Make a difference – Open your home to a kitten or cat in need. 

Care for a rescued animal in your home, temporarily until a permanent adopter is found. Dirty Little Paws rescues kittens and cats frequently. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

What is fostering?

Foster parents are volunteers who take cats into their homes and care for them, love them and socialize them until they are ready for their new homes.  More cats lives are saved with foster homes! 

Initial supplies and all approved medical care is provided! 

The cats will be tested for FIV (feline aids) and FeLV (feline leukemia), vaccinated when old enough, dewormed, spayed/neutered when old enough, microchipped, and other routine medical care. Dirty Little Paws Rescue will handle the adoption and screening procedures. The cats will be listed on petfinder, adopt a pet, and our website. Some (especially kittens) will be adopted quickly and others may need to be in foster for several months.

  We ask that everyone in the household agree they want to foster.

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Which cats need fostering? 

• Kittens who are too young to be adopted.

• Moms with nursing kittens.

• Kittens who are old enough to be adopted but need a foster home until their new family is found. 

• Cats that need socialization because they are very shy, have never been around people or have been abused or neglected.

• Older cats who do not do well in multi cat foster homes.

• Cats with special medical needs.

• Adoptable adult cats.

• Feral cats or kittens that show potential to be adoptable.

• Cats with behavioral problems.

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What would I be expected to do as a foster parent?

• You must have a reliable car and be willing to bring the animal to vet when vaccines are needed and other medical treatments are needed.

• Provide a clean, nurturing, safe, indoor home for the cat until they are adopted.

• Give medication as needed.

• Allow pre-screened potential adopters to set up an appointment with you to show your foster kitty at your home, or if you feel more comfortable, we'll set up a time to meet at petco adoption center.

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Questions to ask yourself before fostering a cat:

2. Can I handle the emotional part of fostering?

3. Do I have the time needed to care for my foster cat?

4. Can I handle saying good-bye to them when they get adopted?

5. Am I patient enough to handle a shy cat who may hide?

6. Am I patient regarding the amount of time it takes in introducing my foster to my own pets?
Knowing it takes a while for the adjustment, your foster cat should be kept in a separate room for at lease 7 days.

7. Can I handle it if a young kitten passes away while in my care? 
Kittens can be quite fragile and you could lose one to illness without much or any warning.

8. Is my house and family "cat safe"?

9. Am I patient and willing to clean up after cats and kittens?
Kittens can be especially messy!

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What types of animals need to be fostered?

We are a Cat Rescue, so we deal primarily with cats and kittens. We do get the occasional dog or bearded dragon, in, but the majority of pur animals are feline.  Foster programs aren’t just for kittens.  Nearly any animal we have can benefit from foster care  usually people pick the type of foster they are comfortable with as in the following possibilities:

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• Orphaned kittens needing to be bottle fed. 
• Mother cat with nursing kittens
• Under-aged, self-feeding kittens (4-8 weeks old)
• Cats recovering from injury or illness (may need medication)
• Shy or fearful cats that need socialization
• Healthy adult cats waiting for adoption. 
• Cats that are mildly sick; such as Upper Respiratory Infection. These cats may need medication.
• Cats that benefit from home to home adoption, and right now we are doing foster-based adoptions almost entirely with the exception of a few Petco cats in Oceanside. 

Do I need training? 

No, we prefer you like cats / kittens though! We will set you up with everything you need.

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What are the duties of a DLP Foster Family?

• Bring your foster cat(s) to scheduled vet appointments and arrange to show cats to potential adopters
• Feed, socialize, love, groom, and care for the cats as if they were your own
• Observe for health and behavioral problems and report any such problems to the Foster Care Coordinator. 
• Comply with DLP’s policies and procedures. All foster volunteers should consider themselves ambassadors of the Foster Care Program.
 

What are the benefits of fostering?

There are many benefits to fostering. They include but are not limited to:

• Many people want to volunteer directly with rescue cats but lack the time or inclination to do so in the adoption center. 

• Others may want to adopt a pet, but cannot

• Some may want to experience the joys of a companion animal in the home, but are not ready for the long-term commitment of adoption

• You choose the type of cat you are comfortable with inviting into your home

• Foster Volunteers receive unconditional love and companionship from foster animals. Fostering can be a welcome relief from loneliness for seniors.

• Warm fuzzies inside from knowing you are part of the solution. 

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How old you need to be to foster?

Foster parents must be at least 18 years old, and have the thumbs up to Foster from all of the adults living in the home