How to foster a cat in the UK: a complete guide to cat fostering

What does it mean to foster a cat?

A cat fosterer looks after a rescue cat in their own home for a set period, until the cat is ready for adoption or a permanent home is found. Rather than living in a pen at a rescue centre, the cat lives in a calm, home environment where it can relax, recover and show its true personality. That makes adoption easier, because the fosterer can tell potential adopters exactly what the cat is like.

Most UK cat rescues rely heavily on volunteer fosterers. Some smaller charities have no rescue centre at all and run entirely through a network of foster homes. Every fosterer frees up space for another cat in need, so fostering one cat often helps two.

Why foster a cat?

• You save lives: each foster place lets a rescue take in another cat, especially during the busy spring and summer "kitten season".
• Cats do better in homes: shy, stressed, elderly and sick cats often struggle in rescue pens.
• Kittens need socialising: kittens raised in a home with everyday sights and sounds grow into more confident pets.
• No long-term commitment: ideal if you love cats but can't commit to 15+ years, or you're not sure whether a cat suits your lifestyle.
• Little or no cost: charities usually cover all expenses.
• It's rewarding: watching a frightened cat learn to trust people is unforgettable.

Who can foster a cat in the UK?

Requirements vary between charities, but most ask that you:

• Are 18 or over.
• Have a spare room or a quiet, separate space where foster cats can be kept away from your pets. Some charities provide a pen.
• Own your home or have your landlord's permission.
• Can get to the charity's vets, either by car or with help from volunteer drivers.
• Have enough time each day: young kittens and sick cats need more.
• Agree to a home visit and follow the charity's care guidelines.

You don't usually need experience. Many charities offer training, and they'll match first-time fosterers with straightforward cats.

Can you foster a cat with children or pets?

Yes, in most cases. Families with children often make excellent fosterers, as kittens benefit from meeting gentle children. Dogs and resident cats are usually fine too, as long as foster cats are kept in a separate room. Make sure your own pets are vaccinated and up to date with flea treatment and worming, because rescue cats can carry fleas, worms, cat flu or ringworm.

Types of foster cat

Type of foster	What's involved	Typical length	Best for
Adult cats	Day-to-day care until adopted	2–8 weeks	First-time fosterers, people who work
Mother and kittens	Supporting the mother, weighing and socialising kittens	6–10 weeks	People at home more often
Orphan kittens	Bottle-feeding every 2–4 hours, toileting, keeping warm	4–10 weeks	Experienced fosterers
Pregnant cats	Preparing a nest, supporting the birth	2–3 months	Experienced fosterers
Shy or nervous cats	Patient handling and building trust	Weeks to months	Calm, quiet homes
Medical cats	Giving medication, post-surgery recovery	Varies	Confident handlers
Senior cats	A warm, quiet place and gentle care	Varies	Peaceful homes
Emergency or short-term	Taking cats at short notice	Days	Flexible fosterers

Some charities also run schemes that foster pets for owners in crisis, such as people fleeing domestic abuse, going into hospital or facing homelessness, so they can be reunited later. Cats Protection's Paws Protect service is one example.

How to become a cat fosterer: step by step

1. Choose a charity. Search for Cats Protection branches and centres, RSPCA branches, Blue Cross, Battersea, Wood Green or local independent rescues near you.
2. Apply online. You'll answer questions about your home, routine, other pets and experience.
3. Home visit. A volunteer checks that your foster space is safe and talks you through the process. Many charities now do this by video call.
4. Training. Learn about health checks, cleaning routines, handling and what to do in an emergency.
5. Set up your space. The charity provides equipment, or tells you what you'll need.
6. Welcome your first foster cat. You'll receive its history, medical needs and the charity's contact details.
7. Support adoption. Share photos and notes for its profile. Some charities let fosterers meet adopters.

The process usually takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the charity and how urgently they need fosterers.

Setting up a foster cat room

A dedicated foster room helps a new cat settle and keeps infections away from your own pets. A spare bedroom, study or large bathroom works well. Remove anything breakable or toxic, including houseplants (see plants poisonous to cats), and block gaps behind appliances where a scared cat could hide.

Foster cat checklist

Hygiene between foster cats

Wash your hands before and after handling foster cats, and wash or replace bedding between fosters. Deep-clean the room with a disinfectant that kills cat viruses. Some charities ask you to leave the room empty for a short time between cats. These steps protect your pets and the next foster cat from infections like cat flu (see cat cold symptoms).

The first days with a foster cat

Most rescue cats are stressed when they arrive. Give them time:

• Keep the foster cat in one room, with everything it needs, for at least the first few days.
• Let it come out of its carrier in its own time.
• Sit quietly in the room, talk softly and let it approach you.
• Don't force contact. Use treats and wand toys to build trust.
• Keep the routine consistent: same feeding times, same people.

Some cats are confident within an hour; others take weeks. Pheromone diffusers can help nervous cats; see cat calming products. Many of the same principles apply to keeping a cat in after moving.

Daily care for a foster cat

Task	How often
Feeding	2–4 times a day for adults; more for kittens
Fresh water	Daily
Scooping the litter tray	At least twice a day
Play and handling	Several short sessions a day
Health checks: eating, toileting, eyes, nose, energy	Daily
Weighing kittens	Daily
Updates to the charity	As agreed, often weekly

Report any concerns quickly, such as not eating, diarrhoea, sneezing, eye discharge or lethargy. The charity will arrange vet care. Use our cat food calculator to check portion sizes.

