Bringing Your Foster Cat Home

Cat-Proofing your Home

Before bringing any new animal into your home, it is a good idea to relocate any items that you would be upset to lose. You will also want to remove the following items from the spaces your foster cat will have access to: poisonous house plants, cleaning supplies, string blinds, electrical cords, shoe laces, and anything else you think your foster cat may get into or destroy. You will also want to block off any potential hiding places, this is especially important for kittens, but also a good safety measure for fostering adult cats.

Setting up their Space

We recommend setting up a designated space for your foster cat upon bringing them into your home. This should be a secluded space where they are isolated from your resident pets, where they can decompress and relax after their time in the shelter. You can set your foster cat up in a bathroom, laundry room, guest room, or any other quiet, secluded area of your home. Your foster cat should always have access to food, water, and a litter box, but we also recommend providing toys, scratching post, and some kind of their own "hiding spot" within their designated space. You can get crafty with creating a "hiding spot" for your foster cat, for example, you can cover a crate, box, or furniture with a sheet or blanket to create a cozy, safe space for your foster. 

Decompression

The shelter is a stressful, chaotic environment, and most animals need some time to relax and recover after their time here. It is important to give your foster cat the time and patience needed to decompress upon entering your home. This means not forcing them to socialize right away, and instead allowing them to relax in their safe space while they become familiar with their new environment. You must keep in mind that everything in your home is new to them.

Socializing

Once your foster cat has had a chance to decompress, you can begin socializing them! You should always allow your foster cat to approach you first, as most cats do not like to be forced to do anything. If you have an especially nervous cat, or they are not the biggest fan of humans, you should start slowly by sitting in the same room as them, talking to them, and offering treats. Ultimately, you want to show your foster cat that they can trust you, along with other humans so that they can better find their forever home.

Helping your Foster Cat Find their Forever Home

You are your foster's biggest advocate when it comes to finding their forever home! You are able to see first hand how they behave, what they like and dislike, and you most likely have an abundance of adorable photos. We encourage you to share these updates and photos with us, so that we can update our website for potential adopters to see. Knowing how an animal does in their foster home is a crucial part of getting to know them, and also helps us to find them the best fitting forever family. Visit our Marketing your Foster webpage for more information and tips on how to help your foster find their forever home!