Animal fostering means bringing in homeless creatures from animal shelters or rescues and nurturing them until they are sent to a permanent home with families. Suppose you plan on fostering a homeless cat, then you will be responsible for the feline’s well being either for a predetermined period or until someone adopts it.
Usually, it can last between two weeks to a few months, and you must look after the cat as if it were your pet. Fostering a young kitten or an adult cat also involves observing and learning the feline’s personality. This information will come to good use when the animal shelter or rescue centre it belongs to pairs it with potential adopters.
Know that fostering a kitten involves showering it with immense love, care, and attention and letting go of it when the right time arrives. Saying goodbye can be the hardest part of fostering, which is why you can consider adopting a furball too. But ensure you provide the adopted munchkin with quality food, fresh water, shelter, and health care at all times.
In this case, contemplate purchasing cat insurance in NZ, so your new pet stays sufficiently covered during unanticipated health scenarios and emergencies. Cheap cat insurance policies are affordable and assure your feline pet basic health care with little hassle.
Meanwhile, check out some tips on setting up the right ecosystem for fostering kittens.
1.Allocate specific indoor areas for your foster kittens
It is not safe to allow your foster fur babies to have access to an entire home, so consider having designated areas inside the house where the little ones can move around comfortably and stay guarded at the same time.
Select a place you can easily monitor and ensure the temperature is not too high/low but keeps your furry babies warm. The ease with which you can clean the area daily should be at the top of your mind. Sanitizing the place is essential, especially if your kittens are sick and when your foster babies are adopted and a new litter is about to arrive.
2.Create ideal spaces depending on the kittens’ age
Suppose you are fostering kittens as young as 0 to 3 weeks old; consider placing them in a box, basket, or carrier, keeping its top open. However, first, place a soft blanket inside the container and a cat-safe heat source (e.g. heating pad) set on low or a heating disk under the blanket.
Also, place a stuffed toy, preferably one that is battery-operated and produces a heartbeat mimicking that of a mother cat. Such an arrangement can give your kittens the feeling of being close to their mama cat.
Consider adding a soft-sided playpen if the foster kittens are about 3 to 8 weeks old. It can be a fabulous place for your tiny furballs to continue growing. But ensure the playpen is kitten safe and easy to clean. Also, you can line the playpen’s bottom with potty pads to take care of the messes that most likely occur.
Place a shallow litter box with age-appropriate, non-clumping, fragrance-free cat litter. Don’t place the food and water bowls beside the litter box after they start weaning.
Once the foster babies are ready to leave the playpen, they can spend time in a dedicated room. Remove hazardous objects, plants, and furniture in that room to prevent accidents, injuries, and other emergencies.
Suppose it was your pet kitten, without cat insurance NZ you may have to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars in getting it treated during unanticipated health scenarios. Cheap cat insurance helps support your adopted pet cat with top-notch medical care during unexpected vet visits and can bail you out from potentially hefty bills, which is why you must contemplate buying a policy.
