Animal Welfare Professionals

Kitten season doesn't wait for a calendar, and it's already here for many of you, bringing a wave of whiskers, tiny chaos, and late-night feedings. All across the country, shelters and foster-based organizations are experiencing the annual surge of kittens in need of care, from neonatal bottle babies to playful fluffballs ready for adoption. Yes, it's a season full of challenges, but also one overflowing with opportunity, compassion, and lots and lots of meowing. This month, we want to take a moment to celebrate the small but mighty victories that happen every day during kitten season.

🐱 To participate in this month's giveaway, tell us about a kitten (or litter!) that has made an impact on you! Whether it was a foster win, a joyful adoption, or a spicy cat turned into a socialized mouser, share the story in the comments below. Feel free to include before-and-after photos of the kittens or a sweet moment from foster care or adoption! 🐱

By sharing your story this June, you'll be automatically entered into our giveaway for a $1,000 CUDDLY prize pack to support the kittens (or other pets) in your care. One winner will be randomly selected and announced at the beginning of next month. You'll also be eligible to win a $3,000 grant for participating in Maddie's Pet Forum.

📚 Kitten Season Resources Are Here To Help

Explore these resources to help you save time, reduce stress, and make the most of your team's efforts this kitten season. Have a kitten season hack you'd like to share? Please put it in the comments!

Courses & Webcast Recordings

• Taking the Fear Out of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care (Self-Paced Course)

• Advancements in Neonatal Kitten Care (Webcast)

• Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition (Webcast Series)

  • Navigating the Kitten Quandary in Community Cat Programs
  • Kitten Edition Medical Protocols Tailored for Kitten Care in Shelters and Rescues
  • Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact
  • Pawsitive Beginnings: Socializing Kittens for a Lifetime of Success

• Caring for Kittens from Birth to Eight Weeks (UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Guidebook)

• Pawsitively Clean: Foster Home Sanitation Tips (Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection)

• Animal Welfare Leagues of Arlington's Kitten College (Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection)

For Older Cats

• Maddie's Million Pet Challenge: Community Cat Programs - Legal Considerations with Shelter PALS

• Maddie's Million Pet Challenge: Is "Cage-Free" the Way to Be? Rethinking Shelter Housing for Happier, Healthier Cats

• Caring for Cats with Dr. Rachael Wooten (Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection)

Weigh In On These Forum Discussions

• Picky Kittens 

• Kitten Season Resource Drive Discussion Thread

• Kitten Season Resource Drive Folder (Collection of Kitten Season Resources Shared by Forum Members)

• Cat Volunteer Programs

• Substitute for Royal Canin Mother and Baby

• Kitten adoptions to indoor/outdoor home

• Preparing for Kitten Season

• Preparing your Community Cat Program for Kitten Season

• Dying Kitten In Foster After-Hours
  

🔙 A Look Back: The Million Cat Challenge

While we're celebrating kitten season and 30 Years of Maddie's Fund^®, it's also the perfect time to recognize a major moment in feline history in animal well-being: the Million Cat Challenge. Launched in 2014 and powered in part by Maddie's Fund, this bold initiative set out to save 1 million cats in five years. That ambitious goal was met a year early in May 2018. On July 26, 2019, the Million Cat Challenge celebrated saving a total of two million cats!

With key initiatives of alternatives to intake, removing barriers to adoption, managed admission, return to field, and capacity for care, the Million Cat Challenge changed the game for feline sheltering across North America.

In January 2022, Million Cat Challenge became Maddie's^® Million Pet Challenge as they were awarded with an additional five-year $7.4 million grant from Maddie's Fund.

The Million Cat Challenge campaign's momentum continues today through Maddie's^® Million Pet Challenge, powered by the University of California (UC) Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, the Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida (UF), Open Door Veterinary Collective, and Team Shelter USA. These experts deploy to communities across the country to offer free consultations to shelters and veterinary clinics on how to keep pets with their families and out of shelters, as well as teaching veterinary clinics a financially sustainable model that removes cost as a barrier to providing pets with needed veterinary care. Maddie's^® Million Pet Challenge builds on the work to ensure the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, with the Right Outcome for every pet.

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#CommunityCatManagement
#FosterPrograms
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
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I honestly love the more scared and feisty kittens as they are a challenge and it is so rewarding when they start coming around. We took in a litter of kittens that were found in front of a highway patrol station and they were very spicy. We named them Warrant, Felony, Misdemeanor and BOLO. I worked with them each day and after a few days they were purring instead of hissing. It was so rewarding to see them start trusting people and socializing with other cats. They all ended up being adopted into great homes and it felt so wonderful to help change their behavior.

Knight came to us as at an emaciated weight  A community member rescued this little one from a busy road and brought him to the local emergency hospital where he was  given fluids, and pain medication, examined and diagnosed with dehydration, malnutrition, anemia and with a wound on the back of his head. He was discharged into our care and our medical fosters and our volunteer veterinarian got to work giving Knight the around-the-clock care he needed to heal and eventually thrive.  Knight has doubled his weight and his coat is now thick and healthy. He shows his gratitude by being a non-stop purr machine!

That's such a beautiful story, and I love their names! 😄 There's truly something special about working with the scared and spicy ones. It takes time, patience, and heart, but watching them transform is pure magic.  So glad they found loving homes and huge kudos to you for giving them that chance. The world needs more people like you in rescue! 💛

Melina :)

I have so many happy and fun stories of spicy nuggets turning lap-loungers and bottle babies growing big and strong...but my most memorable experience to date, sadly, isn't a happy one.  A foster took in a young mom cat and her seven healthy, strong, 1-day-old babies.  The pregnant mom cat appeared out of nowhere in mid-March at a house where she was fed and given temporary shelter, but the owners couldn't care for her and asked for help in fostering her from a rescue.  While in their care, she gave birth to seven beautiful babies.  The next day, they were transferred to a foster care provider who was still new to fostering but was overjoyed to have a mom and babies, under the impression that it should be relatively straightforward.  We conducted intake exams on everyone, and they were all healthy, strong, and at excellent weights.

For two weeks, they thrived, and then one day, they didn't.  One by one, throughout 24 hours, and after implementing all of the FKS protocol, we lost three kittens for no apparent reason.  Over the next 2 days, three more died.  Even though mom was nursing and taking care of them, we pulled them and tried to start bottle feeding, and even did tube feeding when we could.  Nothing worked.  Three weeks after they were born, we lost six of the seven...and the seventh was holding on.  We had bloodwork done on mom, and she was Felv/FIV negative, and she was healthy and strong, no signs of any diseases or parasites (we did deworm 4 of the 7 at 2.5 weeks after we lost the first two).  The vet couldn't give us any insight as to why the last remaining kitten was struggling.  He had a low body temperature, but he ate very well and never gained weight.  And at 5 weeks of age, he passed away in my arms.

We knew something was wrong, and we weren't going to settle for "nature has its reasons."  We needed to dig a little deeper.  Little Tanner Tot was sent to WSU for a full post-mortem...and the results were shocking (at least they were to me).  Sometime during her pregnancy or shortly before she gave birth, the mom cat contracted toxoplasmosis, and whether in utero or while nursing, all of the little ones got it, and their little systems couldn't handle it.

Looking back, could I have done something?  Should I have seen something?  I don't know.  There were no signs that yelled "toxo."  They ate, they slept, they gained weight in the beginning, there was no v/d, no fevers, nothing that would have indicated this.

