r/FosterAnimals

I’ve been fostering a pup since November of 2025 and haven’t had any physical aggression issues between him or my other dogs. I had noticed some territorial stuff around food. Pup was 3-4 months old when we got him, so I’ve been focusing on training and didn’t think much of it.
He’s adjusted well. Was neutered in March. And he’s been growing like a weed.

Fast forward to today he’s approx 10 months old and 65lbs - he was under my dining table and began growling and then bit my much older dog. This dog is a 12+ year old 50lb rescue I’ve had for 11 years. I’ve had dogs nip at each other or growl and then be easily redirected- this was not that. The foster dog bit and wouldn’t let go. I watched the whole thing - I physically couldn’t separate them and had to yell for help and luckily my partner was home and could help me. Even then, when he picked up the foster, my other dog was being drug on the floor. Sorry that was graphic but it was seriously terrifying. I felt so helpless not being able to stop or help. So we got it sorted out. Separated the dogs.
My dog needed multiple sutures on his head / neck and a drain put in. He will be okay but he looks awful.

I’m noticing I feel so guilty but also lots of shame? I haven’t told any other friends and family yet. This all happened today so I know I’m still processing- but my heart is just so heavy.

I really love this foster and I don’t want to disrupt placement. But then I feel like that’s irresponsible or wrong - or will be viewed negatively? But also I fear how this situation will impact the Foster’s ability to get adopted? We were strongly considering adopting this guy so this whole situation is just stressful and heartbreaking.
I’m open to wisdom and encouragement. Please be gentle though because today sucked.

Ps: I called my foster care coordinator 2x and texted him today. I haven’t received a response yet. But just adding that I’m following all the rules and communicating/ waiting to hear back.

13 days ago we discovered five kittens about 10 days old in the ceiling/roof dead space of a vacant house. Due to the location and condition of the ceiling, the kittens were not going to be safe once they became mobile. We tried catching mama, finally succeeded but she was too feral and we couldn’t safely reintroduce her to the kittens so we got her spayed and released her. After calling every rescue in the area and being told they didn’t have anyone willing to foster five bottle babies and that they would likely die or be euthanized in the shelter, they became my fosters. They’ve been in my care, bottle fed around the clock for almost two weeks now. I registered with our county animal services foster program for assistance with supplies, medical care, and adoption coordination.

The learning curve has been very steep, but thanks to a couple of friends who are experienced in fostering bottle babies I’ve been able to keep them alive and growing. I’ve watched hours of Kitten Lady videos and done SO much research. Things were a bit touch and go with the runt at first, I was really afraid I might lose her, but she’s now doing much better and has doubled in weight (270 grams today). They all seem to be thriving, taking the bottle well (for the most part), and can go from 12am-5am at night. I know things can still happen and I might lose a kitten or two, and it would absolutely break my heart.

I am f***ing exhausted and burned out. I love these babies, they’re insanely cute, but my God I’m tired of feeding and pottying them six times a day. I know before long they’ll only eat five times a day, then four, but we’re also approaching litter box training (poop everywhere) and weaning (food everywhere, GI upset, possible illness) in the coming weeks and all I can envision is the mess involved and having to bathe these kittens all the time in addition to everything else, not to mention if illness/FKS takes hold during the stress of weaning.

My husband is very supportive and helps where he can, but runs a small business and this is by far the busiest time of year. I don’t work much and am home a lot so it only makes sense that I’m the primary caregiver. I know that I’ll likely have these kittens in my care for 2 total months (at least) before they’re adoption-ready, and I’d really like to see them through to that stage. Even though I’m tired and irritable and emotional, the thought of giving them to another foster breaks my heart. I want to see them continue to grow and become more playful, but this job is relentless.

I’m still hanging in there, but my God this is a lot. When does it get easier? Does it ever get easier? Am I insane for taking on this huge responsibility in the first place? Words of wisdom/encouragement would be appreciated.

Hi everyone 💚

This has been weighing on my conscience for the past few days and I am in desperate need of some advice/support.

For the past 8 months, I have been fostering Gisèle - she is roughly 14/15 years old, mostly deaf, and doesn’t have the greatest eyesight. She is at stage 3 kidney failure and has remained there since I took her in last year. I love her to bits.

The issue is that Gisèle struggles with severe incontinence, and between my job and life I can no longer keep up with the cleaning required. She is peeing and sometimes pooing basically all over the house. I tried keeping her in just the foster room with lots of pee pads, but she cried and cried at the door and refused to eat unless we let her out. Even with litter boxes and pee pads close, she will still have accidents on the floor consistently. I honestly think she may have some kitty dementia and is confused. Needless to say, my house has been thoroughly destroyed.

I have asked the rescue for help, and consistently they told me there was nothing they could do. Even when I had ankle surgery recently, they couldn’t find anyone else to take her. Finally, it got to the point that I just could not handle the maintenance anymore and I begged the rescue to please move her with someone who works from home or is equipped to handle such a high needs foster. The rescue told me that there is nowhere for her to go, that moving her at this point will just stress her out, and that they believe the most compassionate thing to do at this point is to have her euthanized.

