Aibu to give the cats back

[Missingboi]

So recently I decided to Foster cats. I love them and after recently losing my own beloved boy I thought it would be a nice thing to do. I was matched with a pair of siblings and was looking forward to starting the process.

First day was rough.. Second day was fine. The cats came up to me and I was finally able to pet them BUT amongst petting them I looked down to find a hand full of flea dirt. So I inspected the cats further to find fleas and flea dirt all over them. Since being with them I've been bitten 3 times. I messaged the main lady of the cat sanctuary and she simply told me they have been treated and to brush them.

I'm freaking out as I had a flea Infestation before and we never got it sorted and had to move. I was suffering with crazy amounts of bites and still have some of the scarring today. I have a baby and I don't want my baby bitten to a pulp. We also have complete carpeting and another cat that is ours. If it spreads it will become a night mare.

I'm so sad this has happened. The cats have settled after such a rough life and finally look happy and at peace. It's my first Foster and it's gone so wrong but I can literally see the fleas crawling on them. What do I do? If i ask the lady to take the cats back I doubt ill have a good reputation or be able to Foster again and that will cut my journey short. I want to do this and I don't want to upset the cats that have come here but I need to think of my family first

@Shannith yes I was honest with them! For the hundredth time I told them about my baby and cat in my initial application to become a fosterer. They accepted me.

Give em back and get on with your life x

Fostering strays is very different from having a pet of your own. If you can't cope, best for them and you to give them back

It's too late now you already have them in the house

Sorry. Somewhere has allowed you to Foster cats, who are locked in ONE room.
I smell bullshit OP. Move along.

Try not to throw in the towel yet. How long do flea treatments take to work? Can you find out what they had and when?

if you’re worried about fleas, but a lamp on the carpet when it’s dark, and a tray/ pot of water by it. Fleas will be drawn to the light, jump in the water and drown. This will tell you if there are fleas in the room or not.

you can deal with fleas by getting council to come and spray, even if not a council property. I had to do this with a baby and two indoor cats. I didn’t think it would work, but it did. (I may have neglected housework with a new baby, leading to bad fleas, but one spray killed them all outright.)

worst case, what about fostering some non flea ridden cats, via another charity who won’t give them in that state?

It's very normal to keep foster cats separate from your own cats - in fact, it's recommended, at least until the fosters settle in and have been checked for any illnesses etc.

Also, any animal can get fleas and worms, no matter how on top of their treatment you are. Fleas become resistant to treatment eventually and so you could be fine for a decade and then find yourself with an issue.

I do think it's unacceptable that they were sent to you in this condition but I do think it's something you need to prepare for with fosters. Many of them have been living outside or have come from very poor conditions (hoarder homes, etc.).

However, your set-up doesn't sound great for foster. You have a resident cat with a flea allergy, a baby and it's not even your home. It sounds like the "rescue" were desperate and that's why they ended up accepting your application and giving you these cats. I would just return them and not do any more fostering.

You need to find out what they have been treated with. I get eaten alive by fleas and the stuff from our vet is great (Bravecto) but some other shop bought ones are useless. I think she needs to take them back until the flea treatment takes effect or they start using a better flea treatment. Flea infested carpets are a nightmare.

@FredtheCatsMum they aren't strays though....

@Charcy not bs but nice to know its so bad that its unbelievable because people's replies on here had me thinking this was to be expected

I know you said you told them about the baby and other cat, but did you mention that you moved house instead if using a fleabomb when you last had fleas? Is it even a real rescue you got them from, or some random person on Facebook?

I'd assume as a fosterer I'd get the flea ridden, poorly, neglected cats. The healthy 'perfect' cats usually get snapped up too quickly.

And of course you'd keep then seperate initially at least. Introductions ideally take weeks, bot days or hours, and you've had them about 3 days by my reading of your post.

Honestly I think you went into fostering very naively. You clearly have a set up which isn't right for it, and shouldn't have been approved. You don't sound like someone who is suitable to foster. Sorry.

@Somuchgoo im.actjally getting fed up of people not reading my responses right. The lady said these cats are NEVER to mix with any other cats so they can't leave the room ever.

I also put on my application I didn't want SICK cats. You can choose to opt out and I did because I am not up for it

@tillytown this is a legit sanctuary. It seems no one else has this problem but me. The sanctuary take responsibility and are meant to flea treat them prior to giving them

I read your posts.

Cats with fleas or that haven't been wormed aren't 'SICK' cats. They wouldn't have taken your opt out in that way, but to exclude cats needing ongoing medical treatment, FIV+ cats etc. Many of the cats you'd her so not be in the sort of state you'd want then to be in.

Fleas are also a risk with any cat, including your own. If they give you such anxiety that you've had to move house, fostering isn't for you.

