Foster Stress

Is it normal to feel some stress when fostering? I wasn't even expecting to be doing this; it was an emergency situation. Now my cat and the foster cat are stressed out (my older cat just sleeps in his bed most of the time anyway) and I'm very worried that almost none of the parties who are supposed to be finding a home for this little cat and her sis are doing anything. I guess what really has me stressed is that since no one (except my friend who has her sister) is doing anything, I'll end up with three cats, two of whom don't get along, in a tiny apartment. (AND I probably have to move in the spring and I can't afford another one.)

I should add that this morning, my cat and my foster cat had a hissing match and I'm worried they might really go at each other. Now she hisses and growls when I pet her (so I back off immediately) whereas before she would let me pet her.

My older cat's a hoot though; he's just sleeping through everything.

It hasn't been very long, it's normal for cats to not get along. If they are not seperated, yes it's possible fighting will escalate.

As for the stress on you from fostering - is there anything you can do to try to find someplace for your foster & her sister kitty to go? Have you tried contacting rescues personally?

We've contacted some shelters but haven't had much time to do that yet. One shelter that I really like said they might be able to take both girls when some space opens up but they don't have room right now.

I feel bad, too, because my other cats were rescue cats and I hate to disrupt the peace of their home. (It's a very small space here, less than 400 sq. ft. total) My younger cat had a lot of emotional problems early on, (I originally fostered him six years ago because he was too stressed out at the shelter) and I don't want him to regress because of this, although so far he seems to be doing pretty well toward me.

I still think she's pretty depressed as she doesn't really show any curiosity about anything, and she's a youngish cat (4).

I would keep the foster separate, even a bathroom is better than them being on the streets in winter, it sounds like it may be the better option for all of the cats - at least for now and you can re-introduce them slowly and hopefully that helps some of their issues with each other

Well, I have a tiny spare room that's hers for now, with comfy warm bedding and toys and her food dishes. Only problem is that's the only room without a radiator, so when it's cold like this I like to give alternately give her time in the warmer rooms. So all the cats are alternately switching rooms and we're all pretty grumpy (I include myself! ) because our routines are upset and there's a definite change in "tenor" in the household. She's become less receptive to me, too; the first two days she would show me her belly to rub and now she growls if I pet her for more than a few seconds. On the other hand, she seems to like to be out in the kitchen but I think pretty much knows the little room is hers.