Meet A Mom: Athina Glindmeyer | The Monmouth Moms

Athina Glindmeyer is a beautiful wife and new mom to her son, Ash, residing in Hazlet,NJ! When she’s not out in the yard snapping pictures of Ash she is most likely taking some of her feline friends for the successful non-profit she runs. This mom and animal lover knows how to juggle it all. Read more below on how she keeps her family and non-profit Jersey Kitty Rescue going.

 

Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?

I was born in Romania, moved to Greece and then moved to Monmouth County at age 6. I’ve been in the area ever since except during college when I lived in Jersey City. 

 

Child(ren) and Age(s)?

Ash 5 months

 

One thing people would be surprised to know about you…

I’m a Chemical Engineer! But people only know me as a rescuer and cat lover. 

 

Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?

The experience that I gained during fostering cats and kittens has made this transition into motherhood so much easier. Taking care of newborn kittens is as much work as a baby! Waking up every 3 hours and making sure they eat, cleaning them when they poop, helping them pee… it’s so different but same! 


How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?

I’ve met so many compassionate people through fostering and adopting out cats. It’s their willingness to love a rescued animal that has brought me to where I am. 

 

What is your favorite restaurant in Monmouth County?

Nature’s Plate in Keyport! 

 

What is your favorite activity to do with your child in Monmouth County?

 No matter what, Ash enjoys being outside with the trees. We have this really big swing in the backyard and we go there and just swing and look at the trees. It’s so relaxing. 

 

What are your Mom Goals?

To teach my son the compassion we need more of. Not just towards animals, but towards everyone. Seems really cheesy but it’s important! 

 About Jersey Kitty Rescue

In between high school and college, I wanted to do something with real world impact and that’s when I decided to start fostering kittens. My first experience I was thrown into bottle feeding newborn kittens with the only reassurance being, “they are probably going to die, since mom rejected them.” I was determined to help these fragile babies but ultimately failed them which really made me evaluate what it takes to care for helpless animals. That didn’t deter me, but I wasn’t ready to bottle feed again so I adopted a senior kitty named Rukas from Old Bridge Animal Shelter. He immediately became my best friend and honestly the best cat. Rukas was the one who made me get back into fostering because he liked kittens, he acted like a papa cat to them! While all of this was happening, I created an Instagram for Rukas and it flourished! Rukas’ personality burst through that page and reached so many people. Our following allowed us to foster kitties and fund-raise for any medical bills. In 2018 we decided it was time to create our own rescue so that’s how Jersey Kitty Rescue Network came about! While finalizing all this, I was also preparing to introduce our first hairless kitten to the family (our baby if you didn’t get that). It has been an amazing journey so far, we have helped over 300 cats/kittens find homes and we hope to continue that! No creature should have to suffer, especially at the hands of other humans and that’s what I’ll be teaching my son.

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