Hi! I'm Marina.

What started as one desperate rescue in 2016 has somehow evolved into a nine-year journey of colony care, foster fails, and the kind of stories that make you laugh, cry, and wonder how one person ends up with so many cats depending on them.

How It All Began: One Kitten Changes Everything

My rescue story started with Zaya, a tiny kitten dumped outside a restaurant on a cold December day in 2016. When the restaurant posted about him on Facebook, something in my heart said "go get him." The logical part of my brain reminded me that I was renting a condo with a strict no-pets policy, but sometimes love doesn't care about lease agreements.

So I became a secret cat parent, hiding Zaya from landlords, HOA boards, and anyone who might separate us. Little did I know this was just the beginning of my crash course in creative problem-solving and the fine art of loving cats in complicated circumstances.

The Discovery That Changed My Life

A few months later, I saw a Facebook post that would reshape my entire world: someone mentioned an abandoned cat colony behind my condo complex, near the train tracks. The people who had been caring for these cats had stopped coming, and six hungry souls were left to fend for themselves.

I had no experience with colonies, no idea what I was getting into, and definitely no budget for what was about to become my life's work. But I had cat food and a heart that couldn't ignore suffering, so I went searching.

Finding those six cats—hungry, scared, and abandoned—broke something open in me. That first day, I went home, grabbed every bit of cat food I had, and made a promise that I've kept for nine years: these cats would never be hungry or forgotten again.

Nine Years and Counting

What happened next is a blur of late-night feedings, emergency vet runs, foster failures, and the kind of dedication that makes your Amazon delivery driver know you by name (and wonder why you order so much cat food).

Those original six cats became the foundation of something bigger. Over the years, I've watched some pass away peacefully, welcomed new arrivals who desperately needed care, successfully rescued and rehomed dozens of cats, and discovered more colonies that needed attention. Each cat has taught me something different about resilience, love, and the incredible bonds that form between humans and the animals who trust us with their lives.

The Modern Chapter: Sharing the Journey

In 2020, during the chaos of COVID lockdowns, I started sharing my rescue adventures on TikTok. What began as a way to pass time became a platform to show the reality of colony care—the joys, the heartbreaks, the 3 AM emergency calls, and the incredible resilience of cats who've learned to survive against all odds.

The response has been overwhelming in the best way. Having a community of people who understand this work, who cheer for successful rescues and mourn losses alongside me, has made the lonely parts of rescue work feel less isolating. When my HOA was threatening eviction for feeding "stray cats," the support from my online community reminded me that this work matters to more people than just me.

The Current Crew: My Foster Fails

Today, my home is shared with four incredible souls who've each taught me something different about love, resilience, and the art of living with multiple personalities under one roof:

Zaya - My original rescue, the kitten who started it all. He's been with me for nine years now, and he's still the steady, loving presence who reminds me why this journey began.

Vasiliy - The tabby gentleman who showed up at my door in summer 2020 like he'd made a reservation. He's transformed from street-smart survivor to indoor royalty with a passion for leash walks.

Leo and Xena - The ginger and tabby sibling duo who were supposed to be temporary fosters. Their bond was so strong that separating them felt impossible, so they became permanent family members instead.

Each day with them is a reminder that the best-laid foster plans often lead to the most beautiful foster fails.

Why This Website Exists

Failed Foster exists for three reasons:

To Share Stories - Because every rescue has a story worth telling, and sometimes sharing these experiences helps others feel less alone in their own animal advocacy journey.

To Support the Mission - The products I create and sell here directly support ongoing colony care, emergency vet bills, and the endless supply of food needed to keep multiple colonies fed and healthy.

To Spread Awareness - Not everyone can rescue cats, but everyone can learn about the stray and feral populations in their communities and find ways to help that fit their circumstances.

The Reality Behind the Stories

I won't sugarcoat it—this work is expensive, emotionally challenging, and sometimes thankless. Vet bills pile up, cats don't always have happy endings, and there are days when the scope of the problem feels overwhelming.

But then a scared feral cat finally trusts you enough to eat while you're sitting nearby. Or a sick kitten recovers and finds a loving home. Or you realize that the colony you've been feeding for years now consists of healthy, spayed/neutered cats living their best outdoor lives because someone cared enough to show up consistently.

Those moments make everything worth it.

Looking Forward

Nine years in, I'm still learning, still growing, and still occasionally taking in "just one more" cat who needs help. The work continues because the need continues, but now I have a community of supporters who make it possible to do more than I ever could alone.

Whether you're here for the stories, the products, or just to understand more about the world of cat rescue, thank you for being part of this journey. Every person who cares makes a difference, whether they're feeding colonies, sharing posts, donating supplies, or simply taking the time to learn about the challenges facing stray and feral cats.

Thank You

To everyone who has supported this work through purchases, shares, donations, kind words, or simply by caring about cats who don't have homes—thank you. This community has made it possible to help more cats than I ever imagined when I first brought Zaya home on that cold December day.

Here's to many more years of foster fails, colony care, and the incredible journey of loving cats who need us most.

Want to follow along with the daily adventures? Find me on TikTok @failedfoster for real-time colony updates, foster kitten chaos, and the ongoing saga of living with four very opinionated cats.