Emergency Respite for Adult Cats

Whilst most of our feline fostering requests are for kittens, pregnant mums or mums with kittens there are also instances when we desperately need to place adult cats. This can be for a number of reasons:

•  We are so full we cannot possibly fit another feline into either of our centres.

•  A cat comes in that is elderly or ill and needs the comfort of a home environment.

Healthy, younger adult cats are generally neutered whilst in foster and remain in the home until a week after their second vaccination. Elderly, sick or infirm cats may well require a permanent foster home and you would be asked to commit to these animals for the rest of their lives.

All medical bills are covered by the rescue aswell as any specialist foods. We don’t of course ever say no to contributions towards these costs. Vet cover is provided either through our on-site vets for Liverpool,  or through one of the practices with which we hold an account.  You will need to be able to transport cats to and from vet appointments.

Please consider the following…

Do you have:
• Some experience with cats?
• Your own transport, to collect your cat and any follow-up supplies from us as required, and to attend veterinary appointments when necessary?
• Flexibility with your time and availability?

Are you able to provide:
• A quiet, stress-free environment?
• A spare room?

Can you commit:
• The time required?

We do sometimes use foster families who have other pets and, or children.  However, it is vital that any foster animals are kept separate from your own pets and that you can provide a quiet stress-free environment where the cat can relax and feel safe.

Any questions, please do contact us foster@freshfields.org.uk .   You can also download and complete a cat foster form and email to us.

Providing a Safe & Secure Environment for those Important First Weeks

Un-neutered female cats come into season in January and February quickly attracting the attention of un-neutered male cats and hence breeding begins.  Cats typically give birth to two litters a year, in the spring and again later in the Summer. Pregnant for 9 weeks cats give birth to litters of between 2 and 6 kittens, occasionally as many as 7 or 8. Mother cats usually come back into season again when their kittens are 6 weeks old and kittens can breed from as young  as 4 months old.   There is a huge cat over-population problem!

During kitten season we receive calls often daily requesting that we rescue mother cats with their kittens or orphaned kittens that have been discovered in gardens, under sheds, in derelict cars, on industrial sites, in empty buildings, behind shops and on demolition sites.

We need your help to accommodate and care for these needy young families until they can be found permanent new homes.

Fostering a mother cat and her litter of un-weaned kittens or fostering just orphaned kittens really helps the rescue because:

• You will be able to offer more space than a cage or cattery pen can provide.

• You can give more time and attention than can be given in one of our rescue centres.

• With orphaned kittens you also act as mum and help to wean and toilet/litter train them.

CRITERIA FOR HOUSING A FOSTER FAMILY:
A quiet spare room in which to keep or base your foster mum and kittens is essential.

Mum and kittens must not be allowed to go outdoors. Any room in which they are housed must have a securely closing door.

We do sometimes use foster families who have other pets and/or children. However, it is vital that any foster animals are kept separate from your own pets and that you can provide a quiet stress free environment where your cat and kittens can relax and feel safe.

Your foster family will not yet be fully vaccinated.  There are contagious viruses and illnesses that it is possible that your foster family or your own cats could be carrying or incubating.

We also ask that any pets in the foster home are fully vaccinated and neutered.

SPENDING TIME WITH AND CARING FOR YOUR FOSTER FAMILY:
If mum hasn’t had her babies when you take her on then she will need a calm loving environment that offers her affection but also allows her space. When the babies do arrive then initially all that will be required of you is to make sure that mum has plenty of food and a clean litter tray as tiny kittens will be curled up with her and require little if any input from you. These kittens will grow and develop rapidly though so an important part of fostering is handling and socialising them so that they grow up confident and friendly with people. You will need to be able to spend at least a couple of hours a day playing with and giving attention to mum and her kittens – for most people this is the most enjoyable part of fostering.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
We provide litter trays, cat litter, bedding, toys, bowls and food for your foster family. All that we ask is for you to collect these from us, and any top ups when required as we simply do not have the resources to deliver.

We provides all supplies and veterinary care for foster cats and kittens.  Veterinary care in Liverpool is from our onsite vets.

More detailed and in depth advice on fostering cats and kittens along with ongoing telephone support is available for all accepted foster carers.

If you are interested in fostering cats please do contact our cattery or give us a call on Liverpool 0151 931 1604, Wales 01286 880808. Please also fill in Cat Foster application form

Thank You 

A step in the right direction… for our dogs!