I wonder if we see this more than we realize in kittens that come to us from unknown and unsavory areas.  And since the signs and symptoms may appear differently in cats under 5 weeks of age, should we simply refer to it as FKS?  I don't know.  I doubt I'll ever see another case like this again.  My heart breaks for the foster who did everything in her power to help.  She did adopt the mom cat who has since been spayed and is now living her best life.

Last year I took home a bottle baby (Ben Franklin) that we weren't sure was going to survive the night. We also weren't sure if he'd be able to keep his eyes as they were so badly infected at just 2 weeks old. He first broke with constant diarrhea. We go that cleared up as well as his upper respiratory infection. Then he stopped pooping all together and would only go once every few days and it would be extremely hard and very long and thin in a tube shape. As he grew, his eyes got better and it was determined that he had at least some vision. The poop problem however did not get better. We did x-rays and could tell that his colon was full but he seemed to be constipated.  We started meds for that but nothing seemed to work except weekly enemas to empty his colon. I decided to foster fail and adopt this baby as I was not sure anyone would want to adopt a kitten that could not pass stool on it's own. Luckily as he got older, the issue seemed to slowly resolve itself and I am happy to report that at a year old, he goes potty normally. Yay!! He may have vision problems as he gets older as his eyes aren't quite normal, but for now he has great vision and is a happy, healthy, normal kitty. Picture is of him at a few weeks old. 

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Erin Robinson
Foster Coordinator
Licking County Humane Society
OH
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I was in the Caribbean going to medical school and I hadn't had a cat since my last cat got out of my parents house and eaten by a mountain lion. My daughter had been begging me for 2 years and I had stood my ground. However, I met a new island friend and told him about my daughters desire for a cat and her birthday coming up in a few days. He dropped a 5week old kitten on our porch and knocked before he ran off so I couldn't see that it was him. This tiny kitten was malnurished, anemic, covered in over 50 fleas, and also covered in tiny island ticks. My heart melted and I scooped her off the porch and put her straight into the kitchen sink. After a prolonged bath my daughter and I got all the bugs off her and were rubbing her dry when we heard her tummy growl. I had a cooked fish fillet and some chicken in the fridge so I made her a plate and put it next to a water bowl on the floor. She flew out of my daughters hands and started wolfing down the food. She started making a mess and as I reached down to try and push it back on the plate I got clawed and bit quick as lighting before she held down my hand with one paw and kept eating. I tried to pull her claws out of my hand with my other hand only to get bit and clawed again. Needless to say it took some time before she could eat without being aggressive. I took her to the vet and she had 4 kinds of parasites and giardia, as well as a bacterial infection. Poor cat was on 3 different meds 4 different times a day for the next 2 weeks. My hands eventually looked like they had ribbons of skin, but it was worth it. We harness trained her and when our landlord found out about her he kicked us out. I flew her home with my daughter to stay with my parents and returned to the island but still couldn't stay in the rental. After she left I was cat lonely and started collecting strays. I rescued 11 cats/kittens off the island and found 6 of them homes. 2 unfortunately passed away unexpectedly, and 3 I still have. That kitten we named Marigot after Port Marigot on the island of Saint Martin where we spent my daughters birthday jet skiing. She is still spicy and when we take her outside on the harness she acts feral. But she fiercely protects my daughter and I and we wouldn't give her up for anything. If it hadn't been for her I wouldn't have started saving kittens again so soon and because of her I have since rescued around 100 or more in the last year and a half.

We have an absolutely heartbreaking, but ultimate dream heart warming story of Hope, but it is in the process of becoming our first children's book and it's copyright protected, but I would be happy to share it once it's published. In the meantime, we share many stories like what you are sharing. Last year was a particularly difficult kitten there we lost a number of litters as did people we were helping who found abandoned brothers on their properties. Don't know if we were dealing with some sort of mysterious illness or at least identifiable, or if we were just finding them too late.. despite care and heroic effortswe lost too many beautiful souls. One letter we had had pretty horrific diarrhea. They tested negative for parasites. We wormed them. We ran a course of me not all just To hedge, our bet, we put them on special digestive formulas, more than one, antidiarrheal's and still, we could not resolve the diarrhea. The vet was at her wits end. On a hunch, I took them off of all chicken based products. Of course, the special digestive formulas are all chicken Based.  Over the years, I've had a number of dogs who didn't do well with chicken so I no longer feed anyone in my care chicken. The diarrhea resolved in just a couple of days. Like all of our food sources chicken has been altered. Messed with however you want to put it and the way commercial chicken is raised is absolutely horrific, unclean and inhumane. If you have a local farm to source your chicken that's different we don't. But commercial chicken is loaded with growth, hormones and antibiotics and diseases so we just avoid it. That litter was adopted out. They're all happy and healthy and in loving Holmes, that will never feed them chicken.

I'd love to share with you all the journey we've been on this season with Tango! The TL:DR- we rescued her from an animal hospital that was minutes away from euthanizing her for possible CH. But that turned out not to be her diagnosis and now she's thriving! Full story below, and here's her progress video...it's a bit long but 100% worth the watch! https://youtube.com/shorts/Ai3FWdCpkl0

If guardian angels exist for kittens, Tango surely had one watching over her from the very start.

She came from a known cat colony in Phoenix's West Valley, where a kind-hearted caregiver kept a close eye on the community. He understood the importance of keeping kittens with their mothers until they were old enough to be safely altered and adopted out. But when he noticed one tiny kitten failing to thrive-shaking, frail, and clearly unwell-he did the compassionate thing and brought her to a local animal hospital.

Unfortunately, Tango's needs were beyond what the clinic could handle, and without the resources to provide intensive care, she was surrendered. That's when we got the call-a last-minute plea to help a kitten who might not make it through the night. We watched the video of her trembling in distress and knew we had to say yes.

When we met Tango, she was only about four weeks old and barely weighed 250 grams-half of what a healthy kitten her age should weigh. She was skin and bones, every vertebra in her spine visible. She had severe tremors, couldn't stand or walk, and had to be syringe-fed. Even the litter box was out of reach for her. We were deeply worried about her prognosis, but we committed to her fully. We named her Tango-a nod to her unsteady but determined movements, as though she was dancing through the hardship.

We shared a video of her in veterinary and kitten care communities, hoping for insight. Almost immediately, responses came flooding in. Her symptoms didn't look like cerebellar hypoplasia, as we initially suspected. The consensus was striking-many believed she might be suffering from toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can wreak havoc on a kitten's developing nervous system if left untreated.

Due to her tiny size, her bloodwork couldn't confirm the diagnosis reliably, but our vet decided to begin treatment immediately. She was started on medication for toxoplasmosis and received an intensive supportive care regimen: subcutaneous fluids, B12 injections, electrolyte support, specially prepared food, a modified litter box, and even a custom stand to help her stay upright while eating.

Little by little, Tango began to improve.

Every day, we recorded her progress. Watching the compilation now is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The fragile, trembling kitten we once feared wouldn't survive is now a playful, confident whirlwind of joy. Her once-gaunt face is now round and full of life. Her belly is soft and plump. She runs, plays, uses the litter box, and even her meow has transformed-from a weak, scratchy cry to a sweet, vibrant chirp.

This was our first time treating a kitten with suspected toxoplasmosis-and thanks to Tango, we've gained knowledge, experience, and a whole lot of hope. Her journey reminds us why we do what we do, and how even the smallest lives can have the biggest impact.

Tango. It was an adorable kitten. Congratulations.!

Original Message:
Sent: 06-05-2025 10:00 AM
From: Courtney Ochs
Subject: June 2025 Giveaway: From Neonates to Feisty Felines - Share Your Kitten Stories!

