First foster cat!!!!!!!!!

[chemenger]

So excited, our first foster cat will arrive on Friday. He's " a beautiful big boy" who was taken in off the streets on bonfire night by the CPL. He's been in a pen since then but would be better in a family environment. I can't wait. Just 4 sleeps.

Well done, chemenger. How long will you likely have him for?

By the way, I'm smelling a 'failed foster' here - if you all get along.

Remember photos will be needed!

He will stay with us until he is adopted. If that doesn't happen before mid-December then he'll be here until after Christmas, they don't do adoptions in the run up to Christmas. This will not be a failed adoption, because they have said they would not approve us, because we live on a busy road (fostered cats have to be kept inside). I also want to graduate to fostering kittens, so we will be saying goodbye to this one. For cats without problems there seems to be a quick turn round, usually just a few weeks in care.

Ah. You sound just a little bit less excited now.

I couldn't do it myself. As soon as they curled up in an armchair, I'd mentally have them down as part of the family. I'd likely 'fail' with my very first foster therefore - .I doubt I'd be able to give them up willingly.

Much respect to those who manage it.

I am still excited, I'm really looking forward to having a Cat again without the knowledge that in the end it will be a sad goodbye. With fostering the goodbyes are happy ones (not saying I won't find it hard to give them up). The lady who came to interview me had fostered a hundred kittens (not all at once) just imagine, a hundred little cat faces that have gone on to good homes.

Kittens would be straightforward for me, interestingly.

I have fostered short term. A few times, it hard to let them go. One was meant to stay for 4 days but He settled in so quick I was relived that my parents took him to the shelter for me the next day or I could never have let him go. He was lovely. Still regret giving up one I fell in love with at first sight though.

What is the criteria for fostering? I'd love to give a helping hand but not sure I could afford to feed another mouth when my old cat eats so bloody much!

With the CPL all food, litter and equipment is provided, including litter trays, cleaning stuff and a carrier. They pay all vet bills etc. You need to be able to keep the cats inside and separate from any of your own pets. You need to be able to take the cats to the CPl vet (they have their own drug supplies so you have to use their vet) for vaccinations and any other treatment they need to get them fit for adoption. With my branch you also have to be able to take the cat(s) to monthly rehoming days. I think they are really looking for people with a realistic idea of what they are letting themselves in for, not all the cats will be nice cuddly kitties, some will need a bit of patience. Personally it would be hard to find one that needed as much patience as my last old cat who went by the nickname nastycat on here. There is some information on the Cat Protection League web pages and they will put you in touch with your local branch to explore what you can do.

He's here. But he's behind the sofa so no picture yet. He's a big fluffy black and white boy, intact (for the moment) and he's vary beautiful and very scared.

Aww Poor lad. When does he get the op?

Has he lived with a family before?

He'll get the op when he goes back for his second vaccinations in 3 weeks. We don't know if he's had a home before but I think he might have, he was no bother at the vet and in the carrier.

Have you considered putting his carrier down door open, in a secluded spot? (Eg behind the sofa.) He might feel like getting into it for a little if all of the space becomes too much for him.

Good luck to the lad.

We have purring today, he's very keen on chin rubs. Still lurking in corners but getting better all the time. STOP PRESS in the last few minutes he's come out had a big session of strokes and something to eat. Now he's looking out of the window. Quite calm.

Brave boy.

Aww, he's a cutie. We managed eight adult fosters before Humphrey came into our lives. He had some real issues (both health and behavioural) and is probably the grumpiest cat I've ever met. We never thought we'd be failed fosterers as because we are both quite rescue minded and loved seeing their happy faces go on to new homes (our charity has a Facebook group for the adopters to share pics of their rehomed cats so we still see them). There was one "ugly", naughty girl who captured out hearts, she stayed with us for months because no one wanted her - I cried buckets when she went, but actually has the world's best home now! I have attached a before and after pic of Humphrey just because

Wow look at those cobby cheeks.

Favourite corner

I can't believe they expect you to live for three weeks with an intact male. The smell must be horrific. Can't you push to have the op sooner?

He's not smelly, and shows no inclination to spray. Well if I'm absolutely truthful his back end was bit wiffy but I think that was because he peed in his box on the way to the vet.

OMG! He is so CUTE!!!! Look at his tummy!!! wants to rub it

And not all intact males smell! I grew up with one as a kid and he never smelt and also had one who couldn't be neutered until he was over 18 months old (due to his tiny size and other issues) and never had issues with spraying or smells.

Gorgeous! He looks so much more relaxed and happy in the second pic. How wonderful that you get to be part of him getting a new home.

He likes his tummy rubbed, it's not a trap to lure you in to a good mauling like my last cat did.

He is very comfortable with you, isn't he? Lovely fluffball, hope you get lots of lovely feline snuggles!