Some dogs find it difficult to cope in our busy kennel environment. Although we do everything we can to make their lives as comfortable as possible it is only a foster who can provide the calm, loving home life needed, whilst we secure them a permanent home.  

These dogs may require refuge in foster because they may require special attention if they are feeling stressed in our kennels and we need to see how they cope in a home environment or they may suffer from a medical condition which means they need that little extra TLC. We often find ourselves having to place dogs quickly.  In every case we will provide you with as much information as possible about your foster dog and will always be here to support you.

It takes a special person to be a Foster, and we are eternally grateful to those that step up committing their time and their homes to saving lives. Bringing a new animal into your home is not always straightforward or easy. There are no guarantees and as a foster you may find some challenges.  It’s important you are realistic and prepared before you commit to this. We will be here to support you through the whole process.  Fostering provides great satisfaction, pride and fulfilment in helping your foster dog find their forever home.

We will provide:
• Veterinary and behavioural support
• Vet costs covered
• All of the food, bedding, equipment and advice you need to take care of our dogs
• Regular contact

What we look for in a Foster:
• Preferably experience and confidence with owning dogs.

• You will need your own transport and should live within a reasonable distance of the centre.

• Be home for all or most of the day. Some dogs you will be able to build up leaving time gradually.

• Homes with older sensible children can be considered.

• Preferably no other pets, if there are pets they must be neutered and vaccinated and of a calm disposition.

• Be prepared to follow advice and procedures given by us and attend any on-site vet appointments.

• Your garden or outside space will need to be fully secure.

• Commitment. This is a very rewarding process but not always easy. We need fosters who will not give up on dogs after one bad night’s sleep or a toileting accident in the house.

• Have compassion and empathy for the dogs needs.

• You may be required to nurse a sick or injured dog back to health.

Foster carers are undoubtedly vital to our work, but it’s important that before applying you please think carefully about the time and environment you have available and whether you truly feel able to offer temporary care to dogs who need it. If you do feel able, please complete our application form as fully as possible. As with adoptees, suitable foster applicants will also need to undergo our standard home check.  Please complete the Dog foster application form here.

Extra information for potential puppy fosters

This page should be read in conjunction with our Dog fostering page.

Fostering mum and pups:
Although it doesn’t happen often, occasionally a pregnant bitch, or new mum nursing pups, will arrive at our rescue centre and we will need to get them into a foster home as quickly as possible.

Fostering a mother dog and her puppies is a huge job with  potentially a minimum of  8 to 12 weeks to get the puppies big and healthy enough for adoption.   It’s not for everyone although the rewards of watching mum care for her pups and of helping those pups develop into healthy, happy dogs is immense!

Foster Criteria:

• A spare room which is quiet where mum can nurse and feel safe

• No other animals in the home

• Experience and understanding of dogs. There will come a time when mum will start to find the pups very hard work and she will need time away from them. She will need to feel secure to the degree that it is safe to leave her pups unattended

• Fostering mum and pups can be a messy job so it needs someone who is completely committed

• No young children

Fostering a litter without mum

Hand rearing pups has only ever been undertaken by the staff, therefore we would only consider people who have previous experience of hand rearing as it is such a tough challenge.

Until around 3-4 weeks old, mum would normally be doing everything for the pups. If mum isn’t there then you, the foster must take on that role!

This means a regular schedule of appropriate feeding, cleaning, playing and sleeping in a happy and healthy environment.

It can be a very positive experience but requires a complete commitment of your time and care. In our experience fostering a litter without mum places a great demand upon you.

Foster Criteria:

• We would be looking for someone who has a spare room or a safe area where the pups can be

• We would prefer there to be no other animals in the household unless they have had experience and can tolerate a litter

• Someone needs to be home all or most of the day

• No young children

• This can be a very messy job so not for the faint hearted

Hand rearing pups:
Hand rearing pups is time consuming but the most  rewarding job you could undertake as a foster. Newborn pups need to be fed every 2 hours, this includes through the night so it can also become a very exhausting experience. For the first few weeks of their lives they cannot urinate or defecate on their own.  Mmum would normally stimulate them by licking, we mimic this using cotton wool to encourage them to go to the toilet. Any foster considering hand rearing needs to not only have the time to put into the pups but also be able to nurture them as they grow.

If you haven’t been put off by any of the above and you believe you fit the bill then please do get in touch, email foster@freshfields.org.uk

Thank You