Complete our Foster Application on the link. Save and download it and email it to ParkSlopeCats@gmail.com . A coordinator or volunteer will reach out to you.
Fostering FAQs
- How do I get in touch about Fostering? Check out our social media for posts about fostering or ask our coordinator by emailing us. Submit a foster application and someone from our team will be in touch to setup a call with you. We are ALWAYS in the search of good fosters.
- How do I prepare for and care for my new foster? Most of our current cats are easy fosters without special needs and requiring just a space to crash in while their adoption posts go around. OR you may be doing a foster-to-adopt, in which case the cats are ready for adoption, but you’d like to foster first. In all cases, please go through our Cat Safety handout to make sure that your place is safe for cats. For cats that need special attention – fostering requires some time in your schedule, and a space in your home such as a bathroom, office, or extra room – at least for the first few days or the first week or two, while your new foster gets acclimated to their new environment. [We do have a few rescue kitties who are seniors or adults needing special diets and a few kittens needing socialization, and for those, experienced cat-people or experienced fosters are better. For the others with no special needs, first-time fosters or those without any special-needs cat-experience are very welcome.]
- To set up your foster’s new space, you will need a litter box, litter, food and water bowls, and dry/wet cat food. Treats, a cozy bed (shy cats prefer caves), a scratch pad or post, and some fun toys are an added bonus. While we do ask fosters to help provide the basics, you can also pick up extra supplies and a starter kit from us. Before or at the time you bring your foster cat home, you’ll need to sign our Foster Contract . If a large dog crate is needed to keep a foster cat which has just come out of a spay/neuter surgery, we can lend a crate/cage to you.
- For how long can I foster? Fostering can last from a few weeks to months depending on your availability and the cat’s needs – but of course, we take your availability into consideration first and foremost. We ask that all new fosters commit to at least a minimum of 4-6 weeks, although shorter durations are welcome too – especially when temporary foster placements are needed if the principal foster is going out of town. If you’re travelling short term, we can help coordinate a foster takeover until your return, or arrange for a cat sitter. The maximum time is open-ended of course.
- What’s involved in Fostering? The qualities we seek for the most in foster parents are patience, kindness, understanding and an openness & willingness to learn about cat behavior and habits and to be frank and conscientious with communicating with the rescuers. Many times, those who foster have busy work schedules and may have resident cats of their own as well, but even if you’re busy and have a small apartment, it is easily possible. Fostering usually requires a time commitment of around 1-2 hours per day, normally centered around meal times. However this can vary on the cat’s needs. Additional time is appreciated only if it’s possible for you.
- Some cats or kittens may need socializing, which requires a time commitment of 2-3 hours per day. at a minimum but can be less depending on the nature/need of the kittens. If you’ve never socialized before, but are interested in learning, we will send you socializing tips. Socializing kittens is an incredibly rewarding process and makes them even more adoptable. Kittens needing socializing within limited time period though require greater commitment, since the socialization windows for semi-feral/feral kittens are limited and the urgency to commit more time to that process is a necessity. Other cats might require medication, or may be recovering from surgery or have special needs, in which case we provide you with both the medication and guidance on how to administer it. The level of care will depend on your foster’s age and health. All kittens require high quality nutrition and vet visits for vaccines. We also discuss with you during the initial process to asses what cats you are comfortable bringing into your home.
- Where should foster homes be located? In NYC and the tri-state area. Easier areas for us would be in and around the following neighborhoods: Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Windsor Terrace, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Heights, Ditmas Park, Cobble Hill, Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Downtown Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, East Village, West Village, Chelsea, Soho-Tribeca, UWS and UES. If you live outside of one of these areas, but have your own car or are willing to help transport the cat, that works too! We are also very open to the tri-state area if you can travel. We also have limited transporter-volunteers who will help deliver the cat(s) to you.
- Will my fosters meet my resident cat(s)? Initially, fosters usually stay in a bathroom or a safe, smaller space away from your resident pets. The adults we have at the moment are vaccinated, fixed, and fully vetted/tested by the time they go into foster, and can be introduced to your resident cats after a few days. Check out this video on introducing cats. (We’ll have our page on the same topic set up soon.) Some cats may need to be kept separate from your resident cats, but we will let you know if that’s the case. That scenario usually entails unvaccinated kittens or cats who still need to be vetted.
- What if my foster needs veterinary care? Text, call and email us with the subject line URGENT and let us know what is going on with your foster. We’re always here to answer any questions, big or small. Our priority is the cat’s health and we’d rather you reach out than not.
- How can I help my foster get adopted? Send us lots of great photos and videos to select from so we can place the best on their adoption profile. This is a highly important step, and fosters really have to make an effort to get good photos. We cannot stress the need for good photos & videos enough. Pro tip: find good lighting and make sure to focus on the cat’s portrait featuring the cat’s face and body and not too much of the background. The more information we have about your foster cat’s personality, likes, dislikes, quirks, routine, habits and needs, the more it will help find the best adopter. The blurb that you send about the cat(s) help their bio placed on the adoption site and/or social media posts.
- How do I help with the adoption process? All potential adopters who have applied for the cat(s)/kittens you are fostering will have an adoption interview with our coordinator/team to determine if they are a good fit for your foster. Once the adopter has been approved and agreed to the terms of adoption, we will set up an initial video/ phone meet with you to meet your foster kitty. The adopter will likely have a lot of questions about the cat’s personality, routine and favorite things. If the virtual meet or call goes well, the next step is an in-person meeting for the adopters to meet your foster and interact with them. At times, if the virtual meet and home check has gone smoothly, we may skip the in-person meet and proceed straight to the pick up or drop off of the cat(s).
- What if I foster-fail and want to adopt? You can get the process started by filling out an adoption application. Fostering-to-adopt is a great way to learn if one of our cats is a good fit for yourself and your family prior to committing to adoption. If you have adoption questions, please email parkslopecats@gmail.com . Please note that simply fostering does not automatically prioritize you to adopt, but at the same time is not discouraged either. If you’re travelling often for long periods, during which time there is no one else to take care of the cat, you may be better suited for fostering vs adopting.
Park Slope Cats 