Cat & Small Animal Foster Program Information

Thank you for opening your home to one of our NACC shelter animals! Your generosity will help save a life and increase the chance of them finding a forever home. Our foster program is crucial for the underage kittens that enter our shelter because kittens are the most at-risk pets in shelters. They require so much more care than the shelter staff/hours can offer, which is why we seek out loving foster homes to help us continue to save kittens less than 12 weeks of age.

How the Program Works

Interested fosters can come by any time between 1:30-5:30pm Thursday-Tuesday to inquire if there are any kittens needing a foster home. Fosters fill out a standard adoption application, foster agreement, and fosters can typically leave the same day. However, an adoption is always prioritized over a standard foster. Most animals in foster care are still intact then go on a waitlist for surgery once they go into a foster home. We provide a crate, food, litter, and basic medical care. We do not have a minimum foster period but just ask you to communicate at the time of pickup when if you cannot foster them past the age of 10 weeks old so we can plan accordingly.

Additionally, we have a Facebook page called "NACC Fosters" that can be friended. That is where staff post incoming bottle baby and underage kittens that need immediate same day foster placement.

Felines and Small Animals for Fostering

There are many different foster opportunities available! Below are some descriptions of our most common needs, though there may be more and different opportunities at any given time. Foster lengths will vary with each animal. The ones listed below are simply a general guideline.

Mother with Nursing Babies: Nursing moms (either feline or small animals) who come into the shelter with their babies either as strays or surrenders, or they will give birth while already here. Mom will need to be kept with her babies until they are weaned around 4-6 weeks of age, and the babies will need to remain in foster until they are ready for adoption (around 8-9 weeks of age). May require up to 9-10 weeks in the foster home.

Bottle Baby Kittens: Newborn kittens who come into the shelter who do not have a mother and will need to be bottle fed until they are able to eat on their own. These little guys generally require round the clock care, including overnight feedings, until they are at least 2-3 weeks old. They will not be very mobile or able to eliminate on their own until they are at least 3 weeks old as well and will always need to be kept warm. They can live in a carrier for the first couple of weeks. May require up to 9 weeks or so in the foster home.

Slurry Baby Kittens: These little ones are just past the bottle-feeding stage and have just started eating on their own around 3-5 weeks of age. The slurry refers to a mixture of canned kitten food and kitten formula as they may not be able to eat the dry food on their own and will just be learning to drink water on their own as well. They will sometimes need some assistance via syringe or supplemental bottle feeding until they really get the hang of it and will require at least 4-5 daily feedings until they are eating more consistently on their own. They should be starting to use the litter box on their own but may need some help with that at first as well. Will usually require 4-6 weeks in the foster home.

Underage Kittens: These kittens will be about 5-8 weeks of age and should be fully weaned and eating completely on their own and generally be good with the litter box. They will usually be independent and playful and will only require two wet food feedings in addition to their dry food. Will usually require about 2-3 weeks in foster depending on their age.

Undersocialized Cats/Kittens/Small Animals: These animals can vary in age and need some work learning how to fully trust people so they can become adoptable. Some will have come from feral colonies or hoarding situations and may never have known people before, and others just may be very shy. They will require a lot of patience and work with safe handling techniques to properly socialize them. The time in foster will be extremely variable depending on how easily they are able to be socialized.

Sick, Injured, Surgery Recovery, Break from Shelter and Hospice Cats/Small Animals: These are many various scenarios that we may have a need for. These animals can vary in age, temperament, and need level. Most just need some TLC until they can come back for adoption, or a comfortable place to live out their days due a terminal illness. We will give complete instructions for their care both in the home and any necessary follow up back at the shelter. The time in foster will be extremely variable depending on the reason for foster.

Preparing for Foster Kittens

Your foster kittens should be separated from all other animals in your household and kept in a small area, such as a spare room or bathroom, where they have access to their food, water and litter box. kittens cannot regulate their body temperature so this area should also be in a warm, draft-free area. It may be a good idea to consider an area that is easy to clean up in terms of spills and litter box accidents, which will happen since the kittens are learning. Please do not put fosters in a garage, shed, or place that has outdoor access as those locations are not safe. We are happy to provide any and/or all necessary supplies that are listed below.

  • Supply of food (canned and/or kibble/pellets) 
  • Non-clumping clay litter
  • Heating pad or snuggle safe disc
  • Secure sleeping area (crate) 
  • Hay and Care Fresh-type bedding for small animals
  • Kitten bottle-feeding items (if applicable)
    • Kitten nursing bottles and extra nipples
    • Kitten milk replacer (KMR) 
    • Syringes for supplemental feeding

Medical Care

All cats must be spayed/neutered, FVRCP vaccinated, and microchipped at the time of adoption. As a foster, you will be responsible for bringing the kittens in for their routine vaccinations (every few weeks.) While all animals are checked for general health before going into foster, they may develop other health concerns along the way, and may need to be seen by the shelter veterinarian. NACC provides all medical care for our foster animals at the shelter with the shelter veterinarian at no cost to the Foster.

For More Information

If you need more information or have questions about Cat and Small Animal Fostering, please email our Foster Coordinator at FosterNACC@norfolk.gov.