Can anyone help me to feel better about this?

[sevenwonders]

OK so, in addition to our 5 resident Indoor Kitties and the Garden / Feral Kitties,

we have been Fostering 3 little ones since they were two days old

after they were abandoned by their Cat mom when some neighborhood children

found them and played with them for a few hours.  

I finally found a local rescue who is willing to help us find them good Forever Homes! 

Additionally, they were kind enough to take care of getting them neutered, shots, etc...

since money is very tight now, and about to get worse for the next few months.

Their neutering appointments are Monday (for the 2 boys)

and Tuesday for the little girl. I asked where I should take them,

and the lady I am dealing with said she would prefer it if I would just bring them all

to her house on Sunday evening and she would take care of transporting them

(the vet office is about an hour drive) then I could pick them all up on Tuesday.

I felt a little uneasy about that arrangement,

but didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth so to speak, so I agreed.

Since I am at work until midnight, my Wife took them to her house.

I was told that they would be spending their time in a large wire dog cage,

so I insisted that my Wife take along a blanket and a toy for them,

along with their canned food and Deer Park water...

yes, we all drink Deer Park - I trust the quality much more than municipal water.

So, my wife called me when she was on the way back home after dropping them off.

Much to my dismay and horror, she said that although the lady seems nice,

rather than inviting her into the house, she escorted her through the back yard to a shed.

She opened it up, and there was the large wire dog cage!

My Babies are spending the next 2 nights and days in a shed. 

Now, in fairness, if it had been some of my Garden Kitties,

I would not have been too upset - they spend cold nights on their electric blanket in the garage.

My Foster Kitties however, live in the Master Suite with lots of windows, fluffy beds, toys, etc...

where the temperature rarely drops below 68 degrees.

It is supposed to be 44 degrees tonight. 

Don't get me wrong, I greatly appreciate what they are doing to help,

but if I had known that the Kitties would be out in a shed,

I would have insisted that she allow me to take them to the vet myself

so that they could spend the rest of their time at home in their comfy quarters.

Additionally, if I had been the one to drop them off this evening,

I would have politely informed her that the Kitties and I were going back home,

and that I would take them to the vet in the morning.

My Wife wasn't too delighted about the situation,

but she didn't think to call me from the nice Lady's house,

and didn't think we had any other options,

so she reluctantly left them there.

Aside from me worrying that they are cold, scared and lonely,

the poor little girl will have to be all alone for about 12 hours tomorrow

while her brothers go to get immasculated.

I want to go rescue them, or take a blanket & sleep in the shed with them,

but it is too late to call, and this lady doesn't even know me,

so sneaking into her shed at 1 am is probably not the way to go.

So, am I right to be sad and concerned,

or am I just being an overprotective Daddy? (Yes, they call me "Daddy")  

Thanks for listening!

 

[p3 and the king]

No you have every right to be concerned and upset.  This lady was not upfront.  If it had been me, gift horse or not, I would have turned around and left!  I would have just said "You know, I see you have your hands full and these cats are used to the comforts of home, not a shed.  I will take them in myself.  Thank you for your offer, though."  and left it at that. 

But what's done is done.  Live and learn.  You don't have to do what people that are helping you want just because they are helping you.  Just know that for the future. 

 

[eb24]

UGH I know how you are feeling right now. 

I do foster work for a shelter (it's the only way I can afford to foster because they cover all the vet costs) and they are constantly changing things on me or leaving important pieces of information out. I know how frustrating it is and how badly you must feel for them right now!

So yes, be concerned and know it is a lesson learned. They won't like being caged but it won't hurt them, and at least they are all together to keep each other warm (and it should be warmer during the day tomorrow when the little girl is by herself). It won't be the best experience of their lives but barring unforeseen circumstances they should come out of it unscathed. At least when this is all over with they will be fixed and you can spend however much time you have left with them graveling apologies and spoiling them rotten! 

Whenever things like this happen to my fosters I just keep reminding myself over and over again where they would be if they weren't with me. A couple of bad days is better than their whole young lives spent that way!

Try not to get bogged down in the guilt (which is so easy to do)- they will be back to you soon enough!

 

[sevenwonders]

Thanks for the input folks 

I still feel terrible, but at least they will be better off, all things considered,

and I will know what to do differently next time.

Well, they have made it through one day...

the Boys have been neutered and got their vaccinations,

and they are now back in the shed with the Little Girl.

At least she doesn't have to be alone anymore - I'm sure she was so sad.  

Tomorrow is her turn to visit the Vet.

The Boys will be together all day, and I can go pick them all up tomorrow evening.

I don't know who will be happier for them to be back home, them or me!  

 

[missymotus]

Keep a close eye on them when they're home, getting neutered and vaccinated at the same time isn't' recommended as it can be rough on kittens. Add the stress of spending a few days in a strange location and it's a lot for kittens to go through so watch carefully for any change in behaviour, lack of eating.

 

[eb24]

Keep a close eye on them when they're home, getting neutered and vaccinated at the same time isn't' recommended as it can be rough on kittens. Add the stress of spending a few days in a strange location and it's a lot for kittens to go through so watch carefully for any change in behaviour, lack of eating.

 I totally second this. As MM knows, two weeks ago my fosters had their vaccines and surgeries on the same day and did not handle it well. Two of the three stopped eating and became very lethargic. It might be a good idea to order some Nutri-drops and have them on hand just in case (this is just one website that has them- I'm sure there are others. http://www.revivalanimal.com/Pet-Nutri-Drops.html ). I used something very similar with my guys that I got from the holistic vet and they bounced right back but it was touch and go there for a few days! 

 

[sevenwonders]

All 3 babies got back home last evening and everyone is doing very fine  

I imagine it won't be quite so easy to get them into their carriers next time however.