may break down & foster

i've been volunteering for just about a year now, with a city shelter and a rescue group. i've learned so much in this time. it, as anyone who does this knows, can be super heartbreaking. i went to the city shelter yesterday. in the nursery was a 4 month old red kitten. i noticed a wound on his tail, about 2" long, maybe 1/4" wide. the skin was dark red with small white blisters. it was listed on his kennel card as a minor injury. the vet came in, i asked her what it was, if it was infected or what. i'm sure some of you with more experience have figured this out, it never occurred to me, she said it was a burn. obviously no accident. i've been up all night crying, this is my first real in my face exposure to abuse. i live in a studio apt. with 2 5 year old male littermates who are very competitive, like to beat each other up, and have pica. so i'm thinking if i thoroughly kitten proof the bathroom, maybe i can keep him in there. this kitten is very socialized(found on the street, definitely not a feral), loves attention, being picked up & snuggling. cries a little when put down but gets over it quick. i just feel like i want to take this little guy & just let him be as happy a little kitten as possible, i think even if i have to keep him in the bathroom it's better than a cage. i'm really not thinking about adopting him, but fostering might be a way to go. unfortunately, i won't be able to do this till at least later this week, due to having a houseguest. any thoughts will be appreciated. posting an edited photo of him. thanks, liz

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Rescue is heartbreaking, an at least this little red guy is safe now an obviously not afraid of humans even though one of them hurt him.  I'm not sure fostering him would be a good idea considering your situation with your two existing cats and the fact that he would have to stay in the bathroom, which he would not understand -- after all, the other cats get to run around, why couldn't he???  He will be lonely and be meowing for attention.  The cage is not great but I'm sure he gets attention and sees a lot of people moving around and maybe can see other cats too.  Is he available for adoption yet or is he still in recovery?  Are there other possible foster homes for him if he is not available for adoption yet?  I know you want to make his life better, but since you arne't considering adopting him, then he would be coming back to the shelter later, and that would be harder than not leaving at all.  Personally, when I have fostered for a large group. my fosters never come back into the shelter, they are always adopted privately, from my home to their forever home.  I don't have the heart to bring them back to a shelter!  (You may not either, so think about it hard before you consider fosterin.) 

@Red Top Rescue   thank you for your kind reply. i agree i am not in a good position to foster, but i was still really feeling that wound on his little tail    when i posted this. he will have a good chance of being adopted(he is presently not up for adoption), either by a member of the public or a rescue. this is the city shelter i'm talkiing about so, you know. although the live release rate there is still quite high, we're having a really heavy kitten season. i will just do my best to check up on his status(i have a friend there that is happy to get info for me). also to write a rockstar bio, take a better photo(you think the bars are bad, his current kennel card/website-app photo is one of those in the carrier at intake shots). hopefully someone will foster or adopt him soon, it isn't realistic for me to add another kitty to mu mix & i do know it. i have met many cats in my travels that i'm sure were abused by their behavior, but this is the first out & out intentional pain infliction i have seen. unfortunately, i'm sure i will see it again, & i will do what i can to help. thank you again, i cried all night last night but i think i'm starting to work through it now.

sorry for the late update, but he was adopted

So glad he was adopted!  You can use your talents for writing a rockstar bio an taking better photos on some of the future cats you meet -- especially the blacks as they are much less likely to be adopted even though they are often the sweetest cats.  Thanks for caring  We all have to remember that if we are not actively a part of the solution, then we are part of the problem.  You are definitely part of the solution!

thank you & i know you are too. i always try to retouch the black cat's photos to get more 'pop' factor, well all of them of course but especially the black ones if you get a chance, i posted about a cat at a different organization i volunteer with, she is very frightened and hostile, if you have any thoughts to share i'd appreciate them. i just updated it, it's called aggressive adult in boarding type situation in the behavior section of our feline companions. there has been some improvement, but we want to get her adoptable! thanks so much!