I'd love to share with you all the journey we've been on this season with Tango! The TL:DR- we rescued her from an animal hospital that was minutes away from euthanizing her for possible CH. But that turned out not to be her diagnosis and now she's thriving! Full story below, and here's her progress video...it's a bit long but 100% worth the watch! https://youtube.com/shorts/Ai3FWdCpkl0

If guardian angels exist for kittens, Tango surely had one watching over her from the very start.

She came from a known cat colony in Phoenix's West Valley, where a kind-hearted caregiver kept a close eye on the community. He understood the importance of keeping kittens with their mothers until they were old enough to be safely altered and adopted out. But when he noticed one tiny kitten failing to thrive-shaking, frail, and clearly unwell-he did the compassionate thing and brought her to a local animal hospital.

Unfortunately, Tango's needs were beyond what the clinic could handle, and without the resources to provide intensive care, she was surrendered. That's when we got the call-a last-minute plea to help a kitten who might not make it through the night. We watched the video of her trembling in distress and knew we had to say yes.

When we met Tango, she was only about four weeks old and barely weighed 250 grams-half of what a healthy kitten her age should weigh. She was skin and bones, every vertebra in her spine visible. She had severe tremors, couldn't stand or walk, and had to be syringe-fed. Even the litter box was out of reach for her. We were deeply worried about her prognosis, but we committed to her fully. We named her Tango-a nod to her unsteady but determined movements, as though she was dancing through the hardship.

We shared a video of her in veterinary and kitten care communities, hoping for insight. Almost immediately, responses came flooding in. Her symptoms didn't look like cerebellar hypoplasia, as we initially suspected. The consensus was striking-many believed she might be suffering from toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can wreak havoc on a kitten's developing nervous system if left untreated.

Due to her tiny size, her bloodwork couldn't confirm the diagnosis reliably, but our vet decided to begin treatment immediately. She was started on medication for toxoplasmosis and received an intensive supportive care regimen: subcutaneous fluids, B12 injections, electrolyte support, specially prepared food, a modified litter box, and even a custom stand to help her stay upright while eating.

Little by little, Tango began to improve.

Every day, we recorded her progress. Watching the compilation now is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The fragile, trembling kitten we once feared wouldn't survive is now a playful, confident whirlwind of joy. Her once-gaunt face is now round and full of life. Her belly is soft and plump. She runs, plays, uses the litter box, and even her meow has transformed-from a weak, scratchy cry to a sweet, vibrant chirp.

This was our first time treating a kitten with suspected toxoplasmosis-and thanks to Tango, we've gained knowledge, experience, and a whole lot of hope. Her journey reminds us why we do what we do, and how even the smallest lives can have the biggest impact.

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Courtney Ochs
Foster
Newborn Kitten Rescue
AZ
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When I was 18 a litter of kittens were found on the side of the road. I kept one of them and friends took the other two. I brought the kitten home and started caring for her. Immediately I knew something was wrong because the kitten appeared to be having seizures. At 18 I brought the kitten to the vet by myself thinking all along I am doing the right thing and trying to save this baby. The vet confirmed to me that the kitten was having seizures and surprisingly was also deaf. The vet proceeded to scold me for picking up the unknown kitten on the side of the road. The vet brought up about putting the kitten down due to age and unknown seizures. In my heart I knew that I couldn't do this that this baby deserved a chance. At 18 I remember picking up the kitten thanking the vet for his time and paying the receptionist with my own money. I brought the kitten home and continued to care for her and feed her. I wondered while I was caring for the kitten how I would possibly be able to care for such a tiny kitten that was special needs. I didn't know what her future would look like or if there would be other issues later but I knew I could not give up on her. My father named the kitten trouble. Saying she was more trouble then she was worth but I kept going wanting to give the kitten a chance. Eventually the seizures became less frequent and the kitten started growing. I did find another vet to go to who was pleased with Trouble's progress and gave me more hope. Trouble finally stopped having seizures and became a very sassy Queen. Trouble also changed my father's opinion of her until he was her human. Trouble taught me to never give up on an animal because they all deserve a chance. Trouble definitely had more of an impact on my life and taught me more about how to care for her and how to advocate for her. Sadly she passed away from old age but she most definitely lived a very spoiled Queen life. 

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Pamela Gilcrease
Advocate/Volunteer
Grant Parish Animal Care and Control
LA
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That is truly an inspirational story Pamela, Thank you for sharing that!

This month, I met a tiny kitten who completely stole my heart-and reminded me why I founded Sierra Overlook Animal Rescue in the first place. 💛

I was at a local shelter following up on a dog when I noticed a woman in line looking nervous, holding a tiny kitten. I introduced myself and asked about him. She told me her father had found the kitten alone in a park-cold, dehydrated, and unable to move his back legs or tail. She'd cared for him overnight, but was scared the shelter might have to euthanize him because of his condition.

While we waited in line together, I called our rescue's vet and did a phone consultation right then and there. The vet agreed his paralysis was likely permanent, but believed he could still live a happy and fulfilling life. When shelter staff confirmed that euthanasia was the most likely outcome if he was surrendered, the woman (Stephanie) looked at me and said, "Would you be willing to take him?" I said yes without hesitation.

We named him Bagheera-our little panther-and he's already doing so well. We've been feeding him and helping him urinate and defecate every 3 to 4 hours. He's incredibly curious, eats like a champ, and purrs louder every day. 🐾

We're planning to pursue therapies like laser treatment and acupuncture to hopefully give him some mobility, but no matter what happens, Bagheera will always be loved and supported. 

He may be tiny, but his spirit is huge-and I'm so honored to be part of his journey. 🖤

This is Delilah. She was the "queen" of our feral colony for many years. She is incredibly smart and too crafty to be trapped. She knew all the tricks. She was constantly pregnant and wouldn't bring her kittens around until they were sufficiently spicy to evade any attempt we might make to socialize them. Three years ago she walked in our back door on a very cold February day. She was head-over-heels for a cat named Tommy, who lived inside. We had the door open and she spotted Tommy-that and the cold were enough to get her over the threshold. She was very scared when she first moved in, but now 3 years later she is finally showing signs that lead us to believe she was socialized at one point. She does figure eights, and a couple of times she has brushed up against a staff person. I can touch her tootsies, and her side-and when she doesn't want me to, she thumps my hand with her closed paw. I LOVE HER and it's my biggest dream that one day she begins regularly seeking affection. I'd take her home in a heartbeat if she wanted me to. I'm including a few photos of her. In two of them she's sitting on my desk.  <3

My beautiful 14 year old, Rosie, had crossed over the rainbow bridge in February, 2019 so, in November of that year, I decided to get my feet wet again by becoming a foster mom for a local rescue. My first foster was a spicy little kitten who went on to be adopted by a wonderful young family. My next two fosters were two brothers. They were about six months old when they "temporarily" came to stay with me. The tuxedo was pretty brave. He curiously wandered about and quickly found he liked to sit on his throne like the king he was. The gray and white kitten was extremely shy and a bit frightened in his new surroundings. I even "lost" him one day, spending frantic minutes searching for him and trying to figure out how he could have escaped. Relief overwhelmed me when I found he had crawled into a small hole in my desk and was hiding in the computer compartment! It didn't take more than a few days to know these precious angels were meant to be my forever family. So, please let me introduce you to Petey Pi and Ziggy Zu.

