Information For People Interested In Becoming A Foster Carer
HOW LONG IS FOSTER CARE NEEDED FOR
Have you been thinking about signing up to help foster little cats or kittens but aren't sure what's involved? Fostering is a very rewarding experience and almost anyone can do it! It is hard to predict exactly how long a foster cat or kitten will need your help as some are adopted within days and others may have next to no interest for 4 weeks and then BAMM! suddenly everyone wants him!
CARER RESPONSIBILITY
Carers are required to transport foster cats to and from an approved vet for all medical needs and vet work. The List of Approved Vets, please advise which vet you are able to use. All cats (if not already done) will need to be health checked, vaccinated, microchipped, desexed, up to date on intestinal worming and flea treatment before leaving your care for their forever home. Please ensure you record & also let your coordinator know when worming and flea treatments have been given so it can be recorded on the animals file. All vet visits are to be approved by Little Legs. Kittens will need first vaccinations and worming from 6 weeks of age and second vaccination 4 weeks later at which time desexing and microchip should also be able to be done.
All cats will be advertised for rehoming on our Facebook page, website & Petrescue. It is your responsibility to provide Little Legs with plenty of good photos and information on your foster cat to give them the best chance at finding their forever home, please remember that the first thing to grab potential adopters attention is the photo!
Please also provide lots of personality information on your cat within two weeks of coming into care, as profiles need to be done around a week after arriving into our care.
ALL LLs CATS & KITTENS ARE TO BE INDOORS OR IN A SECURE ENCLOSURE ONLY!
Please put an ID Tag on your foster cat if possible as soon as you take them into care, this can be something as cheap and easy as the key tags that you write your phone number on, this is very important as new cats can often be frightened and confused and may run at that first chance they get. Please inform LLs immediately should your foster escape and conduct a door-to-door search of all neighbors, you will also need to inform council and check the pounds and RSPCA.
Please allow your foster cats slow introduction to others, provide them with a safe, quiet place where they can retreat and take in their new surrounds, remember your foster cat doesn't know you, your family, your home, there are many new sounds and smells, if they have come from a private surrender they are no doubt sad and confused and missing their people and home, if they have come from a pound or shelter they can be fairly high strung, pounds are a noisy and frightening place and can leave a lasting imprint on the calmest of cats , give them time to adjust, if they are nervous or fearful allow them to come to you, do not force anything.
Please make sure that your foster cat is kept safely indoors at ALL times! LLs has a strict indoor only policy for cats, unless in a secure outdoor enclosure.
Please contact LLs immediately should you require help with providing for your foster cat. All cats must be well fed, have adequate shelter and bedding, food, and some toys if needed.
Should you become unable to provide these necessities please let us know ASAP so that we can arrange these things where possible.
ADOPTION PROCESS
Any enquiries will be initially assessed for suitability and then asked to complete the Adoption Application. Once the Adoption Application is received it will be emailed to you for your approval as initially suited, you will then need to call and discuss further and arrange a meet and greet. You will need to let your coordinator know if a meet and greet is arranged so that our adoptions coordinator can send out the adoptions email detailing the adoption process, trial process and payment details.
At the meet and greet, please ask as many questions as needed to ascertain suitability, and please ensure you disclose all relevant information on your foster cat so that there are no surprises for new owners. A visit at the new home is a good idea if you are able as this gives you the chance to check out the new home and where the cat will be kept. Please remember we do not aim to just rehome our cats our aim is to rehome them to their perfect forever home!
Once the meet and greet is completed please give your coordinator your feedback as final approval is based on foster carers feedback.
Full payment is required before foster cats can leave your care and all vet work must be complete prior also, if not already complete you will need to book the vet work as soon as possible after successful meet and greet.
TRIAL PERIOD
Little Legs offers a 14-day trial period for all adopted cats (adoptions by foster carers not included) and 7 days for kittens. This trial period starts the day the foster cat leaves your care; you will need to advise your coordinator of the day the cat is leaving. New adopters can return the cat to the foster carer within this 14-day trial for a refund of the adoption fee (less an administration fee of $70).
