FOSTERING CATS Fostering an adult cat may not require as much time and attention as kittens, but it is equally rewarding! The following information will help you familiarize yourself with some of the common needs, behavioral issues and health concerns that are associated with fostering cats. Supplies Needed - Separate room or large kennel to keep foster cat away from your personal pets (we recommend a period of at least ten days). - Litter box (separate one from your own cats). - Food and water dish (metal preferred, easy to clean and disinfect). - Scratching post and toys - High quality cat food (young kittens under six month can have some canned food, but mostly dry food). - Cat bed/blanket Behavioral Issues It is common for a cat to experience some behavioral problems and need a period of adjustment when placed in a new environment. Some cats do not do well in our rescue environment because they are frightened, nervous and anxious, or need more socialization in a home setting. Foster families may be asked to foster an adult cat that needs time to recover from an injury or illness before going up for adoption. The following information will help you familiarize yourself with some of the common needs, behavioral issues and health concerns associated with fostering cats. www.foothillsanimal.org
Aggression Towards Other Cats Prevent aggression before it occurs by introducing cats gradually. Try placing the two cats on opposite sides of a closed door. Let them get used to each other's smells and sounds before opening the door. Slide some treats under the door. Taking these extra steps in the beginning will help to ensure a smooth transition into your home. Scratching Furniture or Carpet Why do cats scratch? Scratching allows the outer frayed layers of the cats nails to be removed. Make sure you provide something appropriate for the cat to scratch. Cats do most of their scratching activity when they wake up, so place a post or scratching box close to where they usually sleep. This may be in a couple of different places. If your foster cat does scratch in areas that are not appropriate, a quick squirt from a squirt bottle will be effective. This should only take a few times. Do not soak the cat with water, just a squirt. You can also place double-sided tape on the area where your foster cat likes to scratch; they do not like sticky surfaces and will usually leave that area alone. Litter Box Issues There are several reasons why cats don't use the litter box. A foster cat just being introduced into a new environment may not know or remember where the litter box is located. Some cats won't use the litter box if it is too dirty or if too many cats are using the same box. There may be medical reasons (urinary tract infection) for why your foster cat isn't using the litter box and you should contact our shelter team to rule out that possibility. Cats are extremely clean and it is important to keep the box as clean as possible. Cats do not like sharing their litter box with other cats, so it is important to have one extra box for the amount of cats in your home (three cats should have four litter boxes).
Health Issues Because most foster cats are rescued from shelter environments, it is very difficult to ensure that cats will always be healthy. They may appear healthy at time of rescue and then begin to show illness a few days later. It is important that the foster cat is physically separated from your own personal cats during a short time period for adjustment. Your personal cats should be current on vaccinations. The shelter team may have a different approach for special cases. Routine Veterinary Care Foothills will provide foster cats with the appropriate basic medical care such as vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, de-worming and FELV/FIV test. All of our rescued animals are microchipped and all records of medical care will be in their file. If you observe any changes in your foster cat's behavior (medically or physically), please notify the shelter team as quickly as possible so they can evaluate the cat and make a decision if further veterinary care is needed or begin a medication treatment program. While fostering, you will need to make sure you are available to bring the cat into the shelter for a complete schedule of vaccinations or evaluations. If experiencing any of these concerns, notify our shelter team for future evaluation: - Not drinking for more than 24 hours - Not eating for more than two to three days - Diarrhea that lasts for more than one day - Vomiting and diarrhea that lasts for more than six hours - Vomiting more than once in an hour - Not eating for more than 12-24 hours - Lethargy without fever for more than 12 hours - Lethary with fever Our shelter does have veterinary partners that we use to help with the care of our animals. In the event of an emergency, contact Marlene Miles, Shelter Manager at (480) 381-2437.
Common Illness for Kittens and Cats If your foster kitten or cat displays any of the symptoms listed below, please contact the shelter team. Our team will determine the best course of action based on your observations. Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) is a viral infection that most commonly affects kittens and young cats. Left untreated, it is almost always fatal. Most felines will not survive the illness even with intensive treatment. This virus can live for up to one year, which means unvaccinated cats can become infected simply by coming into contact with places where an infected cat has been. A bleach solution is the best way to disinfect the area. The vaccine for Panleukopenia is considered very effective. - Symptoms: Fever, diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting and loss of appetite. - Treatment: Veterinary care. - Transmission: Very contagious to unvaccinated cats, especially through contact with infected vomit or feces. Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) is a commonly referred to any illness that affects the cat's respiratory system. URI's are common in rescued kittens and cats. This could be viral or bacterial and treatment varies. - Symptoms: Sneezing, runny nose/eyes and fever. - Treatment: Shelter care/foster care (varies based on illness), may treat with antibiotics. Rhinotrachetis is a type of URI and often infects cats who have Calicivirus. The vaccine for Rhinotrachetis is effective. - Symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, fever, runny nose and eyes. Ear Mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal. - Symptoms: Itching, head-shaking and dark brown discharge in the ears. - Treatment: Shelter care/foster care with ear drops or antibiotics. - Transmission: Contagious to other cats and dogs, usually with direct contact.
Common Illness for Kittens and Cats, cont. Calicivirus is a virus that attacks the lungs and lower respiratory tract, usually causing pneumonia. Ulcers are often seen on the tongue and lips. The vaccine for Calicivirus is considered effective. - Symptoms: Loss of appetite, sneezing, runny nose/eyes and oral ulcers. Chlamydia (also called Pneumonitis) attacks the respiratory tract and produces conjunctivitis. It is a bacterium. - Symptoms: Loss of appetite, nasal discharge and red eyes. Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin. It is not actually a worm. - Symptoms: Irregularly shaped areas of fur loss, skin appears rough and scaly, a Wood's lamp may help to identify whether or not the fur loss is ringworm. - Treatment: Shelter care/foster care with antibiotics and weekly baths of topical treatments. Treatment program can take 12-16 weeks depending on the severity of the case. - Transmission: Very contagious to dogs, cats and people. Usually requires direct contact or contact with infected areas of home. Roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms affect a cat's digestive system. - Symptoms: Large/distended belly, diarrhea, inability to gain weight. - Treatment: Shelter/foster care with de-worming medication. - Transmission: Contagious to dogs and cats through contact with (and subsequent ingestion of) feces.