I still question the SPCA's decision unless there is something here that I
don't know.  However, you are not in a position to make the decision -- and
you have my sincere condolences.  It must be incredibly painful to be placed
in a position where you must relinquish your charges in that way.  As you
said, don't torture yourself.

MaryL
(take out the litter to reply)

I'm very sorry you lost the kittens.  Bless you for trying and this is
one of the things our local SPCA tells new fosterers: That kittens do
die.  They are fragile and they are always exposed to many bugs and
bacteria when they are either at the shelter or at clinics being
vetted.  Our SPCA has similar policies about euthanizing kittens,
though they usually give them more of a chance but know you did what
you could do and if you can't handle it, bless you for acknowledging
that in the beginning.  I am not sure I could foster sick kittens,
either.  I had to "kennel" for 60 cats one long weekend in the summer
and it broke my heart how many were sick and those that didn't make
it.  Purrs to you for loving them.  Rescue groups have different
policies based on how many resources and volunteers are available to
help.  How about fostering the older ones?  :)

I buy clavamox for $6 a bottle. That's all it would have taken. I don't believe
this is a real post. Every cat I've ever gotten from a  shelter had upper
respiratory infections which is easily cured with antibiotics in a few days.
They aren't sick for life. Either the cats had something else like FLV, FIV, or
this post isn't real. If someone couldn't afford $6 for antibiotics, they
couldn't afford catfood or litter. If someone is fostering for the ASPCA, I'd
think they'd give the people some antibiotics for free.

This is ridiculous.  One box of Clavamox, enough to treat four kittens
for seven days, costs around $5.00.  The only upper respiratory
infection that can last a life time and cause cats to be longterm
carriers is herpes and even this is manageable.

I can't believe any SPCA that is so cavalier about euthanizing treatable
animals can find anyone willing to foster.

Whoa-ho there. Isn't that what this group is about? Rescue? Otherwise,
why post? I don't blame the poster, but I do question the RSPCA's
decision, though it's not an uncommon one. I can't pass judgement for
I don't know all the details. I adopted a kitten from one of my local
shelters, who said she would probably be killed as she had a URI and
they were crowded. I brought her home, she gave it to my male. He
developed a horrid URI, herpes strain, that put him in the hospital
for a week. Had he not died a few months later of unrelated causes, I
would probably have a still sniffly, prone to viral outbreaks, yet
mainly healthy cat on my hands. If that is what the RSPCA was afraid
of - that the kittens would continue to get sick over time - that that
might be why they decided to kill them, I don't know. But I don't
think this is a good reason for *any* shelter to kill a cat. URI's are
easy and, unless your cat decides a hospital stay would be pleasant,
affordable to treat. Just IMO.

Karen M.