Ensure you keep in regular contact with your coordinator and we hope to form the start of a terrific foster relationship.
Have you been thinking about signing up to help foster little cats or kittens but aren't sure what's involved? Fostering is a very rewarding experience and almost anyone can do it! It is hard to predict exactly how long a foster cat or kitten will need your help as some are adopted within days and others may have next to no interest for 4 weeks and then BAMM! suddenly everyone wants him!
CARER RESPONSIBILITY
Carers are required to transport foster cats to and from an approved vet for all medical needs and vet work. The List of Approved Vets, please advise which vet you are able to use. All cats (if not already done) will need to be health checked, vaccinated, microchipped, desexed, up to date on intestinal worming and flea treatment before leaving your care for their forever home. Please ensure you record & also let your coordinator know when worming and flea treatments have been given so it can be recorded on the animals file. All vet visits are to be approved by Little Legs. Kittens will need first vaccinations and worming from 6 weeks of age and second vaccination 4 weeks later at which time desexing and microchip should also be able to be done.
All cats will be advertised for rehoming on our Facebook page, website & Petrescue. It is your responsibility to provide Little Legs with plenty of good photos and information on your foster cat to give them the best chance at finding their forever home, please remember that the first thing to grab potential adopters attention is the photo!
Please also provide lots of personality information on your cat within two weeks of coming into care, as profiles need to be done around a week after arriving into our care.
ALL LLs CATS & KITTENS ARE TO BE INDOORS OR IN A SECURE ENCLOSURE ONLY!
Please put an ID Tag on your foster cat if possible as soon as you take them into care, this can be something as cheap and easy as the key tags that you write your phone number on, this is very important as new cats can often be frightened and confused and may run at that first chance they get. Please inform LLs immediately should your foster escape and conduct a door-to-door search of all neighbors, you will also need to inform council and check the pounds and RSPCA.
Please allow your foster cats slow introduction to others, provide them with a safe, quiet place where they can retreat and take in their new surrounds, remember your foster cat doesn't know you, your family, your home, there are many new sounds and smells, if they have come from a private surrender they are no doubt sad and confused and missing their people and home, if they have come from a pound or shelter they can be fairly high strung, pounds are a noisy and frightening place and can leave a lasting imprint on the calmest of cats , give them time to adjust, if they are nervous or fearful allow them to come to you, do not force anything.
Please make sure that your foster cat is kept safely indoors at ALL times! LLs has a strict indoor only policy for cats, unless in a secure outdoor enclosure.
Please contact LLs immediately should you require help with providing for your foster cat. All cats must be well fed, have adequate shelter and bedding, food, and some toys if needed.
Should you become unable to provide these necessities please let us know ASAP so that we can arrange these things where possible.
ADOPTION PROCESS
Any enquiries will be initially assessed for suitability and then asked to complete the Adoption Application. Once the Adoption Application is received it will be emailed to you for your approval as initially suited, you will then need to call and discuss further and arrange a meet and greet. You will need to let your coordinator know if a meet and greet is arranged so that our adoptions coordinator can send out the adoptions email detailing the adoption process, trial process and payment details.
At the meet and greet, please ask as many questions as needed to ascertain suitability, and please ensure you disclose all relevant information on your foster cat so that there are no surprises for new owners. A visit at the new home is a good idea if you are able as this gives you the chance to check out the new home and where the cat will be kept. Please remember we do not aim to just rehome our cats our aim is to rehome them to their perfect forever home!
Once the meet and greet is completed please give your coordinator your feedback as final approval is based on foster carers feedback.
Full payment is required before foster cats can leave your care and all vet work must be complete prior also, if not already complete you will need to book the vet work as soon as possible after successful meet and greet.
TRIAL PERIOD
Little Legs offers a 14-day trial period for all adopted cats (adoptions by foster carers not included) and 7 days for kittens. This trial period starts the day the foster cat leaves your care; you will need to advise your coordinator of the day the cat is leaving. New adopters can return the cat to the foster carer within this 14-day trial for a refund of the adoption fee (less an administration fee of $70).
Ensure you keep in regular contact with your coordinator and we hope to form the start of a terrific foster relationship.
