The National Kitten Coalition (NKC) has been my top professional resource for anything kitten related for more than a decade. I am a licensed veterinary technician who was in need of in-depth information about all growth stages of kittens, which I did not get in tech school. NKC includes volunteers from the welfare, sheltering, and veterinary spheres all in one place. I appreciate the free and low-cost events that are provided and the new material posted to NKC's social media frequently. If you want to save lives with up-to-date and vetted information, go to The National Kitten Coalition.
Let me tell you a story that starts with poop but ends with hope and gratitude. I promise it has a happy ending! This story highlights why I owe my sanity to the National Kitten Coalition (NKC). It’s not just for the medical education they provide for fosters like me. NKC has given me the confidence to know when I’ve tried everything possible and has empowered me with tools to support me during difficult times.
As a foster for kittens, I’ve taken in countless little furballs over the years, and here is the thing I have learned: 95% of the time, poop is a problem. Diarrhea has become my arch-enemy and the bane of my existence. It is the uncertainty of it all… why is it happening, how do I fix it… how can something so small make a smell that big…?
Recently, I had a group of kittens who were losing weight, not eating, and receiving medical support through a local vet. After another round of meds, I was holding the smallest one close to my chest, trying to comfort her, when she pooped a lovely liquid all over me. She didn’t move, and I feared the worst (don’t worry, as I said, this story has a happy ending!)
She didn’t move, and neither did I. I sat there for a moment, contemplating the possibility that I may have lost her. In that moment, when I would have previously crumbled with grief and begun second-guessing every move I had made since picking her up, I leaned on the knowledge NKC had given me. I knew I had followed the best medical protocols and provided the best care possible. I knew that sometimes the little ones aren’t meant to stay, but I had done the best I could.
In that moment, I remembered listening to countless NKC veterinary experts talk about how diarrhea was also the bane of their existence. I took comfort in the education they provided and I remembered the experts who gave lectures on grief and loss and knew that I had the tools to handle the worst.
When I was ready and finally said her name, she looked up at me with wide eyes and gave me a sad little “Hey lady, I pooped myself” meow. I was so giddy with relief that I laughed out loud, kissed her little head, and got up to clean us both up.
So, I thank NKC not only for their medical knowledge but also for the empowerment they provide. They give you a sense of security, knowing you've learned from experts and others who have been in your shoes. This assurance helps you recognize when you've done everything possible. And if medical intervention fails, you can find comfort in the understanding that sometimes, there isn’t anything more you can do.
And yes, the little poop monster eventually started eating again, stopped liquid pooping, found her forever home, and is thriving there with her sister.
I am a proud board member and writer/editor for the National Kitten Coalition (NKC). The NKC provides free educational materials - articles, a comprehensive kitten nursery guide, webinars and more - to the veterinary community, animal shelters and rescue organizations, kitten fosters, and caring individuals in an effort to save more kittens. The NKC also offers yearly online kitten conferences - one for the public and one for the veterinary community. The NKC speaks and exhibits at animal welfare and veterinary conferences to bring its knowledge and resources to those trying to save more kittens.
The National Kitten Coalition helped expand my knowledge on this very vulnerable population and now I practice better veterinary medicine because of them. Highly recommend their Online Veterinary Conference that occurs each fall!
Over the years, I've witnessed first-hand how the National Kitten Coalition has transformed the lives of hundreds of vulnerable kittens. What sets this organization apart is their unwavering commitment to sharing life-saving knowledge freely with those on the front lines of kitten care. Their expert team—comprising veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and passionate volunteers—meticulously develops and distributes cutting-edge resources that have become the gold standard in kitten welfare education. Thanks to their tireless efforts, vital information reaches the hands of caregivers exactly when they need it most, ensuring more tiny lives are saved every day.