I am absolutely gutted and I feel like I have failed her, like it’s my fault - me not being able to keep up with her needs is the reason she is being put down. They want me to determine a date to have the mobile vet come, but I don’t know if I can do it. She seems to fill of life - she eats well, she goes feral for treats and will fight me for my food!! I’ve seen her jump and she can climb the stairs with no issue.

My question is, am I making the right choice in agreeing to have the rescue euthanize her? I am devastated and I feel awful, I can’t help but feel like she has more life left in her. Is the rescue right, is euthanasia the most compassionate thing? Or is she being put down simply because I am struggling to keep up with her needs and there is no one else?

Sorry for the rant, I hope it’s coherent. I have been crying and crying. I love her so much, I just want what’s best for her, and I feel like I am about to be responsible for her being put down before her time. I have been fostering for over two years and this is the first time I have ever felt that I have failed one of my precious foster babies. 💔

Any advice is greatly appreciated. 😢💚

I was fostering 4 y/o female cat rescued from the streets.

This was my second time fostering and with a different rescue center than my first foster. I decided with a different one cause it was recommended by a friend who had fostered and adopted with them.

They had told me the cat was very hostile towards other cats but fine with people, in which I was a perfect fit for this cat as I had no other pets at home (my first foster had gotten adopted).

We were almost inseparable the first days. She was my little shadow, followed me everywhere and even slept with me. There were a couple of times she hissed but after giving her space, she wanted pets again.

On the fourth day of fortering her, I went to visit my aunt who has a dog. I played with the dog, went home to get some things done and when I was getting ready to go to the gym, she started sniffing the shoes I was wearing when I visited my aunt.

I took them and put them on and as soo as I stood up her demeanor changed completely. She wouldn’t stop hissing, arching her back with her ears back and she LAUNCHED at me while letting out the most vicious sound I’ve ever heard.

She bit me and scratch me on my legs, then she got both of my hands when I was trying to get her off me and finally she got my head and face again.

I was able to briefly get her off me and ran to hide in the kitchen (it has a door And a window that connect to the balcony). As soon as I got inside the kitchen I closed the windows and thank god I did cause the cat was trying to get inside from there. I will never forget how demonic she looked while banging her entire body against the windows. She truly wanted to kill me.

After she left, I was dripping blood from my head, face, hands and legs. I was terrified but after calming down I was able to call the rescue so they could come and help me get her inside a carrier.

I had to wait around an hour to sneak out of my apartment so she wouldn’t see me and attack me again.

The shelter people took her and she was deemed too dangerous to even be at a foster home. I agreed.

They called me an ambulance as my wounds were nasty and the paramedics cleaned them and prescribed antibiotics.

I think what triggered this reaction was the smell of the dog on my shoes. While I understand this and she just redirected her aggression to me, I am quite traumatized from going through this attack and I am scared of ever having another cat inside my home.

I know I still like cats but I am terrified something like this could ever happen again.

Any tips on how to cope after a vicious cat attack?

This is the last kitten left of a set my neighbor found on their front lawn. It was doing well, but now it is a fight to get it to nurse. I made the mistake of trying a different bottle because the one that was working didn't have measurements on the side. The newer bottle had too much flow. He is now listless and floppy, until I try to feed him. Then he fights.

I did I think he is breathing from his mouth, but the vet said she didn't think so. However, he has a red throat so I may have had some milk that was too hot. I check the bottles on my wrist, but maybe I didn't shake one well enough and some milk was hotter? I don't know. I am so sleep deprived at this point, I may not be doing as well as I should.

Kitten is warm and does move in the box a bit. But is now a week old and not really gaining weight or drinking enough. I am feeding every half hour to hour because he's barely eating.

I'm currently fostering a mom cat with three one month old kittens. Yesterday I brought an abandoned one week old kitten to introduce to the litter, mom has accepted it and is cleaning him.

The problem is that I can't figure out if he's eating or not. He snuggles up with the other kittens and mom but when I check if he's nursing it doesn't look like he is.

I've been syrinige feeding him formula every 2-3 hours, but I'm worried that it might be too much if he's also nursing.

I don't have any experience with such small kittens so I'm very nervous that I might do something wrong.

Just curious what the norm is.
I used to foster cats/kittens and ALL food and litter was provided. Of course, I would supplement on my own if I needed or due to it sometimes being easier.

However, I recently started fostering for a different rescue and they give me $25/mo for food/litter and for all medical - I pay the clinic and the rescue reimburses me. I’ve been with them for a couple months and it’s been very slow getting any money back. I now have a few mouths to feed now, so it’s getting pricey.

They are reputable and people have been working with them for years but it was kind of a surprise to me, so just wondering what you all have experienced!