Finding a tiny kitten like Poppy was a whirlwind, and it really taught me a lot about what to do when you stumble upon a little one in need. If you ever find a small kitten, especially one that seems abandoned, your first steps are crucial. My first thought seeing Poppy in the Walmart parking lot was her safety. The very first thing is to ensure their immediate safety from traffic or other dangers. Then, a quick check for injuries is important. If they're really tiny, like Poppy was at just 228 grams (so small!), they likely need warmth. A box with a soft blanket can work temporarily. Getting them to a vet for a check-up, especially for deworming and general health assessment, is paramount. The vet can also give you an estimate of their age, which helps determine their feeding schedule and developmental stage. When I took Poppy to her vet appointment, we confirmed she was a girl and got a better idea of her age based on her development. For newborns or very young kittens, bottle raising kittens is often necessary. This means feeding them special kitten formula every few hours, day and night. It’s a huge commitment! You also need to stimulate them to go to the bathroom after each feeding – a warm, damp cloth gently wiped around their bottom usually does the trick. It sounds a bit much, but it's vital for their health. Poppy quickly became quite chompy and sassy, even as a tiny baby, biting things during her feedings, and she's always been full of crimes! I remember her scratching me on the face more than once. Watching them grow is incredible. When I got Poppy, her eyes were still sealed shut, and then they opened on Monday, which was probably her day 10. That's a huge milestone! Her weight gain was also a big deal – seeing her go from 228 grams to 340 grams in just 10 days was amazing. Soon after their eyes open, they'll start exploring and trying to escape, just like Poppy did from her box! This is also when you can start introducing wet food, transitioning them from the bottle, and thinking about litter box training. Fostering is such a rewarding experience, but it definitely comes with its challenges. As the OCR mentioned, kittens learning to eat and use the litter box can be "disgusting." They aren't always clean when they're first learning, and those "wipey baths" become a regular thing! You quickly learn that fostering isn't just about the cute moments; it's about dedication, cleaning, and sometimes sleepless nights. It's also important to remember that fostering isn't a long-term adoption for every kitten. I already live in a two-dog, four-cat household, so while I love Poppy so much and am so obsessed with her, my goal is to help her get big and strong so she can live her best life possible in a loving forever home. The ultimate aim of fostering is to give these vulnerable creatures a second chance. It's about providing a safe, nurturing environment until they're old enough and healthy enough to be adopted. It’s hard to say goodbye, but knowing you've given a "parking lot kitty" a new lease on life makes it all worthwhile.