I work for Cat Haven, Inc. , a no-kill shelter for cats. We had a lady show up at our shelter 2 weeks ago, saying she heard cat cries in her car. She acknowledged there were feral cats around her house in the country. We looked inside the engine and sure enough, we saw a black and white kitten but couldn't get to it from under the hood. We used a car jack and lifted up the left side around the tire. One of the animal care specialist (ACS) got under the car enough to find the spot where the mother obviously had gotten in the underside to place the kitten. She reached up in the engine and pulled out 2 kittens, around 3 weeks old. We felt so happy to get them out and took the jack down, only to hear more cries, except this time the ACS couldn't reach the kitties. We called our policemen who came to our rescue! They pulled the car up and one was able get the other 2 kittens! Every kitty in the litter was a different color: black and white, orange tabby, grey tabby and a white one - surprisingly none of which were were burned. We place them into a home with one of our fosters who is bottle feeding them. We are so thankful for the police, that the kittens could be retrieved,  and that they were healthy. We gave the car owner the name of someone who handles Trap, Neuter, and Release to get the feral cats around her house spayed and neutered. Happy ending! 

Harriett Pooler

Director of Marketing and Development  

Cat Haven, Inc.

Louisiana

Last summer, we took in a single orphaned neonate who was found alone in a cardboard box outside a local grocery store. No sign of the mother or siblings. She was barely 24 hours old, still had her umbilical cord, and was ice cold to the touch when she arrived.

Despite round-the-clock care, warming, and tube feeding, it took a solid week before she even opened her mouth to latch. Every hour felt like a wait-and-see situation. But somehow, she kept pushing through. We named her Dot because she was so tiny, just a little dot of life hanging on.

Dot eventually grew into one of the most playful, confident kittens I've seen. She was adopted into a home with two older cats, and now we get updates showing her lounging like she owns the place. It's a reminder of how fragile neonates can be, but also how much fight they can have when given a chance.

This is a season of "firsts" for me.  It's coming up on the 1 year anniversary of my fledgling nonprofit creation (in July) so technically I missed "kitten season" last year.  And while I vowed to "stay in my lane" doing JUST TNR, I caved earlier this month and I now have 4 very rambunctious kittens living in my husband's workshop.  To be honest, they are way more fun than TNR, but a whole lot messier, destructive and chaotic!  I am hopeful that a local rescue has room for them to move in once I complete my socialization of them, which includes my kid getting IN the playpen every night to let them use her as a toy!  It's been really fun and enlightening, but also a bit heavy on the wallet.  We ran a fundraiser to help offset the cost of all the things you need to prepare for kittens, and I am on the fence on whether I do it again.  It can really break a nonprofit when you don't have funds for meds/shots/etc.  But, we'll continue to do what we can.  Here's the "FERN Litter" (their mom's name is Fern) Boston, Button, Dixie Wood and Autumn.  

This is Tuna-a tiny but feral firecracker of a kitten who had no intention of being rescued. It took me days to trap him in the cold winter when I lived in Japan.  He was scrappy, spicy, and totally uninterested in human kindness. But I wasn't giving up on him.

At the time, I was the Foster Coordinator at PAWS in Japan on a military base and spent several evenings each week doing TNR after work. Tuna was one of the tough ones but I knew deep down he deserved a chance beyond the streets.

Once in foster care, the real work began. Tuna wanted nothing to do with people. But slowly, over the course of weeks and months, he began to trust. 

Letting him go was bittersweet. After all that time together, I had seen him blossom from a wild little warrior into a sweet, social cuddlebug. But Tuna found the perfect forever home.

These are the moments that stay with you. The hard traps, the long nights, the slow wins. Tuna is a reminder that even the spiciest souls can learn to trust with time, patience, and love!

As I'm typing this, I have 5 beautiful kittens sitting beside me in their crates as I work on socialization! I trapped a cat named Oatmeal back in the end of April who turned out to be lactating. We did a thorough search for her kittens but had no luck. Oatmeal went for her spay and was released and a few days later, and I received a text about kittens who were spotted. They looked to be about 8 weeks old and were in otherwise good condition (good job Oatmeal) so our trapping commenced. However, after a week of no luck, including the last four days that passed without even a sighting we made the call that she had moved the kittens (ugh). Other cats were in need and we decided to revisit this if another sighting occurred. 

A month passed and wouldn't you know it, but they were spotted again, looking just as good as ever, a month older, almost outside of the socialization window, and very robust. Trapping phase 2 commenced. We trapped the first kitten - Overnight on the first night along with a surprise friendly adult (Hashbrown). On day 3, we had had no further luck but were determined. I set the trap and left for an hour and when I returned there were 3 little kittens in the trap - Hello Instant, Quaker, and Steel Cut! That just left 1 single kitten. Although it was getting dark, we had had such good luck so we decided to set the trap one more time. An hour later and there was the 5th final kitten - Rolled! 

These kittens were definitely spicy at first. Having had no socialization from humans, they were wary and mistrustful. In someways, trapping is the easy part. Because they were still young enough, I made the decision to socialize them. Now here I am about a month later and they are warming up! Accepting pets during meals, allowing to be held (some, Instant is still a tough hold out), and loving churu. I am really hoping we ca

n get them into foster homes who can dedicate more time as socializing 5 at once can be a bit tough, but for now, we persist. While their start was tough, these 5 kittens will get to live the good life for the rest of their days!

I love all the stories and photos! Fostering neonates and kittens can be both difficult and rewarding, so it's nice to read about people's experiences. 

I'm still rather new to fostering (I didn't start until 2019) and in the last few years I've taken on neonates, some just a few days old. It's always challenging, but it's amazing to see how strong some kittens can be. Last year, I started taking on kittens with medical concerns and the one that stands out to me was a little kitten named Alphonse. At around 3 weeks old, Alphonse already had severe damage to one of his back legs which had resulted in a rather nasty infection. Including his leg, he had a large abscess around his belly from the umbilical cord and another on his left front paw. The back leg needed to go, but he wasn't healthy enough or at weight. He was a bit of a long shot, but he was a determined and sweet little kitten, so I worked with our foster team and our medical team to give him a chance. It required a lot of care including medical dips, medications, and our clinic even showed me how to tube feed when Alphonse went through a period where he didn't have an appetite. A few times I wondered if he was going to make it through at all. However, he was a spunky, determined little guy and I was willing to help him if he had it in him to survive.

Sure enough, Alphonse did! He made it to surgery day and officially became a tripawd. With his infected limb gone, Alphonse was ready to take on the world and find a new home. It was tough to say goodbye when he was adopted (I'd had him for almost 3 months and he was an absolute sweetheart of a kitten), but I knew it was just a part of being a foster parent. Without the combination of my shelter's foster and medical team, I don't think Alphonse would have survived. He showed me, though, that some kittens can face incredible odds stacked against them and survive. 

At only two weeks old Baby Goose was fighting for his life. He was rushed to the ER with pneumonia, and hope for his survival was slim. But Baby Goose was a fighter and thanks to several days of round the clock care at the ER, he was finally able to be transferred back to his foster home. Because of his fragile health, Baby Goose needed more support and we turned to our community for help in purchasing a kitten incubator. The incubator worked miracles and soon Baby Goose was transferred out of medical foster and into a new foster home where he could continue to grow. His new foster mom immediately fell in love and adopted him. Now, Baby Goose is happy and healthy and spends his days playing with his new brother.

Baby Goose's incredible journey inspired us to raise funds to purchase additional kitten incubators and thanks to our amazing community, we are fighting harder than ever for neonatal kittens. Today, we are saving more lives and are able to transfer neonates from other shelters who do not have the same capabilities. Baby Goose's story is proof that with love, support, and determination no life is too small to save.

