Fostering FAQs

You can foster as long as you’d like!

It's wonderful if you can foster until the kitties are adopted, though we can't  guarantee how long that will take.  We do all we can to promote the fosters and get them adopted quickly once they are ready. 

Depending on the temperament, age, and health issues a cat may have, the time frame for fostering is generally 2 months and up. You can also be a short-term or backup foster if one of our volunteers is on vacation or needs some time before being able to take in more foster kitties.

We understand you may have vacations, need breaks, or have situations requiring someone to take over fostering for you temporarily or permanently, and we will work with you to accommodate those periods.

Young kittens (8 weeks and older) are eligible for adoption once they’ve reached around 3 lbs and have been fixed and received age-dependent vaccines. Kittens gain about a pound per month, so they are generally adoptable around 3 months old.

We take in friendly/socializable cats and kittens who have been found outside, surrendered from owners, or transferred from other rescues/shelters. We receive many requests for assistance and are not able to take in every kitty, since we are dependent on the availability of foster homes and resources.

Animal Allies generally provides food, bowls, litter, litter box, toys, scratchers, and carriers whenever possible. We try to procure these items through donations, and you are welcome to purchase your own supplies if desired/preferred though we ask that all food items be cleared through your foster coordinator to ensure it is a good fit for the foster.

You will need a bedroom, medium to large bathroom, office, or other space where you can separate any current pets from the fosters to avoid spreading any illness (for at least 14 days, and longer if the foster has any additional medical concerns). It is also important to separate your pets to avoid stressing the fosters or your pets, creating behavior issues, or causing a decline in your pet or foster’s health.

Kittens and cats learn to climb most pet gates very easily, so it’s best to have them in a separate room with a door you can close. Animal Allies can provide or recommend some pens or tall gates which may help depending on the age of the kitties.

All of our foster cats are required to be indoor-only at all times during their foster care, so you would need to refrain from taking/letting them outside.

You would need to remove or secure any toxic plants or hazards like dangly cords, tinsel/strings, fragile items, and pest control traps from your fostering space, and we can help make sure your space is set up for success!

Yes! We can determine which type of foster would best suit your lifestyle. Younger kittens would not be ideal with the amount of attention and monitoring necessary for their health and socialization, but perhaps an easy-going adult cat that’s fine to relax while you’re away at work. Oftentimes, depending on the age of the animal, a companion animal for them is beneficial while you’re away, so fostering two easy-going animals may be the best fit.

Children can be a tremendous help in socializing the right animals. We do factor in the kids’ age, familiarity with animals, their activity level, etc. as this helps us to best match a foster with your family. Some kitties need a quiet home while others gravitate towards kids, so we give them what they enjoy and would benefit from most!

We will provide food and water bowls though you are welcome to use your own (fountains are great too as long as you clean them frequently).

We generally provide dry food, wet food, and treats for your fosters though we rely on donations and welcome you to provide your own. We just need to confirm the appropriateness of the option and ensure the kitty does not experience any digestive issues with sudden changes in food.

We will work with you to recommend an appropriate schedule for feeding your fosters based on their age, weight, health concerns, and preferences; we will also let you know what kinds of foods or supplements to give based on any health issues.

You would monitor the kitties eating and drinking habits and weight to ensure the kitty is healthy. Kittens should be gaining a small amount daily while older cats should generally be maintaining their weight unless weight gain is desired due to health concerns. You would communicate any changes in their appetite, schedule, or food so we can advise you appropriately.

You will be provided a litter box and litter whenever possible, though you are welcome to use your own age appropriate litter brand.

Kittens under 8 weeks should not be using clumping clay litter since it can be toxic to them and they are more likely to ingest it due to licking their paws; there are some safe clumping or non-clumping natural pellet litters that are better options.

You would scoop the litter box daily and fully replace litter every 1-2 weeks.

We know litter boxes can be smelly! You can use litter deodorizer sprays or powders as long as they’re age appropriate. You can also get litter mats to help trap stray litter and use an air filter to help keep dust and odors down.

You would monitor the foster's litter box habits to ensure bowel movements indicate healthy functioning. We'll give you tips and more details on what that looks like! If the kitties are peeing or pooping outside the litter box we can try litter attractant and take other steps to resolve the issue, though that isn't common.

Litter boxes should not be shared between cats that have health issues; you would need to keep your fosters from accessing your pet's litter boxes and vice versa.

Litter boxes should be sanitized with bleach or replaced between fosters.

We generally do not give cats or kittens with significant health concerns to new fosters.

Upon intake, your foster coordinator will let you know if the kitties should receive any flea medicine or treatment and will provide that to you.

If your fosters have any medical issues, we will be sure to provide proper supplements and any medicine needed in these situations. It is helpful to monitor the kitties ears, eyes, noses, and fur for any concerns.

You will be given tips and guidance to help you in giving any medicine needed, and we can also have our veterinary partners assist with administration if not required daily.

One of our foster coordinators will support you through scheduling appointments at your convenience with our vets for routine exams and vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and any specialized/urgent care. The fosters would not be seen by your own vet, you would need to transport them to ours and we would cover all costs.

This is the best part! Cats and kittens are so fun and sweet, and will provide hours of free entertainment and delight.

Some fosters will be more shy than others, but we generally only place shy kitties with fosters who are able to spend time socializing the kitties and helping them warm up. We have lots of tips for that!

The first months of a kitten’s life are very important for getting used to human contact, so frequent visits with treats and play and gentle petting are ideal. Your foster coordinator will give you guidance on the best way to acclimate fosters to your home, interact with your family, and get introduced to your pets so they learn how to play and bond with you and other creatures.

You would take lots of photos and pictures of your fosters and pay attention to their adorable quirks and habits so we can help you craft profiles when they’re ready for adoption.

Our adoptable fosters are promoted through our Animal Allies website, Petfinder.com, local veterinary and other partners, as well as Facebook and other social media platforms. Once cleared by your adoption coordinator, you are welcome to share them with your contacts and community groups!

When we receive adoption applications for your fosters, we screen the applicants to make sure they are a good fit. Once approved, your adoption coordinator will confirm next steps for enabling the potential adopter to meet your kitties, depending on which chapter you volunteer with and your preferences. If all goes well after meeting the kitties, the adopter will sign our paperwork and take them home while we continue to support them with questions and guidance.

We do hold adoption events every Sunday from 12:30 - 3pm at the PetSmart on Worth Ave in Woodbridge, which you would be welcome to join if the cat/kitty is healthy and appropriate to bring there.

It happens sometimes! Our volunteers say that despite it being hard to say goodbye to a foster, it's all worth it when you find that perfect adoptive family and you know the kitties live happily ever after and you can keep helping more!