Question About Foster Homes vs Forever Homes

lavenderswan

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Hello,

I couldn't figure out where it's best to ask this question, so I'm placing it here. If it isn't the right place, I will watch for where it is moved.

I'm thinking about adopting a cat who is currently in a foster home, though I don't know yet why she's there and haven't met her yet. My question is, does a cat know it's in a temporary home, or does it feel that's it's forever home, and when someone else comes along and removes it to take it to their home, does the cat resent them for it?

I can certainly understand that a cat at a shelter would know the difference between being there, and being adopted and taken to someone's home, but what about a foster home? Sometimes they sleep right on the bed with people, so they must think they're part of the family, and probably aren't prepared to leave with someone that will be a stranger to them.
 

pinkdagger

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A foster home is intended to mimic a forever home so the cat doesn't spend time feeling stressed out in a cage or hiding with minimal interaction and space. Foster homes allow cats to feel more at ease and more comfortable so that when you meet them, you see and interact with them in a way that won't be completely dissimilar to how they'll be when you take them home.

It's difficult to foster an animal and try to make it not feel at home - whether it's a cage, a bedroom, or a house, it's the "home" they currently know. To achieve the above, they should be comfortable.

Animals live in the now. They don't think about living in that foster home in ten years.

I don't think cats deal with any sort of resentment - some cats are more excited and some cats are more easily stressed with change, but they adapt to their new homes and their new people with time.
 
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canopener

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Some cats will adjust quickly and others will be more freaked out when they go to their "real" homes, whether their previous accommodations were a shelter, breeder, or foster home. It can help the transition to bring some familiar items home with the cat--when I adopted Ciaran, the shelter sent us home with a blanket and catnip toy from his cage--and, if possible start off with the same brand of food and litter. One thing to keep in mind about the difference between a foster home and a real home: the key difference is time. Foster kitties are with their foster families for a comparatively short time (usually), and that makes a difference in how much a part of their foster family they feel they are and how easily they can adapt to a new family.
 

chromium blues

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Introducing the cat to its new situation properly also plays a huge part in helping them adapt to their new surroundings. Confine the new cat to a small space (like a bathroom) with food, water, and litter box for the first night. Put a radio on. Go in there and chill out. Bring a good book and some cat snacks and let the cat come to you at their own pace. Before long, they'll know you're the source for love, attention, and food.
 
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