As an SPCA staff member, there are numerous opportunities to foster pets. I know my limitations - I fall in love easily, and get attached way too quickly. Usually we bring a dog home for a night or two, just to give her some quality family time, and also get an idea of how she will do in a house setting.
That all went out the window two weeks ago, when a newborn kitten came into the shelter all alone. Totally defenceless and dependant, I had to take him home. My 5 year old dubbed him Meatball, and I knew we were in trouble. It was pretty much love at first sight.
Even night time feedings did not lessen my love for this scrappy fighter. Meatball had wormed his way into my heart, and I was already dreading letting him go. How was I going to take him back to the shelter after 8 weeks? He would just be one of many kittens. People wouldn't know he was special! (As an SPCA staff member, I do believe that every shelter pet is special. But like I mentioned before, I do get attached waayyy too easily).
At work two days ago, I saw a new mom had come in. She was nursing kittens just a few days younger than Meatball. I knew what I had to do, and I brought Meatball out to meet her ASAP (it is like ripping off a bandaid - the quicker the better). It was love at first sight for mom. She took him in and treated him like one of her own. My heart melted and died a little at the same time. He has a family! He doesn't need me. It was very hard.
Meatball is doing very well with his new family. He is not nursing from his new mom, but I guess that is to be expected of a bottle fed kitten. He is still receiving his bottle, while living with his cat family and getting that important socialization. So far I have visited him everyday (on my days off). I wonder when he will stop feeling like he is mine?
