charity has proved to be one of the best things she has ever done.

Nicola volunteered to act as foster carer for kittens after visiting Haworth Cat Rescue when their pet cat died. “We adopted a mother and son, but later Charlie was looking at the website and read about the volunteering scheme which helps the centre hugely,” says Nicola.

The scheme involves fostering mostly kittens, and sometimes mother cats, for up to ten weeks to help them get used to living in a domestic situation. It also frees up space at the charity, particularly during busy periods. The rescue centre pays for food and any veterinary bills or other expenses.

“We went along and the staff were great. We came away with a mother cat, Pepper, and two kittens, which we looked after for just over nine weeks,” says Nicola. “It was not easy, but Charlie and Rebecca loved having them – I could see that Rebecca was taking an interest.”

Once the feline family was re-homed, Crystal arrived with her seven kittens, followed by Kezzie and five offspring, and the latest furry lodgers – orphaned kittens Amber, Ginny and Bilbo.

“Fostering is one of the best things we have done,” says Nicola. “Rebecca has progressed; the kittens are good for her development. When they take her keyring and other things to play with, she takes them back, and when they play with pieces of string she laughs. She seems to love them and interact with them.”

She adds: “Charlie loves them too. We get a lot of pleasure as a family with the kittens.”

Rebecca also displays emotion when the kittens return to the centre to be re-homed. “She pulls a sad face and afterwards she looks for them. The kittens also calm me down. Having a cat, or animal around benefits humans.”

The family intends to foster for as long as they can. Says Nicola: “We really enjoy it. I love making the kittens new toys and our travelling fishmonger leaves scraps on my door handle.”

* For more about Haworth Cat Rescue ring (01535) 647184, e-mail: mail@haworthcatrescue.org, or visit haworthcatrescue.org.