Fostering kittens

Kittens are the most common foster cats in spring and summer. They're fun, but they need a lot of attention.

Foster kittens with their mother

The mother cat does most of the work. Your job is to keep the family warm, fed and quiet, weigh the kittens daily, and gently handle them from about 2 weeks. Kittens should gain about 10 to 15 g a day; see our kitten weight chart. Watch the mother for signs of illness, and contact the charity if a kitten isn't feeding or gaining weight.

Orphan kittens

Kittens without a mother need bottle-feeding with kitten milk replacer (never cow's milk) every 2 to 4 hours, including at night. They also need stimulation to wee and poo after each feed, and a heat source. It's demanding work, usually given to experienced fosterers.

Socialising foster kittens

The most important time for socialisation is between about 2 and 7 weeks old. During this window, kittens learn that people, handling, household noise and new experiences are safe. Gently introduce them to:

• Handling by different people, including calm children.
• Everyday noises like the TV, vacuum cleaner and washing machine.
• Being picked up, having their paws touched and being put in a carrier.
• Toys, scratching posts and litter trays.
• Grooming and gentle checks of their mouth and ears.

Kittens usually go back to the charity or straight to adopters at 9 to 12 weeks, after vaccinations, microchipping and, increasingly, neutering at around 4 months. See cat vaccination costs and free cat neutering schemes.

Fostering pregnant cats

Rescues regularly take in pregnant strays. As a fosterer, you'll prepare a nesting box in a quiet room, feed kitten food, and contact the charity when labour starts. Most cats give birth without help, but you'll need to know the warning signs. See our cat pregnancy calculator and guide for the timeline and the signs of labour.

Fostering shy, feral and older cats

Nervous cats often blossom in foster homes. Work at the cat's pace: sit quietly, offer treats, use wand toys and avoid looming over it. Some cats won't become lap cats, but learn to enjoy gentle company. Truly feral adult cats are usually not suitable for indoor fostering and are better neutered and returned or placed in farm homes; see how to tell if a cat is feral.

Senior cats are often overlooked in rescue centres, but many are calm and affectionate. A foster home lets them show adopters how relaxed and loving they can be. Older cats may need medication, special diets such as renal food, or more vet visits. Check how old your foster cat is in human terms with our cat years calculator.

Questions to ask before you foster a cat

Every rescue works a little differently, so ask these questions before you sign up:

• What costs does the charity cover, and how do I claim anything I pay for?
• Which vet practice do foster cats use, and who authorises treatment?
• Who do I call out of hours if a foster cat is ill?
• Will I be matched with cats that suit my experience and routine?
• How long do foster stays usually last, and can I take breaks between cats?
• Do I need to meet adopters, or does the charity handle adoptions?
• Can I adopt a foster cat if I want to?

A good rescue will answer clearly and make sure you never feel alone with a problem.

A typical week as a cat fosterer

For an adult foster cat, a typical day involves a morning feed and litter clean, a quick health check, a play session in the evening, and some quiet time together. Once a week you might send the charity photos and a short update, and occasionally you'll drive to a vet appointment. With a mother and kittens, expect to add daily weighing, more frequent cleaning and plenty of gentle handling. Many fosterers say the time flies, and that the foster room quickly becomes their favourite room in the house.

What does cat fostering cost?

Expense	Usually paid by
Food and litter	Charity (some fosterers choose to donate)
Vet treatment, vaccinations and neutering	Charity
Flea and worm treatment	Charity
Equipment (pen, carrier, trays, beds)	Charity
Travel to vets	Fosterer (some charities reimburse mileage)
Heating and cleaning products	Fosterer

Never take a foster cat to your own vet without agreement: charities use specific practices and authorise treatment themselves. Fostering through a charity also means you don't need cat insurance for the foster cat.

Pros and cons of fostering a cat

Pros	Cons
Saves lives and frees up rescue space	Saying goodbye can be hard
Enjoy cats without a long-term commitment	Needs a spare room or separate space
Costs covered by the charity	Some cats need intensive care
Great for families and children to learn about cats	Risk of passing infections to resident pets without good hygiene
A way to see if a cat suits your lifestyle	Vet visits and updates take time

Saying goodbye to your foster cat

Letting go is the part most fosterers find hardest. It helps to remember that each goodbye opens a space for another cat that needs you. Many charities send updates from adopters, and some let fosterers help choose the new home. Writing a short profile of your foster cat's personality, likes and dislikes helps it settle into its new home.

And if you fall in love? You won't be the first. Talk to the charity: fosterers can often adopt, and "foster fails" are common.

Foster vs adopt: which is right for you?

Adoption suits you if you're ready for a cat for its whole life, typically 12 to 18 years, including vet bills, insurance and care when you're away (see cat sitter costs). Fostering suits you if you want to help cats but can't commit long-term, move often, travel regularly, or want to try life with a cat first. Many people foster before adopting, and many adopters later become fosterers.

Other ways to help rescue cats

• Volunteer at a rescue centre: cleaning, socialising cats, fundraising or driving.
• Donate food, litter, blankets or money.
• Help strays: report and get help for stray and feral cats in your area. See stray or feral cat.
• Support neutering: share information about free and low-cost neutering to prevent unwanted litters. See also cats in heat.