Foster a Cat with CAFO
By opening your home to a foster cat with CAFO, you can make a life-changing difference.
Fostering helps us rescue more cats every year by providing a safe, loving place for cats who might otherwise have nowhere to go. Whether they need time to recover, a little extra care and
attention, or simply somewhere to stay while they wait for their forever home, your support can give them the second chance they deserve.
Rupert, Joey and Rosie
Could you become a foster carer?
Anyone can foster a cat. All you need is a safe, suitable environment and the time and commitment to care for your foster cat each day.
The main purpose of fostering is to provide temporary accommodation and care while a cat waits to find their forever home. In return, you’ll have the rewarding experience of helping a cat feel safe, settled and loved during an important stage of their journey.
Parker
What does being a foster carer involve?
As a CAFO foster carer, you’ll be responsible for meeting the needs of the cats and kittens in your care. This includes:
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Providing food, fresh water and appropriate day-to-day care
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Special care, grooming and administering medication when required
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Keeping your foster cat’s living area clean, safe and comfortable
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Providing enrichment and socialisation through play, exercise, interaction and affection
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Monitoring your foster cat and letting CAFO know if you have any concerns
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Following CAFO’s veterinary and cat care standards
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Helping introduce your foster cat to potential adopters and sharing information about their personality and needs
Every cat is different, and we’ll provide guidance and support throughout your fostering experience.
What are the cat care standards?
Elvis
CAFO adheres to Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act. This states that anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to ensure that the animal’s needs are met in accordance with good practice.
An animal’s needs include:
1. A suitable environment
A safe, clean and comfortable place to live.
2. A suitable diet
Appropriate food and access to fresh drinking water.
3. The ability to exhibit normal behaviour
Opportunities to play, explore, rest and express normal behaviours.
4. Appropriate companionship
Being housed with, or separately from, other animals as appropriate to their individual needs.
5. Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Appropriate preventative care, veterinary attention and protection from avoidable harm.
As a foster carer, you’ll be supported by CAFO to help ensure these needs are met.
What do I need to become a foster carer?
If you can offer your time, commitment and a safe space in your home, we’ll provide the support and supplies you need to care for your foster cat.
You won’t be expected to be out of pocket. CAFO covers the costs associated with caring for your foster cat, including food, bedding, bowls, litter, toys, veterinary treatment and any medication they may need.
Our aim is to make fostering as straightforward as possible, while ensuring every cat receives the care and attention they deserve.
Can I choose what type of cat I foster?
Yes. We always aim to match the right cat with the right foster home.
Most of our foster carers look after one or two cats at a time, giving them plenty of individual attention while they wait for a permanent home. Some cats may need a temporary safe space, while others may have had a difficult start in life and need extra patience, care and socialisation.
Some foster carers particularly enjoy caring for new mums and their kittens.
While we’ll always take your circumstances, experience and preferences into account, emergencies can sometimes mean that we need to make exceptions.
Can I foster if I have other pets?
Yes. You can foster cats or kittens even if you already have pets at home. We’ll work with you to make sure the arrangement is safe and suitable for everyone.
To help protect both your family pets and your foster cats:
We’ll carry out a home check and risk assessment. This helps us understand your
home and family circumstances so we can find the most suitable cat or cats for you.
Your own pets should be up to date with their vaccinations and routine flea and
worm treatments. This helps reduce the risk of disease being passed between animals.
Foster cats should be kept separate from your family pets. Ideally, your foster cat
should have a dedicated room or suitable pen where they can settle safely and calmly without unnecessary stress.
Good hygiene practices are essential. Using appropriate PPE, such as gloves and
aprons, when caring for foster cats, along with regularly cleaning food and water bowls, litter areas and surfaces, helps reduce the risk of spreading disease between foster cats and your own pets.
We’ll discuss your individual circumstances with you and provide guidance on keeping all the animals in your home safe and comfortable.
Make a difference today
Fostering is one of the most rewarding ways you can support cats in need. By opening your home temporarily, you can give a cat the safety, care and affection they need while they wait for their forever family.
You provide the space and love. We provide the support and supplies. Together, we can give more cats the chance of a better life.
Basil
Poppy
Ready to take the next step?
If you think fostering could be right for you, we’d love to hear from you.
Complete our Fosterer Enquiry Form below to request a homecheck. This gives us an opportunity to learn a little more about you, your home and your circumstances, and helps us identify the types of cats that may be a good match for you.
Don’t worry if you still have questions. Once we receive your form, we can talk through the fostering process with you, answer any questions you may have and make sure you have all the information you need before making a commitment.
There’s no obligation to foster — this is simply the first step towards finding out whetherfostering with CAFO is right for you.