HSSV has several types of feline foster opportunities, and each has different care needs. If one type of foster does not fit your schedule or home setup, the Feline Foster Team can help match you with another foster situation.

All foster cats and kittens need a two-week quarantine away from resident animals.

Sick or injured fosters may need medications, activity restrictions and routine veterinary visits, depending on their individual needs.

Neonate kittens, 1 to 5 weeks old need bottle feeding every 2 to 4 hours, including overnight, and must be stimulated to pee and poop at each feeding.

Moms with kittens need a quiet space away from people and pets. Mom does most of the kitten care for the first 4 to 5 weeks, but she will need dry food available at all times, wet food offered multiple times a day, and attention or play depending on her comfort level.

Underage kittens, 5 to 12 weeks old need a secure, clean, enclosed space, frequent cleaning and wet food a few times a day.

Adult cats need a designated safe space away from resident animals, meals twice daily and enrichment based on their individual needs.

HSSV provides or lends many of the essential supplies needed to care for foster kittens. Some additional items may be available to borrow depending on donations, and a few helpful items are nice to have at home.

What HSSV lends to all kitten fosters:

• Formula — for bottle feeding neonates
• Bottles + nipples — for bottle feeding neonates
• Towels + blankets — for bedding
• Rice warmies — to keep kittens warm
• Litter & box — for potty training
• Carrier — for containing and transporting kittens
• Kitten food — for feeding mom, or weaning kittens
• Toys — for kitten play and enrichment

What may be available to borrow depending on donations:

• Kitchen scale — for daily weight checks
• Gauze pads — for stimulating kittens to pee and poop
• X-pen — for creating larger confinement space
• Poop bags — for cleaning up solid waste
• Water bowl — ceramic or metal
• Food bowl — ceramic or metal

Nice-to-have items not supplied by HSSV:

• Shower curtain or other waterproof material — to protect flooring
• Nail clippers — for clipping kitten nails
• Humidifier — for congested kitties

Only feed the food provided by HSSV unless otherwise instructed. Make sure fosters have a quiet place to eat away from other pets and children. Monitor litters to make sure every kitten gets a chance to eat. If one kitten is guarding food or preventing others from eating, separate them during meals.

Kittens: dry food should be available at all times. Wet food should be offered several times per day, starting with about 2 tablespoons per cat and adjusting as they grow.

Adult cats: dry food should be available at all times unless otherwise instructed. Wet food should be offered twice daily, about ¼ can per cat.

Feeding can also support socialization. Hand-feeding shy kittens can build trust, food puzzles can keep active cats busy, and pairing food with new experiences can help create positive associations.

If your foster kitten needs help eating, this video demonstrates how to safely syringe feed them using proper positioning, a slow pace and gentle feeding techniques.

For adult cats 6 months and older, not eating for 24 hours can be okay if there are no other health concerns. Submit a Medical Concern form on the third day after troubleshooting.

For kittens under 6 months, submit a Medical Concern form if they have not eaten for 24 hours after trying basic troubleshooting.

Try warming the food, mixing in something extra tasty like low-sodium chicken broth or chicken baby food, hand feeding, and making sure the bowl is fully cleaned of older food remnants. If you are still having issues, ask your mentor.

Before bringing home a foster, make sure your personal pets are current on vaccinations and in the best possible health. If your pets have health concerns, check with your veterinarian to make sure fostering is appropriate.

Set up a safe confinement space before pickup. All cats and kittens should go through a two-week quarantine, and a spare bathroom or bedroom is highly recommended. The space should be climate controlled, easy to clean, cat proof and secure. If you do not have a dedicated room, HSSV may be able to loan a large dog crate to create an enclosed space.

Cat-proof the space by storing loose cords, small objects, valuable items, food and cleaning supplies out of reach. Secure the entrance and exit to your home, since cats may try to leave as people come and go. Using a garage, laundry room or back door as a buffer can help prevent escapes.

Keep things quiet, simple and predictable at first. A foster cat or kitten may be nervous when arriving in a new environment, so give them time to decompress before focusing on socialization or handling.

Set a regular routine for eating, sleeping and play. The sooner your foster understands the rhythm of your home, the faster they can settle in. As a general guide, cats need about three days to decompress and about three weeks to become comfortable in a new routine.

Avoid visitors at first, keep the home calm and let your foster adjust at their own pace.

All foster cats and kittens need a two-week quarantine before meeting resident animals. After quarantine, introductions should happen slowly and with supervision.

If you have dogs: use a gate or x-pen so the foster cat can approach when comfortable while still staying safe. Never leave the animals unattended together.

