Fostering Kittens - Advise and Suggestions

[CindyB59]

I am signing up to be a foster home for kittens this spring/summer with our local Humane Society. I will be on the list for independent kittens that are needing homes while they make age/weight for altering & adopting. I am also willing to take mama & kittens. I work full time, so am not able to take high needs babies until I retire. My friend does that though, which is so great (but boy, a lot of work).

We have a large spare bedroom, carpeted, big windows so lots of natural light. I plan to turn it into a “kitten room”. Will get cat trees, etc for play. No hazards in the room, it was our 2 yr old granddaughters for 8 months, so very safe & baby-proofed. We have dogs to socialize them with, as well as grandkids & plenty of friends & family to visit. I will keep my old cat separate, don’t want her stressed. Unless she is really curious & not bothered by them. I’m having her shots updated this month.

I think I’m decently equipped to do this, but does anyone have suggestions to make it go smoothly?

[khall]

Sounds perfect! Just enjoy having them around and thank you for stepping up for the ones in need. Kittens are better than TV.

[PDDT]

Not sure how your humane society works - when mine gets pregnant moms in they send them to fosters as well. often the moms are feral and when they have had their kittens and been spayed they come to the shelter for adoption. They are often a challenge because they have not been socialized. Some are too feral and never will be - but please, if you get a mom, help her chances but helping her know people can be good to be around!

[HPFarmette]

Sounds like you are well prepared. Wise to have a separate room. Socialize with the dog with close supervision, some dogs experience an irresistible prey drive with kittens.
IME, I’ve had a stressed mama cat reject kittens. Rare, but Feliway on a towel turned that situation around.
Hope you have fun…I have 2 “foster failures” I adopted living with me now…don’t have room to foster anymore…

[CindyB59]

@PDDT

Not sure how your humane society works - when mine gets pregnant moms in they send them to fosters as well. often the moms are feral and when they have had their kittens and been spayed they come to the shelter for adoption. They are often a challenge because they have not been socialized. Some are too feral and never will be - but please, if you get a mom, help her chances but helping her know people can be good to be around!

Our H/S has a “community cat” program too. We got our barn cats thru them. I am willing to do that, if that is where the need is. I’ve tamed our psycho cat from hell that hated people to the point that I can pet & even pick up. She doesn’t like it, but tolerates it. Feral would be a bit harder, but I will give it a try If need be.

[CindyB59]

@HPFarmette

Sounds like you are well prepared. Wise to have a separate room. Socialize with the dog with close supervision, some dogs experience an irresistible prey drive with kittens.
IME, I’ve had a stressed mama cat reject kittens. Rare, but Feliway on a towel turned that situation around.
Hope you have fun…I have 2 “foster failures” I adopted living with me now…don’t have room to foster anymore…

We have 2 toy poodles, they won’t be a problem. One standard poodle who will want to smother them. And a 8 month old GSD, who likely will not be around them unless I have him tight, or the kitten tight. He’s used to our cat, and isn’t mean or chase - but does want to play. Not good with small animals. He can’t be around the little poodles unattended either.

[Bicoastal]

I suggest a giant dog crate with a cat tree, hammocks, and such at least when each batch o’ kittens is new. Many come with GI issues. Carpet behind a closed door is begging to be shredded. Your carpet would not look the same…

(Does “independent kittens” mean one at a time? Or weaned kittens? Two or three will actually be easier than singles.)

Will they provide a scale for weekly weigh-ins? Keep records of eating, stools, temperature, weight, etc.

Inspiration for crate setups:
http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/AnimalCareBasics/media/Book%20Pics/Fosters/IMage%201_zps27liwllv.jpg.html

http://cdn.thecatsite.com/c/ca/ca5910f1_image.jpeg

[CindyB59]

@Bicoastal

I suggest a giant dog crate with a cat tree, hammocks, and such at least when each batch o’ kittens is new. Many come with GI issues. Carpet behind a closed door is begging to be shredded. Your carpet would not look the same…

(Does “independent kittens” mean one at a time? Or weaned kittens? Two or three will actually be easier than singles.)

Will they provide a scale for weekly weigh-ins? Keep records of eating, stools, temperature, weight, etc.

Inspiration for crate setups:
http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/AnimalCareBasics/media/Book%20Pics/Fosters/IMage%201_zps27liwllv.jpg.html

http://cdn.thecatsite.com/c/ca/ca5910f1_image.jpeg

Great idea, thanks. They provide everything - even crates I think. They did with our ferals. But I have several I can use also.

The carpet in that room is toast. We plan to eventually make it into a 2nd guest room, but have too many projects ahead of it. We’ll probably do wood floors then. So, if they shred, it’s not big loss. But I may put a throw rug there or something to discourage it.

By independent - I mean no bottle feeding. I still work full time, so can’t do that. So essentially eating on their own, etc. They try not to foster in less that 2 at a time. Room is big enough for a whole litter, so I’m up for whatever. I would feel bad with a singleton, because it would be alone too much. I doubt they’d chose me for that situation.

[GraceLikeRain]

Exposing them to crates early is a great gift for the next owner. My former feral barely tolerates hers after a lot of work and still bolts if she predicts my plan. The boy grew up being exposed to the crate and saunters right in.

[gypsymare]

You’ll need a little green clean machine or wet vac and a few gallons of Nature’s Miracle or other enzyme pet mess cleaners.

[CindyB59]

@GraceLikeRain

Exposing them to crates early is a great gift for the next owner. My former feral barely tolerates hers after a lot of work and still bolts if she predicts my plan. The boy grew up being exposed to the crate and saunters right in.

All of our pets go in a crate, invaluable training. Even the ferals go in theirs in the barn. It’s a safe place they grew up with

[CindyB59]

@gypsymare

You’ll need a little green clean machine or wet vac and a few gallons of Nature’s Miracle or other enzyme pet mess cleaners.

I have all of the above…we have 4 dogs and 1 indoor cat