So You Want to Foster Kittens?
Fostering animals is the process of giving them a temporary home. You take care of them until they have to be returned to the shelter or until they are adopted, depending on the rescue you foster them through. There are many types of fosters, from ones that need to be bottle fed to ones that need to grow their trust with people. Kittens are one of the most common animals that show up in foster care, though adult cats, dogs, and other animals often need foster homes as well. The information here mostly applies to cats and kittens, though can be used to learn about fostering other animals.
The Importance of Foster Care
a place of safety
Foster care provides a safe place for a kitten to stay. It helps get them off of the street and into a home. In some cases, it may save the kitten’s life, as they get the medical attention and food that they would not have access to otherwise. Fostering is especially important now, during the pandemic. Many shelters and rescues can only allow a certain amount of staff and volunteers into their locations, meaning that many animals may not be getting the attention that they need. Sending them into foster care gives them the care and comfort that they may not be getting during these difficult times.
Your Responsibility
what you'll do
As a foster caregiver, it is your job to take care of the kitten or kittens that you are given. You must feed and water them, and if any medication is required, you give it to them when its required. There are a few different types of fosters that you can take care of, such as bottle babies, who need to be bottle fed every few hours, fosters that need medical care, and fosters that need help getting used to people. Other ones usually have no special needs, though they are in foster care either until they are big enough to be spayed/neutered, until the shelter has more room, or until they find a home.
kitten types
There are multiple types of kittens that may appear in your foster care. Often, you will get ones that need a break from the shelter, or ones that cannot be put up for adoption until they are spayed or neutered. These ones are rather easy to take care of and don’t require any sort of special care. However, there are three main types that need special care: bottle babies, medical care kittens and behavior kittens. What they’re called may depend on the place you foster for, but here is a run-down of their special needs.
bottle babies
- must be fed with formula every few hours until they are old enough to eat on their own
- these kittens are extremely young, so they are very needy
- as they get older, you may need to help them transfer to solid food
medical care fosters
- are taken care of until they are over their sickness, injury, or have recovered from surgery
- must be taken them to vet check-ups
- given any medication or special care related to their medical issues
behavior kittens
- these kittens are often very shy and terrified of people, they may hide or even hiss/scratch at people
- goal is to get them to be confident around people
- get the kitten to trust you and have it warm up to everyday life with people
Getting Started
how to start
Find a local shelter or rescue near you because many offer foster programs. They can teach you more about the ins and outs of fostering. Most shelters will provide you with the supplies that they need, such as food, litter, bedding, and any medication that the kittens may need. You may need to buy any supplies that they don’t give you, as well as a litter box and bowls for food and water.