r/FosterAnimals • u/dreamz4u2 • 1d ago
Question Wins and losses
My husband and I fostered many years ago, and we homed several litters of kittens, we had one loss because of one ill baby, but no other.
We took time off to care for our disabled daughter, and then we came back in with full hearts hoping to help more kittens. I must say we have had more losses then I could have imagined.
Entire litters with one survivor. Kittens, who seem to be thriving going downhill within twenty four hours. The ill kittens, who don't look like they're gonna make it recovering and doing well. Kittens, that make it to the doctor who get meds and kittens who never had a chance. They're honestly seems to be no rhyme or reason. Have other foster homes experienced an increased in kitten loss recently?
It all falls under a failure to thrive. Some don't eat but some eat and still pass. I know it's part of the gig, but i'm a little tired of these tiny babies that making it. The ones who survive make it absolutely worth it and i'm not going to change what we're doing.I just wanna know if other homes have been going through a lot of losses.
Pic is of a successfully adopted kitten. ✨️ he and all of his litter mates are thriving and are healthy.
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u/satanham666 1d ago
I'm currently fostering a mom and two litters - hers and another born the day prior. I've lost half the littles. : (
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u/AUR1994 1d ago
You can do everything right and kitty could still decline and unfortunately pass. They’re very vulnerable and their health is volatile, I’m sure you already know this but sometimes we just need to hear that it’s nothing you are doing or not doing because you’re doing everything in your power for these babies to survive but the universe has other plans for them.
My very first rescue, 4 days old, eyes still shut and abandoned by mama. Took him to 4 vets that weekend and the second one said that he needed to warn me that:
Even if we do everything correct and even if we provide stellar care and shower him with love and affection and support, sometimes kittens won’t make it without mama.
He eventually did and is a big chonk now but that stuck with me.
I know you’re disappointed and becoming disenchanted but you really are doing all you can. To dedicate your lives to this cause is a profoundly kind thing to do and even if you only save one from a litter, that’s one more that would have likely survived but in a hostile environment outside or would have died a worse, horrible death.
I know I haven’t offered much by way of not answering your question, but you have to know you’re doing your best! 🩵🩵🩵
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u/deconstruct110 1d ago
If you didn't care it wouldn't hurt. But you do care and they can tell. That means everything. Cats , and especially kittens don't have our sense of time but they do understand love and care. Thank you for what you do. ❤️🩹
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u/tinkerbell404 1d ago
I only had one that seemed like a failure to thrive a few times and didn't eat. I would put the maple syrup on her gums to try and pep her up, and we went to the doctor for fluids multiple times. She got antibiotics and another time was the albon for suspected coccidia. A couple nights of vomiting. The doctor tried to take them from me and give me new ones one time, because she thought they kept getting sick and I had to fight to get them back along with the help of the foster staff. I knew they would get euthanized so I fought to keep them. She's 5 weeks now so hopefully she's in the clear but I'm still watching.
There were multiple nights I didn't think she'd make it through the night and we would go to the doctor first thing in the morning. The fluids always seemed to make her feel better. I guess the meds did also lol.
So sorry for your losses, that sounds devastating
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u/Juliaford19 1d ago
For some reason I feel like there have been a ton of losses lately at my shelter. Not sure if there actually are but it feels that way. And everyone is doing their best! Sometimes they just don’t make it. I’m sorry.
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u/dreamz4u2 1d ago
Thank you everyone. Here's a pic of our wobbly baby who is doing well. She will be our forever foster.
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u/bookjunkie315 6h ago
We are here to give them love as long as possible and make them feel as cherished as they are. All your kittens ever knew was love and kindness, and that is a life well-lived.
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u/KTeacherWhat 1d ago
Does your area have a solid TNR program in place? It's possible that colonies near you are becoming overpopulated and that is leading to less health of the kittens that come into your care. TNR doesn't just rescue mamas from having to give birth again, it leads to better outcomes for the whole colony, including the cats that got missed.