Fostering A Pregnant Cat

I am interested in fostering a pregnant cat. I have never fostered before but I have had 2 cats before who lived to 20. I am open to sessions to learn about taking care of a pregnant cat and kittens. But before I foster I have some questions.

1. How much free time is required to foster a cat and kittens.
2. How to know when your cats in labour.
3. What should I do when the kittens are being born
4. Do you choose the pet you foster
5. How long does the cat stay with you

Thanks in advance[emoji]128521[/emoji]

It's fantastic that you are interested in fostering! Welcome aboard! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I suggest that you begin by reading some of the threads on this site. Lots of people on here are fostering right now and having all kinds of experiences. You will learn a lot, and you'll see some of the trials, tribulations, and rewards. It will help you to formulate your questions going forward, and to organize your thoughts about the reality of fostering. It can be a big time commitment to foster a pregnant mom and kittens.

Reading most of our articles in the Pregnant Cats and Kittens section will also give you tons of excellent information.

Then, you should call area shelters and see what their requirements are. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

You can also find out quite a bit about the different shelters and rescues in your area by reading their web page/site.

You don't really 'pick' the cat you want.  Once vetted, the organization will call and say we have this cat/kittens, can you take them.  You can request a pregnant cat but not specific personalities.  Usually there isn't much background info on the cat.  I once took a cat from one foster who had her and her kittens and once they were weaned/adopted I took her so that foster could take another batch of kittens.  That cat had a little background info.

With rescues you foster the cat until it is adopted.

TabbyAndTux said:

I am interested in fostering a pregnant cat. I have never fostered before but I have had 2 cats before who lived to 20. I am open to sessions to learn about taking care of a pregnant cat and kittens. But before I foster I have some questions.

1. How much free time is required to foster a cat and kittens.
2. How to know when your cats in labour.
3. What should I do when the kittens are being born
4. Do you choose the pet you foster
5. How long does the cat stay with you

Thanks in advance[emoji]128521[/emoji]

Click to expand...

Yes, its quite common the fosterer chooses to keep one or more of the protegées. Not seldom its the mom, whom gave you her confidence, but isnt that hot on the adoption arena, not as her kittens.

Sometimes you will need to pay the usual adoption fee - if the rescue organisation covered all expenses.  I suspect you will often get a reduction, esp if its the mom you adopt. Or some kitten with special needs.

Choosing when getting a foster?  As said, its seldom you can pick the exact individual based on exact info.

But a choice to do is often, if you wish the mom to be a tame cat, say a family girl thrown out when she become pregnant - quite common with both humans and cats.

Or if its OK for you to foster a shy semiferale.

For a newbe its of course easier with a tame, fully socialized momma.  but taking care of that shy is very rewarding - and usually it goes surprising easy.

The really aggressive are almost never taken in, and never given to a newbe, unprepared fosterer. Never.

So what you may meet is essentially some hissing.  They almost never do really someting as long as you are respectful to her and hers kittens.  Long story short, it goes surprisingly nice and well.  The momma understands very well what is the best practical chance for her children.  If she understands its you, she will copy and cooperate.

Its not sure you will manage to foster her succesfully, but you wont have problems with the fostering of the kittens.

As you see, Im somewhat burning for them.   

Thank you everyone for answering! I will read some articles about fostering on this site.
The only thing I'm worried about is that I heard you need a scale. Is a scale completely nessicary?

* Necessary

Yes, a scale is necessary. You'll want to weigh them daily to make sure everyone is gaining weight appropriately. Why is that a concern?

It's not I was just wondering

TabbyAndTux said:

Thank you everyone for answering! I will read some articles about fostering on this site.
The only thing I'm worried about is that I heard you need a scale. Is a scale completely nessicary?

Click to expand...

The scale as such isnt no big deal, you dont need to buy the most fancy, there are cheap electronic scales measuring in grammes.  You may perhaps even borrow one.

The whole point as as hinted; this is the easiest way to get an early warning if something is amiss.  Or vice versa, get a sort of assurance everything is OK - if they gain nicely, so they gain nicely, you dont need to guess, you know.

So a scale and everyday weighting is really a wonderful helping device for any not so very experienced.

The very experienced often manage without, they see just by a glance and by handling the kitten,  but it takes at least 10 litters to come there.

Afterwards its a nice memory to give the adopters.  Alike human infants where you always want to remember the delivery weight and lengh on every child, no?

Is it normal to have to bottle feed a certain cat like the runt. Is there always a runt.

In litters with more than 4 kittens there is almost always a runt or two. So yes, supplementing is normal, or people risk losing a kitten who is not getting enough to eat. They won't always take a bottle though, when they have a mom. So a syringe is often used to supplement.