Becoming a Foster Parent
What is a foster home?
A foster home is the most important part of rescue! Rescues can be coordinated but without the dedication of people who open their homes to care for these rescues, the cats are still in peril!
A foster home provides the "between" time: the time the cats spends from the shelter to the permanent home. When a cat is rescued from a high kill shelter, it will likely be very scared, and possibly ill because it has been so stressed. A foster will take this poor frightened cat in and give it good food, fresh water, protection and love! The foster may need to rehabilitate the kitty, so that it will accept human love or overcome behavioral problems. The foster may need to nurse it to health if there are health problems.
What is involved in becoming a foster?
Simply, commitment and dedication. The foster needs to be willing to open his or her heart and home to a rescued kitty. The foster must be willing to care for the rescued cat from the time it's put into foster care until it is adopted. This could be weeks...or months.
The foster must be willing to put the time and effort into the care and rehabilitation of the cat. Sometimes these animals come from bad or abusive environments, and need to understand how to love again! Sometimes they need to be re-trained to use a litter box…or even eat without feeling threatened.
If the foster is a family, the whole family must be dedicated to these goals. Being a foster home can, at times, be difficult. A successful foster home is one in which everyone works together for the welfare of the cat! Please make sure that everyone who will be involved in caring for the cat will be dedicated to it’s well-being!
What are a foster's responsibilities?
- Love and a safe, warm place to sleep
- Litterbox, dishes, cat toys
- Evaluating the cat(s) in a home environment
- Making appointments with potential adopters to meet your foster
What Gotham City Kitties is responsible for?
- All Medical care by our veterinarian
- Food and litter
- Advertising and approving potential adopters
- Taking care of all paperwork for adoption
Are there any risks involved in fostering?
There is also a BIG risk that you will experience a sense of loss when the rescued cat gets adopted. All good rescuers/fosters realize this risk. However, the sense of accomplishment and eventual joy that comes with knowing that a cat has been saved and is in a loving home far outbalances the initial risk!
How do I get started?
- Download and fill out an application
- Email it to gothamcitykitties@gmail.com
- After a thorough evaluation of your application we will match you with a cat(s) in need
Thank you for taking the time to read this information and for caring!
Realistically, the more foster homes that are available, the more cats we can rescue. Please consider helping, by becoming an approved foster home!
