Fostering questions

For those that foster pregnant cats and orphaned babies that need bottle feeding, do you work at home? Or do you have someone at home at the times that you have to work? I don't have a job out there yet so I'm going to try and look for telecommuting jobs, but if I can't, will I just have to wait to do this? Also, I'm currently in OK with family but will go back to where me and hubby are stationed, Camp Pendleton in CA. He's in the Marines and we're in base housing. Who would we contact to see if I could foster? It says we're only allowed 2 pets. Would I just have to not tell them? LOL

Originally Posted by Keshia

For those that foster pregnant cats and orphaned babies that need bottle feeding, do you work at home? Or do you have someone at home at the times that you have to work? I don't have a job out there yet so I'm going to try and look for telecommuting jobs, but if I can't, will I just have to wait to do this? Also, I'm currently in OK with family but will go back to where me and hubby are stationed, Camp Pendleton in CA. He's in the Marines and we're in base housing. Who would we contact to see if I could foster? It says we're only allowed 2 pets. Would I just have to not tell them? LOL

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Keshia..welcome. I fostered a mom and her 3 kittens (kittens had been born at the shelter) and I worked a full time job. I kept mom and the kittens in my bathroom with a litterbox, food and water for mom and a nice box for mom to feed the babies. The mom I fostered did a terrific job taking care of her kittens. One thing to be prepared for....one of my foster kittens developed pneumonia and died. It was really heartbreaking. The reason I mention it is that some people expect there to not be a problem when they foster, but given the history of these cats...sometimes they can get sick and even die...so you need to be prepared for that.

I would contact the base and ask if they allow fostering and if that counts against their 2 pet limit.

Katie

I agree. It is not unusual for kittens to die, usually it is just nature taking its course. Also, you need to be ready to make vet runs at any time-I have saved several kittens that way.

Yes I definitely know about the sick/dying moms AND babies. I have raised my own litter of cats YEARS ago before I knew about spaying/neutering and all the problems (luckily I've only ever had 1 "mistake" litter) and helped birth/raise several litters of dogs and cats of people that don't have a clue about anything except that they want to "raise babies". So I know LOL

I will contact the housing office tomorrow but I'm thinking I may have to wait until we move out in June 07 to be able to foster

Thanks for the replies!

Originally Posted by Keshia

Yes I definitely know about the sick/dying moms AND babies. I have raised my own litter of cats YEARS ago before I knew about spaying/neutering and all the problems (luckily I've only ever had 1 "mistake" litter) and helped birth/raise several litters of dogs and cats of people that don't have a clue about anything except that they want to "raise babies". So I know LOL

I will contact the housing office tomorrow but I'm thinking I may have to wait until we move out in June 07 to be able to foster

Thanks for the replies!

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Keshia....Let us know how it goes with the housing office. If they don't have a problem with you fostering...you may want to start contacting rescue groups and asking about their foster policies. You definately want to find a group you agree with.

Katie

Well I called the housing office and they said it would count against their 2 pet limit so I guess I won't be able to. I emailed a few rescues and asked if they have any foster parents on base though so will see what they say. Ugh, I really don't wanna wait to do this!

How many pets do you currently have? If you only have one pet, you could foster one kitty, just not a pregnant one! Sometimes foster agencies get a cat that needs more one on one attention, and a home with limited pets might be a great help to them.

Please don't go over the limit of animals allowed to foster, because if you are caught those animals are homeless again!