Foster Home Rules & Guidelines
Welcome to Cat Care Community!
By opening your home to a foster cat, you’re making a life-changing difference. Since we operate without a physical shelter, foster homes are the heart of our mission — safe places where rescued cats can heal, grow, and prepare for their forever families.
Please read and follow these guidelines to ensure the best outcomes for both our cats and our foster volunteers.
1. 🏠 Foster Home Requirements
Before welcoming a cat into your care, please ensure:
You have a safe indoor-only environment — no unsupervised access to outdoors, balconies, or unsecured windows.
All openings (windows, balconies, vents) are secured with nets or barriers. Even small gaps can be dangerous.
Your home is free from toxic plants, exposed wires, and small objects that could be swallowed.
Balconies are fully enclosed or kept off-limits.
You can provide a calm, stress-free space — especially important for shy, sick, or newly rescued cats.
All household members agree to fostering.
Any other pets are healthy, vaccinated, and introduced to the foster cat properly.
2. 🧡 Responsibilities of a Foster Home
As a foster, you will:
Provide daily care — food, fresh water, litter box cleaning, and affection.
Feed high-quality food suitable for the cat’s age and health (kitten food for kittens, sensitive diets for recovering cats).
Avoid human food, dog food, and low-quality filler foods. If unsure, ask the Cat Care Community team.
Keep fresh, clean water available at all times — wash bowls daily.
Monitor health and behaviour, reporting any concerns immediately.
Socialize cats gently, especially if they are shy or unaccustomed to indoor life.
Transport cats to vet appointments when needed (help available if required).
Keep the cat indoors at all times — no free roaming.
3. 💊 Vet Care & Medical Protocol
All vet visits and treatments must be arranged and approved by Cat Care Community.
Common procedures include:
Check-up
Deworming & flea treatment
Vaccination
Microchipping
Sterilization
Passport & documentation
Illness or injury treatment
Medical costs are covered unless agreed otherwise in advance.
You may be asked to give medication or manage post-op care (instructions will be provided).
4. 🧾 Supplies & Costs
We aim to help with initial supplies (litter, food, carrier, etc.), depending on donations and availability.
If you can cover some daily costs, it’s greatly appreciated but not required.
Keep receipts if requesting reimbursement (prior approval needed).
5. 📸 Promotion & Adoption Readiness
Foster carers are encouraged to:
Take clear photos and videos to help find an adopter.
Share updates on the cat’s personality, likes, dislikes, and habits.
Help assess when the cat is adoption-ready (healthy, sterilized, vaccinated, socialized).
We will handle adoption screening but may ask for your input or help with meet-and-greets.
6. 🚫 Please Do Not
Rehome the cat without informing Cat Care Community.
Let the cat outdoors without prior approval.
Delay vet visits or withhold information about health concerns.
Use unapproved medication or treatments.
Transfer the cat to another home without notifying us.
7. ⛑️ Emergencies
Contact our team immediately for urgent medical issues.
If we cannot be reached and the cat’s life is at risk, seek emergency vet care and inform us as soon as possible.
8. 🙌 Community & Support
You’re never alone! We provide:
Ongoing advice and guidance.
Help with transport and supplies when possible.
A supportive community to share both challenges and successes.
9. 📄 Agreement
Before fostering, all volunteers will sign a short Foster Agreement Form confirming they understand and agree to these guidelines.
Other Helpful Information:
| Plant Name | Effect on Cats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lilies (all varieties) | Kidney failure, vomiting, lethargy | Even pollen or water from vase is toxic |
| Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) | Oral irritation, drooling, vomiting | Common houseplant |
| Monstera | Mouth pain, swelling, vomiting | Also called “Swiss Cheese Plant” |
| Pothos (Devil’s Ivy) | Oral irritation, vomiting | Very popular, but harmful |
| Peace Lily | Difficulty swallowing, mouth irritation | Not a true lily, but still toxic |
| Tulips | Drooling, nausea, heart problems in large doses | Bulbs are especially toxic |
| Daffodils | Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors | Entire plant is toxic |
| Aloe Vera | Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea | Toxic despite common use |
| Sago Palm | Liver failure, seizures, potentially fatal | All parts are extremely toxic |
| Chrysanthemums | Drooling, vomiting, skin irritation | Toxic to both cats and dogs |
| Oleander | Heart issues, tremors, fatal if ingested | Highly toxic |
| Cannabis (Marijuana) | Lethargy, vomiting, low blood pressure | Any part can be toxic to pets |
| Snake Plant (Sansevieria) | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea | Mild to moderate symptoms |
| Cyclamen | Salivation, vomiting, heart rhythm changes | Tubers are most toxic |
Home Safety Tips for Foster Cats
Cats are agile, curious, and can get into danger quickly. As a foster home, it’s important to provide a safe, secure indoor space where the cat can’t escape, fall, or come into contact with harmful substances.
🪟 Window & Balcony Safety
| ⚠️ Risk | ✅ Prevention |
|---|---|
| Cat falling from an open window (even low floors) | Install window safety nets or screens that are tightly secured |
| Escape/trauma through tilted/vent windows | Use tilt-window guards or avoid leaving such windows open |
| Cat jumping off balconies or railings | Only allow cats on fully enclosed balconies with protective netting |
| Gaps in balcony railings | Seal with fine mesh, plexiglass, or plastic barriers |
🔌 Other Household Hazards
🧼 Toxic Items & Chemicals
Keep the following locked away or stored high:
Cleaning agents (bleach, surface sprays, toilet cleaners)
Human medications (even common pills can be fatal to cats)
Essential oils (especially tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus, and peppermint)
Insecticides, rodent traps, and chemical baits
⚠️ Physical Dangers & Injury Risks
Cords from blinds or curtains → Entanglement or strangulation
Loose electrical wires → Chewing risk, possible electrocution
Plastic bags, strings, rubber bands, or hair ties → Choking or internal blockages
Candles or incense burners → Burns or respiratory issues
Open washing machines or dryers → Cats may hide inside — always check before use!
Food and Nutrition
A kitten must receive high-quality food that contains at least 70% meat. This is essential for their health, immune system, and proper development.
We recommend using quality brands such as:
Carnilove, Applaws, Orijen, JOSERA, Leonardo, N&D, Farmina, Nature’s Variety, Royal Canin (not Babycat), Schesir, GranataPet, Ziwi Peak, Canagan, and other meat-rich foods.
Avoid brands with high sugar content, coloring agents, and grain fillers.
