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The cats and kittens rescued by Lonely Miaow are all cared for in foster homes. This allows them to be socialised properly, and means that many of our cats and kittens are used to dogs, children and the hustle and bustle of a busy household. It also means that our cats and kittens get lots of attention. We are always in need of more foster homes, as more foster homes means we can rescue more cats. If we do not have any available foster homes, we cannot rescue more cats and kittens.
Fostering can be extremely rewarding, and sometimes heartbreaking. While it would be great if all cats and kittens could be happy, healthy and well-adjusted from the day they are rescued, this is often not the case. Many of our cats and kittens are scared, malnourished and sick or injured. Therefore our foster homes need to be prepared to deal with these situations.
On top of the usual cat and kitten related "chores" such as cleaning litter trays, and washing and filling food and water bowls, you may need to administer medications, bathe sticky eyes, and clean wounds. You will also need to keep a very close eye on cats and kittens in your care for any signs of illness. Lonely Miaow pays for any vet consults and medications that cats in your care might need so you will not need to worry about the cost of this.
The most important thing is to care for foster cats as though they are your own pets. The greatest reward is to see a sick, malnourished and scared cat or kitten blossom into a happy, confident and loving companion.
If we haven't scared you off yet, here are the answers to some common questions potential foster homes may have.
How long do I need to foster for?
In most cases, a kitten will only need two to three weeks of care before it is ready to be placed in a new home or re-homed through a carefully selected pet store. Occasionally some cats or kittens may need a longer period of fostering. With the ever increasing number of cats and kittens being rescued, there are always more waiting in line for a foster home. For every one that is re-homed we have another ready to fill its place. Since the Code of Welfare for Companion Cats came into force, kittens are required to stay with their mother (if possible) until eight weeks of age. None of our kittens are re-homed before eight weeks.
Can I choose which cat I foster?
Generally as cats and kittens come in we need to find foster homes for them immediately so there usually isn`t a selection to choose from. Many people only wish to foster kittens. While it's great that we have foster homes available for kittens, many kittens come with mother cats, so we may not be able to give you any kittens to foster. There are many older cats which come into our care after being abandoned by their families. These cats are equally, if not more grateful, for your love and care. So please think carefully before asking only for kittens.
If your living situation is best suited to a particular type of cat, please discuss this with us.
What will it cost?
The donations and sponsorship received each year allow us to provide most of the essential items such as:
Holding cage
Food bowls
Wet and dry food
Litter tray and litter
Bedding
We also cover all veterinary costs that may be incurred.
The fostering process
Once you have registered your interest to foster for us. We will then arrange a time for you to meet one of our rescuers, or our foster home manager. They will be able to answer any questions you may have. You may wish to visit one of our current foster homes to see exactly what is involved in fostering. We will then contact you when new cats or kittens are rescued and in need of a foster home. At this point you can say no, if your circumstances have changed and you can no longer foster for us. If you do change your mind, or you will be away or unable to foster for a while, please let us know as soon as possible. If you are taking care of foster cats or kittens, and will be going on holiday, please give us as much notice as possible so that we can make sure we have an alternative foster home for them while you are away.
Once you have a cat to foster, you simply need to take care of him or her as you would your own cat. Take lots of photos if you can - everyone loves to see the changes in a cat or kitten after they are rescued, and it will be a nice reminder for you as well. When your cat or kitten is healthy, we will list them on the website and try to find homes for them. Usually people will contact you directly about a cat or kitten in your care, and visit them at your house. Therefore you will need to be comfortable with having people come to see the cats and kittens at your home. You will need to decide whether the person wanting to adopt a cat or kitten is actually suitable - our foster home manager and more experienced rescuers can help give you guidance on this. You will also need to arrange vet appointments for your cats to be de-sexed and vaccinated when required. It sounds like a lot to remember but don't worry, you will have support from the rescuers and experienced foster homes - help is just a phone call or e-mail away!
If you're still interested in fostering after reading all of that, please contact us! We'd love to hear from you.
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