Reptile & Amphibian Forums

if you have ever considered becoming a fosterparent, this is a great time to do it!

fostering is a vital, on-going need for most rescues as we struggle to pull cats from lethal situations of any sort, and into good forever homes. sometimes just having a place for a cat to stay overnight during a transport will make the difference between life and death.

fostering is a great way to help out without the long-term commitment of adoption. it's a wonderful way to learn about the different breeds/mixes to see if you might want to take one that breeds' rescue kitties in. it's an incredible way to give back to homeless cats some of the love your own have given you through the years.

a lot of folks say, "oh, i could NEVER foster, i'd want to keep them all!" well, that is only a problem if you let it be: when you take in a cat knowing that your only job is to help it feel safe, and learn to trust humans again, and then send it on to its forever home--well, you STILL cry when you say goodbye, but you know you've done great work. and by handing them over to their own families, you have the room in your heart and home to help out the NEXT one who is all alone.

rescue groups HIGHLY value their foster families, because we cannot do it without them. help is always available so you're not just out there on your own.

this summer has seen a great increase in the number of breeder-gone-wrong situations, hoarder/collector seizures, shelters having to close down, a kitten-season seemingly increased by the heat, and a higher than normal rate of burnout amongst the fosters and rescue folk who really need more help. there just isn't always the time to ASK for that help....

if you think you could be a foster parent, please contact your local rescue groups--if you don't know of any in your area, go to www.petfinder.com and plug in your state/zipcode, you may be AMAZED at how many groups are working behind the scenes right in your town. there is also a place on the petfinder site to volunteer as a foster (or other sort of helper) so groups in your region can find YOU. go to places like www.volunteermatch.com and see if there are groups looking for help....

if you don't think you can foster, there's all sorts of other ways you can help: making phone calls, answering emails, taking photos of the cats to be posted on petfinder and other webpages, working on the website, driving a transport leg.

call and offer your help; people and the cats DO need you.

the furry ones thank you!

(what could be BETTER than a litter of kittens you KNOW will be leaving about the time they become a pain?????? hee hee.....)

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PHCatByte

CatByte is so right about the urgent need for foster care. The little group I volunteer for only has 3 foster homes at the moment and it is the one thing most urgently needed. We have had to turn people down knowing full well that the cats or kittens might very well be brought to a shelter that euthanizes animals because of overcrowding. Most groups, if they are financially able, will pay for food, litter and medical care for the cats. So really the only thing fostering costs is...LOVE. If you are the type of person who loves kittens, think of fostering as a way to always have kittens around you. Needs are great for foster care for older cats as they don't get adopted as quickly as kittens. But they do get their forever homes eventually. They just need a safe loving place to stay until that homes comes along. Please do consider giving a cat or kitten a temporary home and loving care until they find their very own forever home.
Fostering saves lives!
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Dottie
Proudly owned by The Catnip Crew...Munchkin,Casey,Maddie,Harley,Meadow,Ashley,Nicky, Mushka and the latest entry to the clowder....Riley!

That is absolutely true ... foster homes are very desperately needed! I do both independent rescue, and am a foster home for a Persian Rescue. It's unbelievable the need for caring, loving people to take temporary care of every age of cat ... from pregnant momcats to orphan kittens to senior cats with medical problems. Without foster homes, many of these cats would not get a second chance for a good life.

It's not an easy job all the time to foster cats ... no one can say that. You struggle with having to turn away more foster cats when your home is full, knowing that the cats may not get that second chance. You deal with the extra vet bills that your rescue group may not cover. You wonder if that senior cat will ever get a home, or those kittens will ever stop mewing. But is it all worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

There is no greater reward than seeing a foster cat, that you've shared your life and time and home with, going to a new forever family who will love him always. Sure, you'll shed a few tears and miss the kitty ... but the tears are mixed with joy at knowing that you have done a very important job ... helped save the life of a precious cat. Go for it ... volunteer to be a foster home for your local rescue. You won't regret it.

Snow
(owned by 9 cats and temporarily owned by 5 fostercats)