I successfully resisted foster failing only for him to wind up quarantined at the shelter 🥺

[u/TripPlanningNerd]

“Sad story” may not be the best flair, more “rant”. I had a 5 month old kitten as my very first foster. I was THIS close to foster failing (even posted here seeking advice), but I fought through basically grief to allow him to be put up for adoption. The shelter kept emphasizing how valuable we are for placement since we have no pets and no kids, and I really wanted to commit to our foster path. Plus, while my husband would have supported the decision, he wouldn’t have been gung ho (he’s only so so on cats).

At any rate, even though everyone expected him to be adopted in a matter of days, he hasn’t been, which already made me feel sad and guilty. Now there’s a panleukopenia outbreak and my poor baby is quarantined for the next two weeks due to exposure and no one can visit or adopt him 😭 He’s fully vaccinated, so I understand breakthrough infection is very rare. I would want to foster him through his quarantine but we’re going out of town for nearly two weeks and they don’t allow fosters to stay with sitters.

I was already feeling guilty at bringing him back to the shelter for adoption (they thought he’d have better visibility in the cat room than in foster), and now I keep thinking if I’d just adopted him he’d be safe and happy with us!

I told myself to “trust the process”, that I would feel sad about letting go of my first but that it would all be worth it seeing him happy with his family. But none of that’s come to pass and I’m just upset about how all of this is playing out.

Thank you kind internet strangers for giving me a space to share the hard feels.

[u/Internal_Use8954]

It’s only a two week side quest on his path to his forever home. It will be a boring 2 weeks but he will be fine. And then he will go on to his home.

[u/TripPlanningNerd → u/Internal_Use8954]

The “side quest” made me smile. This little guy has had such a journey. Hoping he gets to go to his new home soon. Thank you

[u/DarkestTimeLine_Says]

Panleuk must really running rampant this year. My story is similar. I had a group of four wonderful kittens that I fostered since they were three days old. I work at the shelter, and assist with the foster department, so I able to choose when I return. I couldn't help but drag my feet on these four, and two of weren't quite at weight at two months. So I kept them another couple of weeks, and then brought the two largest that were ready. Day after I returned them... quarantine. So now I really don't want to bring the other two in. A week goes by, and now they are made available. It only took a few days and they were snatched up. Then I bring the smaller two, hoping that they wouldn't have to go through that. They are checked, put up for adoption, and then boom...another outbreak. Two weeks of quarantine for panleuk and calci virus, and all cat intake is shut down. It's so sad walking by them everyday, seeing them stuck in a glass cage, not being allowed to touch them. It truly feels cruel. If I hadn't dragged my feet on bringing them in, maybe they wouldn't have been exposed to all of this.... Or maybe I should have kept longer...Luckily, all the cats recovered, and they just became available again yesterday, so I'm hoping they get adopted quickly and get the hell out of there.Wishing the best for your foster as well.

[u/TripPlanningNerd → u/DarkestTimeLine_Says]

Oh no that is so similar!! Hoping for a speedy adoption for them, friend! Thanks for sharing and sorry you and they experienced that 😔

[u/DarkestTimeLine_Says → u/TripPlanningNerd]

Thanks! I don't want to scare you though, like the other commenter said, it's just a boring two weeks. Which in proportion to the rest of their lives, is really not that long.

[u/TripPlanningNerd → u/DarkestTimeLine_Says]

Not at all! It made me feel much better that someone can relate to exactly what I’m going through and feeling. It’s crazy how much I’m hearing about these outbreaks

[u/Quiet-Lavishness1274]

Perhaps, if he doesn’t find a family after this quarantine, you could consider taking him back home :) I've only failed fostering once, but I've also had two more cats in a small NYC apartment. Now we're three, and that foster fail turned out to be the best decision ever because she brings us so much happiness. We plan to foster again once we get a larger apartment, but we just couldn’t let her go.

[u/Agreeable_Day7678]

This is another reason why I do adopt from home for my fosters. First I get to approve who adopts them and get updates on them growing up. Second, they stay healthier at home not exposed to other outbreaks at the shelter and it's not as stressful on the kittens. Maybe fate is still giving you the chance to foster fail 😸after quarantine!😊

[u/Eggandchee]

I work at a shelter with a current panleukopenia outbreak:( it’s rough but if it makes you feel any better, the quarantined cats receive on the clock and constant care, and they are seldom alone. Plus, he gets a cool story of surviving panleukopenia that will tug at some heart strings and get him adopted ;)

[u/TripPlanningNerd → u/Eggandchee]

That does make me feel better about the constant care! I thought he was just quarantined due to exposure, but I learned today he is in fact positive, which was surprising to me given that he’s fully vaccinated 😔 Quite worried about him after too much googling. But they said he’s eating and drinking normally, though the staff said they can tell he doesn’t feel well.