Emergency Cat Fostering Guide

To foster cats NZ means providing a temporary, safe home for felines in need through registered New Zealand animal charities. This vital volunteer role bridges the gap between rescue and permanent adoption, offering shelter to kittens, recovering adults, or emergency cases arising from owner hospitalization, domestic violence situations, or housing crises.

Across New Zealand, animal shelters are facing unprecedented pressure. From the busy streets of Auckland to the rural communities of the South Island, the demand for rescue services consistently outstrips the physical capacity of shelters. This is where the fostering network becomes the backbone of animal welfare. By opening your home, you are not merely providing a bed; you are actively saving a life that might otherwise be lost due to overcrowding. This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for prospective foster parents, specifically tailored to the New Zealand market, tenancy laws, and rescue landscape.

What is Emergency Cat Fostering?

While standard fostering often involves caring for litters of kittens during the spring and summer “kitten season,” emergency fostering is a distinct and critical sub-category. It requires a foster carer who can respond quickly to urgent situations. Understanding the nuance between these roles is essential for volunteers.

Defining the Emergency Role

Emergency fostering often occurs when an animal needs immediate removal from a dangerous or unstable environment. Unlike standard fostering, which may be planned weeks in advance, emergency placements can happen within hours. Common scenarios in New Zealand include:

• Domestic Violence Referrals: Organizations like Pet Refuge NZ work to shelter the pets of victims fleeing domestic violence. These animals are often traumatized and require a confidential, quiet location while their owners secure safety.
• Owner Hospitalization or Death: When an elderly or solitary owner is rushed to the hospital or passes away, their pets often have nowhere to go. Fosters provide a stop-gap solution to prevent these animals from entering the pound system.
• Natural Disasters: As seen during events like the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery, temporary emergency housing for pets becomes critical when families are displaced.

For those interested in smooth rehoming for dogs specifically, a helpful resource is Stress-Free Dog Rehoming in NZ: Your Helpful Guide.

The Goal of Fostering

The primary objective is not adoption by the foster parent, but rehabilitation and stabilization. You are the bridge between a chaotic past and a secure future. For emergency cases, the goal is often reunification with the original owner once their crisis has passed, or stabilization before the animal is ready for general adoption. For further insights into the rehoming process, consult Understanding Home-to-Home Pet Rehoming.

The New Zealand Context: Housing and Animal Welfare

Fostering in New Zealand presents unique challenges, particularly regarding housing. With a significant portion of the population renting, navigating landlord permissions is a primary hurdle for aspiring foster parents.

Navigating the Residential Tenancies Act

Recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act have made it slightly easier for tenants to keep pets, but fostering adds a layer of complexity.

To advocate for your ability to foster while renting, you should:

• Provide a Pet CV: Even for foster cats, show your landlord the protocols you follow (e.g., crate training, confinement to specific rooms).
• Highlight Organization Support: Assure the landlord that a reputable organization (like the SPCA or a local rescue) backs you and typically holds liability insurance for the animals.
• Draft a Fostering Agreement: Create a specific addendum to your tenancy agreement that outlines the maximum number of foster cats allowed at one time and your cleaning protocols.

The “Kitten Season” Phenomenon in NZ

New Zealand’s temperate climate contributes to a long breeding season for cats, often extending from early spring to late autumn. This biological reality creates a “transactional” need for fosters. Rescues are not asking for help as a luxury; they are asking because the alternative is often the humane euthanasia of healthy animals due to lack of space. Your participation directly alters these statistics. For general pet ownership queries beyond cats, particularly for canines, refer to Essential FAQs for Dog Owners in New Zealand.

Requirements to Become a Foster Parent

Becoming a foster parent is a formal process. Rescues must ensure the safety of the animals and the suitability of the environment. While requirements vary slightly between organizations like Lonely Miaow, Kitten Inn, or the SPCA, the core criteria remain consistent.

Physical Environment

You do not need a lifestyle block or a massive house to foster. However, you do need a secure, dedicated space. This is often referred to as a “quarantine room.”

• Isolation Capability: New fosters, especially emergency cases, may carry undiagnosed illnesses. They must be kept separate from your resident pets for at least 14 days. A spare bedroom, a laundry with natural light, or a large, heated bathroom can suffice.
• Safety Proofing: The area must be free of toxic plants (lilies are common in NZ and fatal to cats), secure from escape (window latches are crucial), and free of small hazards that could be swallowed.

