We hope these FAQs clear up any lingering doubts and inspire you to save lives by enquiring about fostering today.
What do you mean by 'foster carers save lives'?
Space is a constant issue for Catcuddles and all animal charities. There are always ten times the number of cats in need of our help than there are spaces to house those cats until adoption, and often these cats are abandoned, at risk of euthanasia or homelessness, or in generally bad or desperate situations. Every foster home equals one more space, and by extension, one more cat saved. So quite literally, foster carers save lives!
Read the story of Bo & Belle, rescued thanks to an emergency foster carer.
My cat doesn't like other cats - can I still foster?
Yes!
At Catcuddles, we generally don't advise mixing existing cats with foster cats. What we suggest instead is fostering the cat in just one room of your home, with the door kept closed and everything the cat needs - litter tray, bowls, bedding, toys - provided inside. This method minimizes the level of disruption to your own cat, who may at first be a little perturbed by the scent of another cat nearby, but will usually adapt within a few days, once it becomes apparent that the new cat will not be making any further forrays into your cat’s territory. The majority of our foster carers have cats of their own.
We ask that all existing cats in our foster homes are neutered and vaccinated.
Won't the foster cat get bored?
The idea of the fostering room is to simulate the kind of space a cat would have in an animal shelter or cattery. Though not designed for the long term, for the average time it takes for a cat to find a loving new home (two to three months), it's absolutely fine, as long as the environment is kept clean and sanitary, and the cat has plenty of toys, bedding and attention, and stimulation from his or her foster carer. Of course, we would love every cat fostered with us to have the full run of a house, but this is simply not practical or possible, and when the alternative is the cat being homeless, a short stay in a comfortable fostering room, with a kind-hearted volunteer, is a very small price to pay for the chance at a new life with an adoptive family.
So, do I need a spare room?
A spare room is absolutely ideal, particularly if spacious, easy to clean and un-cluttered. However, if you don't have cats or dogs of your own, you can be far more flexible about the kind of space you dedicate to your foster cat. Some foster carers have also adapted their home offices or bedrooms for fostering; if in doubt, just send us a picture of the room and we will advise you on its suitability.
Remember, it's your responsibility as a foster carer to remove anything from your dedicated fostering room that you don't want to get damaged or broken, such as ornaments, furniture, or carpets. Though a great many cats do not scratch or climb, it's best not to leave these things up to chance (particularly where mischievous kittens are concerned!)
Do I need a form of transport and why?
It's preferable that you have a form of transport, particularly if you do not live locally to either of our hubs in SE2 and N13, although we will consider all enquiries.
This is because although fostering is a kind of volunteering that is almost entirely done at home, there are likely to be at least one or two occasions when your foster cat will need to visit our North London Clinic or collaborating vets in Greenwich, usually for vaccinations, occasionally for a health check or other treatment.
You will also need to bring your cat to one of our hubs for the adoption to take place, and it's always good to have a car in case your cat has a medical emergency, though thankfully these are rare.
Public transport is usually less than ideal except for very short journeys, and though there are volunteers able to transport foster cats where needed, finding a volunteer available for long, repeated, or journeys at short notice isn’t possible 100% of the time.
“Young kittens grow and learn and develop their individual personalities so quickly; giving them what they need to do this is a privilege, especially if they are particularly vulnerable to begin with. I have been surprised and impressed at how two of my fostered mums have unhesitatingly taken on someone else’s kitten and fed, washed, and disciplined the kitten as their own. Saying goodbye leaves a bit of a hollow feeling but that’s fostering.”
What's the difference between fostering and adopting?
Sometimes the terminology that charities use can be a little confusing. Adoption is taking full responsibility for a cat, and all his or her needs, for the duration of that cat's life.
Fostering a cat is taking responsibility for a cat for only a short while, until he or she can find a permanent, adoptive home, and on behalf of a charity, who cover all that cat's veterinary costs and oversee his or her welfare. Answering enquiries about a cat and matching him or her with the right adoptive home is undertaken by the charity, not the foster carer themselves, although fostering volunteers do also provide vital feedback on prospective adopters.
How long will my foster cat stay with me?
On average, most cats wait for a new home for around two to three months, sometimes less, sometimes a little more if their needs are complex - it's not possible to predict. However, we only ask carers to foster cats for as long as they are able to.
