So you’re interested in fostering a cat or kitten? That’s great!

Fostering kittens is such a rewarding experience. With the number of stray or abandoned cats in Singapore, fostering a cat is also a great way to help the local stray community. Plus, having an adorable kitten at home definitely doesn’t hurt!

All that said, fostering a cat or kitten can be tough work. It’s important to be prepared and to make sure you’re able to help your new foster kitten in any way you can.

Before You Foster

Before starting your fostering journey, there’s a few things you should figure out first.

• Is your household appropriate for young kittens?
• Is there sufficient space for them?
• Do you have other animals in the house that may not get along with your new kitten?
• Does your schedule allow you to take care of the kitten? Take note that young kittens need round-the-clock attention and may need your attention at least once every 2-3 hours.
• If you can’t personally care for your kitten, are you able to arrange care for them?
• Are you able to handle the financial burden of a new kitten?

If you’re able to answer the above questions positively, you’re almost ready to begin! Now you just have to get to know more about the cat you’ll be fostering.

If you’re fostering a cat through an organisation like Cat Welfare Society, they’ll likely have volunteers who will be able to walk you through fostering a kitten. They may also be able to provide you more information on your to-be foster kitten, such as their health, age, vaccination status, etc. These are all important bits of info that will help make your kittens transition into your home much easier.

However, if you’re rescuing a kitten on your own, you might not be as well equipped with this information. But never fear! There’s plenty of resources online that will guide you through this. You should also make a point to bring your kitten to the vet. This allows you to check your kitten’s health and find out what vaccinations, or medication your cat may need in the future.

Preparing to Foster a Kitten

Now that you’re equipped with all the right information, it’s time to actually prepare for your incoming kitten.

First and foremost, cat proof your home. This is especially important if your kitten is already starting to jump around. But even small kittens can cause a ton of trouble! Be careful of places where your kitten can get into trash cans or toilets, curtains they can climb or small places they can hide and get stuck in.

You’ll want to also set up a safe space for your new fluffy companion to roam and play in. The room should be of a comfortable temperature, with a door that closes so you can keep your kitten out of the main area of your home.

Next, you should get some vital supplies like:

• A comfortable bed
• A separate food dish and water bowl
• Interactive toys like KONG’s Active Chase Cat Toy or teaser toys like KONG’s Fishing Pole Teaser Toy
• A brush
• A scratching post
• A litter box
• A sturdy travel carrier like Stefanplast’s Cat Carrier

These are just the tip of the iceberg too! These important tools will help make your new kitten’s life a lot more comfortable and safe. Having toys and adorable scratching posts like Honey Care’s Cat Scratching Post will also help maintain your kitten’s energy level - this way they don’t end up hurting you or anyone in your family.

Preparing Kitten Food

The last thing to get is kitten food!

Much like puppies and other baby animals, kittens can grow extraordinarily fast over a short period of time! To do this, they need plenty of food and nutrients to grow properly - including lots of protein, amino acids, minerals and vitamins. For this reason, it’s recommended to feed your kitten special kitten food like SmartHeart’s Dry Kitten Food. Another important thing to note is that kittens can sometimes get dehydrated easily as they don’t drink as much water. Instead, they get a lot of their water intake from their food!

So if you can, make sure to feed them at least some canned food. Schesir’s delicious Chicken Fillets with Aloe in Jelly Wet Foodmakes for an excellent wet source of protein and nutrients for kittens. Tasty treats like Ciao’s Churu Tuna for Kittens is also a great way to supplement your kitten’s diet with additional protein and antioxidants! Plus, if your kitten is a little picky, this yummy reward is sure to pique their interest!

Caring for A Foster Kitten

Awesome! With everything prepared, you’re finally ready to bring your kitten home! This will be an exciting process and it’s easy to rush things. However, if you want to make sure your kitten feels safe and happy in her new foster home, take things slow and steady.

When you first bring home your kitten, keep them quarantined in a small, quiet room. Leave them in their carrier for a while so they adjust to their new home. Once they seem calm and content, open the door of the carrier and allow them to come out by themself.

Place fresh water, food and a litterbox in the room.

If the kitten refuses to leave the carrier, gently remove them from the carrier and show them their food and water. After some time, your kitten should be back to exploring their environment! Over time, as your kitten gets more confident in their environment, you can gradually bring them to other rooms in the house, one at a time. Eventually, you’ll be able to let them roam free! However, for now, it’s important to always keep an eye on your cat when they’re roaming freely.

 

The Foster Experience

By now, you should have a happy and healthy little kitten exploring your home! In the end, fostering a kitten can be extra fun - especially since kittens are bundles of energy that are always fun to play and hang out with.

it’s also important to remember that you won’t be this kitten’s forever home! Foster kittens need to find a permanent home - so make sure to search for their new pet parents. It can be heartbreaking to lose a foster kitten, but if you’re able to care for a kitten long term you can always choose to adopt your foster kitten.

However, if you’re not able to care for a cat long term, make sure to advertise your foster kitten as much as you can. Even if you adopted your kitten from an organisation, you can help them out by sending out advertisements to friends, family and strangers on the internet - whether it’s through social media or other means. With any luck, you’ll be able to find a new home for your foster kitten in no time! And the best part is that you’ll be able to guide your foster kitten’s new family through caring for their new kitten.

Getting to care for a foster kitten is a wonderful experience for you and your family. It can be hard at times, especially when it comes to letting go of a kitten who’s already made itself comfortable in your home. However, fostering helps cat welfare agencies in Singapore care for even more cats! If you’re able to foster a kitten, consider contacting an organisation like the Cat Welfare Society or the Kitten Sanctuary.

 

 

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TAMMI CHNG

Tammi is an avid writer, but especially loves learning and writing about animals! She spends her free time visiting cat cafes, playing video games and having plenty of cuddle time with her pup.