Become a Fosterer

Our fosterers play a vital role in the Branch and are responsible for physically looking after the cats and kittens that are brought into our care. This is real “hands on” cat welfare work, which involves fostering cats on a short-term basis, either in a cat pen in your garden or a designated spare room in your home

Our fosterers are special people who love cats and are prepared to make time in their lives and space in their homes to care for stray and unwanted cats and kittens which have been rescued by us, until a permanent loving home can be found. We pay for all expenses. You provide the love, the time, and the accommodation

Have you these qualities?
To be a fosterer with Cats Protection you will be caring and committed. We are looking for people who are caring without being over-sentimental, with a sensible head on their shoulders and who have a good working knowledge of cat care issues. Fosterers are unpaid; the reward is knowing you have helped an abandoned or homeless cat to begin a new chapter in its life, giving it a second chance for a happy home

Have you the time?
In addition to spending quality time with your foster cat to ensure that they are adequately stimulated and can be handled, there is also cleaning of the pen or room and feeding. If you were to foster kittens you would need to feed them four times a day, and to spend time with them so they are not shy of humans. You will also be receiving visits from prospective adopters, who will want to come and meet your cat. You will need to provide new owners with sound basic advice about cat care and background details about the cat they are adopting. Cats may also need special trips to the vet and medication – it’s no fun giving a cat a tablet!

Have you suitable premises?
To be a Cats Protection fosterer you will either have a secure spare room in your house, to keep the cats separate from your other pets. The room will also need a window which has access to natural light. We also have purpose built chalets, one of which could be placed in your garden. This must be erected on a concrete base, with access to electricity

Tabby kittens

Not all the cats that come into our care are waifs and strays, some become homeless because their owner has died, or their family has emigrated, or a family member has developed an allergy to cat hair. Whatever the reason, fosterers are essential to the work of the branch and without them our aims would not be achieved

cat chalet

Fostering can be demanding so it is essential that you have full support from the rest of your household. It helps if your partner is sympathetic and is willing to help out as well. You have to be able to give the cats in your care plenty of love and attention. The cat may be stressed due to changes in its circumstances, or may be traumatised by past experience so much patience and
love is needed for them to learn to trust again

We often need people to foster in an emergency. Have you a spare room you could offer short-term for a mum and her kittens?

I have been fostering for South Wirral Cats Protection since December 2002. In that time I have looked after many cats, they varied from a couple of four week old kittens who had been abandoned in a cardboard box, to a mad, half blind ginger tom. They have all found new, loving homes, with some very generous people. The cats come and live in my spare bedroom. All I do is provide food, warmth, somewhere comfortable to sleep and some love and affection. My cats have got used to the fact that there is a strange cat in there and aren't bothered anymore

It is always difficult to part with the fostered cats because you do get attached to them. But I have been on home inspections to see them in their new homes, and none of them have remembered me. That doesn’t bother me as it makes you realise that they must be happy, and I have my memories of them.

They have all been wonderful, and each has been a different personality. I have had fun with each and every one of them, and not many traumas.

We are always looking for more fosterers, as the more we have, the more cats we can help. It doesn’t cost me a penny as the branch pays for all expenses. So if you have a yen for this sort of thing give us a ring

Written by Sue, one of our fosterers

     A love of cats
     Be caring without being sentimental
     An understanding of cat behaviour and their requirements
     Able to let them go when the time comes for them to go to their new home

If you feel that this rewarding role is for you and would like more information about becoming a volunteer fosterer, please Contact Us