Three kitties left to foster.... and an appointment tomorrow!

OMIGOSH this happened fast! I started with 5 beautiful babies at 5 weeks old. A week and a half later, one was adopted, and a second had "dibs" called, to be picked up in 2 weeks. I haven't felt the sting of letting go of the babies yet, because I still have 4 at home with me for now. But now a lady wants to see them, and intends to take TWO!!! Now, this is good news, because they need homes, and honestly, I shouldn't be adopting now because of my uncertain near future, but this empty nest is coming quickly, and now I'm thinking about waking up in a kittiless bed, and not hearing the little stampede when I walk through the door... :cry:

I'm being melodramatic... I'm not sad... it's just a little bittersweet to give them all away so quickly! I am happy for them though, and glad I got to take care of them a while. They made my life happy during a very depressing time, and gave me something other than the news to focus on. I don't know how I would have coped with all the sadness without them.

I adopted a pregnant stray years ago. She had 4 kittens.

I was there to give the first one away to my roommate's brother but it was so hard that I made my roommates give the rest away. I couldn't do it. I felt so horrible.

A few days after the last one was gone mom kitty went over to a drawer in the kitchen where her babies would pile in to sleep and she stood in front of it and meowed and meowed. "Where are my babies?" :cry:

Just remember they are going to loving and safe homes and of course, there are plenty of other kittens out there that need your help.

Bless you for what you are doing! O8)

That would have broken my heart to see the momma looking for her babies! I always wonder if the kitties miss each other when they are separated.

I am hoping that this lady will take the two rambunctious ones, because they play well together, whereas the gentler one gets a bit overwhelmed by them. He (Leander) isn't quite as pretty as them yet. His coat hasn't come in as much. But he is sooooooo loving! Every morning he puts his little paws on my cheeks and rubs his nose on my nose. If any of the kitties tempt me to adopt, it's him, but I don't think I am in the position to do it right now, so I plan to stick with fostering.

Ack! I'd have a hard time too.

I remember as a kid when we'd have a litter of kittens or puppies we had to give away, my brother was always into it, and he'd tease me for wanting to keep them all.

Bah, screw him, he was just jealous 'cause they all liked me better :)

I consider that a compliment of the highest form! I think how animals react to a person and how the person treats them says a heck of a lot about them!

that..but you have given them all a wonderful, loving start in life...and a then let them go on to lead the rest of it with someone else who will be enriched by the love you gave them.

love the lil critters as much as I do! Especially Leander... he's such an affectionate guy... whoever gets him is going to have to give him plenty of snuggle time! :loveya:

I've got three galloping around me at the moment, and a man is coming to look at two of them on Friday (and may take them home that day). It's almost harder having just ONE kitten left! But there's always more to be had. If your rescue doesn't offer you any, just sign up on Freecycle!

...I've heard horror stories about people obtaining pets for reasons that are not exactly kind, i.e., animal testing, etc. How do you screen people? How do you ensure the furkids are going to a good home? I think tips and things to look out for would be good advice for all of us. Thanks in advance!

the shelter I am working with does the screening for me. Do you have any good no-kill shelters in your area?

the veterinary services that we put into each animal actually exceed that cost, too-so it's a bargain."Bundlers" (people who supply animals to research labs) get quite a bit less than that for each animal, so they won't consider ours. We require applications for all our pets, and we interview each applicant; sometimes you'll just get a "sense" that you should or shouldn't be adopting to them. I also offer my cats at an upscale natural pet supply shop, so I know that people who adopt from me there have the financial resources to keep a pet and care enough about their health and wellbeing to shop there in the first place.

I hope whichever kitty ends up last doesn't feel lonely! Too bad the people who want two won't take three!

Yes, I am pretty sure I can get more kitties pretty quickly. They always have new ones coming in.

...finding good and reliable homes for black kittens anytime near October.

Sadly, it's no secret that black kitties are more "at risk" from human cruelty than any other kind, and especially around Halloween. Left to their own, some of those kittens may well not have lived to see November. Thanks to you, they should all have good lives in loving homes.

Although I'm sure you will miss them, you should be proud of your actions.

And I know that they warn people who get black kitties to be extra watchful over them around Halloween. Plus, the shelter always nonchalantly asks, "Will this be an indoor or outdoor kitty?" And if the answer is anything other than "indoor," they will refuse their application.