🐱 Welcome to the Foster Family!

Your Guide to Fostering Cats and Kittens
(aka How Not to Panic When They Hide in Your Sock Drawer)

First of all—WELCOME and THANK YOU! Seriously, you’re the reason our shelter can help more animals. Fostering gives cats and kittens the time, love, and space they need before finding their forever homes. Whether you’re raising bottle babies, helping a shy senior feel safe, or keeping a mama cat comfy while she raises her fluffballs, you’re doing something AMAZING.

Now let’s make sure you feel ready to rock this.

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🏡 First Things First: Your New Cat Might Be Weird at First (Totally Normal)

Let’s be honest: most cats do not walk into new places like, “Cool, this is my spot now.” They’re more like, “What is this place? Why does it smell like Febreze? And who are you?”

The first 2–3 days are what we call the decompression period. They might:

• Hide under the couch
• Hiss at you (rude, but understandable)
• Refuse to eat or use the litter box
• Nap. A LOT.

That’s okay. Don’t force affection. Give them time and space. Make sure they have a quiet room to chill in, with food, water, a litter box, and a cozy hiding spot. If they want to come out and explore, let them—but let it be their idea.

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🥣 Eating & Drinking

We’ll send you home with food your foster is already eating (because sudden food changes = litter box disasters). Keep it simple:

• Stick to a regular feeding schedule
• Fresh water available at all times
• Kittens may need to eat every 4–6 hours depending on age
• No dairy (yep, that “cats love milk” myth is a trap)
• No human food, especially onions, garlic, grapes, or chocolate

Not eating in the first 24 hours? That’s okay. If it goes longer than that, call us. Some cats are dramatic but we still wanna be sure everything’s okay.

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🧻 Litter Box Drama (or Hopefully, No Drama)

Most cats and kittens are pretty good about using a litter box if it’s in a quiet, clean spot. But even pros can have accidents when they’re stressed or confused.

Litter Box Tips:

• One box per cat or litter (yes, even babies!)
• Scoop daily—cats are picky
• Keep the box away from food and water bowls
• Use unscented litter if possible (some cats hate perfume)

Accident? Don’t yell. Just clean it up and move the box to a better spot if needed.

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😴 Setting Up Their Space

We recommend giving your foster their own room (a bathroom works great) for the first few days—or even the whole foster stay if they’re shy. Fill it with:

• A soft blanket or bed
• Litter box
• Food & water
• Toys
• A hiding spot (like a box or carrier with a towel inside)

Cats love high places, warm nooks, and tiny spaces. They also love knocking stuff off shelves, so you’ve been warned.

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🧶 Playtime & Socializing

Cats and kittens need enrichment. That’s a fancy word for “fun.” You don’t need to teach them math—just give them ways to stay curious and happy.

• Wand toys (but supervise and put away after!)
• Toy mice
• Cardboard boxes and paper bags (no handles!)
• Cat trees or window seats

Kittens need even more stimulation and human interaction. Hold them gently, talk to them, let them climb and explore (within reason). This is the time they’re learning how to “cat.”

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💊 Medical Stuff & Appointments

We’ll let you know if your foster needs vaccines, medications, or checkups during their stay. If they do, we’ll give you all the instructions (and no, you don’t need a vet degree—we’ll walk you through it).

Warning signs to call us:

• Not eating or drinking for more than 24 hours
• Vomiting or diarrhea that lasts more than a day
• Sneezing, eye gunk, or goopy nose
• Lethargy (like, “not moving” tired—not “cat nap” tired)
• Any injury or sudden weird behavior

And no, please don’t take them to your own vet unless we tell you to. We’ve got approved vet partners and need to track their care.

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👶 Special Notes for Kittens

Kittens are CUTE. But they are also MESSY and LOUD and INTO EVERYTHING. Think of them as toddlers in fur coats.

• Kittens under 4 weeks need bottle feeding (we only send these to trained fosters)
• Kittens 4–8 weeks should be eating on their own but still need frequent meals
• Warmth is everything—keep them cozy
• Weigh them daily if they’re under 2 lbs
• Socialize often! Pet, play, and cuddle (gently)

If your kitten is alone (no littermates), you’ll need to give them extra snuggles and play. If you’re fostering a whole gang of them—just know your hands will always be full (and scratched).

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🐾 Adoptions, Returns, and “Foster Fails”

Your job is to love and care for this animal until they’re ready for adoption. We’ll take care of marketing, medical stuff, and matchmaking. But we might ask for:

• Good photos (bonus points for cute captions!)
• Notes on personality, behavior, and likes/dislikes
• Updates for social media or adoption profiles

When it’s time to bring them back or meet adopters, it’s okay to feel emotional. Saying goodbye is tough. But it means your foster is ready to find their forever.

And if you fall madly in love and want to keep them forever? That’s what we call a foster fail—and it’s the happiest kind.

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💛 You’re Officially a Foster Hero

You’ve made room in your home and heart for a cat or kitten who needed a break. That’s no small thing. You’re saving lives, one cuddle at a time.

Now go light a candle, grab the lint roller, and enjoy the magical, unpredictable, whiskery world of fostering.

You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.