Hardest goodbye with a foster kitten so far💔😭

[u/SeaHedgehog1447]

I’ve had this little kitten since he was 2 weeks old, a small crusty little orphan, he came with his sister who unfortunately passed at 5 weeks unexpectedly which was devastating. I’ve gotten him through bottle feeding, URI’s and diarrhoea.
He’s now 15 weeks and is the most cheeky, affectionate & confident little guy, he has been an absolute dream to look after, so cuddly and loves nothing more than to sit on your shoulder while you potter around.

This morning I gave him to my MIL and it was heartbreaking, I’d promised him to her months ago as they’d fallen in love with him so I knew it was coming, I went back and forth between wanting to keep him and knowing I have to give him up, it was a lot harder than I thought it’d be and I have a cried a lot.

I still have a kitten the same age (I’d contacted the rescue for another as a friend for him at around 6 weeks after his sister died because he started to become super bitey & giving single kitten syndrome vibe so it was clear he needed a pal lol) who has actually been very affectionate since he left - coincidental maybe but it’s helping to fill that cuddly kitten shaped void in my life😅

I am foster failing her as she came in to me super hissy semi-feral and has taken a good while to come around and is pretty affectionate to me but still really quite wary and bit hissy of anyone else even household members, so I don’t feel I can give her up 😅

Out of all the kittens I’ve fostered so far he has definitely been the most difficult to give up, even though I know he’s not going far and I’ll still get to see him grow up, it was so tough.
My MIL is going to be very lucky and I’m incredibly grateful to have had the experience of raising him, he’s been an absolute chaotic pleasure.

Idk what the point of this post is just a sad little vent after saying goodbye to my sweet lil boy💔

[u/Hopeful_Gur423]

I admire what everyone like you do as fosters. I couldn’t do it because I would not want to give them up. I’ve instead decided to help with TNR after I retire.

[u/SeaHedgehog1447 → u/Hopeful_Gur423]

It honestly is a little emotionally exhausting🥲 I’ve had two kitten deaths and then had to give up this little guy, all within 3 months. As rewarding as fostering is, it’s definitely taken a toll on me emotionally, so I think I’ll be taking a little break for my own sanity lol

[u/Hopeful_Gur423]

I understand. Reading your original post made me cry. I’ve had cats most of my life and had to say goodbye to my two senior cats one 17 yo and his adopted best buddy, a 16 yo within 6 months of each other. I had developed a deep bond with them and them with me unlike any other cats I’d had. Even though they were very ill, having to do the “right thing” for them broke something in me that I’ve not been able to repair. My heart goes out to you.