Are you looking to make a real difference in the life of a vulnerable animal? If you’re searching for “Fostering Cats Near Me,” you’ve come to the right place. Every year, countless kittens and cats in Los Angeles County need temporary homes while they wait to find their forever families. By becoming a foster parent, you can provide these animals with the love, care, and safe environment they desperately need. The ASPCA makes it easy to get involved and provides all the resources you need to succeed.
Three Simple Steps to Start Fostering
Getting started as a cat foster parent is easier than you might think. The ASPCA has streamlined the process into three straightforward steps to ensure you are well-informed and prepared to welcome a foster cat into your home.
| 1 | Watch our Foster Program Information Session video. Learn everything you need to know about fostering at your own pace by clicking the play button below. |
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| 2 | Review the Foster Program Information. Solidify your understanding of our fostering program by reviewing the key information. |
| 3 | Apply to become a foster. Keep an eye on your inbox! Within 48-72 hours, you’ll receive an email with a link to our online foster application. This brief application helps us understand your experience, preferences, and allows you to tell us more about yourself. |
Essential Foster Requirements
To ensure the well-being of our foster cats and kittens, we have a few basic eligibility requirements and expectations for our foster parents. These are designed to be manageable and ensure a positive experience for both you and your foster animal.
- Age Requirement: You must be 18 years of age or older to become a foster parent.
- Veterinary Care Commitment: Being a foster parent includes a commitment to the foster animal’s health. This means you need to be willing and able to bring your foster cat or kittens to scheduled follow-up veterinary appointments every 2-4 weeks.
- Emergency Veterinary Care: In the event of a medical emergency, you must be willing and able to take your foster kittens to a veterinary clinic immediately.
- Separate Living Space: For the initial two weeks, foster pets need to be kept separate from your existing household pets in a spare room. If you don’t have a spare room, don’t worry! We can provide you with a playpen to help create a safe and separate space.
- Daily Care Routine: Providing daily care is crucial. This includes feeding your foster cat, cleaning their litter box daily, and maintaining a clean living area for them.
- Health Monitoring and Communication: It’s important to monitor your foster cat’s health daily. If you have any concerns, please promptly update us.
- Socialization and Interaction: Socializing your foster cat is vital for their development and well-being. This involves holding them, playing with them, and gently exposing them to positive experiences to help them become well-adjusted and adoptable pets.
The Urgent Need for Cat Fosters in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County faces a continuous and pressing need for compassionate individuals to become cat fosters. We are specifically seeking people who are enthusiastic about providing a nurturing environment for vulnerable feline populations, including:
- Bottle-fed kittens: These tiny kittens require round-the-clock care and feeding.
- Kittens learning to eat independently: As kittens transition to solid food, they need extra attention and encouragement.
- Sick kittens: Fostering sick kittens provides them with a quiet and supportive space to recover.
- Shy or scared kittens: A calm foster home can help these kittens gain confidence and learn to trust humans.
- Mothers with young kittens (Nursing Moms): Providing a safe haven for mother cats and their litters is essential for their survival.
- Healthy and friendly kittens: Even seemingly healthy kittens benefit greatly from the individualized care and attention a foster home provides as they await adoption.
We understand that fostering might seem daunting, especially if you’re new to animal care. That’s why the ASPCA provides comprehensive training and support to help you develop essential caregiving skills throughout your fostering journey. We are here to guide you every step of the way.
Young kitten in caring hands
Kitten season in Los Angeles typically runs from March through November, resulting in a massive influx of newborn kittens. Unfortunately, many kind-hearted individuals unknowingly separate kittens from their mothers by bringing them to shelters. For underage kittens, the shelter environment can be particularly challenging, and their best chance of survival is in the loving environment of a foster home. If you find kittens outdoors, it’s crucial to first assess the situation. To learn the best course of action and whether intervention is truly necessary, please consult our interactive Found Kittens tool. This tool will provide you with guidance on how to help kittens you encounter outside while ensuring you are acting in their best interest.
The ASPCA relies heavily on foster parents to provide essential care and support for these vulnerable kittens arriving at shelters until they are old enough and ready to be adopted into permanent homes. We are committed to providing you with everything you need to succeed as a foster parent. We supply all the necessary food, essential supplies, and cover all medical services for your foster cat. All we ask from you is tender loving care (TLC) and a safe, nurturing environment.
Kitten being bottle-fed
Do you have more questions about fostering cats near you? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Contact the dedicated LA Foster Team directly at [email protected]. We are here to answer your questions and help you begin your rewarding journey as a cat foster parent.
Please share this information on your social media platforms to help us spread the word about the urgent need for cat fosters! Your network can help us find loving temporary homes for cats and kittens in need.
