What is a Foster Home?

​A foster home is a temporary living situation for cats in our program while they are awaiting placement in a permanent home or moved to one of our adoption center locations. Foster families provide shelter, food, care and love. The number of cats we can save as part ​of Operation Hood depends entirely on the number of people who open their homes and hearts to foster them.

Why Foster?

Many of the cats that are being rescued under Operation Hood cannot go directly into one adoption center locations. As a result, the only way we can save these cats is with the help of foster homes. Our young kittens need to stay in foster until they are old enough to be spayed and neutered, at which time they are ready for adoption. Older cats who are sick or injured must stay in foster care until they are well enough for adoption.

In some cases, a foster home is needed to help a cat transition from the stress of being abandoned and/or living outdoors for a long period of time. For some cats, they will need to stay in a foster home until they are adopted. We are also in need of fosters to care for cats who have been spayed and or neutered that need a few days to heal. Additionally, these cats must be evaluated so we can learn about their personalities, which ultimately assists us in placing them in a compatible home.
Being a pet foster family has rewards beyond the essential value of helping a cat in need find a new home. For some, it is a chance to have a companion without a lifetime commitment, or to try new companions for an existing pet. For others, it is the special challenge of helping a cat recover from an illness, injury, or trauma. Occasionally, it’s the joy of giving extra TLC to kittens too young to be adopted.

How Long Should I Expect to Foster a Cat?

​The length of time a cats spends in foster care varies. Some cats need more time because of age, illness, injury, or behavior issues. Others simply need to stay in foster care for a couple days. You will be told up-front before you agree to foster the pet how long of a commitment we believe it will be.

What are the Responsibilities of a Foster Family?

  • Provide a safe, clean, caring environment.
  • Provide food, water, litter, toys/enrichment, and shelter.
  • Provide exercise and socialization as appropriate.
  • Monitor any medical and/or behavioral problems.
  • Transport to/from any necessary vet appointments.
  • Transport to/from offsite adoption events.
  • If the foster pet is sick, isolation from other animals in the home is required for a minimum of 10-14 days. This isolation is especially important for cats and bottle baby kittens.
​If you are interested in becoming a foster parent and would like to learn more, please contact us. All foster parents must complete a foster application and a home visit must be performed. This is to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all cats in our care.


Kitten Care Webinar Series with Hannah Shaw 

Fostering has never been more important than it is today. In these unprecedented times, animal shelters are greatly relying on us—the general public—to step up and lend a hand as foster parents.  Kitten Lady and Royal Canin have proudly partnered to bring you the Kitten Care Webinar Series! This free training resource enables active and prospective foster parents to learn the fundamentals of kitten care and develop lifesaving skill sets.