Need advice regarding fostering

Ok, guys, I really need some advice. I'm pretty sure what the answer is and what advice I'd give someone else, but am not entirely objective about things.

Since May, I've socialized/fostered 10 feral kittens for the rescue I volunteer with (not all at one time). As of Friday, all but two have been adopted. Those two, sweet but still rather shy buff boys, are now back at the rescue awaiting their forever homes.

The spare room is now empty and I'm in the position to foster again, but the question is who. I had hoped to bring the big, black neutered male, Louie, a neighborhood stray that I've been feeding for three years, in for the winter. Louie has come a long way in learning to trust me, but is still very jumpy and hasn't shown any signs of wanting to come in. He's well fed, has shelter and was recently at the vet where he was deemed healthy and had his shots updated.

The rescue is overwhelmed right now due to a couple of emergency situations in which we took cats in that we normally wouldn't. This includes a number of cats who were abandoned at a house near my feral colony. We've taken in eight of the 14 cats so far and literally have no space left. Of the six remaining at the house, only one is friendly. We're looking at relocating the cats to a barn situation as they're at risk where they are now.

Then, there's the feral colony where we've been doing TNR all summer. 35 cats have been fixed to date. They adults have been returned to the colony where they are being well-cared for by the employees. The kittens have been socialized and adopted out. We thought all the kittens have been trapped, but just learned there are at least two more who are young enough to be socialized. We have a number of volunteers who love to foster kittens, but not as many who are willing to take on the feral babies.

Let's face it. Louie's ok for now and there are other cats in need. But, my heart is with Louie. I want him inside where he's safe and warm. The director of the rescue is encouraging me to bring him in, but I know she'd jump at the chance for me foster another cat/kitten too. Also, I'm not sure if Louie's ready. I'm afraid if I forcibly bring him in (ie shoving him in a cat carrier and letting him go in the spare room), I'm going to damage the trust I've built with him and end up with a traumatized cat in the spare room who's chances for adoption are limited.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

I'd take Louie in. As bleak as their future is at the shelter, at least those kitties have a warm, safe place to lay their heads. Louie on the other hand is outside, and at risk for all kinds of nasty things like other animals, cars and mean people.

I think Louie needs you more right now than a shelter kitty.

PS: My other suggestion is to build a 10,000 square foot addition to your home and bring them all home!!!!!

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

I'd take Louie in. As bleak as their future is at the shelter, at least those kitties have a warm, safe place to lay their heads. Louie on the other hand is outside, and at risk for all kinds of nasty things like other animals, cars and mean people.

I think Louie needs you more right now than a shelter kitty.

PS: My other suggestion is to build a 10,000 square foot addition to your home and bring them all home!!!!!

Click to expand...

Actually, their future really isn't bleak at all. Our rescue is a pretty decent place with many volunteers who truly love the cats, and adoptions have been going pretty well this year.

And, I'm not thinking of fostering a cat already at the shelter. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that. I'm thinking it would likely be one of the cats abandoned at the house near my colony who truly are at risk or a couple of feral kittens who could be easily socialized and adopted.

Granted, as a outside cat, Louie's at risk, but he's been made through the past three winters with food, shelter and someone looking out for him. He's better off than many cats.

Hi . I have been in that situation as well. Do I take in an outside feral who is well fed, receives vet care, is happy and healthy or do I take in a really desperate kitty who needs socializing or one that needs a break from the shelter life or as in your situation, these cats at this house who are at risk and have been abandoned. It is a difficult place to be in. There was a feral from my colony that I was planning on bringing in once my foster room opened up. But, unfortunately, he disappeared completely, never to return. Really broke my heart. I am only telling you what you already know anyway, that Louie could be gone tomorrow. Just want you to be prepared that if you DO decide to leave Louie be, don't beat yourself up as I did about my feral gone missing if Louie goes missing. It is a possibility. But in all likelihood, he won't go missing and he will be just fine living outside as he has for the last three years, happily and free. It could be a risk losing trust to bring him in, especially if he is not showing you any signs of wanting the indoor life. It is really impossible to say which way it would go unless you tried. But..... does he want that Maybe not, some feral's never adapt to the indoor life and some do rather quickly. If you did bring him in and he got so very stressed and you released him back outside, he might disappear for a few days, but I think he would be back and totally forgive you, or even bond more strongly with you. You never know which way that could go.

Kitten season is still in full bloom - at least near me. Things slow down at the shelter's/rescues with kittens starting in December/January. I would opt to take in one of those at-risk cats or socializing a feral kitten or two. Bringing Louie in could be something to think about on the next go around when your room opens up. And, if Louie is showing more interest in coming in and closer to you. Sometimes, outside TNRd feral cats are much better off than most of those cats living out their lives in the shelters or those that have been abandoned, such as the cats at that house. I think those cats need you more right now than Louie coming inside, for what it's worth
p.s. I think you are just GREAT
Lauren

It may be too late to get him by tomorrow, but I'd have that black male cat in my house ASAP because people can be so cruel if you know what I mean....

Originally Posted by Minka

It may be too late to get him by tomorrow, but I'd have that black male cat in my house ASAP because people can be so cruel if you know what I mean....

Click to expand...

I do know, but to bring Louie in at this point would mean forcibly picking him up and shoving him in a carrier. That's provided he would even come to me. He does most of the the time but, as I mentioned, is still very jumpy. He's not at the point that I can just pick him up and carry him into the house. I've tried luring him in with food, but that hasn't worked. To me, that's further evidence that he's not ready to come in.

If you bring Louie in - what happens? Socialize him & try to adopt him out? Release him after winter is over?

Originally Posted by white cat lover

If you bring Louie in - what happens? Socialize him & try to adopt him out? Release him after winter is over?

Click to expand...

He won't need socialization exactly, since he's not a true feral. Louie was already neutered when I trapped, so was someone's pet at one point. There will definitely be a period of adjustment to the indoors, though. Hoping he can make that adjustment. When I had him at the vet in Sept. he hissed a couple of times, but was easy enough to handle and allowed others to pet him. The plan is to foster for now and he'll eventually go tot he rescue and up for adoption. I'd actually like to adopt himself when I'm able if no one else comes along sooner.

In that case, I don't have an answer for you. He's probably someone's afraid pet. So I'd be drawn to him, but then again there are those other cats too..... Hmmm.....I think you'd have to decide just who is in the most 'danger' (so to speak) and needs you most.

During the winter, my outside cats become more dependent on me & more friendly. I've had an easier time getting ahold of the less social ones in the middle of winter for vet cares than in summer.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

In that case, I don't have an answer for you. He's probably someone's afraid pet.

So I'd be drawn to him, but then again there are those other cats too..... Hmmm.....I think you'd have to decide just who is in the most 'danger' (so to speak) and needs you most.

During the winter, my outside cats become more dependent on me & more friendly. I've had an easier time getting ahold of the less social ones in the middle of winter for vet cares than in summer.

Click to expand...

I'm very drawn to him. That's the problem. I'd love to just get this guy inside and adopt himself, but not an option right now. The others really are more in need, or more at risk, for now, so guess I have the answer.