Memories of Fostering

Have you considered fostering cats and kittens prior to their being homed? Christine Henry talks about her experiences of fostering and provides important advice for potential fosterers.

Phoebe

When presented with a litter of orphaned kittens or a homeless pregnant cat, we have often helped Cats Protection by fostering them in our home. In the early years our daughter Julie looked after kittens in her room and spent many a happy hour being entertained by their antics!

We have fostered so often we know exactly what to do but, for anyone about to embark on this adventure, planning is essential. An invaluable guide, the booklet Cat Care Standards, will be provided alongside essentials such as litter tray, cat-carrying box, food and water bowls, etc.

Support is always available, either in the form of our Cat Behaviourist Kate, myself - a Tellington Touch practitioner, or the many experienced fosterers like Margaret. All costs are met by the Branch, leaving you free to shower the feline(s) with tender loving care.

Pixel & Trixie

If you already have one or two cats, then it’s really important they do not mix with your guests whose accommodation must be separate. A spare room, study or laundry will do, so long as daylight and ventilation are available. However, the room should have an easy-to-clean floor, such as lino, and no soft furnishings. Outdoor fostering is an option - including, in certain circumstances, a shed, garage or outbuilding - as long as an approved pen is used, such as a heated ‘Lindee Lu’ single cat palace, which CP provides! Pens erected within an outbuilding must have natural light available for the cats. Once you are happy that the room or area is clean with a litter tray, water and food bowls, and cosy bed in place, then it’s time to meet the newcomers. Usually these will either be a litter of kittens, a mother and kittens or up to three cats from the same household.

Preferably a veterinary examination will have been made and advice given as to health and diet; however in an emergency situation this may not have happened. If so, once admitted into your care it is essential a trip is made to the vet ASAP. If transport is problematic, we can help there too.

Duchess (top left) and her kittens: Beryl the Peril (top right), Simba & Phoenix (bottom left) and Millie

Caring for cats and/or kittens until ready for new homes is a joy. Observing kittens’ characters blossoming, the recuperation of an adult, or a frightened cat gaining trust is very rewarding and worthwhile.

When it is time for puss to move onto a new home, our Welfare Team will advise you when someone, who has had a home visit, is looking for a cat like yours. Once introductions are over and you know this is the right home for your charge, the prospective owners are required to complete a Homing Form. The delight shown by people taking their new pet home is very heart warming. The final step is to clean and disinfect the accommodation in preparation for the next guest!

Gingie (left) and Ember

We have many fond memories of fostering cats and kittens: bottle feeding seven four week old kittens brought here in a cardboard box from Lerwick; Oscar, whose mum didn’t have enough milk for him; scared Phoebe from Whalsay and her beautiful kittens; terrified Blondie with four fluffy kittens; a tiny black feral kitten from Unst; Gingie, a feral kitten from outside Lerwick; ginger semi-feral Duchess and her kittens, whom we bottle-fed; and little Ember recovering from near starvation. I will always remember Jo’s Old English Sheepdog helping out by caring for a litter of orphaned kittens! The list goes on!

If you decide to foster for the Shetland Branch of Cats Protection you will never regret it.

Extract from Cats Protection Shetland Branch Newsletter, Autumn 2008

 

Back to top