Being a foster parent is a highly rewarding and satisfying experience, without the responsibility of making a lifetime commitment! CC4C depends on fosters and could not rescue cats without them. Fosters are supported by a seasoned CC4C sponsor who provides guidance, medical coordination, and assists with adoptions. CC4C covers basic medical treatments or procedures for Kitty.
Being a foster parent requires opening up your home, a room, or part of your home to give a needy cat(s) the space, safety, attention, care, and feeding necessary to rehabilitate it and prepare it for adoption., which can be a week or several months since each cat’s situation is different.
We especially need assistance during the late spring and summer months during “kitten season” and can always use experienced bottle-baby feeders.
Typical foster responsibilities include:
- Providing food and litter
- Daily feeding of your foster cat(s) or kittens
- Daily litter box cleaning
- Attention to the medical needs of the cat (if any)
- Time, lots of time to love, snuggle, play and socialize with your foster(s)
- Taking your foster(s) to the adoption sites on the weekends and medical appointments
If you are interested in being a foster, please read our Foster Agreement PDF and send it to:
- email it to: [email protected]; please type in the subject “Interested in Fostering”
- leave a voicemail at: 925-938-CATS (2287); please state you are interested in fostering and provide your name and phone number
What is “Fostering”?
Fostering is when you have one or more cats or kittens in your home, usually in a bathroom or a laundry room. It’s important that the room not have furniture that cats or kittens can hide under or behind. Your task as a foster is to socialize the cat(s) through plenty of loving contact and attention.
What kind of cats need foster care?
“Newborns” are kittens that are 1 to 28 days old. If they have their mama with them, then Mama will be with you to care for her babies. If these babies do not have their mama, you will be bottle feeding them (see our Bottle Babies page for more information). Mamas and newborns do not go to adoptions. It is especially important with a Mama and babies that you have a calm, quiet, safe room. Mama cats are very protective of their litters and we want them all to know that they are safe.
“Toddlers” are the kittens between 4 and 8 weeks of age. These are the babies that can eat on their own and just need a place to get fat, strong, healthy and happy. Because they come in off the street from scary places, they need a lot of love and care. They may hiss, growl and resist your love, but with persistence and patience on your part, they can turn a corner overnight and become wonderful purring balls of fluff that live to snuggle with you.
“Kittens” (2 to 6 months) and “Kit-teens” (6 months to a year) perhaps need the most from you. Kittens go to adoptions as soon as they weigh 2 pound and are about 8 weeks old, have been tested and started their vaccinations. The longer a kitty has to survive outside, the longer it may take to teach it to trust you. For more information see our Taming Feral Kittens page.
What do I need?
You would need to supply the food, litter, bedding, toys, and food dishes. This is considered part of the donation that you are giving to Kitty and to our group.
Most importantly, you need to love, pet, snuggle, and play with Kitty to develop a well socialized kitty that is ready for adoption.