In November 2024, our animal control team received a call about a kitten found in very poor condition. When officers arrived, they quickly realized the little one needed urgent medical attention. He was rushed to the vet, but his future was uncertain. Weak and dehydrated, he was immediately given fluids and medication and almost miraculously, he began to perk up.

At that moment, we knew he needed a foster who could give him around-the-clock care and unconditional love. One foster instantly came to mind someone we knew would go above and beyond. Without hesitation, she said yes and came to pick him up. He was lovingly named "Moose" because of his adorable and unique mustache pattern. From that day forward, Moose began his transformation from a fragile bottle baby to a thriving kitten with a big personality.

His foster mom, of course, couldn't let him go. He became what we lovingly call a "Foster Fortune" a foster who ends up staying forever. But Moose's story doesn't end there. Today, Moose is the ultimate big brother to every foster that walks through his home. He greets each one with gentle guidance, warmth, and the same love he was once given when he needed it most. Moose is a shining example of what a loving foster home can do. He doesn't just tolerate the new arrivals he nurtures them. He offers comfort to those who are scared, companionship to those who are lonely, and playfulness to those just learning how to be kittens.

Moose's journey reminds us all: sometimes, the animals we rescue end up rescuing others too.

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate kitten season in June by sharing your kitten stories! 🐾  From creative campaigns to recruit new fosters, to partnerships with local businesses and incredible foster mentors stepping up to guide first-timers, your stories showed just how much heart and hustle goes into caring for felines in our communities.

🎉 And now, congratulations to our randomly selected winner, @Yeni Rivas! You've won a $1,000 Cuddly prize pack! Check your inbox for a message with details on how to claim your prize.

Be sure to join us on the July thread where we're shifting focus to the field of shelter medicine-you'll have another chance to win the $1,000 Cuddly prize pack AND a $3,000 grant just by joining the conversation!

Our foster parents are incredible volunteers who not only care for litters at a time, but they also frequently travel to our shelter to get them treated by our medical staff. One afternoon, a foster family brought in a crate full of a momma and her 6 kittens. It was a big crate that you could easily see all the kittens and their sweet faces. They were patiently waiting in the lobby for their appointment when another foster came in with his rather large German Shepherd puppy. When the momma cat in the crate spied that dog, she went into full protection mode--she didn't take her eyes off that dog! The kittens had no idea what was going on, and continued doing their play. The dog ignored the cat, but we quickly got a sheet to cover the crate and give that momma cat some privacy. It was a reminder of how dangerous it can be for litters of kittens who are out in the wild with little help or protection. We are so grateful to the work our fosters do to keep these kittens safe and to help us spay and neuter the cats in our community who need it. It takes all of us together to get this work done!!

Sad Impact

I have been volunteering with the Humane Society since 2021. We opened our doors in Nov 2022. I do Cat Care on weekends, work on getting grants, and spend lots of time on TNVR. Our trapper is on vacation this week, so I volunteered to try trapping in her absence. Day before yesterday was my first trapping. The caregiver said that little grey girl might be pregnant. We knew that spaying was is in her best interest, so I took them home to keep until late evening to then clean up and deliver to the transporter take to Low Cost in the morning. At 830PM I lifted the trap to the table and uncovered it. I saw 3 kittens still in their sacks, not moving. And the tiniest kitten I have ever seen, slightly moving. They didn't even have hair. I called for help because I did not know what to do. Our bottle feeding lady came to my rescue. She took then home and after Sylvester (the one that was barely alive) passed, she put them to rest. God bless her! I know I am doing the right thing in helping with this all, but this was the first time I lost kittens. I cried and cried. Animal welfare is so hard. We need all the wins and it's still not enough to soothe the losses. But it's always the right thing to do. I promise a happy story next time. -Janette Martin

Well, I'll tell ya - after 28 years working in this shelter, you'd think I've seen it all.  've bottle-fed more kittens than I can count and said more tearful goodbyes than my heart probably should've had to bear. But somehow, every time, it still gets me right in the chest.

4 weeks ago, ACO brought me a litter of tiny kittens - their umbilical cords still clingin' like little threads of life - after their mama had passed. Barely born and already orphaned. I looked at those babies and, even though I knew I shouldn't overextend myself any more, I took them home. After all, I've got the bottles, the formula, the heating pads, and, heaven help me, just enough heart left to try.

Now, mind you, this was on top of my usual 70-something hour work week at the shelter. So every two hours, I was up bottle-feeding, rubbing little bellies to help 'em potty, whisperin' soft prayers over each one. Sleep? Ha - I barely had time to brush my teeth most days. But I didn't mind. There's something sweet about holding a warm little body in your hands, hearin' those tiny purrs, watchin' their eyes flutter open for the very first time. 

But then came day eight. That's when things took a turn. First one baby started fading. I did everything I could - fluids, heat, more feedings - but sometimes nature just has a way of reminding us how fragile life can be. I lost that one. And then another. And then another. Three of my sweet babies gone - one after another - despite every ounce of energy, knowledge, and love I poured into 'em.

Now, I should know better by now - I mean, after a million kittens, you'd think I'd have built up some armor. This isn't uncommon. Neonatal kittens are heartbreak wrapped in fur sometimes. And every single time I swear to myself: "That's it. No more. My heart just can't take it again."

But then there was one. My little fighter. That one lone survivor who just refused to give up. She's tough as nails but sweet as molasses. Independent as can be, but loves to crawl up and nuzzle under my chin like I'm the only safe place in the whole wide world. I call her my little miracle girl.

And wouldn't you know it - that tiny, determined little paw reached right up and reminded me exactly why I keep doing what I do. Why I keep giving pieces of my heart away, even knowing full well that sometimes it's gonna hurt. Because their lives - even the tiniest, most fragile ones - are worth every sleepless night, every tear, every single effort.

We had a group of cats that came in from a hoarding case. All sweet and socialized, but health was neglected. Most of them we were able to vet and get adopted out quickly, but there was on beautiful calico that was not thriving and needed a lot of help before she could be adopted. Her name was Buddy and she was a staff and volunteer favorite. When I came in on Saturday for my volunteer shift, she wasn't moving. I learned that she hadn't eaten anything since Wednesday and took a very steep decline in health. They were waiting on blood test results from Friday. I wrapped her in a blanket and held her for about 3 hours. I pet her and told her she was loved and safe. I tried many different treats and wet food for her, and she finally ate some! The results came back and it showed elevated white blood cells, so we assumed cancer, which would also explain the very quick decline. In the following weeks, with some love, attention. medicine and lots of special treats for seniors, Buddy was able to regain strength in her legs, stand, walk around, etc. It was an amazing transformation to see her thriving. We posted her for adoption as a hospice cat (which we knew would be a tough placement). But, we are lucky enough to have a couple of angels in our area who adopt hospice cats. They came in on a Saturday to see Buddy, so I was lucky enough to meet them. They were instantly smitten with Buddy and didn't stop holding her - literally, they wouldn't put her in a carrier and held her the whole drive home (which was fairly far). Buddy was so, so, so loved by them and they kept us updated. We are so lucky to have them in our community. I cried twice over Buddy - the first was when I found her, basically lifeless, and just held her. I was so sad for her. The second was when I met her adopters and saw how well-loved she would be and knew she had gotten the best possible outcome. With all of the sad things that we experience and see in animal welfare, I really cling hard to those happy memories <3 thank you for letting me share! 

