I am getting burned out on fostering

I feel just so ready to take a break from fostering.

I have 3 foster cats right now. That's in addition to my 2 resident cats, one of which is financially and emotionally similar to having 3 cats. I end up spending a lot of my own money on stuff for the cats. The rescue sometimes complains about how much money the cats are costing them and only charges $35 adoption fees, so I've heard multiple times how much the cats are losing money for them.

They don't provide collars and tags for the cats, nor do they microchip them, so I end up buying collars and tags for the cats and sending them with them when they get adopted, because I hate adopting out unidentified cats. Unidentified cats is part of what got us into the stray problem in the first place. Occasionally, they try and compensate me for the incidentals that I buy, but it certainly doesn't cover everything.

The rescue vetted a stray that came into my yard and are putting her through their adoption program, so I've been covering food costs for all of them, since they didn't make me pay my own vetting costs for the stray and the cost of feeding 5 cats is killing us.

I'm dreading having my foster kittens spayed, because the rescue never offers any gas money and the low cost vet is 40 minutes away. 

My 15 year old cat got a UTI, so I put some money into vetting him, which is putting our pet care costs in the $250ish range this month. I was doing the budget for next month and I sighed as I budgeted $140 for pet care. (My young cat has a checkup next month plus I still have to feed 5 cats, unless I can get some adopted)

I'm having territorial fighting issues too, because my house is too small. 

Anybody else have these struggles about fostering?

Yes, I left one rescue because I can't afford to feed the fosters and they only provide medical.  The one I changed to pays for everything, but when I had a foster kitten they only wanted to give me dry food so I bought wet kitten food with my own money.  I currently have no foster kittens.  It's very sad, but my finances are up in the air right now.

When you volunteer for a non-profit, you can claim your mileage on your taxes.  I was also able to keep track of food and litter to claim as a donation to the non-profit.

I think that some of it definitely boils down to differences in philosophy between me and the rescue. If I was willing to feed the cats Purina cat/kitten chow, I'd have plenty of supplies.

I am not in a position to foster, 1 bedroom apartment and 2 resident cats.  I don't think I would foster for very long.  If I had adult fosters I would have one or two which would be fails because I would end up adopting them.  I would have no issues with giving back kittens because they have a good chance of getting adopted but not the adults.  Of course a litter of kittens usually come with their mom so the mom would be a foster fail for me.

I'm allergic to cats, so can't foster, but you have every right to take a break if you are feeling burned out. :nod: