To ask if anyone has fostered a pet before?

[Travellingcareer]

I'm not in a financial position to permanently rehome a second cat but I'm very interested in fostering. Just wondered if anyone has any experiences of this?
Sadly I'm finding that they want fosterers to live very close to the vets they use which is understandable and some places just aren't getting back to me.
I own my home and seem to be meeting the criteria, it's a shame really as I'd love to help.

I have, but I'm in the US, so I don't know how much info I can offer.

I fostered cats for a few years, I really enjoyed it, even the difficult cats. I did need to be able to make fairly frequent visits to the designated vet with my own car. I was quite a long way away but we covered a very large area. Every cat had an initial visit to the vet to get checked over then quite often another vaccination visit and possibly other treatment. I worked part time, it would have been tricky if I’d been working full time.

I hope you get some fosterers along soon. I’m interested in this too

Well yes I tried it once, due to already having 3 chihuahuas and not wanting anymore I passed the home check to foster one. She had been removed from a house after suffering serious abuse - kicked about, left to forage on the floor for scraps etc just hideous 😢 she had a fear of bowls, perhaps plates etc had been launched at her I don’t know but she was terrified of going near one. Just the sweetest, calmest little girl (aged 4) despite what she’d been through she just wanted cuddles and would only be hand fed cooked meats and take water off our fingers. From day one she slept in my bed I felt so protective of her because of her past, fast forward nearly 3 years and of course I ended up adopting her as we’d bonded so strongly through her rehabilitation. She eats, drinks from bowls along with the others she’ll even cuddle up with them and finally learnt to play even initiating it sometimes.
I remember shedding real tears the first time I even saw her wag her tail. Wouldn’t be without her….so that’s my foster story - foster failure but adoption success! Realised fostering isn’t for me I’m too soft!

Long term cat fosterer here. Proximity to the shelter/vet and plenty of time are probably the key points that make fostering successful. If your working from home it can be a great addition.

We have eight cats, three of them are foster fails. We primarily foster kittens or cats needing respite from the shelter. Our big cats teach the kittens how to cat and how to interact with humans and I quite enjoy writing up a little report with the cat's likes and dislikes at the end of the time.

I’ve informally fostered twice and failed both times 😳 I’ve learned that I can’t be trusted…animals have a 24 hour timer with me… any longer than a day and they stay forever.

First failure was with me for 18 years and the second one just celebrated his 8th ’gotcha day’.

Good luck finding the right group to work with. I have so much respect for people who can successfully foster!

I've been fostering cats from my local animal shelter for over 10 years. I always have the scared/nervous cats so they can get used to being around people before getting their forever home. My shortest foster was two weeks, longest was sixteen months. I'm now on my 38th cat. It is hard to say goodbye to them, but very rewarding once you get updates from the new owners and can see how they've settled in. I don't drive, so when cats need to go to the shelter, either someone who works there or a volunteer comes and picks them up, so me not driving isn't a problem.

I have, RSPCA.
Had a friend who worked there, so it was really easy.
A kitten rejected by her mum, I hand reared her with help from a kind neighbour as I worked full-time.
I had her for 22 years, I didn't know cats could live that long.
She was my baby, followed me everywhere.
Not much help to you but thanks for bringing back some lovely memories ❤️

Not cats but may be helpful.

I foster dogs regularly for a local rescue and I currently have my latest failed foster sat on my knee and generally getting in my way and I love it.

My generalised experience is: you have to be ready and willing to drop everything at anytime to collect the animal, be mentally prepared to receive an animal that won't be in the best of health, be prepared to nurse them if needed, certainly you will be feeding them with the aim to bring their weight to within normal parameters and then, when your foster animal gets a clean bill of health from the vet you then need to be prepared to hand them to their new owner who you may/may not have already met as part of their adoption checks.

Emotionally it can be hard as you will have bonded and given 100% to ensure that the animal is fit and gets a good home. Sometimes the animal can arrive so neglected that a decision is made to PTS and that is very tough.

Be prepared to be on first name terms with the vet and all their staff as you will see them often.

I keep a diary for each dog to log their food intake/weight/training/behaviours etc as it's really useful to refer back to.

Financially, the rescue is supposed to provide everything needed but I don't really ask for anything unless it's a big piece of equipment and just cover the cost of food etc myself. Vet bills are met by the rescue.

I fostered 9 cats over 2 years before meeting My Cat, who doesn’t like feline company.

I don’t drive but I do live fairly near the local vet. If the rescue couldn’t find a driver, I paid for a taxi out of my own pocket. I didn’t have to but it was something I could contribute.

One of the toughest things about fostering is letting them go, & it’s so important to go into it recognising that each cat is temporary. Love them, but keep that bit of distance. You’ll also need to be ready to let potential adopters visit.

As other posters have said, you’ll get loads of support & the rescue will pay vet bills & if necessary provide food & litter.

All of the cats I fostered were generally healthy - some were very nervous.

These are some of our foster kittens from last year. They all found new homes. I