It's Overwhelming....

The sheer number of kittens and cats coming into the rescue I volunteer for. We are wholly dependant on foster homes (and our director rarely says no).

I guess it's just become overwhelming to me lately because of whats been happening the last few weeks. (sorry if it's a bit long)

The last few weeks our small rescue has had a minimum of 50 kittens ready to go up for adoptions (and countless older cats that don't even get noticed). On top of this a friend of mine called me on Thursday to ask if my rescue could take 3 strays that had appeared near an airfield his friend flew model airplanes out of. Him and his friends had been feeding them for about 3 days. I called the director and she said she was full, but if I would go take a look at the situation and let her know. I thought if they were old enough I would feed them till there was more room at one of the foster homes (i.e. after the adoption fair this weekend). Well I went down there and found 2 black 5mos males, who were very friendly and well socialized. They had obviously been someones pets up until a few days earlier. There was also a tiny little black and white female. Well she was so skinny that I didn't even notice she was full of milk (not much!). I found in the bushes nearby 4-1 week old kittens. They must have been dumped within the past day or so. I of course rushed home, called the director and she agreed to take the momma if i would take the two boys (i knew she wouldn't say no!). I really have no more space (i already have a momma and 5-3week olds, but I couldn't sleep if i left them down there. So we rushed back with a carrier and a cardboard box and caught them all.

At the same time we had calls about: a kitten that had been thrown/twirled by it's back leg and now needs it amputated, and a man that threatened to throw out 4-4week old kittens to fend for themselves since the mom disappeared (hit by a car).

I am furious at the treatment of these animals and the attitude of people towards cats but more lately I've just been feeling overwhelmed by the problem. And maybe a little disheartened...I mean the director and the volunteers work so hard and there just seems to be no end to it.

I guess I'm just wondering howfellow fosterers/rescuers keep going, keep doing this without getting overwhelmed.

Sorry for the vent everyone...it's been a rough couple of weeks.

I'm so sorry you're having a rough time lately, but just remember, as much as you want to, you can't help them all, but for the ones you can, you have made all the difference in the world. I know rescuing is often a thankless job, but that's only because cats can't talk You are doing a wonderful thing, if it wasn't for folks like you, your director and fellow foster meowmies, there would be that many more cats left to fend for themselves

I totally agree with katiemae i also work for a rescue and at times it does seem like there is no end to the battle, especially when you lose one, but what keeps me going is knowing the hundreds i have saved and are now in loving homes, whereas if i hadn't been there they would have had noone. I also try to focus on all the good rather than the bad, i know it gets hard at times but you just gotta keep your head up, if not for yourself, for those precious lives you are saving.

It can be hard, esp at this time of year when it seems neverending. But just think of the ones you have helped, and what would have happened to them if it hadn't been for you.

I know. It's very hard to even talk to the woman whose shelter I work for--there are so many kittens that she is often in tears and so grateful for even the smallest bit of help. She's been doing this for almost fifty years...

I live in a nice mobile home park. The park often has to capture wild and stray cats and when they do they deliver them into the hands of animal control who will either immediately euthanize them or do so in three days if nobody claims them. Immediately if feral.

When they learned I was fostering kittens they called me to take the kittens they trapped in.

So, we are not allowed to own dogs over thirty pounds; it's a rule of the park. I suggested to the manager who captures these kittens to make it a rule that we can't own cats unless they are spayed or neutered and the woman told me she cannot do that! Can't do "that."

What? Why not?

Imagine that type of thinking.

I know the very kittens I have right now from this park were likely fathered by a young male cat who was NOT neutered, who was owned, a pet. I saw him running around and I captured him myself and he is currently rescued in a no kill shelter.

But I also know he was owned by a resident who didn't even bother to find him when he "disappeared." He had been an adorable kitten, but I guess the novelty wore off and they didn't even feed him properly--he was skinny and hungry every time he came to visit me.

It is perfectly reasonable to have such a rule. I am getting madder the more I think of this. I think I will persist, with a formal letter, now that I am thinking about it so thanks for the post!

Thanks everyone! It's nice to know I'm not the only one that has days like this. Of course all I have to do is go cuddle one of my fosters and I feel so much better. I just pray that all those poor souls that don't get rescued, get some extra scritches over the rainbow bridge.

Vik61: we have a similar problem with attitudes here. THe director of our rescue has some farmers that will give her 3 or 4 litters a year but absolutely refuses to let her get his barn cats spayed and neutered (no charge!!!). Says they aren't as good of mousers if they're fixed. ARGH!!! So every year it's 15 or 20 kittens (or more) from just him every year that he expects us to vaccinate and get adopted. There is a big park behind my house, and every day this summer (almost) the humane society is there picking up someone's adandoned animals.

