Cats Protection League

Miss_Havisham

I'm thinking of volunteering at our local Cats Protection Rescue Centre - I love cats and have the time to commit. Not concerned about cleaning litter trays, I've got some Marigolds and lots of patience !

My question really is about fostering cats and what it entails. I have a 15 year old cat who I raised from a kitten, would this preclude me from fostering.

I know I'd have to prove myself to the CPL before being considered to foster but I'd like to have some idea.

Thanks

Miss H

moggymutt

Each branch will vary as to what it expects from a fosterer. One of the most important things will be that your own cat is fully vaccinated and neutered. You do have to be prepared for the fact that if your group has only just taken the cat in, even if it has been thoroughly checked by the vet, it may be carrying something.

Just some random thoughts in no particular order;

Do not expect everything that should be in the litter tray to actually be in the litter tray. Most cats are very clean, but you might be taking kittens from hellholes of houses, or ones full of worms

Are you looking at having a pen in your garden, a cage in your house, a spare room or total free access to all of the house.

Would you be prepared to try and tame feral kittens? (they are the sort that you use a cage for so that they cant get used to running away from you like they can in a room. Fosters are a godsend for trying to tame up ferals, individuals have more time, and it can be very time consuming, but taming them up does hugely increase their chances of being homed. Some group do a lot of work with ferals, others wont touch them with a bargepole.

Do you mind being scratched? Bitten?- often par for the course with feral kitties. I admit I haven't got any patience with people who winge over being bitten or scratched- you will be dealing with cats who have just lost their homes.

Make sure they have a quick way for you to get advice from them- and medical advice if needed. My vets know that any fosterers of mine might ring them up out of hours, and may take cats to them out of hours for anything serious, they dont need to contact me first for any sort of authorisation. Last thing you want is a poorly cat and trying to wait for the OK to ring the vets.

Dont forget your CPL group's policy for fostering has got to come up to your standards as well as you come up to theirs.

Dont forget that your own cat may get very put out and upset, at 15 years old, he may not be used to sharing you, and so may only tolerate you fostering only kittens and not adults, or onlky if they are in an outdoor pen.

Who pays for food and litter, will the group give you decent food, or a right mixed box of food were the cats guts dont have time to get used to one particular food.

Would people be able to come to your house to view the cats you are fostering? The CPL group should deal with the homechecks.

Are you prepared to go backwards and forwards to the vets for routine jabs.

How are you at giving tablets.

Could you let a mum have the peace and quiet to raise her kittens.

Would you be able to part with any cats that have stayed with you for longer than expected.

Good fosterers are hard to come by, and most rescues are always in need. Good luck.

Fire_Fox

Most fosterers have their own pets. Is your existing cat neutered and vaccinated? Do you have a spare room your could give over to a foster cat?

spike7451

Congrats,

I volunteer at the local animal shelter (although I've not been for the past few weeks as I've been ill & had car problems) & I look after the feral cats a couple days a week.It's good fun & it's cost me a lot of money in fish & chicken that I've cooked up for them.
It's well worth it.

Miss_Havisham

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Most fosterers have their own pets. Is your existing cat neutered and vaccinated? Do you have a spare room your could give over to a foster cat?

I've always kept my boy upto date with his jabs, wormimg and fleaing treatments and he was "done" as soon as it was poss !

I do have a spare room, so sounds like it could be possible.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Fire_Fox

Miss_Havisham wrote: »

I've always kept my boy upto date with his jabs, wormimg and fleaing treatments and he was "done" as soon as it was poss !

I do have a spare room, so sounds like it could be possible.

Thanks for everyone's help.

That sounds positive! :T Some places like you to keep new cats completely separate long term, some only initially then you can let them mingle. The vaccinations are obviously for the protection of both parties. Let us know what you decide!

lister

Fire_Fox wrote: »

That sounds positive! :T Some places like you to keep new cats completely separate long term, some only initially then you can let them mingle. The vaccinations are obviously for the protection of both parties. Let us know what you decide!

No mixing and no free roaming are blanket rules throughout Cats Protection. If the OP is going to approach CP, the foster cats should never mix and never be allowed outside while they are in care. It is for the safety and wellbeing of both the foster cats and your own cats - it may seem over the top in some situations, but in the past huge health problems have been caused in various rescue organisations because of mixing and free roaming, so the safest thing is a blanket ban.

If the OP fosters for CP, the branch or AC should meet pretty much all relevant fostering expenses and provide any equipment and supplies needed. With a spare room all the principle requirements are met.

OP, if there isn't a local branch near you, you can always try approaching CP head office as they do have various programmes outside of their branches.

spike7451

Personally tho,I'd see if the are any small shelters near you as opposed to the CPL as,well,they are a large charity & can afford help whereas the smaller shelters would be glad of the help.
Ask on Purrs if the are any near you;

https://www.facebook.com/groups/91388455703/