Fostering A Sweet Kitty! - Page 2

luvmybeetle · ‎08-10-2013

@ciao_bella Thank you so much for the wonderful post. I have a son just like yours and am so proud of him. Your son is a gem of all gems. I would take the cat if I could get to you. I have 5 now and they are all rescues. I also feed the outside cats. I put food and water out on my front porch and I even get skunks. They are all so adorable. Bless your son and you for raising such a wonderful child.

mrshckynut · ‎06-19-2011

many that foster just can't give them up animal fostering people are great and many fosters end up in a forever home our foster rescue from humane society

zeke

mrshckynut

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@ciao_bella - Thank you and thanks to your son! Ruby is certainly a beauty! I hope you can keep her, but if you decide to just foster, the family who adopts her is very lucky! She will trust easily after being with you.

Our latest boy was in a situation similar to this. DD knows some TNR volunteers. One who was extremely friendly came around twice. They did catch him easily the second time. The veterinarian supervising the student who did the neutering and ear clipping

didn't notice an abscess. They returned him to the colony. The next time the volunteer went down the kitty was all over him. They brought him to a rescue organization near us, thinking he deserved a family who would love him.

DD knows this shelter staff (no kill) too. After spending time with him she wanted us to see him. So we went over. DH noticed the abscess right away, so he went in for surgery with the shelter veterinarian. After his recuperation, with DD visiting constantly, somehow he ended up here with our boys!

It hasn't been a cake walk. He is a sweetie - mostly Siamese with white paws. DH says he thinks he was completely feral - never with a family. Interestingly enough he doesn't tease to go outside. Our kitties are indoor only. As DH has always told everyone, "Nothing good can happen to a cat outside." He has bonded with two of ours, but two others dislike him. He is a lap cat, on his terms, and likes to be around you.

Never a dull moment here. I told DD - and DH - that's 5 boys, and that's enough! After we lost our sweet little girl I said we would keep our hearts open if after time another little girl who needed us found us. Instead two little boys found us!

kindred cats · ‎04-04-2020

@beach-mom Your story made me tear up. Can't help it, I'm such a softee when it comes to animals.

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@kindred cats wrote:
@beach-mom Your story made me tear up. Can't help it, I'm such a softee when it comes to animals.

@kindred cats - Thank you for your compassion! We need people like you in this world - people who love animals. I would take them all if I could. Somehow the 4-legged children we have been blessed with since the day we were married have been the ones who knew WE needed them.

As the wife of a veterinarian I've seen the opposite way too many times. I've cried, and I've seen DH cry, over many horrible experiences. Many times an animal who has suffered will end up in a loving home or, for a wild animal, in a safe sanctuary.

The worst is when an animal who has learned to trust a human has his heart broken by that human.

I guess it is just like people - once trust is broken it's hard to trust again.

ciao_bella · ‎03-13-2010

@KittySoftPaws wrote:
I hope he keeps her, she seems to have imprinted and formed a very special bond with him. It seems Cats choose us, not the other way around. She is gorgeous!

My son already has two rescues that's he's adopted, so if he didn't know who Ruby would be going to, I'm sure he would have kept her himself. The adoptive family are family friends who had two cats. One recently died from kidney failure at age 18. It's been about 6 months and they are ready to add Ruby to their family, and for their other kitty to have a companion friend again. She will get a wonderful home with them. And, we can visit whenever we want!

Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!

PamfromCT · ‎05-22-2014

@mrshckynut

The kitty you pictured looks just like our Winston, who was adopted several years back. The shelter folks found him wandering city streets. I guess he would have nothing to do with previous people who came to see him, but on our visit he was all over us, kissing and all! He chose us. We are elderly people, and only adopted him because our children assured us they would take him if we could not care for him.

He lives the life of a prince. Of course, inside only, but a good sized house with many windows. Constant attention, as we think he is a Maine Coon, called the "dog in cat's clothing."

He makes us laugh all the time, and he is the smartest kitty we have ever had. Our sweet boy.

BarbiHollywood · ‎11-09-2011

@ciao_bella

Hello! You won't believe me, but I have a verrrry similar story! And we have what appears to be the same kitty!!

My son, too, found a little kitty ("SillyBilly") in a grassy area near our business. He brought SillyBilly in and we fed him. My son couldn't take him home because his cat is not nice, plain and simple. It wouldn't have been fair to bring this sweet little guy into his home with the other cat. We decided we would "foster" him for a while, get him seen by a vet, and find him a good home. Well, we've had SillyBilly with us now for about two months!! He's a sweet little guy, uses the litterbox quite well, and is spoiled with lots of toys and a variety of foods. It looks like we'll end up keeping SillyBilly, though my hubby and son are a bit allergic. I just can't find anyone with a GOOD home to take him.

Lately, he's just not eating whatever food we give him. He has dry food out all day (he eats that often) and has his own little water fountain. We've tried many different wet food varieties which, at first, he liked. Now, though, he kicks his plate and even will pull at his food mat. He doesn't seem interested in any wet foods we give him, and we've tried beef, turkey, chicken, and seafoods. He'll take a bite and that's all. I'm concerned. He does like fresh rotisserie chicken chopped up.

Any advice on other foods or varieties I can try?

ciao_bella · ‎03-13-2010

@BarbiHollywood Have you tried seversal different brands of wet cat food. Some might have more taste appeal. Also, dry foods are coated in a very appealing scent and flavor that cats like a lot. Also, you said you leave food out to graze on. That might be a reason why he's not interested in eating wet food when he gets dry food whenever. So, here are some tips for integrating wet food into his diet.

Here are some tips for transitioning your cat to wet food:

Leave food down: Leave the food down for 20 minutes, then remove any uneaten portions. Repeat in 8–12 hours.
Offer wet food during mealtimes: During the first few days, offer canned food during the dry food meal, or in-between meals.
Be patient: All cats will eventually eat canned food if you're patient and methodical.

Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!

BarbiHollywood · ‎11-09-2011

@ciao_bella wrote:
@BarbiHollywood Have you tried seversal different brands of wet cat food. Some might have more taste appeal. Also, dry foods are coated in a very appealing scent and flavor that cats like a lot. Also, you said you leave food out to graze on. That might be a reason why he's not interested in eating wet food when he gets dry food whenever. So, here are some tips for integrating wet food into his diet.

Here are some tips for transitioning your cat to wet food:
Leave food down: Leave the food down for 20 minutes, then remove any uneaten portions. Repeat in 8–12 hours.
Offer wet food during mealtimes: During the first few days, offer canned food during the dry food meal, or in-between meals.
Be patient: All cats will eventually eat canned food if you're patient and methodical.

@ciao_bella Great info, thanks. Yes, I feel as though we've tried about six different brands. I also thought his favorite was the shredded chicken by Reveal. He'd walk right over and devour it so I stocked up. I don't think he's thrilled with dark wet food so need to serve tuna or salmon and see. I never thought about him just preferring the dry. It's kind of funny when you hear him crunch crunch crunch! When I have a fresh rotisserie chicken from Costco or Sam's, I can't chop it up fast enough for him!!! I've also wondered if we're feeding him too often -- maybe that's why he's bored. But when I won't be home for hours, I leave wet and dry. He also enjoys his water fountain. Keep you posted, but if anyone else has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Have a great day!