Foster a Cat
Open your home to a cat in need. Foster homes are the backbone of our rescue. They free up space for the next cat we say yes to, and they give each one the love and stability it needs to thrive.
What kind of cats need fostering?
The most common reasons a cat or kitten may need a foster home include:
Bottle Babies
Neonatal kittens too young to survive without round-the-clock feeding and care.
Underage / Underweight
Kittens who just need a little time to grow and gain weight before they're ready for adoption.
Medical Recovery
Cats recovering from surgery, illness, or injury who need a calm home to heal.
Shy or Fearful
Cats overwhelmed by the adoption-floor bustle who need a quiet home to come out of their shell.
Mama & Litter
Nursing moms and their newborn kittens who need a safe, quiet space during those critical early weeks.
Just Need Room
Healthy cats waiting for a spot to open up. Fostering frees space so we can say yes to the next rescue.
What Candy's Cats provides
We want fostering to be as easy as possible. You provide the love, and we cover the rest.
- All veterinary care at our partner vets, at no cost to you: vaccines, medications, spay/neuter, and emergencies.
- Food, litter, bedding, toys, and any specialty supplies your foster needs.
- A foster coordinator on call for guidance and support whenever you need it.
- Marketing across multiple adoption sites plus a spot at our weekend adoption events.
- A welcoming community of fellow fosters cheering you on.
Your responsibilities
Fostering is a rewarding commitment. Here's what we ask of our foster families:
- Provide a safe, clean space and daily care: food, water, a clean litter box, and plenty of love.
- Keep foster cats separate from your own pets, especially at first, to prevent the spread of illness.
- Bring your foster to scheduled vet and vaccine appointments, and to weekend adoption events when you can.
- Send photos and updates to your adoption coordinator so we can help them find the right home.
- Stay in touch and reach out right away if you need help or notice any signs of illness.
Requirements to foster
- ✓Be at least 18 years of age.
- ✓Any pets of your own should be up to date on their vaccines.
- ✓Have a spare room or separate space, such as a quiet bathroom or bedroom, to keep your foster apart from resident pets.
- ✓A love of cats and a little patience.
Frequently asked questions
How long does fostering usually last?+
Most foster stays run from about a week to several weeks, until your foster finds their forever home. Bottle babies and young litters sometimes need a little longer.
Can I foster if I already have pets?+
Yes. Many of our fosters have pets of their own. We just ask that you keep your foster cat in a separate space, especially at first, and that your own pets are up to date on their vaccines.
Can I foster if I work full-time?+
Often, yes. Plenty of adult and recovering cats do beautifully with a working foster. Bottle babies and very young litters need round-the-clock feeding, so those go to fosters with more flexible schedules.
Can I adopt my foster cat?+
Absolutely. Foster fails are some of our happiest endings. Just let your coordinator know and we'll start the adoption.
What if I need extra supplies?+
Just ask. We provide everything your foster needs, so reach out to your coordinator any time and we'll get supplies to you.
What does fostering cost me?+
Nothing but your time and love. Candy's Cats covers all veterinary care and supplies for your foster cat.
Ready to foster?
If you meet the requirements above, fill out our Foster Parent Form below and our foster coordinator will be in touch with next steps within a few days.
Having trouble with the form above? Open it in a new tab → · Questions? Contact us.
Not quite ready to foster? You can also volunteer or donate.