Foster programs remove vulnerable cats from shelter environments into temporary homes, dramatically improving welfare outcomes and adoption success for kittens, sick, and shy cats.
Foster programs represent one of the highest-impact welfare interventions available to animal shelters. The shelter environment, however well managed, is inherently stressful for cats. Kittens, who are immunologically vulnerable, fare dramatically better in quiet home environments. Fearful adult cats that would be euthanized as unadoptable in a shelter often blossom in foster homes and go on to successful placements. Investing in foster coordinator positions and support systems produces measurable welfare returns across the shelter population.