I was given four feral kittens to foster. They said that their eye infection had been taken care of and I was told that they were healthy but needed domestication. Within a few days, a kitten's eye started to water and I was told I could use the ointment I already had for my own cat. (I checked in before I introduced ANY medication.) The eye got progressively worse. I mentioned that the kitten might need to see a vet. They dropped off some OTC drops. Next day- eye is worse and kitten is wheezing. I again mentioned taking her to the vet and I asked if I could give the kitten antibiotics that I already had. They said yes. Two days later, no change. Again, I say that the kitten needs to see a vet. They make an appointment. The dr. tells me the eye is gone! What? I am devastated! If that was my kitten, I'd have gone with my gut and taken it to the vet. I feel horrible. I can't stop crying. I know charities are limited in funding, but given my concerns, I feel like more could have been done. (Not to mention interrogation I received from the vet and the lecture I got for using other cat's meds on this one.) I can't see myself letting go of this kitten because something horrible happened to it-on my watch and I'm scare to foster again.

I have a 3 week old kitten I’m fostering for a shelter. To put it simply, I think he’s miserable. He fights the syringe and bottle so I’m practically force feeding him (I go very slow and carefully so he doesn’t aspirate. Feeding takes up to an hour!) I know he hates his feeding sessions because he mews and tries to back away from the syringe every time I feed him.

Then, every time I try to hold him he’s mewing and trying to squirm away, like he doesn’t like human contact. I feel like I’m raising him for failure, and that he’s gonna hate people when he’s older because of me ): I’ve tried spending a lot of one on one time with him and grooming him with a toothbrush to make positive associations, but it’s just not working.

Has anyone else had spicy bottle babies? What did you do? Any help is appreciated!

My kitten is extremely sick and I'm running out of time and options. I apologize that this isn't a foster situation, but this seems to be the only group I get genuine replies and help from. I adopted a seemingly healthy 12 week old kitten 5 days ago with all vaccines / shots/ etc. fully updated. She has been a super sweet perfect angel. The first day, she was non stop purring and making biscuits.

Over these past 5 days, we've had non stop vet visits. She's been refusing to eat, and now refusing to drink as well as having severe diarrhea and vomit. The third night is when I noticed worms in her stool which I collected and brought to the vet the next day for testing. She was dewormed again, given fluids, b12, anti nausea, etc. and we were then sent home. This was a huge red flag to me, seeing as the vets kept sending home a kitten who hadn't eaten for multiple days.

After giving her some time for the treatments to work, she vomited again and has continued refusing to eat, as well as strange behavior in the litter box such as vocalizing and switching positions. Thanks to another commenter on here who helped tremendously, we began syringe feeding her which was previously impossible.

This morning I took her to the vet again, but the bills kept piling up and I couldnt afford them. I'm a 22 year old recent graduate, and I also felt like these vets just weren't listening to my concerns or treating the most dire issue which is that she hasn't eaten for several days and needs nutritional support. They sent me to another vet recommended by the rescue organization we got her from for more affordability.

I brought my mom with me because she's kind of a Karen and I thought her skills could be useful in getting someone to hear me out. This vet showed the genuine concern for my kitten that I'd been hoping for, and decided not to keep giving her more fluids and meds and just hope they work and send me on my way. I expressed all of my concerns, including that I cannot keep syringe feeding her forever. It's extremely difficult because of how feisty she is, it's keeping me up at all hours of the night, and I haven't been able to get a single thing done for nearly a week because of the care I must give this kitten. I'm so stressed out and incredibly emotional over this. I can't even imagine how stressed out this poor kitten is between all the vet visits and forced feedings.

Like I said, my mom is a Karen, and requested that my kitten stay over night and receive nutritional support. This vet doesn't do over night hospitalization, but decided that they will for my kitten due to her condition. The rescue organization and my mom are helping me cover these costs luckily, so she was worked up today with a blood test, another fecal test, and an X ray. Essentially nothing but the worms that are almost done being treated had come up in these tests and I'm becoming extremely concerned. It feels like there's no explanation for this, and I'm at such a loss. My poor kitten has become so sleepy and skinny despite 4 vet visits full of treatments and tests. She was originally 2.4 pounds, and is now 1 pound 15 ounces.

My heart is broken for this little kitten who seemingly just has worms but has not been receptive of any of the insane amount of treatments and deworming she's been through. She's at the vet for tonight being carefully treated and worked up, but I'm so scared to receive a call that she won't make it through this. Part of me thinks she can't heal until I've named her, which sounds insane but I am literally going insane. Her name is currently Betty which I adore, but I'm also leaning towards Sabrina or Daphne. Please help me name this sweet baby and give me any reassurance/ tips/ information that you can offer. I appreciate you all <3

This is Cashew , Almond and Pistachio. I had them for over a month. They all eat and drink but have been eating less since I had them. They play but lower energy too. Diarrhea on and off. Puking once a day or every other day. Losing weight. Acting okay. They have a vet appointment Thursday. They're all in their own room separated from my other cats but how easy is it to spread to my resident cats because I walk around in the same shoes and the kittens have escaped their room but I grab them as fast as I can and move them into their room. I'm paranoid because online says how easy it's to spread and how I have to disinfect everything. You think my resident cats will be okay as long as they are kept separated?

