Interested in becoming a cat foster carer?

We currently have two cat foster carer vacancies at Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre.

Over the last five years Cats Protection has helped over one million cats, fosterers have played a huge role in achieving this fantastic milestone, can you help us help more cats?

Unfortunately thousands of cats each year rely on the help of animal charities because of a change in their owner’s circumstances, they have been abandoned or have strayed. Volunteers at Cats Protection give these cats and kittens a second chance in life and help to create happy endings for cats across the UK.

Fostering is just one way you can be part of these happy endings for cats in your community! As a fosterer you take a cat into your home temporarily and provide the care and TLC it needs until it finds its new forever home.

We are looking for cat fosterers who have some spare time to care for the cats, be confident around cats, have a caring but practical personality, enjoy interacting with people and are happy to follow our cat care standards and charity policies. A thirst for knowledge around all things cat and happy to keep up-to-date information and complete paperwork for cats in care are also key for this role.

In return for your time, commitment and all the TLC you can offer cats we provide everything that you and your foster cat will require:

-       Cat accommodation – equipment to adapt a spare room

-       Food, litter, bedding, bowls, litter trays and toys for your foster cat

-       Veterinary treatment for Cats Protection cats/kittens in your care

-       Help, support and training so you feel confident and happy as a fosterer

Many of our CCAs have fostered Cats Protection cats in their own homes, we have fostered a variety of cats including caring for our oldies with medical conditions, depressed cats not coping with life in a pen, nervous/shy cats in need of confidence building, mums and her kittens, kittens in need of TLC and hand-rear kittens. Here are some cats our CCAs have helped during their time in their foster homes.

Tamsin and her kittens – in foster for 8 weeks with CCA Gemma.

Tamsin was found heavily pregnant and living rough in Exeter last winter before coming into a centre. Just before Christmas she birth to four beautiful kittens, two boys, two girls named Prancer, Dancer, Donner and Blitzen. They went into their foster home during the Christmas holidays when they were just a week old. They lived in a spare room in a fold up playpen where mum Tamsin could get in and out if she needed a break from them. As there were no other pets in the household they could explore other rooms as they got older. They remained in their foster home for 8 weeks, only returning to the centre for a health check, first vaccination and neutering. CCA Gemma weighed them regularly on some kitchen scales, treated them for worms and helped keep mum as healthy as possible making sure she had regular meals.

 

This time in a normal home was hugely beneficial for the kittens as they got used to all of the household sounds they wouldn’t hear the adoption centre like hoovers, TVs, washing machines etc. It’s particularly important during the kittens 2-8 week socialisation period. When Tamsin and her kittens returned to the centre, not much phased the kittens, they were confident and ready to find homes. All successfully reserved for rehoming in one weekend.

Felix – in foster for almost a year with CCA Diane

Felix came into the centre with a nasty wound on his neck which was taking a long time to heal. He wore a little leather boot to stop him scratching his wound. He became increasingly unhappy in his pen and his wound just wasn’t making much progress. After a couple of months, Felix moved in with CCA Di.

Felix in his jumper

Felix's neck wound

He started off wearing socks to prevent him from scratching his neck; he then began to wear colourful jumpers to wear to help protect his neck wound. These jumpers have allowed his wound to heal over time and don’t bother him at all. Once his neck had completely healed, he no longer needed to wear his jumper. Felix spent 12 months in CP care/foster home before finding his forever home.

Frequently asked Questions…..        

What if I have other pets?

You can foster if you have other pets but all foster cats must be kept separately. This is to protect the foster cat as well as the fosterer’s own pets. As rescued cats’ backgrounds are often unknown it’s important that all pets in the household remain healthy and we would recommend that a fosterer’s own pets are fully vaccinated and boosters are kept up-to-date.

 

What if I get too attached to the cat?

We know it is easy to fall for the cats, but fosterers remember that they are temporary carers. If you do want to adopt a cat you can talk to volunteers or staff and discuss what would be best for that particular cat.

Most fosterers know that if they adopt cats their ability to help more cats decreases so are more than happy to be the temporary carers which are much needed.

How do the cats get homes?

When the cat or kitten is ready for homing, you may bring the cat to the Adoption Centre to be rehomed or liaise with staff at the centre to meet the potential adopter(s). We always carefully match the right people with the right cat by asking a series of questions so you can rest assured that once you have cared for the cat or kitten it will be very well taken care of in their new home.

What about holidays/breaks?

Fosterers liaise directly with the adoption centre staff to plan and arrange holidays and breaks. We can make arrangements for cats to be moved to back into the centre, to keep your space free until you come back or are ready for another cutie!

Becoming a cat foster carer is hugely rewarding, it not only benefits the cat and kittens, it also provides cat lovers with an opportunely to give back and help cats in the best way they can. Please get in touch with us if you would like to find out more about becoming a cat fosterer.

If you would like more information please contact our Adoption Centre Manager Mark on 01395 232377 or visit our website www.axhayes.cats.org.uk. Thank you.