Fostering abandoned cats and kitten litters is a wonderful way to help the cat population problem, while also enjoying kittens grow and thrive under your loving care. While it may be sad to give up a cat or kitten you've nurtured for weeks, it is a joyous event to see that baby go to a permanent loving home.
Some people become kitten fosters by accident: feeding stray cats, finding an abandoned litter of kittens, or having a pregnant cat show up at their doorstep. Others may be introduced to fostering by working as a shelter volunteer, or volunteering for an "adoption day event," by a local feral cat rescue group.
Cat Foster for Many Years
Siamese Rescue and the Cats site and forum at About.com taught me everything I needed to know. I wasn't afraid to ask for advice and to try everything if something wasn't working. I also used Google …
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Fostering from a Guy's Point of View
I was fortunate to know a couple of cat wranglers that used to hang out at this forum, and we e-mailed a lot. The immediate bath thing, the wife developed, while I was walking down some more nearly d…
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My First Attempt at Fostering Kittens
I'd had cats all my life, so was fairly knowledgeable in their care. This was before the days of the Internet, so I had to rely on my own experience back then. Unfortunately, at the time, little was …
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New Foster, Learning Fast!
What did we do before the internet? I have cats, and my younger cat was abandoned from a farm, so I muddled through that and she is a happy healthy 13 pounder now... My first set of kittens were 5-6 …
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You Can't Go Back!
I learned the hard way, all on my own doing mega research.I have made mistakes of course, and have had some help from experts but mostly by doing research. I also asked alot of questions of friends o…
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My Home Has a Revolving Door
Mary Ann, the lady that got me started, taught me basics and more. I did lots of research online, with books and articles to keep up to date, made contacts with local vets, shelters, and anyone that …
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Empty Nest Syndrome
I looked online for advice, but all in all I treated them like they were my own babies and did everything that I would do for a kid. Although I had some experience the internet proved to be endlessly…
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Kitten Fostering Takes a Financial and Emotional Commitment
Three years ago when I found a 3 week old I had to learn from books, online research and my vet. This time the shelter staff has been a terrific resource and the same vet has been a godsend. Now that…
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Fostering Kittens Involves the Whole Family
I've had the help of other rescue group volunteers, mostly. They've given me supplies, taught me how to syringe feed, how to keep the kittens warm. I've also learned a lot online. There is a wealth o…
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My First Fosters, But Not my Last
I have had cats and am a cat lady so I know a lot about them. This was my first experience with itty bitties and it was bittersweet. I did some online research but I also had/have the support and exp…
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I Keep my "Fosters"
I learned on my own, through experience. The most important thing I learned was how tiny kittens often do not know how to drink on their own. I had to give each of them water, using a dropper several…
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Cat Foster for 20 Months
I've been a cat mama for years so some of my knowledge came from my own experience. The rest comes from reading books and online articles as well as asking questions of my vet and fellow volunteers. …
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Tiny Foster Kittens
I talked to my vet and to shelter staff. I read books and went online looking for help in fostering kittens. Things I learned from the first litter were helpful the second time around, though I never…
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Cat & Kitten Foster for 17 Years
I grew up with cats so I knew pretty much about their care. The rest was on-the-job training. I will say that living with kittens was a new experience. They were a lot of fun, but when I took them ba…
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Time-Consuming But Worthwhile
I have always had cats, and any questions were answered by the Animal Rescue League. There is information available everywhere from the library, shelters, online. There are also some great online com…
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Foster Mom of 75 Kitties in 2.5 Years!
Having had cats before, way back when no one spayed and neutered and your cats got out and had kittens, and no one even knew about FeLV/FIV, I relied on her for advice in the beginning, and learned a…
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Fosterer for 20 Years
I've always lived with cats so knew a fair bit but I supplemented this with reading as much as I could about the subject, also there is always someone at the Shelter to get additional advice from if …
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Foster Mom to 40 Cats - All Adopted Out
Because I've had cats all my life, I was already familiar with a lot of what is involved, but it helped to have a handbook for fostering from the rescue I foster for, and a director who is available …
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We Volunteer as Fosterers for a Shelter
We have had cats for years and have learn a lot just caring for them through all their problems from diabetes to asthma and on, so it really wasn't hard to take care of kittens and sick cats. We just…
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I Became a Foster by Accident
Recently, a call from our local vet's office announced that a box containing four two week old kittens was left on their step. With my experience raising kittens, I was back in business! These little…
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Fostered and Rescued for 20 Years
I learned to care for cats and kittens after many years of experience through several situations. I became knowledgeable reading about cats and learning what to do in different circumstances. After l…
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Experienced Foster Mom of Kittens
The shelter prepared a folder with some paperwork regarding the general basic care, and what to do in an emergency - along with contact numbers if there was an issue. I also belong to several cat gro…
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A Known Expert Shares Advice
Lots of assistance from the rescue I work with, the vets I work with, and learning that no matter how much you think you're screwing something up, you're not... Watch the mama cat. It's important in …
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Rescuer of 5 Tiny Kittens
My mom is an animal lover too and growing up, we fostered sick kittens, squirrels and even a couple of chipmunks! Anytime I had a question that mom can't answer, I call either our vet or the guy that…
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I've Rescued & Fostered Kittens Since 18
I rescued an abandoned kitten when I was 18 years old. I got a call while I was at church one Sunday that the kitten was dying. So I rushed home and my dad took me and the kitten to our local vet. He…
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I Work With Feral Kittens
I tried calling local rescue groups but everyone had the same answer...some variation on ferals will never really be tame. And the local "humane" society put an adult to sleep immediately rather than…
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I Work With a Local Shelter
I did a lot of reading in preparation for fostering, through books, websites (especially About.com!), and cat forums. It helps to have a community of experienced people to turn to for advice. Also, t…
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