Newborn kitten being fed with bottle

Fostering

Foster families save lives by providing a temporary home, freeing up space in the shelter, socializing animals—and even by helping to place animals. Sometimes our new cat rescues require the personalized care and peaceful surroundings that only one of our foster homes can provide. Becoming a foster parent can be a very rewarding experience.  Below are some of the needs our foster cats require at various stages of life. They will give you more details on the joys and responsibilities of being a foster parent.

Fostering Adult Cats:

  • At first, your cat may be nervous or scared—they may need time to adjust to their new surroundings and new people

  • Approach your foster cat calmly and slowly, in a non-threatening way

  • Don’t give your new foster cat run of house right away, If you have cats of your own, keep them separated until the health of your new charge can be assured

  • Provide a cozy bed, a bowl of fresh water and clean litter at all times

  • Don’t allow the cats to go without eating for more than 24 hours—it can have be a sign something is wrong and can serious health consequences—Call AnimalKind or a veterinarian

  • If your foster cat has to be coaxed to eat, try tempting them with treats like canned salmon or tuna

Fostering Orphan Kittens:

Because kittens are fragile, it is important for you to watch the behavior of your foster kittens closely and monitor their health daily. To keep track of their health, keep a journal of the kittens’ weight, eating habits and overall health. You should weigh the kittens daily to ensure that they are growing, and record the weight in the journal. Watch for signs of illness: including frequent crying, restlessness, **weakness, coldness (hypothermia), diarrhea, dehydration, shallow or labored breathing, paleness or blueness in color. Notify AnimalKind immediately if a kitten is losing weight, is cold to the touch, or is having trouble breathing (either shallow or heavy breathing) or if you see diarrhea.

Distemper is cause by the panleukopenia virus, resulting in a fast decline and mortality in young kittens. If symptoms of lethargy, vomiting and/or diarriah occur contact AnimalKind at once.

In our twenty year history we encountered ONE kitten with rabies. Usually there are bite wounds of unknown origin present and we will isolate to kitten at AnimalKind. If a kitten in your care shows neurological signs please contact AnimalKind at once. 

Newborn kittens need to nurse every two to three hours**

  • Feed kittens while they are resting on their tummies—holding them on their backs to feed them can be dangerous because it can cause fluid to collect in their lungs

  • If you are unsure how to feed your kitten, ask your veterinarian, shelter or rescue group to show you the ideal ways to bottle feed kittens

  • Buy commercial kitten formula and a feeding bottle or syringe that holds between two and four ounces—feed slowly

  • Sterilize feeding bottles with boiling water before filling with kitten formula

  • DO NOT USE a microwave to sterilize the bottle—it creates hot spots that may burn kitten’s mouth, but you should set the filled bottle in a bowl of very warm water to keep it at the right temperature

  • Kittens need a place to nest, sleep and keep warm—a disposable cardboard box will work fine as a nesting box

  • Kittens will soil their nest box daily, so line it with washable or disposable bedding, such as newspaper or towels.

  • Keep your kitten warm by using a heating pad ONLY SET ON LOW! on one side of the nest box only, so that the kitten can move away if they get too warm—it is important to keep the pad at a low setting

  • Until kittens are three weeks old they need help urinating and defecating—after every feeding use a damp, slightly rough terrycloth washcloth to stimulate their anus and urinary openings

  • By four weeks of age you can introduce solid food—strained baby food meats or premium canned kitten foods are a good choice

  • As soon as the kitten starts eating solid food, a bowl of water should be available at all times

  • Kittens open their eyes at about two weeks and are moving around on their own by three weeks

Mother cat nursing newborn kittens

Fostering Nursing Mother Cats:

  • Provide a box big enough for everyone, with side tall enough to keep kittens from falling out but low enough to allow access for the mother

  • Line the box with several layers of bedding so you can peel away layers as top layer needs changing

  • Let the mother cat feed and care for her kittens as long as she is actively engaged with them

  • Provide a nutrient-dense diet for the mother cats—Kitten food is ideal for the mother cat

  • Offer food several times a day or consider keeping a bowl of dry food available to her at all times

  • It’s normal for the mother cat to want time away from her kittens between feedings—once the kittens start exploring, you can keep them in a contain room with a gate that allows mother cat access

  • At about four weeks kittens will begin trying out moist kitten food—if any seem slow to begin feeding on their own, you can help by putting a bit on your finger for them to smell

We are always looking for new foster parents for our animals in need.