Like many animal welfare workers, my husband, Dan and I have fostered many litters of kittens. The last batch we took in was in August 2022; a litter of six semi-weaned kittens. Mom got a terrible URI that required her to go on heavy duty antibiotics. The vet recommended the kittens be separated from mom to protect them from any side effects of the antibiotics, as well as protect them from URI's.
Despite, our best efforts everyone of the kittens got URI's, along with eye infections. There were vet runs, medications, eye drops, constant weighing to ensure the medication doses were measured correctly as they grew. After a few rebound rounds, we finally got it under control. The kittens stayed playful, active and had healthy appetites through it all. Yes! We had ourselves a batch of scrappy fighters who would overcome! The worst outcome was one of the kittens getting an ulcerated eye that he will never see out of, but he adapted and could still run, climb and jump with the rest of them.
The kittens were with us longer than usual because of their healing journey. During that time a little black and white kitty, fondly named Moo Moo, wisely used his time to wheedle his way into my husband's heart. Within a month of us fostering this batch my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer and went through major surgery to remove 1/3 of his colon. He then had to go through months of chemo therapy.
Honestly, I thought we would have to take the kittens back to the shelter with all we had on our plates, but the shelter was still full and there were no fosters available. I also realized how Moo Moo especially was giving my husband a reason to fight. Moo Moo was like his therapy guide through it all. If my husband sat in his recliner to nap, Moo Moo was right there snuggling on his chest. If my husband went to bed, Moo Moo had to be curled into his neck.
In the meantime, another kitten we called Grayson became our 6-year old granddaughter's (Abby) shadow any time she was at our house. He was the first one she sought out when she walked in the door. He let her carry him around gently keeping his claws in and snuggling into her.
In late November they were all finally healthy enough and weighed enough to go in for surgery. Abby begged for us to adopt Gray Gray, as she fondly called him. Dan really wanted Moo Moo, but we already had to cats of our own so I was reluctant to adopt either of them. Dan will do anything for his granddaughter so he finally suggested we adopt Gray Gray and he would let go of Moo Moo. The day I loaded them into carriers to go to the clinic for surgery was a tearful day for all of us.
The next day at the shelter I had to check on them right away. Secretly I wanted to bring my little one-eyed Pirate home because I felt personally responsible for not being able to save his eye. I felt like I owed him the best possible life despite his rough start. How was I to decide? Bring home Abby's favorite and disappoint my husband; bring home his special little Moo Moo and crush Abby's little heart?
Finally, I knew what I had to do. I officially adopted two and brought them home in one carrier. I set the carrier on the sofa and had Dan open it. Gray Gray poked his head out first, but then Dan did a double take. Moo Moo poked out around Gray. Dan just cried, but this time tears of happiness. He stammered about not believing I brought home both and it made him so happy that my heart was overflowing. I made the right decision. We are now a complete family of 4 cats, 1 dog with a "no more" foster fail rule!
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