If you have cats: create separate secure spaces, use a barrier so they can see but not touch or chase, and use treats to build positive associations.

If you have children: supervise all interactions. Children should leave the foster alone when they are eating or sleeping, walk instead of run near the foster, and use wand toys rather than hands for play.

Common behavior concerns include shy or nervous behavior, mouthing or biting, and litter box accidents.

For shy or nervous kittens, give them a cozy hiding place and at least 24 hours to adjust. Sit nearby and talk quietly, then try hand-feeding food or treats to encourage them to approach. Wand toys can help nervous kittens move, explore and build confidence.

For mouthing or biting, redirect kittens to toys whenever they start using their mouth on people. Wand toys, small toss toys and larger stuffed animals can give them an appropriate outlet.

For litter box accidents, first rule out medical causes by submitting a Medical Concern form. Once medical issues are ruled out, consider whether the litter box is easy to access, whether the location feels stressful, and whether additional boxes or a smaller space may help.

If your foster bites someone and breaks skin, seek first aid or medical care as needed and notify HSSV right away. Your foster is not in trouble, but California state law requires HSSV to complete a bite report for animal control.

Your foster will need to complete a state-required 5 to 10-day bite quarantine. This can be completed in your care or at HSSV, depending on what you prefer.

Document the victim’s full legal name, age, address and phone number. Also document the location and severity of the bite, photos if possible, the date and time of the bite, the address where it happened, and details about what happened before, during and after the incident.

Stay calm. Chasing or yelling will usually cause the cat to run farther and faster. Gather your phone, a crate, a wand toy and high-value snacks.

Keep eyes on the cat and follow from a distance so you can narrow the search area. Try calling in a friendly voice, using a wand toy or offering high-value snacks. Avoid direct approaches. If you need to move closer, approach in a curved path so you appear less threatening.

If you can safely contain the cat, use a covered crate, towel or blanket. If you cannot easily collect the cat, contact HSSV and your mentor right away at feline.foster@hssv.org or 408-262-2133 x188.

Some fosters return to the shelter for adoption, while others may go to the Neighborhood Adoption Center at Petco in West San Jose. If your foster is ready to return, email feline.foster@hssv.org. Some fosters may also be asked to recover at home after spay/neuter surgery, depending on the animal and foster family preference.

A personality profile helps your foster get adopted. Complete the personality profile form 2 to 3 days before returning your foster so HSSV can share helpful information with potential adopters.

Your stories, photos and observations can make a big difference in helping your foster find the right adopter. Please complete your foster’s personality profile 2 to 3 days before returning them so HSSV can share helpful details with potential adopters.

When filling out the profile, play up your foster’s best qualities and include what you’ve learned about their personality, favorite activities, routines, quirks and comfort level with people or other animals. Bright, in-focus photos of your foster being cute, playful or snuggly are especially helpful for marketing.

You are not responsible for counseling adopters. HSSV’s Adoptions Team will guide the adoption process, and they may invite you to participate in an adoption meeting if your input would be helpful.

When your foster is ready for their next step, the Feline Foster Team will help determine the right pathway. Some fosters return to the shelter for adoption, while others may go to the Neighborhood Adoption Center at Petco in West San Jose. If your foster is ready to return, email feline.foster@hssv.org.

Before returning your foster, please complete their personality profile 2 to 3 days ahead of time. Your stories, observations and photos help HSSV market your foster and give future adopters a better sense of who they are. Bright, in-focus photos and details about your foster’s best qualities are especially helpful.

For kittens, spay/neuter surgery is scheduled by Foster Staff when they reach 1.5 pounds. For some fosters, surgery day may be “goodbye and good luck,” with the foster staying at HSSV for adoption. In some cases, fosters may be able to go back home with you to recover after surgery. Let the team know which option you prefer.

If you would like to adopt your foster, contact feline.foster@hssv.org as soon as possible and include your foster’s A-number and your contact information. Adoptions may be finalized in person or over the phone. If a friend or family member is interested in adopting your foster, email the Feline Foster Team with the animal’s A-number and the adopter’s contact information.

HSSV’s Adoptions Team will guide the adoption process. Foster families can help by sharing helpful information, photos and personality details, but adopter counseling is handled by the Adoptions Team. If your input would be helpful during an adoption meeting, the team may invite you to participate.

Yes! If you would like to adopt your foster, contact feline.foster@hssv.org as soon as possible. Include your foster’s A-number and your contact information, including phone, address and email. Adoptions may be finalized in person or over the phone.

If a friend or family member wants to adopt your foster, contact feline.foster@hssv.org and include the animal’s A-number and the adopter’s contact information.