Originally Posted by Renny

Thanks everyone! It's nice to know I'm not the only one that has days like this. Of course all I have to do is go cuddle one of my fosters and I feel so much better. I just pray that all those poor souls that don't get rescued, get some extra scritches over the rainbow bridge.

Vik61: we have a similar problem with attitudes here. THe director of our rescue has some farmers that will give her 3 or 4 litters a year but absolutely refuses to let her get his barn cats spayed and neutered (no charge!!!). Says they aren't as good of mousers if they're fixed. ARGH!!! So every year it's 15 or 20 kittens (or more) from just him every year that he expects us to vaccinate and get adopted. There is a big park behind my house, and every day this summer (almost) the humane society is there picking up someone's adandoned animals.

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You know...for the farmer...I would simply offer him up a challange. Offer to fix ONE of his cats and if it doesn't turn out to still be a good mouser (after the appropriate amount of healing)..then fine...but just like with hunting dogs...their prey drive is not connected at all to whether they are intact.

Katie

Katie asked that I post in this thread to let you know that fixed kitties are excellent mousers...I recently found a stray that was fixed and took him into my care (couldn't bring him inside because he sprayed EVERYTHING.) I ended up finding a great home for him out in the country at a co-workers barn along with another fixed male that lives there. He has honestly turned into a master mouser! Everyday she goes in the barn to care for her horses and the two cats, there's at least 3 + dead mice/other little critters waiting for her at the barn door. Not to mention the ones she's caught them snacking on, lol. Because of them mousing for her, she doesn't have to set out any dangerous snap-traps or rat poison/other chemicals. But I don't understand where that farmer gets of saying they won't hunt the mice if they're fixed. Instinct is instinct. If they live in the barn and see mom/dad cat hunting them, they will, too! It's not only to eat, but great fun for the cats, too, lol. You may be able to take away a cats sexual drive, but you can't take away that killing instinct. It's also a safer way to get rid of the mouse problem, or any other critters hanging around. I hope that helps a bit! Good luck with your situation...I'm so sorry that things are going so rough for you right now, but things will improve, just keep your chin up! *lots of hugs*

sending {{{GOOD VIBES}}} in hopes that you'll get through to that stubborn farmer!

I get overwhelmed too, and I'm not even working at your level yet.

I just try to remember that we can't save them all, but we can save some. And if we let the darkness of the first hurt us too badly, we'll never be able to do the second.

I was in the cinema recently and saw the trailer for 'the Guardian' - it had such a sad, beautiful line to sum up rescue work (it's about sea rescue, I think):

How do you choose who to save?
I swim as fast as I can, as hard as I can, for as long as I can. And the sea takes the rest.

I think you can only keep up the first if you can, deep down, honestly accept the second - we can't save them all.

But we can't let that stop us from saving the ones we can.

Thank you for those beautiful words...the really struck a chord. I just heard from my rescue director that 2 of the 4-1 week old kittens I found died tonight. The other 2 are in a tough spot...we think it might be distemper. All i can think is that at least they died in a peaceful spot, warm and safe (not cold and covered in mosquitos).

You're right....we can't let the hurt and death of those we couldn't help, make us stop trying to help the rest. If we don't do it, how can we be sure someone else will.

thank you everyone for your kind words...sometimes I think we all need a boost after a rough time in rescue. Thank god for this site!!

Originally Posted by Renny

thank you everyone for your kind words...sometimes I think we all need a boost after a rough time in rescue. Thank god for this site!!

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Amen! and you are right - we can all do with a boost, a reminder that what we are doing is worthwhile and not hopeless. I'm glad I had a chance to help, and it helps me to know that I'm not the only one out there struggling with this.

I'm sorry for you kits in trouble, and the loss of those that didn't make it.

RIP little lives, look down on your siblings with love.

I will pray for your babies, and for you.

Thank you very much Satai...that means so much to me!

(Satai...I tried to PM you but you have too many messages in your box!!)

Originally Posted by Renny

Thank you very much Satai...that means so much to me!

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You are welcome.

Originally Posted by SATAI

I just try to remember that we can't save them all, but we can save some. And if we let the darkness of the first hurt us too badly, we'll never be able to do the second.

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So beautifully put!

To all of those who rescue or participate in fostering, sheltering, rehoming, TNRing, or any aspect of feral and stray cat caring:

You are on the front lines of an endless battle. There's no way to wave a white flag, there's no way to negotiate an end to the battle. It is constant.

The only way to "win" this battle is to keep pushing ahead. Do what we can, when we can, where we can. We will lose battles along the way. We will have to mourn our lost companions. But we MUST find the energy to continue.

