Fostering a Cat: Busting Common Myths on Temporary Cat Care

It’s easy to love a cat! Even skinny, sickly, needy cats are cute and endearing to most animal lovers. Unfortunately, for many potential cat foster carers, there are some misconceptions about the process that may be getting in the way of the right people providing help to cats in need. If you’ve considered fostering a cat but you’re worried that your home is too small, that it will cost too much money, or that you won’t be able to give the cat away when someone wants to adopt a pet—read on!Let’s set the record straight: Almost anyone who loves animals can be a great foster carer. The job’s most important prerequisites are empathy and dedication. If you have those two qualities, we need you! Fostering takes a lot of the strain off of shelters who are constantly searching for more space in which to save more animals.

Cat Fostering Myth #1: I Don’t Have Enough Room for an Extra Animal 

The amount of space you need to provide for a foster cat really depends on the cat—or kitten. Young kittens, up until about 6-7 weeks of age, need the least space and are perfectly fine in a bathroom or in the sort of playpen you’d use for a baby. Until their eyes are fully functional (which takes about 8 weeks!), kittens won’t do too much running around, and they won’t be able to climb over the short walls of, say, a laundry basket or cardboard box. Older kittens do need some space to run and play and learn about movement, but a spare bedroom will still do the trick very nicely until they get adopted!

Senior cats should be able to free roam throughout your living space, but even if that’s just equivalent to a basement or studio apartment, it’s enough. Adult cats younger than 10-12 can do the same, but ideally, they will be adopted by someone with a slightly larger home, or catio, for some extra room to run. Even a single room, for a cat or kitten of any age, can be a lifesaver. Don’t discount what you have to offer! It’s almost certainly a life of luxury compared to homelessness, and you’ll be able to offer regular food, clean water, and medicine that would otherwise be unavailable to an animal on the street. 

Cat Fostering Myth #2: I Don’t Have Any Extra Money for Fostering Expenses 

Financial concerns are valid in any rescue or foster situation. Cats, dogs and other domestic animals have ongoing medical, nutritional and maintenance needs that cost money on a regular basis. A bag of good-quality, veterinarian-approved cat food costs $60-100+ per cat, per month, while vet bills and medicines can be surprisingly high. Spay and neuter appointments for cats are $100+, while follow-up medical care for infections or diseases that are common in stray cats make the monthly bills even higher.

Fortunately for cat fosterers affiliated with a group like the Humane Society or other high-quality animal shelter associations, some or all of these expenses are mitigated. If you choose to foster a cat or other animal with us, we’ll make it as easy for you as possible. If you want to foster but aren’t able to supply your own litter box, cat litter, food dishes and bedding, let us know. It’s so important to us that people like you help us care for as many homeless pets as we can—that’s why we’re happy to consult with potential foster carers to come up with a plan that works for everyone. 

Cat Fostering Myth #3: I Won’t be Able to Say Goodbye to a Foster Cat! 

Honestly, this is the hardest part of being a cat fosterer. There’s no way around it: giving away an animal with whom you have bonded and lived for weeks or months can be heartbreaking. Sometimes, even the most seasoned cat fosterers will proudly show you their so-called “foster fails”—that is, those very special cats and dogs that were supposed to be temporary fosters but ended up becoming permanent family members. It could happen to you! However, if you look at the bigger picture, you’ll be able to feel the satisfaction and joy of letting your fosters go into their loving, forever homes, leaving room for another needy foster animal.

Think of yourself as one important caregiver in a series of caregivers. Just as schoolteachers must part with their most beloved pupils, so too must foster carers part with their special little charges! Remember that if someone wants to adopt a cat and they choose your foster, you’ll be able to help so many more in their place.

Cat Fostering Myth #4: I Can’t Foster a Cat Because I Have Other Cats/Dogs

If you’re considering fostering a cat, we can safely assume that you are an animal lover (obviously!), and that means you may already have cats, dogs or other pets in your home. Whether they will allow you to bring in a temporary feline visitor or not is something only you know! You’ll need to consider how your pet or pets behave towards visiting pets, or cats and dogs they meet in the yard or while on walks.

If you know that your pet is aggressive towards other animals, you shouldn’t bring a vulnerable foster into your home until you’ve had your existing pet trained out of the negative behaviour. However, if your pet seems rude or vocally negative towards other animals, you might be able to make fostering work. We have personal experience with rude house pets who are all meow/screech and no claws!

The best way to introduce a foster cat into the home of an existing pet or pets is to isolate the newcomer in a single room or space where the others cannot go. Keep the new kitty there for 1-2 weeks before integration with the rest of the household, if at all. That way, everyone will be able to get used to the scents and sounds of one another before coming face to face.

