06/19/2026
This wasn't my intended post for FERAL FRIDAY but this popped up on my feed, and it couldn't be more true and relevant in the midst of kitten season.
Until you're in rescue, not just as a volunteer but running a rescue, you cannot know the extent of the time and energy that goes into even a single cat, let alone multiple, and sometimes cats that don’t even make it into your care. Sure, we choose this for ourselves, but that doesn't mean that we don't get tired.
Here at Feral to Forever, I prioritize quality care over the quantity of cats taken in, because to me, rescue is not rescue if you’re not providing all you can for the cats that come into your care.
I think Charlie is a great example of this. That cat has cost us thousands of dollars. I don’t want to think about the number of cats that I could have fixed for what we’ve poured into him. And I don’t think about it. When it comes to Charlie, my only thought is him and doing what it takes for him to survive and be a successful rescue. Charlie will NOT loose his battle because I’ve decided twenty others are more important.
Over the years, I have learned that sometimes, no matter how much it breaks your heart, you have to say no. It often doesn’t make you the most popular, but it saves your sanity (a bit), and it saves the cats that are in your care. Without the ability to say no, Charlie would not be receiving the care he is, because we would have too many to be able to provide what he needs. People need to question rescues that say yes, yes, yes. Are they prioritizing quality or quantity? If it’s the latter, there are cats on the losing end of quality, I promise you.
To my friends in rescue, the post below is for you. We’ll never be able to do enough, but as long as you’re doing (or have done) something, you’re doing enough. And if I know you like I know myself, you realize we can’t save them all, but we’ll die trying because we’ll never believe that we’ve done enough. ❤️🩹
I see you. 👁️👁️
I see you trying to keep up with the endless stream of calls and messages about pregnant mamas, abandoned kittens, sick cats, injured cats, and one more emergency that just can't wait until tomorrow.
I see you carrying the weight of all the animals you wish you could help.
And I want to tell you something 📢 that took me a while to learn myself.
👉 No matter how many cats you save, there will always be more.
There will always be another call, another litter, another crisis, another plea for help. 😿
I don't say that to discourage you. I say it because I know how easy it is to feel like you're failing when the need never seems to end. The need is simply greater than any one person can solve.
So please hear this:
It is okay to take a breather. It is okay to say no when your plate is full. It is okay to protect your peace, your health, your family, and your own well-being.
Because saving every cat was never your responsibility.
Every cat or kitten you help is 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.
And the number of animals you've helped will never be as important as the quality of care you provide to the ones you can. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡!
‼️ 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 (us and the animals we're trying so hard to help)‼️
🐾 So if you're tired, rest.
🐾 If you're overwhelmed, step back for a moment.
🐾 If you need to say no, say no.
The work will still be there tomorrow and so will the cats.
Thank you for everything you do, even when it feels like it's never enough.
Because it is. It always has been.
