🐾 Fostering Saves Lives
We place cats and kittens in short-term homes so they can decompress, heal, grow, and get ready for adoption.
CLAWS covers approved vet care, and when donations allow, we can provide food, litter, and basic gear. You provide a safe room, daily care, and honest feedback so we can match them with adopters.
What We Need Foster Homes For
- Adult cats: friendly strays or shy cats needing confidence
- Moms with kittens
- Kittens: weaned or bottle babies (training available)
- Medical cases: mild illness, post-surgery, recovery
- Short-term holds: 24–72 hours between vet visits or transports
Keeping cats in foster instead of a shelter reduces stress and improves survival — especially for kittens and sick or scared adults.
Typical Foster Length
Most stays last 2–8 weeks.
Medical or behavioral cases may take longer. “Way-station” holds can be as short as one night.
CLAWS Provides
✅ Vet care (via our partner agencies): exams, vaccines, spay/neuter, meds – all pre-approved
✅ Supplies when available (litter, food, carrier, bowls)
✅ Support (text-based Q&A, care guides, adoption help)
✅ Adoption placement we and our partner agencies market, screen, and handle contracts)
You Provide
🐾 A safe room — bathroom, laundry room, or spare room with a closing door
🐾 Daily care — food, water, litter, gentle interaction
🐾 Observation — appetite, behavior, energy, litter habits
🐾 Transport — vet visits or adoption events (CLAWS coordinates)
House Rules
🚫 Indoors only — no porch, garage, or “just for a minute” time outside.
🚫 No declawing — our adoption contract forbids it.
🚫 Quarantine new fosters for 10–14 days away from resident pets.
📞 Contact CLAWS before any vet care unless it’s an emergency.
⚠️ Report any serious signs immediately (lethargy, not eating >24h, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing).
Foster Training & Guides
You’ll receive:
- CLAWS Foster Quick-Start Guide
- Kitten Care Basics (feeding, weights, litter training)
- Adoption Prep Tips (photos, bios, meet-and-greets)
We adapt these from national best-practice programs (Best Friends, ASPCA, Alley Cat Allies).
What’s Covered vs. What’s on You
CLAWS covers (via our partner agencies): vaccines, spay/neuter, dewormer, flea/tick prevention, approved meds, microchip.
Note that if you decide to adopt your Foster, there is a $50 adoption fee, payable to SVVS (we do not collect the money. Its purpose is to partially offset the cost of care borne by the veterinary office.
You cover: food/litter (if donations are short), daily care, routine supplies.
If something feels “off,” text us. We’d rather over-check than miss something small.
Your Role in Adoption
📸 Take good photos — natural light, bright eyes, clear scale
📝 Share notes — personality, habits, energy level
🤝 Help with meet-and-greets (we handle screening)
You’ll help us tell their story — that’s what gets them adopted.
Common Questions
Can I foster if I have pets?
Yes, if your pets are vaccinated and fosters are quarantined at first.
Can I foster if I rent?
Usually yes — just confirm pet allowance with your landlord.
Can I foster short-term?
Absolutely. Even a few days helps us move cats safely between stages.
I’ve never done this before.
We’ll walk you through setup. You don’t need experience — just patience and a door that closes.
Minimum Foster Room Setup
- Litter box + scoop
- Food and water bowls
- Towels/blankets, soft bed, hidey box
- Scratcher and toys
- Hard floor preferred for easy cleaning
- Optional: small shelf or vertical space
For kittens:
- Digital gram scale
- Low-sided litter pan
- Heat pad or safe warm zone (for neonates only)
Getting Started
1️⃣ Apply to foster (quick form: name, contact, space, experience)
2️⃣ Virtual orientation (15–30 min Zoom or phone chat)
3️⃣ Home setup check (photo or short video)
4️⃣ Placement (we match you with a cat or litter you can support)
5️⃣ Check-ins (Day 1, Day 3, then weekly)
When You Fall in Love With Your Foster
It happens all the time.
If you decide to adopt, you’ll complete the same adoption process and fee as any adopter. We’ll mark the cat as “pending” and finalize the transfer.
You’re Saving Lives
Every time someone fosters, another cat avoids the shelter system — and gets a real chance at a better life. Whether you take one kitten or a string of short-term guests, it matters.
If, for whatever reason, you’re unable to foster but you’d still like to help, check out our Amazon Wish List. These items will be used to care for cats in the area and help provide relief to our colony caretakers, who fund their efforts out of their own pockets.