If you’ve been following me on social media, you may have seen that I recently “fostered” a kitten. And let me be clear…I love all animals, but I’ve never considered myself a cat person. Still, when a little life needs help, you do what you can.
One morning recently, my husband was heading out early for a grill demo when he saw a tiny kitten dart across our driveway and into our hostas. He could hear her meowing frantically. Knowing we have a family of large hawks nesting nearby, he called me down quickly. He didn't want to see her become breakfast and quite frankly, neither did I.
I found her crouched deep in the hostas, but she wasn’t too thrilled with me trying to help. She was clearly feral. I got hissed at, batted by tiny toe beans and I'm pretty sure she tried to bite me. Then, just like that, she bolted toward the trees in my back yard. I knew if she got into them, I’d never see her again. Acting fast, I tossed a towel and managed to safely scoop her up. She tumbled into the towel, and just like that, I had her.
To my surprise, she was clean…no fleas, no ticks, just very skinny. I brought her into the house wrapped in that towel and just held her until DoorDash brought me a carrier my sister-in-law ordered. I gave her a head scratch here and there, but she just looked irritated with my existence. I'm pretty sure that's how all cats look all the time though, right? I set her up in a crate with a blanket and some water and called on my amazing neighbor (who happens to be a vet tech). She came over with food, litter, and a quick wellness check. This little kitten was healthy, hungry, but otherwise doing great.
Within about six hours, this feral baby went from hissing to head boops. She was suddenly cuddly, purring, and curling up like she’d been someone’s spoiled indoor cat for her whole 5-week life. And I mean it when I say she was the sweetest kitten I’ve ever met. She suckered me in pretty quickly.
When I’d put her down to explore, she’d come right back to me and melt into my arms. She'd roll around in my lap and tuck herself into my neck for snuggles. We actually had a night time routine where I'd feed her and then we'd cuddle in the rocking chair. I wanted to keep her so badly. But my husband has severe cat allergies… and my Great Dane Zoey was showing way too much prey drive. I couldn’t risk her safety.
So, I started searching for the right home and thankfully, some dear friends reached out and offered to take her in. I was relieved and grateful to know she’d be loved and safe. She'd have a few awesome kids to love on her whenever she wanted. I tried so hard during those four days not to get attached.
Spoiler alert: I failed.
She wiggled her little paws straight into my heart. I found myself watching her sleep, so calm and cozy in her blanket, wondering if this was the first time she’d ever truly rested...no hunger, no fear, no alertness. Just safety and peace.
The day she left, I cried. And I’m not usually an emotional person. But I sobbed. Even now, writing this, my heart aches a little. And that right there is why fostering a kitten sucked. She turned me SOFT! That tiny feral beast and all of her fluffy cuteness!
She’s now with a loving family who will give her the life she deserves…not as a feral kitten trying to survive, but as a cherished member of the family. No pregnancy at five months. No hunting scraps. No becoming someone’s dinner. They've already sent me a few updates and I know they will continue to do so. So, that's comforting!
To all of you who foster animals regularly…you are incredible. I don’t know how you do it. Letting her go was the right thing… but it was so hard. It is still hard. I've decided that I'm not cut out for fostering! Ha!
Maybe you’ve been there too?
Have you ever fostered? How did you cope when it was time to say goodbye?
Did you end up foster-failing?
Or if you didn’t...how did you get through the heartache?
Share your experience!
jess@bellareesephoto.com
