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Basic Foster Home (Kittens or Adults)
Time Commitment: Kittens: 14+ hours per week, often 4+ consecutive weeks; Adults: Time varies.
Equipment Required: Small room or pen, food/water dishes, toys, letter box, supplies.
Training Required: Basic cat safety and handling (1 hour) plus Fostering (1 hour)
Space to keep a cat or litter of kittens completely separate from your pets. The space can be a kennel (usually a rescue
group can loan you one) or a small bedroom/bathroom/office where the door can be kept shut.
Time to feed. Kittens require AT LEAST twice a day feeding. If you foster very young kittens, they require bottle feeding
every 4 hours, day and night. You must be sure that each kitten eats each day. Not eating is a very serious sign of illness.
Persistent vomiting is also a warning sign.
Time to clean. Kittens required AT LEAST twice a day cleaning. A litter of kittens will be messy, and you may have to
wipe their paws, face, rear in addition to cleaning their box and play areas. The litter box contents must also be monitored
for signs of diarrhea, loose stools, and worms.
Time, at least 20 minutes each day, to spend playing with the cat/kittens.
Willingness to learn basic kitten care guidelines so they remain healthy and do not develop bad habits.
Transportation ability. Depending on the group you are working with, the kittens will need to see a vet for shots, dewormer,
spay/neuter, colds, etc. You may also need to drive the kittens to adoption fairs on weekends. There may be some assistance
available for transportation so please ask.
Special Needs Foster Home (Kittens or Adults)
Time Commitment: Time varies depending on circumstances, can be 12+ weeks.
Equipment Required: Small room or pen, food/water dishes, toys, letter box, supplies.
Training Required: Basic cat safety and handling (1 hour) plus Fostering (1 hour). Potential additional training required
depending on circumstances.
Same as for General Fostering PLUS one or more of the following, depending on circumstances:
Ability to handle older, non-social kittens. These are usually hissy and may be scratch and bite if you try to pick them
up. They require more time for socialization each day in order to make them friendly for adoption as house cats.
Ability to administer medication. There are various types of medication that kittens may need such as liquid, tablets,
eye ointment. As you may have heard, pilling a cat or kitten is not for the timid.
Willingness and knowledge to train cats with moderate or greater behavior, confidence, or other issues. Training will
be provided as necessary, though some situations will require direct previous experience.
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