About the kitties: Talk with the womens shelter, you can't be the first woman who didn't want to lose her beloved pets during a difficult transition. They may have some contacts, or at least advice.
There are animal lovers all around who, for example, volunteer fostering pets waiting for adotion through spca or such agencies. They are not doing it for money, they get none, as far as I know, but love for animals, and certainly if pets can be kept with their human and avoid adoption altogether that is even better.
Could any of your friends be willing to do this for you for a while? For example, I used to have cats, but after they died, I've decided not to get more right away, because of the committment vs my expectation of frequent and long absences. However I love kitties, and if my friend, or my friend's friend, or friend's friend relative needed someone to keep hers for a couple of months I would be quite happy to help.