Basic Foster Orientation
This guide is on how to prepare for your first foster! It is easy to want to incorporate your foster into your household right away, but following these step-by-step guidelines is essential. Many of our fosters have limited medical backgrounds or will be very stressed. It is important to give them a quartine period & decompression time when they first come into foster.
Basic Care Guidelines
Cats
Litterbox
Provide a medium or large open litter box that is scooped daily.
We do not use covered or automatic litter boxes.
We use clay litter, but will use pellets for young kittens.
Feeding
Provide access to dry food and water 24/7. Dry food amount should follow recommended calorie intake on the bag.
Adult cats should be provided 1/4 can of wet food once a day (morning or evening) unless instructed otherwis.
Kittens can eat as much as they would like. They should have 24/7 access to dry food and 1/4 can of wet food three times per day
Socialization
Daily socialization & handling is important.
Slow introductions and prior approval are needed before intagrating fosters with resident pets.
Enrichment
Fosters should not be left alone more than 12 hours
Provide daily enrichment such as playtime or cuddles!
Dogs
Feeding
Provide access to dry food and water 24/7. Dry food amount should follow recommend calorie intake on the bag.
Potty Breaks
Potty training may be an important first goal in fostering dogs.
When possible letting them outside every 2-4 hours during waking hours.
Enrichment
Dogs need lot of outlets for their energy. This can look physical enrichment like walks or playing with toys. Mental enrichment is also important, such as using smart feeders and training
Socialization
Daily socialization & handling is important.
Slow introductions and prior approval are needed before intagrating fosters with resident pets.
Dogs First
72 hours
How To Set Up Your Foster Space
For cat fosters, choose a foster room. This can be a bathroom, a spare bedroom, or office. This room should be secluded from day-to-day busyness. This is important to let the foster decompress and get to know their new environment. Foster also need to be separate from resident pets, as they likely have unknown medical histories.
In their foster space, they should have access to a litter box(s). Dry food and water are available 24/7 and as far from the litter box as possible.
Cats should be given a hiding spot that is still easily accessible to you. Provide a proper hiding spot that doesn’t allow them to be further from you than hand to elbow. This gives them a safe space until they feel comfortable in their area. If your foster space is a spare bedroom, put the bed on the ground so that your foster is unable to hide where you are not able to reach them.
Scratching posts and toys should be accessible for them to play as they like.
Quarantine Period and The Isolation Room
An initial quarantine period in your home is highly encouraged for 2 weeks in an isolation room such as a spare bathroom or bedroom (without a bed to hide under!) in order to allow your foster to have time to acclimate to their new surroundings and to keep your pets and your fosters safe.
The isolation room should be:
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Easy to disinfect
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Warm
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Quiet
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A spare bathroom or office is ideal!
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Block all hiding spots
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Remove dangers like cords
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You might even want to have specific “cat room” clothing
If you are not able to provide a room to meet these qualifications, let us know and we will discuss alternative options.
Foster's first day
Have the foster space cleaned, sanitized, and set up before bringing your new foster cat home.
You will likely be picking up your foster from a designated pick-up location.
Bring the carrier into the room and close the door before opening the carrier.
Open the carrier door and allow your foster cat to come out on their own. Do not force them out. This may take several minutes or several hours depending on the cat.
If your foster cat is not wanting to leave their carrier, leave the room and check back in a few hours. Do not rush this process.
Give them the time they need to explore their new surroundings on their terms. This is a very scary experience for most cats.
Foster Report
How are they doing? Please complete the foster report within the first 24 hours to make sure they are settling in.
Many of our fosters come in without names or will need new names. We require fosters to come up with fun, new names that have not been used before. View the taken name list to make sure it's a unique name. Names need to be given within the first 24 hours so we can begin their medical records.
Foster Tips
Be prepared to get attached. You may want to adopt your foster pet, but the goal is to say goodbye! Fostering saves lives and is vital to the animal overpopulation we are seeing. Fosters are involved in the adoption process so you will get to see where they will be going to start their next adventure.
In the foster contract there is a spot so we can make sure you don’t foster fail!
Make sure your household is ready for fosters. If you have houseplants, do research to make sure they are cat safe. Clear foster spaces of easily breakable items. Block hiding spots that are unaccessible!
Fosters are required to be INDOOR ONLY!
Tell your friends and family about your new foster cat! You are your foster’s best advocate. Be sure to post about them on social media and tell your friends and family as soon as your foster cat becomes available for adoption.
Make sure to tag us in those pictures!