Kitten Fostering 101

  

First off, thank you for your interest in fostering. It's not hyperbole to say that millions of lives are saved each year thanks to the efforts of animal rescue organizations across the globe, and one of the biggest contributors to those successes is through the efforts of fosters. Animals in foster care have a higher rate of successful adoptions than those in shelter care. The stability and care provided in foster homes helps make for healthier, happier, and more adoptable pets than if those animals were housed in a shelter.

Neonatal kittens, those less than 8-weeks of age, make up one of the highest risk groups for euthanasia in shelters. Well-meaning people bring kittens into a shelter unaware that most shelters are not setup for the round-the-clock care that comes with caring for these most vulnerable of animals. Sadly, most of these neonatal kittens are put to sleep because shelters simply do not have the means to care for them. Foster homes help make that care possible. 

Finding a Foster Organization

A quick search on the internet or on Facebook will likely turn up a number of animal rescue organizations in your area, and most of them need fosters and volunteers. You'll need to do a bit of research and ask some questions of these organizations to find a group that is right for you. Ask about what kinds of animals they rescue, what kinds of educational assistance they have for assisting fosters, and what the expectations will be of you as a foster. 

Preparing to Foster

Ghost and Spectre chillin' on the couch

First thing you'll need to consider when opening your home up to a foster animals is space. What kind of space do you have available in your home for fostering animals? Do you have an extra bedroom or area of the home that can be closed off to serve as a nursery? Is this area quiet and closed off from other animals or intrusions? Can the area be easily cleaned and sanitized as necessary to keep the animals healthy, and to prevent the potential spread of disease from the foster to your household?

It doesn't take much space to care for neonatal kittens. In their first few weeks of life the kittens won't need a space any larger than a bathtub. As they grow, however, they will need space to grow and play in an area that is safe from hazards such as behind furniture or other animals or inhabitants. 

Equipment Needs

A good rescue group will help to get you setup with the equipment you need to start caring for these precious animals. Ask the rescue organization what kind of assistance they have for getting setup as a foster, and what equipment they provide. Below are the items you'll need to get started fostering neonatal kittens.

• Small animal bottles and nipples
• Receiving blankets or old towels
• Kitten milk replacer (aka KMR)
• Heating pad or heating disk
• Wet wipes, kleenex, other soft wipes for cleaning

This is the most basic list of what you will need to get started with fostering your kitten. For a most extensive list see the Kitten Fostering Equipment page. 

Bringing the Baby Home

Once you've got the place in your home all mapped out, and you have all your equipment ready for fostering it's time to bring home the babies. Whether you're fostering a single kitten, or a whole litter, the routine will be the same. You'll want to make sure you have a nest area for the kittens where they are contained, like in a playpen, kennel, large plastic tub (without lid), bathtub, or even a large cardboard box in a pinch. Line the area with blankets and a heating source like your heating pad or heat disks. 

How you begin care of your kitten(s) will have a lot to do with their age, whether or not mama cat is with you, and their overall health at intake. In general, however, your gonna first want to get the kittens introduced to their new home, make sure their warm and comfortable, and then work on addressing their needs, such as helping them pee or poop, getting them fed, and giving them any medications or medical care they might need. Be prepared for round-the-clock care during their first few weeks of life as they will need to be bottle-fed often.

The following chart from the Alley Cat Allies is a useful guide in determining kitten age.

Kitten Progression Chart

In general, kittens you foster will fall into one of the following categories:

• Orphaned bottle babies (0-to-3 weeks old)
• Orphaned gruel babies (3-to-5 weeks old)
• Weaned kittens (6-to-8 weeks old)
• Momma cats with babies

Click on the links below for information about the following care topics

Bottle Feeding Basics

Bathroom Business

Medical Concerns

Big Kid Food

A Mother's Care

Mama Mary Jane and her tiny beans

If mama cat is with the babies then GREAT! Most of your work is done for you by mama. She's there to feed them, stimulate them to go potty, clean them, and keep them warm and safe. There is nothing that can replace mama and you will never be as good at taking care of kittens as a mama cat is (sorry, it's true). Your job in this case is to keep mama happy. Make sure she has access to plenty of clean water, kitten food (yes, feed mama kitten food. It's higher in protein and will help her replace all those calories those greedy little cuties are sucking right out of her.), a litter box, and plenty of cozy blankets to nest in. Mama will be at her best when you keep her area free from any other animals or people. Give her a space where she can nest that is just for her and her babies, where you can check in on her and the kittens, but where she'll feel secure away from traffic and noise. 

Growing up

Kittens grow up fast! In just a few weeks they go from blind, deaf, defenseless little fuzzy beans to tiny predators ready to pounce. Kittens will gain about 0.5oz (about 14 grams) a day in body weight and are ready to be for spay/neuter when they have reached two pounds (about 8 weeks). In two months these babies will go from a few ounces to two pounds or more.

Spectre says, "it's a rough kitty life".

At 6 to 8 weeks the kittens will be ready for their first set of vaccinations. This will be the FVRCP vaccination, which stands for feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. At 10 to 12 weeks they will need a booster for FVRCP, and they can get their first Rabies shot at 12 weeks, and the last FVRCP booster is due at 14 to 16 weeks. 

When the kittens reach two pounds they will be ready to go to the vet to be spayed or neutered. Some vets will wait longer than the two pound minimum, or there may be medical reasons for needing to wait longer. 

Keep records of all medical procedures and vaccinations to give to their adopters when they go to their forever homes. 

Adoption Time

Speaking of forever homes, adoptions are a time of great joy and some sadness. As The Kitten Lady says, the goal is goodbye. As much as we love them, our role as a foster for these babies is to get them ready to go to their new home. Work with your foster coordinator to get photos, write a bio, and get the word out about your kittens to draw in potential adopters. The more professional the photos and the more attractive the bio, the more likely you are to attract a potential adopter. 

Professional photos will help your kitten stand out

When an adopter has been approved they will need all the vetting paperwork and information, as well as any favorite toys that kitten has. Make sure to let the adopter know what food the kitten has been eating, and what litter they prefer. Then comes the big day when they will go to their new home, opening up your home to save more kittens. 

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the things you'll need to know, but it'll get you started. I encourage you to do some research on your own. There are links provided in the sidebar to get you started.