What is it like to foster for 9 Lives Rescue? While everyone’s foster experience is different based on the space they have and the cats they choose to take in, here are some answers to questions you might want to know before signing up.
What kind of space do I need foster cats?
Every cat will have different needs, and we will work to match a cat to the space you have. You will always need to provide a clean space, litter box, and fresh food and water. Most cats will also need an environment that allows them to hide, play, and scratch.
Most fosters have a room seperate from their own pets to keep everyone happy and healthy. Once a cat has been medically cleared and is friendly with other animals, fosters are free to introduce them to the rest of the house.
Some cats, like pregnant moms or young kittens, will have special requirements, and our foster team will work with you if this is something you are interested in.
How much time do I have to commit to fostering?
One of the benefits of being a foster-based rescue is that fosters can spend more time with the cats in their homes than they would get at a shelter. However, this doesn’t have to take a lot of time out of your day. You should plan to spend enough time to feed and clean up after your cat daily, as well as to give them some regular playtime and socialization.
We prefer most of our fosters to be long term and plan to have their cats for weeks or months at a time. This lets the cats get more comfortable and show of their personalities. Of course, when you are out of town or just need a break, we can move your animals to another foster temporarily. If you can’t commit to long term fostering, you could be the person to help take a cat while another foster is out of town.
What supplies do I have to provide?
9 Lives receives donations of food, litter, toys, and other supplies, but often there isn’t enough to cover all of the cats we care for. Many fosters use a combination of items provided by the rescue and things they buy.
When setting up your foster space, you’ll want food and water bowls, at least one litter box, something for the cat to scratch, and some toys to play with. If you already have cats, some hand me downs from your pets will do just fine! You should also be prepared to buy some food and litter, but reach out to the rescue if you need some of our donated items.
Before placing a cat in your home, a member of the rescue will look at your foster space and make sure it is suitable for foster cats, as well as make any suggestions if needed.
9 Lives manages and pays for all vet expenses for the cats in our care. This includes spaying/neutering, vaccinations, testing, medications, microchipping, and emergency care.
Can I foster if I have pets of my own?
Yes! Most of our fosters have pets.
When a cat first comes into rescue, they do need to be kept in their own space for a quarantine period. This helps us make sure the cat is healthy and friendly, and gives the cat time to get acclimated to their new environment before meeting any other pets. Once the quarantine period is over, we can help you introduce your foster to the rest of your household, or you can continue keeping them seperate.
To keep both pets and fosters safe, your pets should be up to date on vaccinations and see a vet regularly.
If you don’t have a space suitable for this quarantine period, you can still foster. It is common for a cat to start at a foster with a quarantine space and later move to another foster home.
What kind of cats can I foster?
The types of cats you are able to foster depend on your resources and experience.
Very young kittens and pregnant mothers require a lot of knowledge and are very time consuming, and as they get older they will require more space and play time. New intakes require a private quarantine space. Semi-feral cats may require someone with experience in socialization, and cats with medical conditions may require specialized care. But plenty of older kittens and cats are low maintenance!
If there is a specific type of cat you want to foster, we can work with you to make sure you are prepared.
How can you bear to adopt out your foster cats? What if I want to adopt one?
Seeing the joy on an adopters face when they finally find “the one” and knowing that the cat you’ve been caring for is going to a loving home make the experience one of the most rewarding parts of fostering, but saying goodbye can be incredibly hard. When you’re ready to take the next foster, you’ll remember how adopting out one cat allows you to take in, care for, and ultimately safe the life of the next one.
Every foster inevitably finds someone they just can’t let go. We love our “foster fails”, and give fosters the opportunity to adopt cats in their care. When you think your foster is ready to become your family member, let a member of the rescue know.
I have other questions!
Reach out to us at volunteer@9livesrescue.org, or include questions in your foster application below.
I want to foster!
Great! The first step is to fill out our foster application, and we’ll get back to you soon.