How do I not get too attached to my Foster Baby???

Today is my fourth day with my new baby foster kitten. I am helping a local rescue organization to raise him and bottle feed him until he is able to join the other kittens to be adopted out.
He is really adorable and helpess, having no mommy or litter mates he looks up at me and meows and it breaks my heart.
I know that I am doing the right thing and taking good care of him but I am already getting attached! My husband says no way we can keep him since we already have three of our own cats ages 3, 6, and 7.
The rescue place takes care of bottle feeding kittens but I don't want to give him back until I know he will get extra special attention like the attention I have been giving him.
Has anyone been in this situation? How did you bear to give the kitten(s) back to be adopted out???
Coco Maui
Ginger

Knowing that you can't keep them is a big help but I also don't give my foster kittens names. I don't think there's any way to avoid getting somewhat attached though. You'd have to have no heart for that.

I am already calling him Puffy Not a perminent name, but its fitting for now! I hope that he gets a good home at the adoption center. I can always go and visit him when I go to volunteer.

It's hard to let go! John and I have fostered over 20 kittens this year, and are keeping 7 of them because we just couldn't let them go!

Originally Posted by bnwalker2

It's hard to let go! John and I have fostered over 20 kittens this year, and are keeping 7 of them because we just couldn't let them go!

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LOL you're worse than I am! I fostered 6 momma cats and their litters this Spring/Summer and I kept and spayed 3 of the mommas because they didn't have the temperament to go up for adoption and I couldn't bear to see them put to sleep. Mind you, I did not want any more cats than I already had. I have determined that I either have to give up fostering or I have to tell whatever rescue I work with that I will foster no unadoptable momma cats!

I have 2 kittens that will probably be going "home" within the next week. It's hard, but what comforted me is that I was able to meet the new owner. She came over and spent some time with the kittens and I was able to see how much she really loves them already.

If at all possible, try and find an adopter yourself or maybe contact the shelter you're returning them to and ask if you can meet the new owners. It really helps to be able to know who they are going to.

I really want to keep him. He spent a couple hours last night snuggling with my husband on the sofa. He crawled inside Mark's tee shirt and fell asleep. I am hoping my husband can't bear to part with him too
I would love to meet the kittens new partents if he does go back to get adopted. That would make me feel alot better to know he has a good home!
He went pee pee on Mark last night and Mark was concerned he would have litter using problems, BUT...this morning little Puffy walked over to his litter pan, crawled in and went pee for the first time in it!!! I made sure to show Mark what a good kitten he was

I dont know how you would do it with kittens you are bottle feeding, but with my adult fosters, I know that if I keep them, I dont have the space to continue to foster, so if they can find a good home, they will (regardless of time), as it means I can continue to help, I would hate to keep cats that would have been easy to place, and then be in a situation where I had to say no to a cat that desperately needed a place and I couldnt help. I have kept 2 out of 38 cats/kittens, both oldies that had been with us for months and no enquiries, so as I loved them to bits, I adopted them (well, Tigers was more that Pebbles's passing meant I had space as well as the fact no one wanted her - she doesnt' like humans much, not even me most of the time!!)

That is a really good point. I am pretty sure that this kitten will be adoptable through the rescue organization. If Mark absolutly says no we shouldn't keep him, that will comfort me. Thank you.

it can be hard to realise that others can do just as good a job as us, but by letting them go, we can then help more cats. Another way I have been lucky is that some of the ones I Really liked and wouldn't have minded keeping either didn't like other cats, or mine didnt like them, so my feelings were pretty much irrelevant!!

Sad news. Puffy passed this morning. We had decided to adopt him just last night. He brought joy to our lives for just one week. Rest in Peace sweet Puffy.

Aww.. I'm really sorry to hear about Puffy. RIP little one. Best wishes.

Out of respect for Puffy I will now close this thread.

Here is a link to his Bridge thread:

http://thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143678

RIP Puffy.