u/UnfairEquipment6437

I share this as a cautionary tale... We had fostered puppies in the recent past, but had never fostered kittens. I will never bring a kitten into the home again with what we have experienced with our resident cat this weekend. She is a sensitive Siamese mix. Is fine with dogs and puppies and our other resident cat, so we figured kittens would be a breeze. Nope. They were completely quarantined, but I believe the pheromones and territory threat triggered stress and caused moderate acute pancreatitis in her.

We took her to the ER the first day she was showing symptoms and refusing to eat, and unable to even keep water down. They misdiagnosed her as just stressed and nauseous with no underlying cause and sent us home. We brought her back in a day and a half later when symptoms persisted as we were sure it had to have been more than that. They then completed an ultrasound and correctly diagnosed her and hospitalized her overnight, providing life saving care. She is on the mend and doing so much better now at home. Eating and drinking again, no vomiting and no diarrhea. She is rocking a crazy cut now since they shaved her tummy and her butt. Lol.

My fostering days may be over after this. Thank goodness we have pet insurance for her, because we would be looking at $5k in hospital bills if we did not. I don't want to completely deter people from fostering, because it is an amazing experience, but your resident babies always come first. It just may not be right for us.

Hello! We picked up two foster kittens (est. 7 weeks) on Wednesday evening. They had some diarrhea the first day with some soft poops after. The rescue completed their dewormers and parasite treatments. My resident cat (8 years old) saw them through a baby gate a couple times and hissed. I've been trying to keep the door closed, but my resident cat snuck into the room after me on Thursday and briefly walked around (less than 30 seconds). She did not encounter the cats directly, but walked near their litterbox. About 20 minutes ago, she walked up to me and my fiance, looked us in the eyes and started having diarrhea. It was watery with some mucus and then was followed by more soft pudding like bits, and then she dragged her bum a little on the ground. She didn't eat her whole breakfast this morning, either. She did have normal poops yesterday. She is coming when called and is otherwise acting normal and does not look like she's in pain and is currently cuddled and purring on my lap. I called out "treats" for her and she ran over and ate some Greenies as she normally would.

She is admittedly a pretty dramatic Siamese mix, but I've never fostered kittens before so I'm incredibly worried about her. Has anyone else experienced this? Is she just stressed out? Do we need to go to the vet? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

https://preview.redd.it/a5983zwgkkyg1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=865a95491abeb4c7563f6be01503cc86a71f76b5

Sweet girl's adoption paperwork is being finalized ❤️ I broadcasted her to my community and a family friend met her and fell in love. My first experience fostering and I'm so excited to foster more in the future and be a little doggy/kitty rehab. So rewarding!

Hello! I am dropping off my first ever foster for her spay and adoption on Sunday. The shelter I fostered with posted a 4 week old kitten who needs a foster. She is currently being medicated for a URI. I have no problem administering meds, our current foster puppy was on daily meds for a URI as well.

My concern is the level of quarantine caution I need to have with my two adult resident cats. We have a fully separate room we can utilize for the quarantine. I’m just curious to know the contagion level and if I should pass on this kitten. I felt a bit more at ease with the medicated puppy because it wasn’t as likely for the cats to be infected by a dog. We of course wash hands between interactions and kept the cats out of the room.

What have your experiences been with a URI foster and resident cats?

Hello! I have had my first foster pup for almost two weeks now. She was around 7 weeks when we picked her up (GSD/cattle dog mix). I noticed her back legs seemed a little bowlegged and unstable the first couple of days. I figured she’s still a puppy and just clumsy. She is a little better on them, but is kinda reluctant to climb on things and when she jogs or runs she does a major bunny hop. She also tends to kinda “drag” her back legs over things when climbing.

She was found alone I think around 6 weeks with no littermates or mama.

My sister told me to let the rescue know. I sent an email. Is there anything else I can be doing for her to help? We bring her back for her spay on Sunday. I don’t think she is in pain, but I just want to make sure she is comfortable and that I am being accommodating if it is hip dysplasia.

Any insight is appreciated!