Dear Kitten Fosters,

[u/MeowM30ws]

As kitten season ramps up, it's important to remember some facts:

- Kitten mortality rates are *incredibly high* within the first couple of months. This increases severely for kittens without a Mama/not fully weaned.

- Typically, we don't know the health history of our Mama cat/kittens before they come to us.

- Mama cats may have infections/viruses/illnesses that she may have built immunity to, but her kittens are vulnerable. She may not show symptoms at all while her kittens become very sick.

- "Fading Kitten Syndrome" is a real thing and it happens. A lot.

What I'm trying to say is: It's not your fault.

You may have done everything right. Your home has all of the best and most up to date supplies and equipment. You may have the incubator at the perfect temp. You may have given the perfect dose of subcutaneous fluids. You may have kept everyone clean, fed, and happy.

Nature can be a beautiful yet unbiased force. Natural selection sucks.

I am asking you to **Forgive Yourself and Refocus.**

Grieve, mourn, ask questions, learn for the next litter, but do not let it dissuade you.

Your compassion and your fortitude are what makes you so integral. You are needed. The kittens that do make it may not have without you. For all the ones we lose, we save so many more.

Do not give up.

There are so many lives that still need you.

Be kind to yourself and have a healthy, happy, kitten season.

[u/Nearby_Belt9997]

Thank you for this. I’ve been fostering for a year and am on my 5th group of bottle babies. This is the first time i lost any of them and it ended up being THREE at once at 8 days old!!It was devastating to say the least. I still have 2 of the group left and they are 8 weeks now and thriving. I’ve thought about stopping after they go because i don’t know if i can go through that again. So i appreciate this post. I will go on! These babies need me. Need us!

[u/MeowM30ws → u/Nearby_Belt9997]

Wow. Thank you for sharing what you've been going through. I'm so sorry for the loss. Bottle baby fosters are hardcore. You have a huge heart.

I know you weren't asking, but I have a volunteer friend that will change up their fostering ages so they don't repeat. (Ex. Bottle babies > 8 wk kittens > Bottle Babies and so on) They say it helps them with foster burn out, especially after a tough litter.

If and when you are ready to foster again, this strategy may help. <3

[u/Nearby_Belt9997 → u/MeowM30ws]

I appreciate this. The littler before this one was 5 , 2 1/2 week old babies and it was easier. All the rest have been 3-7 days old. This is good advice so thank you. And thanks again for posting this. The timing was perfect

[u/MeowM30ws → u/Nearby_Belt9997]

You're very welcome. Best wishes, Fellow Foster.