| For AFRP, springtime means "kitten season," a time
when the shelters are flooded with homeless mother cats with kittens,
orphaned litters, and sometimes single kittens that need bottle-feeding.
The animal shelters reach out to organizations like AFRP, which
have foster programs in place that can care for these felines until
they are old enough to be adopted. The simple truth is the more
foster homes we have, the more lives we can save.
What responsibilities are involved?
We ask that you take care of the basic care and feeding of your
foster cats, as well as allowing enough time to make sure the
cats are well socialized and loved. We ask that you set aside
a special room or space so that your foster cats can be separated
from your other pets. It is helpful if you are able to transport
your foster cats to the vet when it is time for them to be altered,
and to keep in touch with the AFRP staff about your foster cat’s
progress.
Do I need experience with kittens?
No. Of course experience is helpful, especially with an orphan
or a bottle-fed kitten, but advice is always just a phone call
away. Our foster homes go through a one-on-one training session,
receive written materials, and are encouraged to attend one of
several foster care orientation meetings that are scheduled each
year.
What does it cost to foster a cat?
AFRP pays for all costs of food, litter, supplies and veterinary
expenses for your foster cats. Some foster families choose to
supply some of these items themselves, which is appreciated but
not required.
How long does it take to foster a litter
of kittens?
You should expect to commit to between a few weeks to a few
months--each circumstance is a little bit different. Most kittens
are ready to be altered and adopted at about 8-9 weeks of age.
If you are fostering a mother cat too, you can expect to add a
few weeks to allow the mother’s milk to dry up, and for her to
recover from her spay procedure. If you are fostering older kittens,
you may only have them a few weeks until they are ready to go
to the adoption center. We can help choose the foster situation
that works best for your time schedule.
Is there anything else I should know?
Most foster volunteers find that the hardest part of fostering
is saying good-bye to the cats and kittens they nave nurtured
and become so attached to. But all agree that the rewards of knowing
that you have sent your foster cats and kittens off to wonderful
new homes, far outweighs the heartache of seeing them go.
Back to the Joys of Fostering
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