Our Foster Program

Foster homes are a critical part of our rescue program. With the help of fosters, we are able to pull more cats from shelters and keep them healthier and happier.

As a Meowtropolitan foster, you will have the full support of our staff and volunteers behind you. We are here to answer your questions and share resources. We want your experience to be a good one, because happy fosters make for happy, healthy, and well-socialized cats.

Please read the Foster Program overview below to see what it entails before applying.

Thank you for helping us help cats and keep them healthier and happier. We couldn’t do this without our foster network.

Foster Role Overview:

Fosters parents are responsible for providing temporary care for cats in their homes. Cats are placed in foster homes in the following situations:

  • New cat quarantine: 2 week quarantine to monitor new cats for any signs of illness (URI, diarrhea, skin lesions, etc.) prior to their stay at the cat cafe. (MOST COMMON)

  • Medical stay: longer term management of a cat's medical issue that may require closer monitoring

  • Behavioral stay: typically for cats that have trouble adjusting to the bustling lifestyle of the catfe and would do better having their own space

Basic cat care supplies including food and litter are provided by Meowtropolitan Foundation.

Requirements:

  • Ideally have a home without any pets, or if you have pets, you must have the ability to keep foster cats indoors and separate from your household pets (ideally a separate room with easy to clean flooring)

  • Have at least one hour twice per day to spend caring for and socializing foster cats

  • Be able to make a minimum commitment of at least 2 weeks  

  • Access to a car and willing to pick the cats up from the cafe at the beginning of the foster period and return them at the end. Fosters must also be prepared for the possibility of driving a cat that becomes sick to the vet on short notice

  • If you have other pets, they must be spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines, and free of health conditions that could pass on to foster cats     

  • Willingness to adhere to cleaning and sanitization protocol and learn cat health basics

  • Experience taking care of cats and familiarity with cat behavior and body language

Duties: 

  • Spend at least one hour twice a day taking care of foster cats in your home. Tasks include: 

    • Socializing cats by playing with them and getting them familiar with human interaction

    • Feeding cats twice a day 

    • Cleaning up after the cats: scooping litter, washing food dishes, cleaning up vomit/urine/feces, sanitizing surfaces, washing dirty blankets/beds, etc.

    • Monitoring cats for health and behavioral concerns

  • Respond promptly to communication from Meowtropolitan staff and be proactive about communicating updates on the foster cats

  • Transport foster cats to and from Meowtropolitan at the beginning and end of the foster period as well as to the vet during the foster period (if needed)

If you are interested and this seems like a good fit for you, please review the FAQ and then go ahead and put in an application!

Apply to be a Foster