Self-Care Tips for Foster Parents During Kitten Season

Fostering kittens is deeply rewarding. It’s also exhausting – physically and emotionally.

During kitten season — when rescues like ours are flooded with tiny, fragile lives — foster parents step up in extraordinary ways. Bottle feeding at 2 a.m., constant laundry, emergency vet visits, and heartbreaking goodbyes… it’s a lot. And it’s okay to admit that.

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s survival. You are the lifeline for the kittens in your care — and you deserve to feel supported, rested, and valued too.

Here are our favorite self-care tips for foster parents during kitten season.

Build Micro-Moments of Calm Into Your Day

You don’t need hours of “me time” to reset. Even 2–5 minute pockets of peace can lower your stress and refill your cup.

Try:

• Sipping tea while kittens nap

• Taking a walk around your neighborhood between feedings

• Eating a healthy (but delicious!) meal

These little resets add up.

Pro Tip: We encourage our fosters to make a list of things they can do to reset so they don't even have to think about it. They can just pull out the list and choose one!

Embrace “Good Enough” Over Perfection

You do not need to be a Pinterest-perfect foster. You don’t need to have matching blankets or spotless floors.

What your kittens need most is your care, consistency, and love — not perfection.

Let go of the pressure to do everything. If everyone is fed, warm, and safe? You’re doing enough. Truly.

Take Breaks Between Litters (If You Need To)

We’ll never guilt you for saying, “I need a break.”

Even short pauses between fosters can help you recharge emotionally and physically. Resting now means you’ll be ready to say yes again — with a full heart — when the time is right.

You don’t need to do it all yourself to make a difference.

Lean On Your Support System

Whether it’s a spouse, friend, fellow foster, or your foster team — you’re not in this alone.

• Text a photo to someone who gets it

• Vent after a tough night

• Get help to problem-solve if something’s not working

• Accept help when it's offered

You are part of a community that wants to lift you up.

Prioritize Sleep When You Can

We know: with bottle babies, a solid night of sleep can feel like a luxury. But even short, quality naps or trading shifts with a partner or foster buddy can make a world of difference.

Protect your rest like it’s part of your foster routine — because it is.

Talk About the Hard Stuff

Loss happens. Burnout happens. Overwhelm happens. And none of it makes you weak.

Sharing your grief or frustration is a form of strength. Whether it's with your foster support team, a private group chat, or a journal — don’t carry the emotional weight alone.

We see you. We’re with you. And you don’t have to be okay all the time.

In Closing

You are doing extraordinary work during the most demanding time of the year. You are saving lives that might otherwise be forgotten. You are the beating heart of rescue work.

And you deserve care, too.

So take that breath. Ask for help. Say no when you need to.Then come back when you’re ready — because we need you. And so do the kittens.