Basic Foster Kitteh Info

I started fostering last year after Nehi died. Momma used to say that kittens were better than cable and she's not wrong. I've had a variety of fosters- some older cats and brand new litters, each with different needs. I added things as I went, and even had some students who know I foster donate some blankets and such.

At first, I was using my guest room (with bed and shelves) as the kitten room, but most of the fosters had free range over the whole house. I like having kittehs wandering around and snuggling. They do like to eat wires, unplug lamps, occassionally break glasses by knocking them off things, but that's fine.

I have learned some things the last nine months, so I thought I'd share.

I get my fosters from the local SPCA. I call or email and ask if they have fosters, they say yes, I go in and often can pick. Sometimes I take ones that need fostering for the extra help, sometimes it's kitten litters. They provide medicine, although I've had a couple of times I have taken to vet for emergencies and paid for it. They also are good about answering questions, supporting me. They're all really great.

Some resources I found helpful:

1. The Kitten Lady is THE go to
2. SPCA guide
3. General foster info
4. When Nehi died, part of the reason I considered fostering was I follow @CagleCats on Twitter. Even if you don't want to foster I recommend following, it's a lot of fun.

First, I've gotten rid of the "guest room." One thing I've learned is that having a dedicated room, even if the foster free ranges, is important, if only for the first couple of days so they don't feel overwhelmed. For bebe kittehs it's REALLY important. I often have kittehs that have upper respitory infections (URIs) and need meds, so the room really needs to be cleaned well after, and I've noticed kittehs who are sick often shed a lot, have thin fur, so it gets everywhere. So it's a whole lot easier to have an empty room and things I can just wash with bleach than having furniture, shelves, etc.

So, the room is now empty- I pared down, donated, just got rid of, moved, everything that was once in there.

I had this great kitchen metal rack (I love these things) that used to be out in the kitteh room but the last set of kittehs started climbing the towels and blankets, and while their ingenuity was cute, I did worry a bit about them falling. I also had to clean around it. So in between litters I disassembled the shelves and reassembled them in the closet.

I intended then to keep the door closed, but of course, in typical kitteh fashion, all they then wanted was to sleep on the floor on the afghans. So now the door stays open.

It is nice having everything in one place. I looked at a lot of pictures online for ideas. The shelves have:

• Carriers on top
• Bed and folded down playpen 
• Bins for toys, bins for towels and baby washclothes
• I make sure I always have wet food, dry food (kitten and big kitty, in the rolling storage), and litter on hand
• The baby gate is helpful
• Hooks on the back of the door for litter scooper, broom, swiffer mop for daily clean ups

When I first bring them home, I leave the carrier out so it's easy to "transfer" the nest. I like these carriers and bought them because the sides and top unzip, so they're great when we're in the room AND the top loading is really handy for getting them in the carrier at the shelter.

An empty tupperware on its side with a blanket is a fun snuggle spot and the clear nature makes it funny to watch them play on either side!

After the first week I put the heating pad out, wrapped in a towel, so momma can have a break.

The baby gate does not last long, they learn the climb it, but it helps for a bit. I ended up taking the gate down early with one foster litter because momma had ear infections that threw off her balance and she was having a hard time jumping the gate.

I do find this chart (which I used various online sources to make) helpful for keeping an eye on benchmarks.

My whole house has gorgeous hard wood floors, but for the kitteh room I am seriously considering putting down lighter colored wood looking vinyl just to make it easier to clean.

I also want to repaint the room (although if I could contact paper the whole place that'd probably be easier). The room has two windows (that eventually I want to widen, as I do other back windows in the house-my bedroom, bathroom, kitchen-because this is my back view, and it's gorgeous). I was thinking that I would paint the room a lighter green, bring some of this in. I also think that I will paint the room a semi-gloss like a bathroom or kitchen, because sick kittehs snot in spectacular ways and somehow poop up walls, so easy to clean is a must.

Also, sitting against the wall, covered with kittehs, staring at this view, is very soothing.

For anyone interested in fostering, I can tell you that I started with pretty much nothing. The shelter sent me home with a bag that included some toys, food, a bed, and after that first time, I bought those things, then got a thing here and there over the months.

I use an empty tupperware for a "nest." A couple of months ago I finally got a carrier. Then I got another because a momma and four kittens won't smoosh into one after six weeks. Empty food boxes are favorite toys. I use just regular food bowls. It's more about the time and energy you put in I think.

Some cats just want to snuggle with you on the couch all the time. Some will play with siblings. Everyone is different. 

You can see that the stuff needed is pretty basic. I started with very little and just got a thing or two a month.

I do plan on getting one of those towers, because the windows are high, I think the kittehs would like seeing the view.

The blue "disposable" litter trays are good, and last quite a while, and are small enough for momma and kittens to access.

Old blankets and towels work fine.

Soft baby washcloths are very handy.

You use non clumping, scentless litter because kittens eat it as toddlers and that can be disastrous if clumping. It does produce a lot of dust, hence the swiffer mop every day.

I will say this, know your limits. I don't take kittens that need bottle feeding because I don't think I can take that schedule. I've taken breaks of a week or a couple after a foster that required a lot of work. 

One of the reasons I've been able to do this is my schedule was more flexible the last year. I'm not sure what or how I'll foster come August with being back on campus all day five days a week. I may have to pull back on fostering except for breaks like winter and summer. Or take only older fosters that don't need as much. I'll have to figure that out.

The shelter did "warn" me with first super tiny bebes that all of them might not live. Some kittehs get sick and don't do well. Some have injuries. I do okay with these things. I know maybe not everyone can. I share lots of pictures online of whoever I have at the time and some people get very sad or are very affected by some things more than others. It's okay to not want/be able to deal with these. There are lots of fosters that need help.