Fostering 101
Fostering is a temporary home: a few weeks of your spare room that turns a scared street cat into one that's ready to be adopted. You don't need experience. You need a door that closes and a bit of routine.
You'll need
- A room with easy-to-clean floors. A spare bathroom is perfect.
- A carrier or box with the door off, to hide in
- A litter box, and food and water bowls (one set for every 2 kittens)
- Food right for its age, and kitten milk replacer for babies
- Washable bedding, and toys you can wash or throw away
- A kitchen scale that shows grams
- The rescuer's or vet's number, saved in your phone
The first two weeks
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Keep the foster apart from your own pets.
At least 14 days in its own room. Street cats can carry illnesses that spread to your cats, so wait until it's had a clean bill of health.
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Wash your hands between animals.
Before and after you handle the foster, and always before you touch your own pets. Soap, at least 15 seconds.
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Indoors only.
Fosters never go outside, and windows stay netted.
Every day, check
| Check | What's normal |
|---|---|
| Eating | Eats well at every meal. A drop in appetite can be the first sign of illness. |
| Litter | Pees every time it needs to. Poos at least once a day. |
| Weight (kittens) | Weighed at the same time each day. Gains about 14 grams a day, roughly 100 grams a week. |
| Eyes and nose | Clear and dry. No sneezing fits or crusty eyes. |
| Energy | Curious, playful when awake (kittens nap a lot, that's fine). |
Making a scared cat friendly
- Use mealtimes. Sit nearby while it eats. Over days, move closer, then offer food from your hand.
- Short and often. A few minutes at a time, several times a day, beats one long session.
- Not hands, toys. Never let kittens play-fight with your fingers or feet. It's cute now and painful later.
- Gentle new things. Household sounds, other people's voices, a cardboard box to explore.
Yes, saying goodbye is hard. That's how you know you did it right. Then there's room for the next one.
Tell the rescuer or a vet if you see
- Lethargy or weakness
- Sneezing, coughing, or watery or red eyes
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Not eating
- Fleas or worms
Call straight away for trouble breathing, not eating or drinking at all, or a seizure.
Where this comes from
- ASPCA feline foster care guide (14-day separation, room set-up, supplies, daily checks, socialising, signs to report)
This guide is a draft and hasn't been checked by a vet yet. If you're fostering for an NGO, their instructions come first.