Other cats may require special medical care or physical therapy, and are able to recover more quickly and

comfortably in a foster home, where they can have a single, devoted caregiver. We especially like to place young kittens into foster homes. Kittens develop their opinions and attitudes about humans between four and ten weeks of age. If they live in a normal home environment during this time, where they receive lots of attention and love, they are much more likely to grow up to be friendly, sociable companions. Ideally, the mother cat will live in the foster home with them, at least until the kittens are weaned. Sometimes the mother is absent, in which case the kittens need extra doses of attention, love and care.

 

Why foster? It is extremely rewarding to slowly gain a frightened cat’s trust and affection, or to nurse an ill or injured cat back to health. To see a mother cat give birth, and to watch tiny, helpless kittens grow and learn about the world is an amazing experience. Kittens are an endless source of amusement as they learn to play, wrestle, hunt, wash and try their hardest to be like “big cats”. It can be exhausting at times (kittens can be extremely messy!) but the rewards far outweigh the effort required.

 

When do we need foster homes? All the time! We primarily need foster homes for kittens and their mothers in the spring and summer (the height of kitten season). But kittens are born year round, and foster homes are always needed for adult cats.

 

What is involved in fostering? The fostered cat needs a place to stay where it can be isolated from other pets in the home, at least initially. Usually, a spare bedroom or a warm, dry basement is perfect. In the case of kittens, extra care must be taken to ensure that there are no hazards that could harm curious, exploring paws and noses. The foster parent provides food, litter, and most importantly, love. CAN provides advice, moral support, and veterinary care.

 

It can be difficult to say goodbye to your temporary houseguests, particularly kittens that you have watched grow from tiny babies into precious miniature cats. But you always have the joy of knowing that you are making a tremendous difference in the lives of these animals. Because of our dedicated foster parents, CAN is able to save – and find forever homes – for many more cats.

 

If you’d like to become a foster parent for Cat Angel Network, please call the shelter at 610-327-6870 to obtain an application.