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I volunteer for the Michigan Cat Rescue and last week took on my first foster kitten who was having difficulty walking, weakness in rear legs. His name is Twinkle and he is now 6 weeks old and as I suspected, he has wiggled his way into my heart. I've been giving him therapy excercises and he is doing wonderfully. My questions is how many cats are too many? I really want to adopt him (and will not foster again because thss will happen every time so I'll stick to the fundraising!
LOL!) I have a 19 y/o Abby male, 2.5 y/o DSH male, 1 y/o DSH female who is slightly disabled, and the one who has the major issue with the kitten, a 9 y/o male Bengal. There's been the hissing and swatting playing out during supervised visitations, nothing unusual and all secept the female seem to play w/the kitten, hissing when they are done, the female just ignores the kitten. The Bengal (who plays with the kit) has peed in the bed that the kitten slept in 2 days ago, even though it is a community bed and the Abbey usually sleeps in it. The Bengal also made sure to urinate in the kits tiny litterbox (that was a contortion comedy!). I have a 2100 sq ft home and the 2.5 y/o and Bengal get locked in thier own room each night because the Bengal will cry at our bedroom door. Our bedroom is open to a basement with a 20ft drop so they are not allowed in there.
I'm trying to convince my hubby, but I don't think it's working...any suggestions?

Colleen, owned by: Chopper Boogotti, Claude LeMeius (the Bengal), YokoGari, Honeybunny Boo and Twinkle the Foster kit

Hi There,

First I must warn you that I have a 10-cat household.....so you can guess what my answer to your question is. Actually, number 10 arrived a little over 24 hours ago........lol

I think that as long as you can afford and provide for the new baby, it wouldn't be too many for your home. You certainly have enough room and I can tell that you understand feline behavior and know how to introduce a newcomer. Besides, you are already in love!

My problem, if it can be called that, is that I work for a cat-only vet who also does some rescue. I really have a heart for the special needs babies, especially the "unadoptable" ones. Fiona, my new addition, is an 8 year old who was rescued from a fire in which her mom died. She had been living at the hospital but wasn't happy there. She has chronic mouth and gum problems and needs steroid injections from time to time.

As long as someone has the finances to care for multiple pets, time to spend with them, takes time to love them, and can afford medical care, I have no problem with it. I get a major discount for my cats at work. Otherwise I couldn't afford 10 special needs babies.

Take care and please keep us updated on the new addition.

PHKitkat

Well, my problem is I volunteer for the Michigan Cat Rescue and am always a sucker for the "challenged" cats and kittens. My last rescue I adopted was run over by a car, the one and only Honeybunny. She is doing wonderful. We don't have aphysical building, all fosters are home-based. I've already told them I can't foster any more because I will keep athem! So I will stick to the fund-raising, as I was supposed to do.

The introdustion has gone quite well. Oh, there are always setbacks but I am more than willing to deal with them. The biggest obtacle is my husband. He seem sto think 5 is too many but he always comments on how (with 4 cats) out house never, ever smells and I always handle all the clean up and pay for all the vet work myself so I am hoping he will come around on his own and agree. I ahve not outright asked to keep the kit, my tactic is more sublte, LOL!

And yes, I love the little guy, did before I even got him home! He is doing wonderful and is strong and confident and I believe very happy. He's getting aroudn quite well.

Now, if anyone has suggestions on the hubby part I'm open! LOL!

Colleen

>>Now, if anyone has suggestions on the hubby part I'm open! LOL!
>>
>>Colleen

I haven't had very much success with that aspect myself...
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Well, using reverse psychology and not even bringing up the subject of adopting the foster kitten, my husband thought of the idea all by himself. Finally asking me if I wanted to keep the little guy. I KNEW he was falling almost as fast as me! LOL!
Twinkles Boy Moceri is now part of the family The Bengal (Claude LeMeiux) is still having difficulty accepting the little guy, but Claude has ALWAYS been very territorial so there is some marking going on that I'm dealing with using Rescue Remedy and even amytriptlyene (sp?) prescribed previously for him when the last rescue cat joined our family. He seems to be the only one who sprays and marks, even though he is fixed...he still plays with the little guy, but soemtimes gets a bit rough, no unsupervised visits as yet. I think I will take at least a month.

ConCATulations on the new kitty, Colleen ... I knew he'd stay.

I, too, foster cats (Persians mostly), and am a sucker for the 'undercat.' Out of the 8 or so that I've fostered so far, four of them have stayed. Hmmm. Of course, I do tend to get the elderly and/or special needs ones ... the so-called "unadoptables." I have fostered many young DSHs over the years, and those have gone to new forever homes.

Hubby is a big cat-lover here, but as our population has grown (we've had 9 of our own for several years ... although the cast has changed, the number remains the same ...), I also hesitate to add more. As it turns out, it seems that whenever we lose a cat to the Bridge, there just happens to be a foster cat in need of a home here. Hubby usually is the sucker who says "Hey ... I have an idea! Why don't we keep (fill-in-the-Name)!" Good idea, dear! Why didn't I think of that, hehehe.

Good luck, and bless you, Colleen, for the work you do with helping cats in need. The world needs more like you ...

Snow
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Flying softly on butterfly wings,
they have found the rainbow ...

* Sam * Ted * CindeLu * Darci * Molli *

WTG Colleen!

Concats on the new official addition!

Regards,
PHKitkat

Hi Colleen,
I rescued my last cat from Michigan Cat Rescue!! And she is wonderful girl. She is a Maine Coon Mix and now 2 years old (photo'd below)
We have two rescue kitty's.

I too volunteer and foster but I am active with a dog rescue. I understand you're temptation to adopt you're first foster. I have wanted to keep every foster I have had in my home. My current one was just adopted last friday and she was the perfect dog! But I just have to say that it isn't easy to give any of them up, it really helps when you get to talk with the adoptive family & hopefully have a say if you are comfortable letting you're foster baby go with the family that is applying really helps me. With my group I personally have the final say! Which is a wonderful feeling since being the foster mom I really get to know what is best for my fosters. Its tough but remember that the reason you decided to foster & volunteer is to help so many needed cats/dogs that need homes. And I think that fosters are easyier to place since you can give the adoptive family a first had account of the baby or adult they are considering. So think long and hard and yes the first is the toughest but there are alot of wonderful cats/dogs that will cross you're path in life and you will find it rewarding with each one you decide to foster!

And remember having follow up contact after the adoption helps alot! Just knowing you're baby is doing wonderful makes it alot easier.

Good Luck with you're decision

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Cheri,Shelby,Lily & Lucy

INTRODUCING:

Twinkles the Wonder Boy Moceri. Such a long name for such a tiny furrball! Love him!

Colleen

Oh my Colleen what an adorable boy!!!
Now I can see why you fell so hard for him.

Congradultions on you're new baby, I just can't get over how cute he is!
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Cheri,Shelby,Lily & Lucy

Oh my, he is certainly adorable!!! Such a cute little baby furball I can see why he wriggled his way in to both your hearts!!!! Bless you for the work you do and the pets you save
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 21 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Tabitha, in my heart forever.... earned her wings 6/26/05, Samantha, the bestest whineameezer...earned her wings 4/7/06.
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