Thinking About Fostering a Cat? Do It.

Dr. Gaby, Betty, and a foster, getting cozy.

I've been fostering cats for over a decade and it continues to be one of my favorite ways to help animals. Yes, you get attached. Yes, saying goodbye can suck. But fostering is also ridiculously fun, incredibly rewarding and one of the most direct ways you can help save a life.

There's a foster for almost every lifestyle

One of the best things about fostering cats is that you can choose a commitment that works for you. You might foster an adult cat who just needs somewhere safe to land, older kittens who are already eating on their own, bottle babies who need more hands-on care, a shy cat who needs help learning to trust people or even a pregnant mom or mama with babies.

Some need a lot of attention. Others mostly need a spare bathroom, food, a litter box and a little love.

I've always thought fostering a mama with babies would be incredibly special but with other animals in my home, it hasn't been the right fit for me. Nursing moms can be very protective and often need their own quiet space away from resident pets.

You don't have to foster every kind of animal. Foster the ones whose needs fit what you can realistically provide.

Why foster?

For my lifestyle, fostering cats has always been easier than fostering dogs. They don't need several walks a day and many can comfortably spend time in a dedicated bedroom or bathroom while they're adjusting.

But the biggest reason I foster is simple: Having a pet can be expensive. That's just reality. Food, flea prevention, supplies and veterinary bills add up.

So if you love animals and have the time and space to care for one but aren't in a position to take on the financial commitment of having another pet, fostering can be an amazing way to have an animal in your life while helping one who needs you.

And yes, you will probably get attached. I hear “I could never foster. I'd keep them all!” all the time. But the goal isn't for every foster to become my cat. It's to help them become someone's cat. When one goes home, I have space to help another.

Foster-to-adopt is pretty amazing, too

If you're considering adoption but aren't sure which cat will fit your life, foster-to-adopt gives you something a photo on a website never can: You actually get to know them.

And I strongly encourage people not to choose a pet based only on looks. Think about how we choose our friends. We don't need the prettiest friends. We want the good ones. The ones whose personalities work with ours and who make our lives better. Choosing a pet isn't that different.

Choose your friend, not just the pretty face.

Fostering also lets you learn things a shelter may never get to see. Are they good with cats? Dogs? Kids? Are they cuddly, independent, shy, playful or a tiny agent of chaos?

That information can help find them a home where they'll actually thrive.

The tiny victories are the best part

You also get a front-row seat to some pretty great moments.

The first time a kitten eats on their own.

The first successful poop. Yes, we celebrate poop around here.

The shy cat who finally lets you pet them.

The kitten who discovers toys.

The cat who spent three days hiding and suddenly decides your lap might actually be okay.

Those tiny wins are ridiculously rewarding.

And then there's Betty 🤍

One of my favorite unexpected parts of fostering has been watching my dog, Betty, with all of my foster cats and kittens. She's played with them, learned from them and somehow become part of their foster experience too. I've watched her grow through those relationships and I'm genuinely proud of her. She may have also stolen a whisker or two along the way but we don't need to talk about that.

There's also one hilariously practical benefit: Betty can sometimes be a little finicky about eating. Put a cat anywhere near the possibility of stealing her food? Suddenly dinner is extremely important. Apparently nothing stimulates the appetite quite like competition.

And yes, I have approximately one million Betty-and-foster-kitten photos to prove it.

Want to foster?

Start by contacting a local rescue or shelter and asking what kind of fosters they need. Ask what they provide, what you'll be responsible for and what type of foster would work best with your lifestyle.

A very special shoutout to Kitty Bungalow for the incredible work they do for cats and for the community of fosters and volunteers who make that work possible.

You don't have to keep an animal forever to completely change their life.

Sometimes you just need to give them a safe place to land. 🤍