So it's very important when you begin fostering to let us know what kind of time commitment you can offer, whether it's one to six months, whether you will consider a special needs cat facing a potentially longer stay, and whether you have any holidays coming up. Opening up an alternative space at a week’s notice can be tough if you find yourself suddenly unable to continue fostering a cat, so please be forthright about your limitations from the offset.
Can my foster cat go outside?
The short answer is no. In order to minimize the chances of a cat becoming lost or getting hit by a car, introducing him or her to the outdoors in a new home should be a long and gradual process. Each cat also needs to be carefully matched with the kind of outside space available - for example, a young cat with no experience of the outdoors is unsuitable for a garden near a busy road - and fully up to date with vaccinations before venturing outside, which can take over a month.
Therefore, since foster cats stay with their carers for just a short while, it is not practical nor worth the risk of injury and escape to introduce them to the outdoors, and foster carers must take extreme care to keep doors and windows closed in their fostering room. Again, a brief stay inside is a small sacrifice for a cat who is at risk of homelessness without the charity's help, and when the cat is adopted they can once again enjoy exploring the great outdoors, after a safe and slow introduction and in a location best suited for their needs.
How often will my foster cat get adoption visitors?
Rarely more than once or twice a week, and a member of the adoptions team will always contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time for the visit, and ask you for your thoughts and feedback on how it went. Visits usually last for 20 minutes to one hour, and consist of the prospective adopter meeting your foster cat, and perhaps asking a question or two about his or her personality and needs. They will then report back to the adoptions team who will inform you of the next steps.
Do I need to be home-checked or vetted?
The safety and well-being of the cats in our care is the charity’s number one priority. Therefore we do have some vetting procedures in place for foster carers, just as we do for prospective adopters and for all volunteers who will be involved in the care of the cats in some capacity. Cats ending up in the wrong hands is, unfortunately, a recurrent problem and as a charity dedicated to removing cats from unsuitable or unhappy circumstances, it’s our duty to be vigilant and not place cats in scenarios where they are a risk.
This vetting process might involve an initial conversation about the kind of fostering setup you can offer, your reasons for wanting to foster a cat, and any relevant experience, followed by a physical home visit by a Catcuddles volunteer, or in some cases, a video call. We recognise that the idea of being ‘checked’ can be intimidating, but hope you understand this is necessary in order to ensure that our cats are receiving a high standard of care at all times.
“I have enjoyed fostering even more than I hoped I would. It’s a lot of fun meeting different cats and although it can be bittersweet saying goodbye it’s really rewarding to be part of their journey and to know they’re going to a loving forever home.”
What happens when my foster cat gets adopted?
The adoption process at CatCuddles is as follows;
1) The prospective adopter completes the adoption enquiry form on the CatCuddles website.
2 ) A member of the adoptions team gives the prospective adopter a call, and if they are a good candidate for adoption and a good fit for your foster cat, organises a visit. The adoptions team member will contact you to find a mutually convenient time for this visit.
3) If the visit goes well and the prospective adopter wishes to proceed to the next stage, a home visit is organised, and your foster cat is marked as 'Reserved' on the CatCuddles Adoption page.
4) If the home visit is successful, a date is scheduled for adoption at one of our hubs, either in SE2 or Palmers Green, N13. You will either asked to transport your foster cat, or another volunteer will collect him or her if this is not possible. We will ensure that your foster cat is vaccinated, microchipped, neutered (if of age), and up to date with flea and worming treatments prior to the adoption.
What if I want to adopt my foster cat?
The occasional 'failed fosterer' is inevitable for any animal charity that relies on the services of fostering volunteers. Though we try to discourage this phenomenon, as having too many adopted cats in the home can sometimes restrict an individual's ability to continue fostering - and therefore save many lives - we have no rule against carers adopting their foster cats. As long as the home environment, attitude, and lifestyle of the fosterer is suitable for the cat in question, then they are a viable candidate for adoption, but it's important to make your feelings known as soon as possible, to avoid causing disappointment to another prospective adopter.
Can I post photos of my foster cat on social media?
