Foster to save lives this kitten season
Every year during spring and summer, thousands of tiny kittens arrive in overwhelming numbers at our nation’s animal shelters — and they depend on us humans for care.
Kittens are some of the most at-risk pets in shelters because they need round-the-clock care, which many shelters don't have the resources to provide. But you can help by fostering kittens in your home. As a kitten foster caregiver, you'll make sure kittens get the love and care they need until they find homes.
Start saving the lives of kittens
If you're just starting on your fostering journey, we're here to provide all the resources and information you’ll need.
Returning fosters can use your earned expertise to help save even more lives, and we hope you'll consider fostering again.
Fostering kittens saves lives
When you foster a kitten, you’re not only ensuring that these adorable fuzz balls get a chance to grow up and find families of their own, you’re helping to make space in the shelter for other animals.
Perennial kitten foster caregiver Paula Roy explains: “The bottle babies are particularly special to me because it’s a high-risk, high-reward situation. Kittens are fragile, so you’re really their champion. And they teach you a lot about being strong, too, and about resilience.”
Tips and tools for foster pros and first-timers alike
Whether this is your first time fostering or your fifth, you’re helping to save the lives of the most vulnerable among us.
Supplies: what you’ll need to foster kittens
Usually, your shelter or rescue group will provide everything you need to set your tiny houseguests on the path to health and happiness.
Some shelters do lack such resources though, so they might ask you to furnish your own supplies. Of course, your supply list will vary depending on the age of the kittens and whether mama cat is around to feed her little ones and provide body heat.
Your guide to kitten development
As you’ll soon see firsthand, kittens are constantly changing and growing, so feeding them properly at every stage is critical.
Your goal is to have them eating on their own by the time they’re ready for adoption.
So what exactly can you expect along the way? When do they go from wobbling to walking? When can they see and hear and smell? And what can you do to ensure they learn all the behaviors needed to live with a family of their very own?
Feeding kittens during their different stages of development:
Stories of love and lifesaving
How can I foster kittens?
Give us your email and we'll send you everything you need to know.
Returning fosters can use your earned expertise to help save even more lives, and we hope you'll consider fostering again.