Important Things to Know Before Fostering
Thank you for expressing interest in fostering cats or kittens with the Fort Collins Cat Rescue. We have limited space in our shelter, so we greatly rely on our foster homes to help us save as many kitties in our community as we can. Please review the below information before committing to becoming a foster family.
- Time commitment to perform in-home care: All fosters will need to have their litter box and living area clean daily. They will also need food 1 - 3 times a day. In case of very young kittens or sick kittens you will need to routinely give the kitten care every 2 - 4 hours depending on the age. We will work with you to match you with the most appropriate type of foster animals. It is unrealistic to expect any youth to perform these activities, therefore an adult will need to agree to and perform in-home care.
- Time commitment for transportation: We will arrange a time for you to pick up a cat or kitten(s) for fostering. Once in your home, foster animals will need to come back to the shelter for routine check-ups, surgery to be spayed or neutered and examinations during signs of illness. We do not keep kittens in the shelter once available for adoption for more than 2 days at a time, so you will also need to be able to bring them in for adoption day(s) and pick them up if not adopted.
- Commitment to keeping the kitty in your home until adoption: The shortest time will be 5 days. The longest time can be 4 or more months. Permanent fostering is usually for the life of the kitty. Please let us know of any vacations you may be taking before accepting in a new groups of fosters. It is hard for us to move foster kittens into a different foster home for many reasons. By letting us know your vacation plans we can avoid placing kitties in your home that will not be adopted by the time you leave.
- Agree to and pass a home check: All foster homes are required to have a yearly home check. This is part of PACFA regulations and must be done before you accept in your first foster kitty. Foster homes also agree to allow a PACFA representative into their homes if required. For more information on PACFA, please visit: PACFA website.
- Have a limited number of personal cats: You cannot have more than 7 personal cats. If you are interested in fostering older kittens, multiple adults, multiple litters or a combination of the 3, you will need to own less than 7 cats. This is also per PACFA regulations and can be further discussed at the time in which you complete foster paperwork.
- A phone that we will be able to contact you on: Sometimes we have emergencies or last minute changes to plans. We need to be able to contact you at a number that you check often.
- Separate area to keep your foster animals: No test or vaccine is 100%. Some illnesses do not appear for up to 2 weeks after they may enter the shelter. By letting your foster cats interact with your personal cats you are exposing your personal cats to anything the foster may carry. FCCR cannot guarantee the health of any cat or kitten and we are unable to provide your personal cats veterinary care in case they do become ill.
- Live in Larimer or Weld County: All foster homes need to reside in Larimer or Weld County to foster for us. This is due to transportation that is required and the need to get sick animals to us as soon as possible. If you live outside of Larimer or Weld County, please look for a shelter or recue group in your area that need foster homes.
If you are still interested in fostering and agree to the above listed items, please contact Mary Wolf, Foster Program Coordinator at
maryw@fortcollinscatrescue.org.
