FOSTERING IS A LIFELINE

Fostering is temporarily providing a home for a cat or kitten in order to prepare them for their forever home. Paws and Claws provides supplies, medical care and lots of hand holding so you can focus on providing a bit of love, time and a small space in your home for your foster feline.

Absolutely! In fact, many of our foster families have cats, dogs, or other animals of their own. We ask that you keep them separate for the first two weeks and ideally the entire time you foster, however, we are open to having a discussion if you have dog/cat-friendly resident pets.

We are a small foster-based rescue which means we form close relationships with all of our foster families. We have a mobile number for fosters and will share that with you so you can text us with questions, concerns, updates, or cute photos anytime. Some of our fosters reach out to us many times a day and that’s okay! You will in no way be left to figure things out on your own after picking up your foster cat.

We will provide you with food, litter and a cat carrier, and you are responsible for providing a loving, safe environment, and a bit of time!

Sometimes you just can’t imagine your life without your foster feline and are hoping to officially welcome them home. We can have a conversation about what finalizing the adoption may look like if we feel that it is a good match.

We will share our emergency policy with you before you begin fostering. We cover all veterinary bills (please note, we cannot cover any medical bills when a vet/ER visit isn’t first approved by our Medical Coordinator). If your foster pet experiences an emergency please give us a call immediately. We will advise you on what to do. If your foster cat seems sick or something is off, reach out right away.

This varies greatly, depending on the population you are fostering and if your animal has any extra needs. Orphaned neonatal kittens require the most time because they need to be cared for around the clock. Undersocialized cats will need an hour or two dedicated to socialization each day, however that could be time where you quietly sit by them doing work or reading a book. The short answer is the time you decide to dedicate will depend on your specific cat, but of course the more time the better.

This also varies greatly (see our foster page for details on foster populations). On average a healthy cat who is adoption ready will be in a foster home for 3-4 weeks. Kittens below ten weeks of age will have to wait until they are spayed/neutered and at least two and a half months old. Under-socialized cats may take a while longer depending on their progress.

On average we tell fosters to plan for the animal to be in their home for 1-3 months. Some of our fosters choose to focus on animals who we know will get adopted quickly or act as a vacation foster covering for our longer-term fosters. We are willing to work around your schedule and comforts.

The Paws and Claws Cat Adoption Center at 829 Chicago Ave in Evanston is the heart of our foster program. There you will receive support, pick up and drop off fosters and supplies and bring your foster pet for medical care. Fosters are responsible for transport to and from the Adoption Center which is located next to public transport.

None! We welcome everyone interested in fostering even if you have never had a pet before. Some of our cats, such as bottle baby kittens, do require experience to foster, but that doesn't mean you can’t learn! When we have our initial conversation, we will talk about your previous experience and who you are hoping to foster.

We will schedule all medical care for you and coordinate with your schedule. You will be responsible for bringing your foster to all of their appointments. Expect to be at the appointment for 30-50 minutes on average. We may ask you to bring a fecal sample for parasite testing. Otherwise, you just bring your cat (in a carrier with a blanket).

There are opportunities to foster all types of cats, including orphaned neonatal kittens, weaned kitten; nursing mother cats and their kittens; undersocialized kittens, undersocialized/shy cats; cats and kittens awaiting vet care; or those who are being treated for an injury or illness. Also, adoption-ready cats and kittens who are waiting for their family to bring them home.

We will work with you to find a foster who will be a good match. You will receive photos and as much as we know about animals in need of foster. You can then let us know which cat you would like to foster. We will never give you an animal you are not comfortable taking into your home, but we do ask you to be open-minded about the animals in need.