Foster Parent Application
Thank you for considering becoming a foster parent and helping us save lives!
Thank you for your interest in fostering for our rescue! We rely on foster homes to provide safe and loving environments to prepare our animals for adoption. Because we do not have a “brick-and-mortar” facility, the number of animals we can rescue relies heavily on the number of foster homes we have available.
Our cat foster program is designed to help adult cats and kittens get a second chance at finding a home. Many of the cats who need foster homes require extra care and attention, but in a loving foster home, every cat can get the individual attention he or she needs to find a forever family.
Foster homes are asked to provide care for the cats, as well as transportation to and from veterinary appointments as needed, and transportation to the adoption center. Care for foster cats includes feeding according to size and needs, and lots of play time and positive socialization.
Although fostering is a lot of work, it is a very rewarding experience. By participating in this program, you are saving lives and helping many different types of cats find the families they’ve been longing for.
Foster families need to provide:
A healthy and safe environment for their foster cats
Transportation to and from the adoption center and all vet appointments as needed
Socialization and cuddle time to help teach the cats about positive family and pet relationships
Lots of exercise and positive stimulation to help them develop into great cats
How much time do I need to spend with a foster cat?
As much time as you can. With that said, the amount of time will vary depending on the energy level and needs of the cat you are fostering. It is ideal to spend around two hours a day socializing and playing with your foster cat to ensure that he or she receives adequate attention and stimulation.
Can I foster cats even if I have a full-time job?
Yes. The foster application is designed as a survey to help the foster coordinator match you with the best animal for your needs and your current schedule. If you have a full-time job, the foster coordinator will match you with a cat who may be OK alone during the workday. You would then just need to provide ample attention to the cat before and/or after your workday.
Can I foster a cat if I don’t have a fenced yard?
Yes. We require that all foster cats be kept indoors for the duration of their stay in foster homes, so a fenced yard is irrelevant.
How long will the cat need to be in foster care?
It varies, depending on the condition of the foster cat. Foster homes are generally needed for cats with medical or behavioral issues that are best resolved in a home setting rather than a kennel environment. Different special needs require different amounts of time for healing. It can range from 4 weeks to 12 weeks.
How often does my foster cat need to go to the adoption center?
Our pet adoption center has a wonderful success rate for finding homes for cats, so cats who are ready for adoption don’t usually need to go into foster homes first. As mentioned above, the cats available for fostering will be those with medical or behavioral conditions that need to be overcome before adoption. This means that foster cats should only need to come to the pet adoption center once they are ready for adoption.
When is my foster cat ready for adoption?
When a foster cat has been fixed, received at least 2 combo vaccines, and microchipped.
Will I need to give medicine to my foster cat?
Almost all of the cats that we have in our foster program are rescued from shelters and have been exposed to shelter illnesses. While we do our best to ensure that we are aware of all the conditions that a foster cat may have prior to going home, many illnesses have incubation periods, meaning symptoms can arise after you take a cat home. So while some cats do not require any medicine, others may. If your foster cat needs medications, we can show you how to administer them before you take the animal home.
Can I let my foster cat play with my personal pets?
There are a few guidelines that we ask foster families to adhere to regarding their personal pets. While foster cats playing with other pets is often fine, we advise that you consult with your veterinarian before fostering to ensure that all of your personal pets are healthy and up-to-date on all vaccines. Cats in shelters are very susceptible to illness and can carry or catch different diseases. If, for any reason, your personal pet becomes ill while you are fostering a Purrfect Pawprints pet, we cannot provide medical care for your personal pet.
Important note: If your personal cat is allowed outdoors, he or she cannot interact with your foster cat. Foster cats are typically more at risk of illness and we want to limit that risk by not exposing them to anything from the outdoors.
What if I want to adopt my foster cat?
If you want to adopt a foster cat, you will need to complete an adoption application and follow the full adoption process. If you’ve already returned the cat to one of our Adoption Centers, please contact the foster coordinator right away because once the cat is up for adoption, we cannot hold him/her for anyone, including the foster parent.
What if I know someone who’s interested in adopting my foster cat?
If someone you know is interested in adopting the cat, please contact the foster coordinator as soon as possible, because once the cat is up for adoption, we cannot hold him/her for anyone. However, we do want to accommodate referrals from foster parents if we can.
Will it be hard to say goodbye to my foster cat?
Saying goodbye can be the most difficult part of fostering, but keep in mind that many more cats in Utah shelters need wonderful foster homes like yours. Remember, you are playing a crucial role in helping to Save Them All.
Who will take care of my foster cat if I need to go out of town?
If you have travel plans while you are fostering a cat for Purrfect Pawprints, you will need to contact the foster coordinator to arrange another foster until you return. Please provide at least one week’s notice to ensure that we have space for your foster cat. If your trip is over a holiday, please provide a minimum of two weeks’ notice.
What if my foster cat bites me?
If any of your foster pets bite you and break skin, causing you to bleed, you need to report the bite to the foster coordinator within 24 hours of when the bite occurred. The law requires that we report all bites. The teeth of the animal, not the nails, must have broken the skin. If you are unsure, then please report the bite anyway.
What if my foster cat is not working out?
You are not required to continue to foster a cat if you feel it’s not working out. However, we may not have an immediate alternate foster home. We will work on moving your foster cat out as soon as possible, but ask for your understanding and patience. Please call the foster coordinator during business hours if this situation arises.
Can I foster a cat to fulfill a community service obligation?
Unfortunately, Purrfect Pawprints cannot sign off on court-ordered community service hours for fostering. Community service is supposed to be supervised work, and fostering is unsupervised, since it takes place in your home.
Section 2: Preparing for your foster cat
When you take your foster cat home, he may be frightened or unsure about what’s happening, so it’s important not to overwhelm him. Prepare a special area for the foster cat to help ease his adjustment into a new home environment. Sometimes it is better to confine the foster cat to a small room, such as a bathroom, at first, to let him adjust before giving him free rein in your home. Equip the room with food and water dishes and a litter box.
Another reason that we recommend a small room is because cats will typically hide in new environments. It is not uncommon for a foster cat to hide underneath a bed or in a dark, quiet place for the first couple of days. Isolating your foster cat when you first take her home allows you to know what room she is in and helps you to monitor her eating, drinking and potty habits more closely.
We request that all foster cats be housed indoors only. A garage, backyard or outdoor enclosure is not a suitable accommodation for a foster cat.
Please answer all of the following questions honestly, your answers will not necessarily disqualify you from becoming a foster.