My favorite are the under socialized kittens, but my unforgetable litter was a mom cat and her 8 kittens! We named her Betty Crocker and all the babies were dessert themed names. I had them in my small bedroom where I would have foster cats and boy they were adorable and WILD haha I'd have to go into that room geared up in sweatpants and a heavy sweatshirt because as soon as you walked in, they were like little spider monkeys and instantly fly at you and climb you. haha They played really hard and were so fun to watch. Since it was such a large litter, I ended up bottle feeding the two smallest ones that would get pushed out of the crew when everyone was nursing. 

Poppy's Journey is special to us: A Tale of Hope and Resilience

On a chilly 2023 December morning, a Good Samaritan stumbled upon an unexpected discovery-a laundry basket left on the streets, containing three tiny kittens huddled together for warmth. The trio, later named Poppy, Tulip, and Blossom, had been abandoned with no one to care for them. The kind-hearted stranger brought the kittens to us. We were determined to give them a chance at a better life. From the start, Poppy stood out-not just for his endearing charm, but for his unwavering determination. While his sisters began to grow strong and healthy, Poppy faced one challenge after another. He remained half their size, battling a severe upper respiratory infection and painful tongue ulcerations. Despite his setbacks, Poppy's affectionate and spunky spirit never wavered. He was a tiny bundle of energy, always eager to climb into a warm lap and shower his human friends with love. But Poppy's journey took another turn when he was diagnosed with FIP, a disease that was once considered fatal. The diagnosis was daunting, but Poppy's incredible resilience inspired everyone around him. With the support and expert care from Harmony Vet Care and Parrish Vet Clinic, we were able to begin a groundbreaking treatment for Poppy. On December 18th, the long-awaited FIP medication finally arrived, marking a turning point in Poppy's fight. This oral treatment replaced the painful injections he had endured, and the little fighter quickly began to show signs of improvement. Poppy's energy returned, his appetite grew, and his playful antics brought smiles to everyone. Today, June 2025, Poppy has fully recovered from that, but still keeps getting upper respiratory infections here and there. He should grow out of it. We are back on antibiotics, and he is now about one year old and so sweet. His eye color is a dark, gorgeous amber. He loves to play. He is adoptable, and we will assist with any medical costs after adoption, as he is considered a special needs cat. Although he is better, he requires close monitoring and regular vet visits. Poppy's journey reminds us of the incredible impact love, care, and community can have on even the smallest lives. He is living proof that every animal deserves a chance, and I am so grateful for Maddie's Fund to be able to share his remarkable story. 

Recurrent URIs can be a food intolerance issue. I just returned from the vet with sick kittens. Last time we did this as soon as I took them off of chicken-based food their issues resolved. We had tested for everything, two different antibiotics, special diet (which are all chicken-based btw.) Not easy to find truly chicken-free food but what a difference it makes! Worth a try? 

I recently took home my first long term foster kitten. I have taken home bottle babies for a night or two until a foster home opened up but this little guy was different. He came in after being abandoned by his mom because of a broken leg and he could not keep up with his siblings. It was clear from the start that he was something special and we could not have been more right. He ended up having a broken leg, a messed up hip and he is a MUNCHKIN kitten. He is almost 3 months old now and only a whopping 1.85 lbs. He is healthy and thriving in my care and my torbie lady that I have at home has taken to teaching him the ways of the cat.  She has taught him to loaf, play fish games on my phone and has passed on her affinity for sparkly toys. We are still in the midst of sorting out his leg problems and it is not clear if he will be a tripod boy yet or not but Littlefoot is living his best life being loved by everyone in my household. Whose to say if he will stay or not but for now he will remain under the watchful eye of his foster mama cat and his canine brothers and sister. 

Milo and Scout are two 6-month old stray cats who live in a nearby community where a caretaker provides them with food and water.  She reached out to our local TNR group who successfully trapped the cats and had them neutered.  They both had horrible eye infections and needed medication twice a day.  I was asked if I wanted to try to socialize the two stray  cats and get them healthy. Of course, I was up for the challenge.

I kept Milo and Scout together in a playpen and was able to provide eye medication twice a day. I worked very hard to socialize them by using stinky soft food, fun feather toys, and a calm and soothing atmosphere.  

After several weeks, it was evident that they were not interested in much human contact and they were not making progress.  Their eyes were completely healed though and they were very healthy.  The team made the decision to humanely release them back to their caretaker. 

Although I felt like a failure for not being able to socialize them so that they could be adopted into a home, the care taker expressed her gratitude to me for getting them healthy and able to be released back to her care.  For Milo and Scout, this was a win for them.  Sometimes, we have to listen to what the cat wants. 

The pictures show their before and after photos.  

It has been a few years since this happened, but the incident is so adorable that I will never forget it. I was supervising an interaction between a potential adopter and a kitten that he was interested in. He had the kitten in his arms and was petting it. After a few minutes, he put the kitten back in the kennel and stepped back to close the kennel door. As he stepped back, the kitten shimmied, then jumped back into his arms. The expression on his face as he looked at me is beyond precious: surprise mingled with absolute love, and that certainty that he and the kitten are meant to be. I have never encountered an adopter so certain that he has found his smeowlmate. That tableau of shimmy, jump and look-of-love replays in my mind over and over, even after all these years.

Bottle Feeds & Battle Cries

He came to us at less than a week old-abandoned in a barn, eyes still closed, voice just a squeak.

But even then, Bruiser Brody had a warrior's spark.

One of our team members took him home, and for two months, her world became a rhythm of bottle feedings, tiny squeaks, and whispered encouragements. And little by little, Bruiser began to grow.

He rode to work every day like a tiny CEO. He developed very specific tastes (Royal Canin only, please). He politely used his litter box and always made time to scream his thoughts about being picked up. He fell in love with oversized plush toys and all the softest blankets. And most of all-he grew into a kitten full of joy, mischief, and love.

Bruiser's journey is one of resilience. But it's also a love story. A story about how fostering changes everything-for the kitten, yes, but also for the human lucky enough to hold their tiny beginning.

He's gone from barn floor to best life, and all because someone said yes.

If you're thinking about fostering, this is your sign. Someone out there is waiting to grow up in your care. 💛

There are so many! But this one really stands out to me.

I wasn't planning to take in neonatal kittens-but sometimes, the universe doesn't wait for your plans. A litter of tiny, desperately sick kittens-just about 4 weeks old-was found after their mama had been hit by a car. They'd been on their own for nearly a week, then given cow's milk by a well-meaning finder, which only made things worse.

I volunteered to care for them just temporarily until we could find a rescue better equipped for neonatal kittens.

But surprise... that rescue turned out to be me.

We lost one little soul (Pepper), despite everything. I still think about that kitten. But the others? They're thriving. They're playful, happy, growing stronger every day-and they've completely taken over my heart (and my home).

I'm incredibly grateful to Maddie's Fund for the lifesaving crash courses, webinars, and resources that gave me the skills and confidence to care for these vulnerable babies. I truly couldn't have done it without them.

And yes... they're my foster fails now. Some failures are just meant to be. 💛🐾

Butters, MJ, and Fingers

We recently discovered 10 (!) neonates abandoned in a cardboard box on a city corner.  We arranged bottle feeders for the first night, but also put the word out to residents and businesses to be on the lookout for a mama cat who might have been abandoned at the same time, but run off.  The next morning, a teacher from the elementary school across the street alerted us to two scared calicos that were sheltering in a shed.   They were easy to trap and luckily they were indeed the moms of the abandoned kittens, and took to nursing their babies right away.  It was a great reminder to involve the community as the eyes and ears of our rescue work.  