And that energy comes from right now and from each other. It comes from those beautiful little eyes staring up at us that just the week before were glued shut from infection. It comes from the ones we are helping, the ones we can help. It comes from the "knowing" of the hundreds (or thousands) of cats we have rescued simply by preventing them from being born.

We cannot feel guilty for having our own needs. We can not feel guilty for saying "no." If we cannot properly foster or care for a cat, we are not helping it by taking it in. Take heart knowing that you are doing the right thing by saying "no" when you need to. We are always our own harshest critics when it comes to this most difficult step of all for cat-lovers.

We must either know or learn our limits, and I pray every night that people who rescue do not need to learn them the hard way. If we do not have the strength, emotionally or physically, we have to take a leave of absence to recharge the batteries.

And then we jump right back on the horse. It may be in a different form - lobbying the county for a low-cost spay neuter program instead of fostering. Lobbying for a TNR program. Maybe working with vets to have them provide an educational pamphlet about declawing before accepting declaw operations. Or making them aware of low-cost spay/neuter services for people who can't afford their rates.

Listen to those purrs and smile. We KNOW we can't help them all. So we can cry for those we can't help (and sometimes THAT helps!) - but we can also pray for them. And we can be happy for those we are helping.



There are so many things than can be done. If one aspect becomes overwhelming, and sharing and support aren't enough to pull you through, just remember there are many aspects to caring for cats. And advocacy and education are just as important as being on the front lines - it is with the two working together that make the most effective rescue efforts possible.

Originally Posted by LDG

To all of those who rescue or participate in fostering, sheltering, rehoming, TNRing, or any aspect of feral and stray cat caring:

You are on the front lines of an endless battle. There's no way to wave a white flag, there's no way to negotiate an end to the battle. It is constant.

The only way to "win" this battle is to keep pushing ahead. Do what we can, when we can, where we can. We will lose battles along the way. We will have to mourn our lost companions. But we MUST find the energy to continue.

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So true, and so inspirational. Thank you.

Satai, I've seen people learn the hard way they have to say no. And so many end up getting hurt. Having a place to share and talk about it like this is SO important, and that's why I love TCS so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laurie

Makes me want to suggest just capturing his cats and having them fixed--he probably wouldn't even know it--grrrr....

Originally Posted by Renny

Thanks everyone! It's nice to know I'm not the only one that has days like this. Of course all I have to do is go cuddle one of my fosters and I feel so much better. I just pray that all those poor souls that don't get rescued, get some extra scritches over the rainbow bridge.

Vik61: we have a similar problem with attitudes here. THe director of our rescue has some farmers that will give her 3 or 4 litters a year but absolutely refuses to let her get his barn cats spayed and neutered (no charge!!!). Says they aren't as good of mousers if they're fixed. ARGH!!! So every year it's 15 or 20 kittens (or more) from just him every year that he expects us to vaccinate and get adopted. There is a big park behind my house, and every day this summer (almost) the humane society is there picking up someone's adandoned animals.

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But even though I am fuming I did need to read the encouraging posts in this thread myself. I am only going into my fifth week of picking up the kittens in the spay/neuter program for strays--many of which have been born outdoors, and fostering them in my little home. The woman who runs the program has been doing this--running the show--for almost fifty years!

There are moments that make up for the heavy feeling that there are so many kittens (not to mention the adult cats) needing homes around here. For instance:

I had two kittens that were getting big, which worries me because they are always chosen last. Plus, they'd been together for so long I didn't want to see them separated. I'm not a praying person but I did say a little prayer for these two.

Two days later the woman who runs this program got a call from a woman cat lover who calls her periodically and asked if there were any kittens needing homes. She didn't ask what color they were or how old: just who needs a home. She took them both into her home and she now owns ten cats. Apparently she has a lot of space and is a great caregiver to them. Whew. That was encouraging.

Some very inspirational thoughts in there - thankfully I am at a 'good stage' in fostering at the moment - I think my only prob has been the lack of fosters i have had this year!! I think it is good to have such a good support network, we all get down from time to time, and it is good to know there are so many people on here who can understand.

How do you choose who to save?
I swim as fast as I can, as hard as I can, for as long as I can. And the sea takes the rest.

I think you can only keep up the first if you can, deep down, honestly accept the second - we can't save them all.

But we can't let that stop us from saving the ones we can.

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That is just beautiful Satai.. I needed to read that too.....

And Renny, you do so much and in a great way too...! I feel your pain for the kitties you are working with. You are making a big difference!

If everyone only helped half of what you are doing it would help eleviate the problem........

Hang in there girly!!