Fostering questions

clynn11

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I've been SERIOUSLY thinking about becoming a foster for our local Humane Society that's about 30 minutes away. I'm planning on calling them tomorrow and asking these questions but- impatient me- I decided to post them here as well tonight to see if I can get any replies/background from experienced fosters.

1) Is there an application/qualification process to become a foster? Is having a dog or having cats going to disqualify me from being a foster? I'm planning on turning a side room that is completely detached from the house into the 'kitty haven' so they wouldn't come in contact with any of my other animals

2) Do the rescues/humane societies that you foster for pay for/give you food, and other costs- like veterinary costs if need be?

3) How many kittens do you recommend fostering for the first time? I have experience with 5 previous litters as well as bottle feeding experience- although I want to be sure i'm able to handle them all and give them proper care.

4) How long do you keep the kittens? Until they are of age and then they wait in the shelter until they're adopted? Or do you keep them and the rescue/shelter puts ads on Petfinder/in their facility and they do not leave you until they are actually adopted?

Sorry about all of the questions, i'll probably have more too haha. Thank you for any input/replies.
 

kailie

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I've been SERIOUSLY thinking about becoming a foster for our local Humane Society that's about 30 minutes away. I'm planning on calling them tomorrow and asking these questions but- impatient me- I decided to post them here as well tonight to see if I can get any replies/background from experienced fosters.

1) Is there an application/qualification process to become a foster? Is having a dog or having cats going to disqualify me from being a foster? I'm planning on turning a side room that is completely detached from the house into the 'kitty haven' so they wouldn't come in contact with any of my other animals

2) Do the rescues/humane societies that you foster for pay for/give you food, and other costs- like veterinary costs if need be?

3) How many kittens do you recommend fostering for the first time? I have experience with 5 previous litters as well as bottle feeding experience- although I want to be sure i'm able to handle them all and give them proper care.

4) How long do you keep the kittens? Until they are of age and then they wait in the shelter until they're adopted? Or do you keep them and the rescue/shelter puts ads on Petfinder/in their facility and they do not leave you until they are actually adopted?

Sorry about all of the questions, i'll probably have more too haha. Thank you for any input/replies.
All of the answers to these questions will differ depending on the organization you foster for, but I'll let you know MY experiences.


1) Both of the organizations I foster for require an application/waiver to be filled out but it's pretty standard. As long as you have a separate space to keep the fosters, I'd be very surprised if you were denied. Most organizations PREFER that you have other pets so that the fosters can become more socialized with other pets. If you can tell potential adopters that YES this kitty is great around dogs, or NO, this kitty would do best as an only pet, it'll make it easier in the long run. I love being able to know what type of home a foster would do best in as the success rates are that much better.

2) Both organizations I foster for will provide ALL necessary supplies as well as vet bills. Most of the time I personally pay for it myself though as both organizations run off of donations and fundraising only. Don't feel bad if you're not in the position to do so though, as the organizations will gladly take care of all of that for you.

3) Use your best judgement. Take in a small litter and go from there maybe? My first few times fostering I took in a pregnant mom, helped raise the litter and adopted them out before I would bring in more. Now I have 2 complete rooms set up for fostering, one for females/moms with kittens and one for males. We also usually have a foster in our bedroom as well, and right now we have a pregnant girl in there with us. Don't over crowd though. Make sure there is plenty of space for all fosters to be happy, and if you can set up the space so that it is completely kitty friendly even better. In our foster rooms we have cat beds, toys, cat condos/trees and we even put up shelving on the walls for kitties to climb.

4) Again, completely depends on the organization. The shelter I foster for PREFERS kittens and moms be returned to the shelter at 8 weeks for adoption, but I always keep them with me and find homes myself. I have a wonderful adoption rate and a LOT of supporters who spread the word. The rescue organization I foster for doesn't HAVE a shelter, so we have to keep their fosters until adoption. I have a Facebook page dedicated specifically for showcasing my fosters (pics, stories, updates, etc.) and I also advertise on Kijiji. (There is an application and a fee for adoption, so that weeds out the crazies.) Again, I want to be the one rehoming my fosters because I am the one who knows what type of home they would do best in. (The rescue organization deals with many ferals/semi ferals which would usually do best in a quiet home without young kids, etc.)

