'They know that these kittens are mine': Foster cat mom cancels family reunion after shelter says the bonded kittens she planned to adopt could go to someone else

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Jul 21, 2026 4:45 PM EDT

Shouldn't shelters be working harder to get cats adopted instead of keeping them apart?

It's hard enough out there for cats and other pets to get adopted without shelter red tape getting in the way. In fact, if you ask us, the shelters are too focused on unimportant things for potential pawrents, like work schedule or the size of one's house. What they should be focused on is the quality of life the pawrent will bring to the cat, and that they know how much of a commitment bringing a four-legged friend into your home is. If there was more education about pets and ownership, we're 100% sure that there would be fewer abandoned pets in the world.

So why are some shelters so picky when it comes to adopters? Some animal welfare organizations can add their own adoption policies on top of the national standards, making the whole process downright confusing. Our foster cat mom today might lose the two kittens she fostered since they were born because she can't show up at the exact hour after they're ready to be listed for adoption. She even cancelled her family reunion in order to be available to pick them up, but the shelter is treating her like some stranger instead of the woman who fostered and fell in love with this bonded pair of kittens.

I understand that it must be very difficult to work in an animal shelter. You see so many souls in need of help, and not everyone coming in there always has the best intentions. However, it should always be their priority to connect animals in need with people who want to love them. Keeping them apart helps no one, and can cause more suffering than you might think. Why should these kittens go to someone else if she can't be there at the exact time they are finished? Just hold them for a few days, she already proved that she was ready for them by nurturing them when no one else would.

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Veterinarian documenting kittens before adoption
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This shelter sounds like they're completely overwhelmed, and it's probably true. Most shelters are. Many are at capacity or even over, and with limited funding, many struggle to make ends meet. This is why it's important for them to get the pets adopted as quickly as possible, to make as much space for others in need!
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Cute kitten in a traveling carrier after being adopted
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Family at an animal shelter looking to adopt a cat
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No one likes leaving their babies overnight at the vet, but sometimes, it's necessary. Animals are surprisingly resilient, and at the very worst, it will be a bad memory that will fade over time. If you stress about it too much, you'll only make it worse for yourself.
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