Two of the most memorable kittens we've ever gotten at the shelter were Angel and Misty. They were found outside by a kind homeowner and came in underweight at 2 months old with eye infections so severe their eyes were bugged out of their heads. We took them to the vet for a check up, who said they would need eye removals -- one for Misty, both for Angel. However they were so underweight and weak from infection that they couldn't undergo their lifesaving surgeries until they gained weight and got the infection down. One of our dedicated long term fosters took them in and it was very touch and go for a month. I honestly was shocked that they survived they arrived in such poor condition, but our foster did an amazing job keeping them healthy and safe.

After a month their eyes were almost normal size and their weight actually matched their age, so they underwent their surgeries (eye removals and spays while they were already under anesthesia) and did very well, no complications! Another month of recovery and they went up for adoption and were quickly adopted despite their limitations. We get updates from time to time from Angel's parents, the completely blind kitten, and she absolutely loves to go exploring on her harness in the safety of her fenced in back yard -- her lack of sight doesn't stop her in the slightest! I am always amazed by how resilient kittens are.

One of my very first foster kittens ended up being a "Foster Failure" that stayed with me!  I took her litter home as my first foster group when I started working at the shelter back in 1994, and they didn't need to gain too much weight, so I didn't expect to have them long.  She looked like a blue point siamese that someone had dipped in bleach, as she was mostly white with colorpoint markings in blotches and beautiful deep blue eyes.  Shortly after getting them home, they had mostly gained enough to be adopted, but she wasn't eating well and I had to hand feed her for a while.  Two of the others came back right after that as they weren't eating in their new homes, so they rejoined her and I hand fed them as well until everyone was eating well and had gained weight.  Once they were eating reliably on their own, they both went back to their original adopters and we kept in touch for a good while.  I decided to keep the kitten who had stayed with me through it all and named her Serena.  She was a wonderful kitty her whole life and I loved her dearly!

My husband and I have fostered several kittens and litters, each one special in their own way. But none have stayed with me quite like the "Earth Day" litter.

Sweet and gentle mama cat named Eartha, gave birth to five precious babies: River, Meadow, Forest, Brook, and tiny little Rainbow. A few days later, a lone orphaned kitten named Freddy, about a week older than the others, was found and needed a surrogate. He was introduced to Eartha's nest, and she accepted him without hesitation. In fact, I'm convinced Freddy became her favorite.

Sadly, the smallest, Rainbow, struggled to thrive despite supplemental feedings and around-the-clock care. We lost her within the first few days, and it was heartbreaking.

What made this litter especially memorable for me wasn't just the kittens-it was Eartha herself. She seemed to bond with me in a way no other foster cat had before. She would seek me out for affection and get so excited when I came into her room. Letting her go was one of the hardest parts of fostering I've ever experienced.

Eartha was actually the first of the group to be adopted. A single woman whose male cat, Romeo, had just lost his feline companion, reached out. Eartha became Juliet-and the update we received of her and Romeo cuddling was all the reassurance we needed that she was home.

One by one, the kittens also found their forever families:

• Brook was adopted by a sweet college student nearby, who sent us a photo of his very first vet visit.
• River and Forest went home together to a mom and her two young daughters, who were overjoyed to welcome their very first cats.
• Freddy and Meadow were adopted together by a newlywed couple who have since sent us several updates, sharing how inseparable, adored, and spoiled they are.

This litter reminded me of why we foster. It's never easy, in fact letting them go is very difficult for me; but it's always worth it. Eartha and her babies left a permanent paw print on our lives.

------------------------------
Sarah Neikam
Director of Operations
SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare
https://www.letlovelive.org/
------------------------------

At Baywater Animal Rescue on Maryland's Eastern Shore, we've been lucky to care for many special animals-but none quite like Momma Lulu Cat. She came to us from Dorchester County Dog Control, very pregnant and in need of a safe place. Our staff stayed by her side as she gave birth to seven beautiful kittens-each one a different color but all sharing her gentle spirit. Lulu was an incredible mother from the start, nurturing her babies with love while also forming a bond with our team. Today, Lulu and all her kittens have been adopted-Lulu even went home with two of her little ones. Though she's now with her forever family, Momma Lulu will always be part of the Baywater family and our hearts.

The kitten who has made the biggest impact on me was one who should not be here anymore. Honey Dew came in as a very sick neonate with his eyes crusted shut with a severe URI. Not only did Honey Dew come in with these ailments we soon realized this kitten was not growing. Kittens his age were doubling, if not tripling him in size. The vet gave him a very grim prognosis, a couple of weeks to a month, but nothing longer; his kidney levels were the worst they had seen in a kitten his age.  His foster refused to give up; she saw the fight he had in him! Well, now, 4 and a half years later, he is healthy and handsome. Just goes to show what a little extra food and whole lotta foster love can do! 

I have come across many kittens this month, and one in particular that made me realize why I do what I do. This kitten came in from a rescue to the store to be adopted out, since the other litter mates were adopted out at the shelter, they figure if they mvoed him to the sotore some one would see him and he could get exposire. They bring this kitten in whose name was The Frogg. His name was cute but he was also a black kitten so not many people paid him mind. I would come in every moring, and give him attnetion , talk to him and give him extra love. he was terrifed when he arrived and stayed hidden the corner, until I came in and saw him. I would tell them to give him time, don't force the interaction . One day he finally came around and warmed up to everyone. He ended up with terribly diarraha due to his meds and food,  and needed a bath. No one had ever bathe a cat before so I of course have the experinece so I bathe him. He did so well and actually enjoyed the bath. The look he gave me was like thank you , I needed this and I appreciate you. In that  moment, it reminded me how important it is to just give pets time to adjust to things, we do not know there history , they can be scared, and do not understand why they are even there. We can not expect animals to just be happy and wanting attention or being petted right away.  I also thought about the same with humanes, we do not know that persons situation and why they are in line to get food for themselves and their pets, its our job to be there in their need and to support the best we can, we have to earn trust and bulid from there. That kitten taught me a lot in his time there. He was there for about 2 weeks before someone came and adopted him, which was along time to be there. But it was the time he needed and the right person came and adopted him. She actually keeps us updated about him. He is thriving and super confiendent and loves to jump on things. lol.

I love reading all these stories. We have a few stories also. We were called to take 2 abandoned kittens . When we got there they were laying face down, itty bitty babies still had their umbilical cords. One male, one female covered in fly strike. So we took them home and started  cleaning them up & bottle feeding. They seemed to thrive! We took them to work with us to keep their  feeding schedule. They were very delicate, but started to grow  like weeds💙💜 We named them Maggie & Parker and they were fortunate enough to be adopted together!

Long ago--1983--we had just celebrated the TNR of the last cat at the Yonkers Raceway in New York.  It was a bit too soon for celebration, though, because a bag of neonatal kittens was then found with the rubbish, discarded by someone just passing through the track.  Of the 5 or 6 kittens in the bag, only one was still alive.  A beautiful black and white tuxedo with pink nose, she was named Domino, and passed on to me to try to raise.

Domino was the first neonatal kitten I ever raised. Although she survived and grew up to be a wonderful cat, she developed a habit that seemed to make her unadoptable.... she was a TAIL SUCKER.  Her meet-and-greets went well until potential adopters encountered her ever-wet tail.  Ick!  Slimey!  Total-turn-off for everyone.  Had I known then what I know now.... but I didn't.  So the dear girl stuck with me and was one of the 16 cats and 2 dogs that moved from New York to Seattle with us in 1984.  She was truly a gentle soul, always able to self-sooth rather than engage in any fights with the other cats who were inclined to raise a ruckus at times.