Hi OP,

I adopted an extremely flea-infested kitten last year and whilst it's true that you can only use the spot on treatments once a month, you can use Johnson's flea tablets daily - they're available on Amazon. Unlike the spot one, they don't stop the eggs and only kill live fleas. The first treatment is very unpleasant - the fleas bite the kitten and crawl out of its fur as they die, so it's a good idea to try your best to keep grooming them out during this process. However, this should stop after 30 mins to and hour.

To get rid of my infestation, I initially treated with these tablets daily for a week (nowhere near as bad after the first treatment when almost all the fleas are dead) and then reduced to every 3 days for 3 months and every two weeks indefinitely. This was in addition to the indorex and monthly vet-prescribed spot ons. It sounds like a lot of work, but you'll be almost flea-free instantly and the rest is just to keep it that way, as eggs can lie dormant. The tablets can be easily ground up and hidden in lick-e-lix or other yoghurt cat treats.

Hope this helps! All isn't lost.

Wow, they gave you infested cats and hadn’t even treated them? That’s really rubbish of the cat shelter. If the treatment failed that’s one thing but wow.

You’ve got enough to cope with having a baby. Just give back the kittens, they’ll find a new home, and the lady gives you any hassle tell her that the situation is entirely her fault for not treating the kittens.

Bravecto is the only thing I've found that works (after lots of trial and error). It's a chewable tablet. You would need to treat all 3 cats. Once treated they will still attract all the fleas but it will kill all the fleas as soon as theu bite. You will need to vaccume the carpet every day for a week, also.
Bravecto is not cheap, but it's effective.

Many councils operate a pest control service that you can pay to come in and deal with fleas or other pests.

if you get desperate then get the professionals in.

You will never get rid of the fleas from your house with cats in it. Fleas will keep migrating back to cat then onto carpets and upholstery and your family, and back to cat.
Get cats back where they came from. Make sure house is clear, it may take several weeks.
That has to be THE PRIORITY FOR THE FAMILY.

You need a Capstar tablet for all 3 cats. This will kill all the hatched fleas on the cats. Then you need Advocate treatment from the vet. None of that is cheap but it works. My friend is a vet nurse and it's the only thing she recommends. Then let your treated cats wander the house. Fleas can bite people but can't breed if they only have a human host. They will always prefer the cat, so my vet said to use the treated cat as a weapon! They roam about, fleas bite and die straight away before they can breed.

My cats had fleas when DS1 was 2 months old. It was hideous so I understand where you're coming from. We messed about with cans of flea spray for a while but then got pest control in to properly spray the house, because I had zero patience waiting for all the eggs to hatch and bite the treated cats. £120 and it was sorted. I wish I'd done it from the get go tbh. They also come back for free if it doesn't work. We all had to leave the house for 4 hours. My cats go outside but I suppose pet carriers would be a possible option?

@Missingboi they possibly shouldn't have. Especially if you've not fostered before.

Foster cats have to be kept to one room - because they will escape and get out. Pretty had to rehome a cat to someone if it's gone missing.

It's why I actually prefer fostering dogs. Cats are in some ways harder work and less rewarding you are essentially a glorified boarding kennel.

It's not always 100% sure that you can even give good feedback about the character of the cat as how they behave when they are given free rein may be very different than how they behave when confined to a room and dependent on you for everything.

I've got a failed foster that lives with me because very friendly in one room - deeply viscous and people hating when given the choice.

I'd really have a good think as to whether fostering is for you at the moment.

@Missingboi hope you get a treatment from their vet that can be applied as well as they've already had to sort the immediate problem.

Fostering is a big commitment - emotionally as well as practically and you cannot guarantee what type of cat you are going to get. That's the whole point - it's part of the role of a fosterer to figure out what the animals are like and what kind of home would suit them best.

And to enable the rescue to operate without the huge costs associated with kennels/catteries. It's better for the animals too but it is not an easy option to having a temporary animal and/to helping out.

Is very rewarding but it is disruptive and unpredictable.

OP with a the beat will in the world its too late now to worry about the fleas spreading as they will be in your carpets etc. They won't just stay on the cats. If you don't feel you can cope please give the cats back as it's easier to irradicate fleas on one cat rather than three.

TBH I wouldn't expect cats to arrive riddled with fleas.

I've done car fostering for a few years and had about 50 in total. They usually do have fleas to some degree. When I bring them home I give them a bath with flea shampoo and a capstar tablet, and put the spot on flea treatment if needed.

I’m a cat lover and I am thinking of fostering cats, so I think what you are doing is lovely. I think you have the right to not let your home be infested with fleas.

I must admit I would assume that cats would arrive, if not absolutely flealess, with a very minimal infestation. This is pretty bad.

I think you are entitled to send the cats back. Is it possible there was an error and the cats weren’t actually treated? I don’t think it is good that the rescue lady is being so blasé. It sounds like you haven’t had them long, so it’s best to return them quickly. I agree best to talk to a vet direct.

Perhaps go with another rescue, and next time you will know what to ask before you take on any more.

Best of luck, and please don’t give up on the fostering.