Even when introduced slowly, and to the most patient and sociable of cats, foster kitties will face hisses and growls and a swat or two. That’s normal, and there’s no reason to worry about a couple of introductory insults. Really, these are a regular part of cat communication. Keep an eye on everybody and make sure that no real aggression breaks out—physical attacks with one attacker and another cowering, or both rolling and screeching with claws and teeth out. If they insist on fighting, keep them separated. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a foster pet in its own room. Some animals, however, are happy to move past the initial hissing phase into friendship.

When introducing your dog to a new cat, do so with the dog’s leash or harness on and a firm grip. Make sure your doggy knows that you want the cat to be treated kindly—dogs follow their owner’s attitude and behavioural cues. If your dog has little experience with cats, make sure to supervise them closely for the first week or two.

In some cases, stray cats may have had bad experiences with other animals and asking them to cohabitate would be very stressful. Learn everything you can about your foster cat’s history to decide whether or not to introduce them to any existing pets. Sometimes, cats who have experienced trauma with other cats or dogs can benefit just from the knowledge that other animals are nearby but not a threat. A calm atmosphere, perhaps supplemented by a pheromone spray or plug-in (think Feliway), is extremely important.

Cat Fostering Myth #5: The Medical Needs of an Ex-Stray Cat are Complicated 

It isn’t uncommon for foster pets to come with their own special set of instructions. Stray cats have often come from sad conditions, where their medical and nutritional needs weren’t met properly, or at all. Cats with temporary illnesses, like intestinal parasites, fleas, skin infections and salmonella, will be treated ASAP by vets and veterinary technicians upon rescue—however, they will often continue to need medicine for several days or weeks afterwards. As someone with a foster cat, you may need to administer medicine in the form of pills, skin creams, etc.

Though the thought of giving a cat any kind of medicine might be terrifying—it really isn’t! Giving a cat a pill can be a lot easier than it sounds (or looks on Tik Tok), so don’t worry too much if you need to medicate your foster cat. Many pills, including dewormers and painkillers, are easy to crush with a spoon and mix into something your kitty finds delicious, like tuna juice or canned food. Be sure to use only a spoonful or two of food if hiding medicine, to make sure the medicated section actually gets eaten. About a quarter of a cup of tuna juice should do the trick.

Long-term medical issues, like diabetes or FIV, require their own medications, and if you are new to the fostering game then it’s unlikely you will be asked to get a cat accustomed to a new treatment regime. A daily pill or cream that a cat is already used to receiving should be pretty simple—and if you aren’t comfortable with needle-administered medications or anything complicated, just say so! Nobody will send you home with a high-maintenance kitty if that’s not something you can handle.

Some cats have special needs that don’t require medicine, like those with cerebellar hypoplasia or an amputated leg. Like every other kitty, these just need lots of love and praise and treats, and to know that someone cares.

Cat Fostering Myth #6: I Shouldn’t Foster Animals if I Have Kids 

Why not? Many households include kids of all ages as well as a few family pets. The two can and usually do get along fine! Sure, there are animals that have had negative experiences with human kids, but we would never let a non-kid-friendly kitty go to a kid-populated foster home. If you have kids and want to foster, let’s talk! It can be a really great experience for kids and cats alike.

Toddlers and young children can be scary for a pet when they aren’t taught how to be gentle, so supervision is definitely necessary. Make sure your kids understand how to care for the foster cat or kitten properly and explain to them how to introduce themselves with a hand to the nose before petting or picking up the cat. Learning these basic cat manners can help kids (and adults) and cats get along very well.

Are You Ready to Foster a Cat?

Do you love animals? Do you love cats? It’s a simple question, and you probably already know the answer. If you don’t, however, why not drop by the Humane Society to visit some cats and kittens in person? Nobody can help you discover if you’re ready to foster a cat quite like the cats who have been there and done that already! Visit the Humane Society of Greater Niagara any weekday between 9am and 5pm, Saturdays between 10am to 4pm, or Sundays from 11am to 3pm, to socialize with our cats.

Kitty socialization at the Humane Society takes place in a private room where you can hang out with the cat or cats of your choice for 15-20 minutes. It’s a space where you can play, snuggle, chat or just observe the cats do what they do. If you aren’t sure who to choose, ask one of our staff or volunteers! They’ll make sure you get a sweet playmate or an overlooked, timid kitty in need of attention.

If you’re an experienced cat lover, or want to help a more challenging kitty, consider joining our Undersocialized Feline Rehabilitation group. This group specifically fosters cats who once were pets, but have experienced extreme trauma and lost their trust in humans. Almost feral, these cats cannot go to the regular adoption rooms at the Humane Society because they have no house cat skills and are usually terrified or aggressive. The UFR group has resocialized and helped more than 100 cats get adopted, so you can see what an important program this is!

What’s Next? Is there a Cat Rescue Near Me?

If you live in the Greater Niagara area, we’d love to hook you up with a special cat in need! Stop by for a visit or fill out our Queens and Kittens Volunteer form to apply to become a cat fosterer. We’ll get in touch as soon as possible to set up a meeting and find the right foster kitty for you and your household. Thanks for being part of our community!