Yes! We actively encourage this as it helps to generate adoption interest in foster cats from the public, and your pictures can also be used for your cat's adoption profile on our website. We also ask that you update us on your foster cat's progress, so sharing photos on our Facebook Community Group is a great way to inform both the public and the CatCuddles volunteer team at the same time. Very rarely we take in cats whose images cannot be shared on social media for specific reasons - for example, cats from individuals who have escaped from domestic abuse situations - but in these cases, you will be informed of the need for privacy.
One of our fostering volunteers, Laura, has written a blog about her experiences to encourage others to volunteer, and this is something we're also happy to support.
How much time will I need?
This really depends on your foster cat. If you are someone who works full time, you may not be suitable for young kittens or a cat that needs lots of stimulation and attention, but an older, independent cat will cope just fine with your schedule. You do, however, need to be able to accommodate occasional adoption visitors for your cat, and facilitate the odd visit to the vet if needed.
Do I need to be experienced?
If you have owned a cat at least once in your life, this is usually sufficient experience to foster a friendly cat or kitten without special or complex needs. If you haven't, but have done lots of research and are happy to have lots of guidance, then we will still consider you a potential candidate for a low-maintenance cat. A responsible attitude and a big heart are key.
If you are experienced, having worked or volunteered with cats in some capacity, then this is just wonderful, and we hope you will consider fostering shy cats or semi-feral kittens who need lots of handling and socialization.
“My biggest lesson had been that love is not exclusive and that it doesn’t get spread thin or diminish among the many foster cats over time. If anything, it seems that my own capacity to give love has expanded in line with the number of cats I’ve met and loved and I believe this capacity to be infinite. The more I foster, the more I love. The love “container” just grows...”
Do I get to pick my foster cat?
We tend to match foster cats with carers based on each cats' individual needs and personality. For example, a foster carer who works full time would not be best suited for a cat in need of lots of stimulation and attention, and a litter of energetic kittens may not be suited to someone with only a small room to offer. We are interested in your preferences however, particularly in regards to whether you are open to fostering kittens, pairs of cats, long-term stay cats or cats on daily medication.
Is it hard to say goodbye?
Adoption day is often bittersweet for foster carers, with them experiencing many conflicting emotions. Happiness that their foster cat has found a loving new home, pride that they have played a pivotal role in making that happen, and sadness at having to say goodbye to a cat they have loved and cared for. It's tough, but ultimately rewarding, especially when happy updates from a cat's adopter flood in - we always ask for these.
What kind of support will I have?
Catcuddles will provide bowls, bedding, toys, flea and worming treatments, all veterinary treatment, food and litter for your foster cat. We will usually ask that you collect these supplies prior to taking on your foster cat, in an emergency it may be possible to arrange for them to be dropped to you by a transport volunteer. We will request that you keep us updated through Facebook on your foster cat’s progress or when you are in need of anything, even if this is just advice.
An absolutely invaluable tool for fostering and indeed all volunteers is also our private volunteer group on Facebook. Though we understand that not everyone has Facebook, we will encourage you to make a profile if just for the purposes of using the group, as it will enable you to connect with the entire volunteer team, including other experienced foster carers - if you need advice or help with anything, all you need to do is post on this group!
What if my foster cat gets ill?
With so many cats in the charity's care, of course it's inevitable that one or two will occasionally become ill. The cost of veterinary treatment for all foster cats is covered by the charity, and if your cat is unwell we may ask that you take him or her to our North London Cat Clinic, or to one of our collaborating vets in Greenwich for assessment, or else have a transport volunteer take your foster cat for their appointment. Though this may not always be the vet most local to you, we prefer to stick to vets who we know and trust, and who we often have payment plans in place with, as vet bills pose a significant challenge for charities!
“Saying goodbye to a foster cat is always bittersweet. However, the knowledge that you’ve helped rescue the cat and give him or her a better life far outweighs the sadness. The Catcuddles Community helps a lot too - reading a forever home update makes my day!”
Will I get updates on my foster cat once he or she is adopted?
We always ask that adopters update us on how their CatCuddles' cat is settling in, and encourage them to join the CatCuddles Community Group on facebook, which consists of volunteers, adopters and general cat lovers, to share photos of their kitty and let us know if they need any help or advice.
What if I have a friend who wants to adopt my foster cat?
Anyone interested in adopting a Catcuddles cat is asked to complete the adoption enquiry form on our website, and go through the regular process of adoption. Of course, good character references for any potential adopter are always a bonus!