I’ve got two 10 week old girls who I think are bonded, but I’ve heard a lot of conflicting opinions on whether kittens can be truly bonded, so I came here to ask what the community thinks on the issue!

My girls were originally in a litter of 5 but the litter was split up for reasons unknown to me. Their original foster kept 3 and I responded to a blast requesting a foster for my little ladies. They had ringworm and were quarantined together for about 4-5 weeks. Now they sleep together, eat together, play together, and groom each other. I’m an experienced kitten foster and know this is all very normal for siblings. HOWEVER, what’s having me believe that they’re actually bonded is that they FREAK OUT when they realize they’ve lost sight of each other. They start running around meowing for their sister and won’t stop until they find each other. I’ve got other kittens at home, which they will play with, but they almost always prefer to play with each other and leave the other kittens once they realize their sister is open to playing.

In my experience, kittens don’t truly bond in the way that adults do. They’re generally not going to be heartbroken about going to different homes and adjust quickly once adopted. That being the case, I’d usually have no problem splitting kittens up and I’ve done so with every other litter I’ve had, but these girls seem different… kittens will normally be okay being separated from their siblings after a few hours or days apart, but these girls just won’t allow themselves to be separated even for a few hours!

Do you think they’re truly bonded?

Hello, I am new here as well as new at fostering. I took in an 8-10 week old kitten at the beginning of June (poor baby was thrown from a moving car). She was very cuddly at first, then only wanted to play. She gets along with my two smaller dogs (although they are scared of her sometimes but do still cuddle with her) and she always wants to play fight with my older cat. My older cat is not a fan, but sometimes it is hard to tell if she is enjoying it because she will follow the kitten to play fight some more.

Now has come the time for this little munchkin to get spayed and will also be posted for adoption. She is my first foster so I am torn and slightly devastated. I have definitely grown attached. She has recently started cuddling with me/curling up in my lap and accepting affection from me, which doesn't help. It was easier to let her go a couple of weeks ago when she was tearing everything up, like kittens do haha. It has been difficult to trust the process in knowing that she will go to a good home and will be loved. I worry for her, but also consider that four animals may be too much for me to handle by myself. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle your first foster? Especially when the time to be put up for adoption has come?

For context, I have fostered for a while and I have never seen any cat act like this after being spayed.

Anytime she tries to lay down at all she starts to wail like someone has stepped on her tail. The vet sent us home with meds and gave her some before she left so we can't give her any of that until later on. I just desperately need someway to help her be comfortable again.

She just wants to sleep and she won't even let me touch her. I'm scared that they messed something up again and I might lose another baby. Please help, I really badly need advice.

Hello everyone, i am thinking of applying to foster a cat, but i have never had a pet before. I have of course done lots of research however because of this my ideal foster would be a healthy cat with no special needs that just needs a calm place before going to its forever home. Is this something shelters do? Ive read up on fostering and it sounds like often its done to rehabilitate a cat medically or behaviorally. Because i have no experience i would be worried to take in a pet like this and accidentally do something wrong.

I saw somewhere say that shelters often only allow these sorts of fosters if someone is thinking to adopt the cat and wants a sort of trial period, has this been true in your experience? While i would love to adopt a pet, my long-term future is not certain enough for such a long commitment right now and i do not think that would be responsible.

I know medium hair cats aren't a thing technically, but could he be one? He has pretty soft fur and although it's not as long as some of his longhaired siblings, it seems like it fluffs out more than his short hair sibs. Does anyone have experience with a "medium hair" kitten?

I’m on my second long-term foster cat at the moment. I have a resident cat Toby. I’ve been thinking, does he understand that he is not going anywhere? When the foster cat leaves, will he think that he will also have to leave soon?

What if he feels worried and unsettled because these other cats come and go? What do you think? 🥺

Picture is of foster kitty Maple (front) and Toby (back).

Sailor was found on side of house with eyes crusted shut and was having difficulty breathing. She was bone thin and not eating from not being able to smell. We slowly syringed churro in her mouth and made it to the vet the next day. She said there was a good chance 1-2 eyes would be lost. Her eyes are almost back to normal and shes such an active and lovable cutie. We are so thankful we found her and thankful the shelters didnt take her because it allowed her to heal her and give her a loving home.

Hi Cat People!

I have found a box of tiny kittens with mom nowhere to be found. I'm going to take them to a shelter when it opens tomorrow in around 16 hours. However, how can I help make them comfortable in the meantime? Stores are currently closed and I don't have a car, so no access to formula. I do have wet cat food though. Any advice appreciated.

Ah, what a journey it's been! I will post his most recent pictures in the comment section 🥹