Hope this helps hun, and don't hesitate to ask anything. I can't imagine not fostering as it is SO fulfilling, but it can also be incredibly heart breaking and stressful.
 

feralvr

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How wonderful to hear !!!! :clap::clap::clap: It is not easy being a foster - at least for me - I hate the giving them up part. :lol3: I have been a foster failure before - hard not to do. You just have to know your limits and keep telling yourself that when a good home comes along to let them go so you can make room for the next foster. :nod: It can be very heartbreaking and you have to prepare for putting your heart and emotions on the line. I think that with fostering comes much sadness and then again much, much joy. If not for fosters, these kitties would have nothing, and if it turns out really bad and things go very wrong, at least you know in your heart that those babies were loved and well cared for in their final days. You have to take the losses with the wins, so to speak, and try to prepare yourself for that painfully sad part of fostering. I have not done any fostering this last year :shame: Makes me sad and feel guilty, because there is such a need. But I will again. I have had such sick babies - dogs and cats - to deal with that it has been all too time consuming. Having a separate room is very important to keep everyone healthy. :nod:

Kailie if one of the best people on TCS to get fostering advice from. I would go to Kailie :hugs: if I ever needed advice on my fosters. :nod: SO not much to add to her great advice! The place that I have fostered from does cover all medical expenses :nod: I do pay for my own food though and litter of course. As to how long you will be a foster?... that depends on who you are going to foster. We have older cats that need a break from the shelter and many will foster the senior kitties - sometimes indefinitely. Kittens - yes - must be returned at about 10 weeks of age after they are completely weaned and have had their first two sets of shots. We have short-term fostering needs and long-term fostering needs, both for cats and dogs. It is truly a very rewarding charitable thing to do and I do hope to foster again. :nod: Good luck !!!!!!!!!!!! :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: Let us know if/when you get your first fosters!!!! :lovegrin:
 
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bsowell

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It is great to hear from someone that has been fostering for along time. I have just started. I am on my third set of kittens which are sick with eye infections and one had bad URI. They are getting better but still have aways to go. I did not know it took so long for their eyes to get better. I love taking care of them and hope to build a room soon where I can take care of more.
 

feralvr

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It is great to hear from someone that has been fostering for along time. I have just started. I am on my third set of kittens which are sick with eye infections and one had bad URI. They are getting better but still have aways to go. I did not know it took so long for their eyes to get better. I love taking care of them and hope to build a room soon where I can take care of more.
:clap::clap: Bless your heart for what you are doing too :hugs: Yeah :shame: viral eye infections can take awhile to clear. Mega vibes for the little ones that they will recover soon!!! :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

bsowell

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Thanks, we just got another new one today that has eye problems. We took her since we already had three at home sick. She is so little and we noticed that she is limping on her front leg so we are going to contact the lady over Save-A-Pet which we foster under to see what she wants us to do. We have one cat that belongs to us that is a Hemingway because she has extra toes on front and back paws. Her name is Anna Beth and we just found out she is blind. She is so good getting around in the house that she had us all fooled but I think she can see lights because she likes to get in the window seal. She is our baby and we will take care of her and give her a good home.
 Her picture is on my profil.
 
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clynn11

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Well I contacted Haven Humane and heard back from them. I'm planning on getting this side room a little bit more foster friendly and then going down and filling out the application! I'll definitely be sure to post a thread with updates and pictures of my first little foster family!
 

feralvr

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Thanks, we just got another new one today that has eye problems. We took her since we already had three at home sick. She is so little and we noticed that she is limping on her front leg so we are going to contact the lady over Save-A-Pet which we foster under to see what she wants us to do. We have one cat that belongs to us that is a Hemingway because she has extra toes on front and back paws. Her name is Anna Beth and we just found out she is blind. She is so good getting around in the house that she had us all fooled but I think she can see lights because she likes to get in the window seal. She is our baby and we will take care of her and give her a good home. :blackcat:  Her picture is on my profil.
AWWW bless you TWICE!!!!!!!!!!! You are doing something SO wonderful and we need more people such as yourself in this world :heart3: :clap::clap::clap:

p.s. Just so we don't get take away from Clynn's thread here - would you please consider starting your own thread and talk about your fostering experiences too?? :bigwink: We love to hear from EVERYONE and it is great to have your very own thread to talk about your kitties. :hugs: :rub: :wavey: AND WELCOME TO TCS !!!!!!!!!! :clap2:
 
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feralvr

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Well I contacted Haven Humane and heard back from them. I'm planning on getting this side room a little bit more foster friendly and then going down and filling out the application! I'll definitely be sure to post a thread with updates and pictures of my first little foster family!
OH this is just wonderful news to hear. I can't wait to see pictures of your first fosters!!!!!!! Congratulations and thank you for putting your heart on the line for special kitties!!!!! :clap::clap::clap:
 
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