Koda came into my care as a foster in June 2024.  At just 0.2 pounds, she was dramatically smaller than her littermates and severely ill with an upper respiratory infection. She struggled to compete for food, and when she did eat, it was only in small amounts. From the beginning, it was clear she was fighting an uphill battle.

With the support of our dedicated foster team and veterinary staff, we began intensive care. Progress was slow, but over time, Koda began to improve. Even then, she faced ongoing challenges: her breathing remained labored, she was diagnosed with ringworm, and soon after, she began showing signs of eye problems. Veterinary evaluation suggested that the infection had interfered with her eye development, leading to significant (if not complete) vision loss. Remarkably, Koda can see despite these challenges, and she's made it clear that she doesn't miss a thing.

It took months for Koda to grow at a somewhat normal rate, and her breathing issues persisted. When she was finally big enough for her spay surgery in September, we hoped she had turned a corner. Unfortunately, she went into respiratory distress under anesthesia, and the procedure had to be stopped.

We waited through numerous rechecks and evaluations until we were finally able to try again. This time, the surgery was a success, and Koda came through stronger than ever.

After everything she had been through, and everything we had been through together, I realized I couldn't let her go. I adopted her.

Today, Koda continues to thrive. Her breathing still has a distinct sound, and she's prone to sneezing fits, but none of that slows her down. She races through the house with her sister and cousins, and she insists on grooming and entertaining every new foster kitten that joins our home. She has developed a strong love for food and will climb into her bowl if given the chance. Her favorite activity, however, is licking people's noses-probably because she had hers wiped so often as a kitten. Her spirit is unstoppable, and her presence brings so much joy.

What a beautiful, heartwarming story and outcome for Koda! Thank you for sharing, and for being there to help her through such a difficult time. Stories like these help the sad ones hurt just a little bit less. 

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2025 11:24 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: June 2025 Giveaway: From Neonates to Feisty Felines - Share Your Kitten Stories!

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Koda came into my care as a foster in June 2024.  At just 0.2 pounds, she was dramatically smaller than her littermates and severely ill with an upper respiratory infection. She struggled to compete for food, and when she did eat, it was only in small amounts. From the beginning, it was clear she was fighting an uphill battle.

With the support of our dedicated foster team and veterinary staff, we began intensive care. Progress was slow, but over time, Koda began to improve. Even then, she faced ongoing challenges: her breathing remained labored, she was diagnosed with ringworm, and soon after, she began showing signs of eye problems. Veterinary evaluation suggested that the infection had interfered with her eye development, leading to significant (if not complete) vision loss. Remarkably, Koda can see despite these challenges, and she's made it clear that she doesn't miss a thing.

It took months for Koda to grow at a somewhat normal rate, and her breathing issues persisted. When she was finally big enough for her spay surgery in September, we hoped she had turned a corner. Unfortunately, she went into respiratory distress under anesthesia, and the procedure had to be stopped.

We waited through numerous rechecks and evaluations until we were finally able to try again. This time, the surgery was a success, and Koda came through stronger than ever.

After everything she had been through, and everything we had been through together, I realized I couldn't let her go. I adopted her.

Today, Koda continues to thrive. Her breathing still has a distinct sound, and she's prone to sneezing fits, but none of that slows her down. She races through the house with her sister and cousins, and she insists on grooming and entertaining every new foster kitten that joins our home. She has developed a strong love for food and will climb into her bowl if given the chance. Her favorite activity, however, is licking people's noses-probably because she had hers wiped so often as a kitten. Her spirit is unstoppable, and her presence brings so much joy.

Mamacita and her Footless Babes

Last winter, during a routine Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) mission with St. George Island Cat Allies, we encountered a moment that would touch all of our hearts.
While trapping community cats, a little girl came running out from a nearby home. She told us about a mother cat and her kittens hiding in a pile of discarded tires and debris on their property. "There's something wrong with the kittens," she said, her voice filled with concern. Although we couldn't reach the kittens ourselves, the girl's mother bravely stepped in and gently retrieved them and their mama. That was the beginning of the journey for Mamacita and her two kittens, whom we soon affectionately named Derecho and Izquierda-Spanish for "right" and "left." Both kittens were missing part of their rear feet: the male his right, and the female her left. The injuries were fresh and open, yet they were snuggled close to their mother, who was doing her best to keep them safe and warm. Without hesitation, we brought the small family into foster care and rushed them to Dr. Collier for evaluation.

Despite the trauma, the prognosis was hopeful. At just two weeks old, Derecho and Izquierda showed promise of healing, and Dr. Collier believed they could adapt beautifully to life without their full limbs-thanks in large part to the unwavering care of their mother. Mamacita proved to be an extraordinary mom, nursing and nurturing them as their tiny bodies healed.

Their journey wasn't without setbacks. Two weeks later, little Izquierda developed an upper respiratory infection that left her too weak to nurse. Around-the-clock syringe feedings and nebulizer treatments became the new normal. Slowly, she began to recover-her spirit undiminished. At six weeks, strong and thriving, the kittens transferred to Smitten With Kittens in Tallahassee, a partner organization where they were adopted together into a loving forever home. Mamacita stayed with us a bit longer until she was fully recovered and spayed.

When the time came to return Mamacita to her original home, we were met with the biggest smile from the same little girl who had first called out for help. Her happiness and gratitude made every sleepless night, every vet trip, and every moment of worry worth it.

Love this story! Thank you for being there for Mamacita and her babies. :) 

Original Message:
Sent: 07-01-2025 12:39 PM
From: Shan Raetzloff
Subject: June 2025 Giveaway: From Neonates to Feisty Felines - Share Your Kitten Stories!

Mamacita and her Footless Babes

Last winter, during a routine Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) mission with St. George Island Cat Allies, we encountered a moment that would touch all of our hearts.
While trapping community cats, a little girl came running out from a nearby home. She told us about a mother cat and her kittens hiding in a pile of discarded tires and debris on their property. "There's something wrong with the kittens," she said, her voice filled with concern. Although we couldn't reach the kittens ourselves, the girl's mother bravely stepped in and gently retrieved them and their mama. That was the beginning of the journey for Mamacita and her two kittens, whom we soon affectionately named Derecho and Izquierda-Spanish for "right" and "left." Both kittens were missing part of their rear feet: the male his right, and the female her left. The injuries were fresh and open, yet they were snuggled close to their mother, who was doing her best to keep them safe and warm. Without hesitation, we brought the small family into foster care and rushed them to Dr. Collier for evaluation.

Despite the trauma, the prognosis was hopeful. At just two weeks old, Derecho and Izquierda showed promise of healing, and Dr. Collier believed they could adapt beautifully to life without their full limbs-thanks in large part to the unwavering care of their mother. Mamacita proved to be an extraordinary mom, nursing and nurturing them as their tiny bodies healed.

Their journey wasn't without setbacks. Two weeks later, little Izquierda developed an upper respiratory infection that left her too weak to nurse. Around-the-clock syringe feedings and nebulizer treatments became the new normal. Slowly, she began to recover-her spirit undiminished. At six weeks, strong and thriving, the kittens transferred to Smitten With Kittens in Tallahassee, a partner organization where they were adopted together into a loving forever home. Mamacita stayed with us a bit longer until she was fully recovered and spayed.

When the time came to return Mamacita to her original home, we were met with the biggest smile from the same little girl who had first called out for help. Her happiness and gratitude made every sleepless night, every vet trip, and every moment of worry worth it.

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Shan Raetzloff
Foster, TNR
SGI Cat Allies
FL
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