Time and Availability

Fostering is time-intensive. Neonatal kittens (bottle babies) require feeding every 2-3 hours, making them unsuitable for fosters who work full-time away from home. However, adult cats or weaned kittens may only require feeding twice a day and socialisation in the evenings, fitting well with a standard 9-5 work schedule.

Transport

You must have reliable transport. Foster carers are generally expected to transport animals to and from vet appointments, check-ups at the shelter, and adoption events. In emergency fostering, you may need to visit an emergency vet clinic after hours.

The Application and Approval Process

To start to foster cats NZ wide, you will undergo a vetting process designed to protect both you and the animals.

Step 1: The Written Application

This initial form collects data on your household composition (children, other pets), your experience with animals, and your work schedule. Be honest about your limitations. If you cannot handle the emotional toll of a sick kitten, state this upfront.

Step 2: The Home Check

A coordinator will visit your home (or conduct a video tour) to inspect the proposed foster space. They are looking for security and hygiene. They will check that your windows have screens or latches and that your resident pets are up to date on their vaccinations to prevent cross-contamination.

Step 3: Training

Most reputable organizations provide an induction. This covers:

• Infection Control: How to use bleach solutions (usually 1:30 dilution) to kill parvovirus and ringworm spores.
• Medication Administration: How to pill a cat or apply eye ointment.
• Behavioural Signs: Recognizing stress, aggression, or lethargy.

Supplies and Financial Responsibilities

One of the most common questions regarding the intent to foster is: “What will this cost me?” In a transactional sense, fostering is a donation of time and space, not necessarily money.

What the Rescue Provides

The majority of New Zealand rescue organizations cover the direct costs of the animal. This typically includes:

• Veterinary Care: All medical bills, vaccinations, de-sexing, and microchipping are paid for by the rescue. You will usually be directed to specific partner vet clinics.
• Medication: Flea and worm treatments and any antibiotics required.
• Food: Many rescues provide dry and wet food, though they often rely on donations for this.
• Equipment: Crates, bedding, and litter trays are often available on loan.

What the Foster Parent Provides

While the heavy financial lifting is done by the charity, foster parents often end up contributing:

• Cat Litter: While some rescues provide this, high consumption often leads fosters to buy their own.
• Treats and Toys: Enrichment items are often purchased by the foster.
• Transportation Costs: Petrol for trips to the vet or shelter is rarely reimbursed.
• Utilities: Extra heating (especially for kittens who cannot regulate body temperature) and laundry costs.

Health and Safety Protocols

Emergency fostering often involves animals with unknown health histories. Strict adherence to hygiene protocols is non-negotiable to protect the New Zealand feline population from spreading diseases.

Managing Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal infection common in rescue cats. It is highly contagious to humans and other pets. If you foster a ringworm case, you must wear protective clothing (gowns, gloves) and adhere to strict cleaning protocols using antifungal cleaners. It is not fatal, but it is labor-intensive to clear.

Cat Flu

Feline Upper Respiratory Infections (Cat Flu) are ubiquitous in shelter environments. Symptoms include sneezing, eye discharge, and lethargy. Fosters play a critical role here, as a low-stress home environment allows the cat’s immune system to recover much faster than in a shelter cage. You will likely become expert at steam therapy (using a bathroom) and wiping runny noses.

The Emotional Aspects of Letting Go

The most significant barrier to fostering is the fear of emotional attachment. “I could never give them back” is the phrase most heard by rescue coordinators. However, successful fostering requires a shift in mindset.

Compassion Fatigue and Resilience

Emergency fostering can be emotionally taxing. You may care for animals that have been abused or are severely ill. Sadly, not every kitten survives. Compassion fatigue is a real risk. It is vital to take breaks between placements and utilize the support networks provided by the rescue organization.

The “Goodbye is the Goal” Mindset

To sustain yourself as a foster, you must internalize that saying goodbye is the definition of success. When a foster cat leaves your home for a permanent adoption, you have succeeded. You have taken a vulnerable creature, healed them, and prepared them for the rest of their life. If you keep them (known as “foster failing”), you fill the spot in your home that could have saved dozens more lives over time.

Fostering is one of the most direct, impactful ways to address the animal welfare crisis in New Zealand. By opening your home, you provide the one thing a shelter cannot: a family environment. If you have the space, the time, and the heart, contact your local rescue today to begin the process.

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