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.
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. Fosters also need to be separate from resident pets for both behavioral success and medical quarantine, for both your pets' and the fosters' sake.
In their foster space, they should have access to a litter box(s). Dry food and water must be 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, but makes handling possible if necessary. 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 required; this does a few things. It allows their first vaccines to become effective enough to provide them protection. It gives us time to monitor them for infectious disease prior to introducing to a larger, harder to clean space, or spreading to your pets (most symptoms manifest within 14 days). It sets them up for behavioral success. And it makes the transition easier for them and you. It's okay if they stay in this space the whole time, but they need to at least start in the smaller spa
​
The isolation room should be:
-
Easy to disinfect and keep clean
-
Warm
-
Quiet
-
Baby-proofed- no strangulation hazards, chemicals, etc.
-
Free of spaces the cat could hide under, such as beds or dressers with lots of hidden space.
Great options include:
-
A bathroom
-
A spare bedroom
-
A home office (watch for cords!)
​
Bad choices:
-
Laundry rooms (washers and dryers are highly stressful and easy to hide behind)
-
Children's rooms
-
Closets
-
Garages or sheds
​
When in doubt, ask us. We're happy to advise!
​
For a more in-depth guide, check out this resource. It's written for new adopters, but has tons of useful information for getting a cat settled into a home!
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 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!