Foster parent tips and tricks

Thank you for your interest in being a foster parent for the dancing cat.

By offering your time and care, you allow us to rescue cats from the San Jose Animal Cat Center and help prepare them for adoption into their forever homes.  

As a reminder, if you work for a corporation that matches volunteer hours, please designate Karma Cat Rescue as your preferred charity.  Tax ID is 47-3356799. All donations will go directly to support The Dancing Cat.

To keep up with the most recent news and share photos of your foster cats, join The Dancing Cat Volunteer Facebook Page.

  • Please fill out a cat foster survey for your cat after he or she has been with you for a week. You can always fill out another survey as you get to know your cat better!

  • If your cat has a meet & greet with a potential adopter, please read information on this page regarding how to best present your cat to adopters.

  • We love good photos of your cats! We have volunteer photographers who can come to your house and take photos, or you can use your photos skills to get some good shots.

For shy cats

Base camp: the secret to your cat’s happiness - from Jackson Galaxy

How to tame feral cats (archived)

Socializing shy or fearful cats (Best Friends)

Socializing hissy kittens (Kitten Lady)

Hiding places for cats

Adopting (and fostering) under-socialized kittens (SF SPCA)

Spirit cats are cats that are very shy with people. They live in your home, but are rarely seen -  visitors will probably never see them. They are cats who live with you, and who may sometimes grant you the opportunity to touch them. Or, they may not.

For a shy or under-socialized cat, the world can be a scary place. If a cat feels threatened by the world around them (even if these threats are imagined), they can quickly withdraw from social activities and spend all day hiding under the bed or in a closet. What we want is for these cats to gain confidence and claim (or reclaim) ownership of their indoor territory. Working with a shy/fearful cat takes time and patience, but the experience is extremely rewarding!

Helpful information

Play ideas - how to engage your foster cat in play.

Approaching and petting your foster cat with these techniques.

Playing with cats that have different motivations.

Food puzzles for cats.

Cats and poisonous plants - how to make sure your cat doesn’t get sick from eating the wrong plant.

Creative ways to feed cats - engage their natural hunting instincts.

How to get a cat into a carrier.

Cats are crepuscular: how to encourage them to sleep at night.

HANDOUTS WITH GREAT INFORMATION!

Playing with your cat

Fearful kitten socialization

Signs and Signals Your Cat is in Pain

Cat Body Language

Litterbox ABCs

For cats that can bite or overstimulate

We actively discourage any foster from playing with cats in such a way as to allow biting on fingers, hands or anywhere on people’s skin. If a cat is trained to bite in order to communicate, or even in play, this is a cat whose adoption possibilities are immediately limited. Most adopters will not select a cat that bites, and biting cats at The Dancing Cat are problematic for us to monitor. Never use your hands or feet as playthings for your cat or kitten to bite on.

Fostering FAQs

  • Do people fostering usually get to choose from a set of cats, or does just one at a time usually come up?

    • It's usually one at a time. There is a lot of behind the scenes in rescue that's not visible to fosters. But you always have a choice when asked to foster a particular cat.

  • Once a cat is paired up with a foster home, what happens?

    • The cat will be delivered, or you will pick it up.  If you need supplies, those will be arranged either before or with the cat’s arrival.

  • How frequently do you give updates to your Foster Coordinator about how the foster cat is doing?

    • Every day is fine or every couple of days in the beginning just to make sure things are going ok.  Foster coordinators usually check in a couple of days per week for updates.

  • Where should we put the cat when it arrives?

    • In a bathroom or bedroom. Transitions can be hard on cats so keeping their area small at first helps build confidence and comfort. 

  • Should we keep the cat contained in the bathroom for a day or so?  Or let it have full reign of the house right away?

    • Only let him roam if he is comfortable in one room and actively seeking to explore. 

  • When should we leave the door open to let the cat come out if it wants?  Maybe best to wait until it stops hiding so much?

    • Yes wait until then. Giving too much to take in too soon could make him or her more scared

  • Is there danger of him urinating on our stuff if we let him out too much?

    • Yea he could. You can give him a little time out and then lure him back into the bathroom with food or a toy

  • What if the cat urinates on the carpet or furniture?

    • Use enzyme cleaner or Anti Icky-Poo

  • Under normal circumstances, how long do the cats usually need fostering?

    • Until adopted or until there is space at The Dancing Cat

  • Will we get updates from the adopters once they adopt a cat?

    • Sometimes! Our fosters like to hear about their cats. Not all adopters are consistent about sharing updates.

  • How does TDC keep up on what’s going on with everyone?

    • There’s an operations team which includes volunteers that are in direct contact with the shelter, all foster coordinators, all adoption coordinators, plus volunteers who manage our cats’ veterinary care. We meet once a week, and share information about the cats over the course of each week.

  • Are we allowed to rename the cat if we think of something better?

    • Yes, but our operations team reserves the right to select a different name.

  • Do the cats’ names need to be unique?

    • Yes

  • What if the potential adopters ask “do you have any questions for us?”

    • Adoption coordinators will lead adoption meet & greets and can ask any questions that are relevant.

  • Does TDC try not to have adopters and fosters in direct contact?

    • The adoption counselor is the adopter’s single point of contact.  Fosters do not need to have direct contact with adopters unless important for the well-being of the cat

  • How many foster homes does TDC usually have?

    • We have a lot of fosters, but only about 30 active fosters right now.

  • Do foster families adopt and still continue to foster? 

    • Yes! As long as the foster family can quarantine a new foster cat.  We have many TDC fosters who are adopters

  • There is a private FaceBook group for adopters; some of our fosters post in this group. Just ask if you want to join!

  • There is a private FaceBook group for all Dancing Cat volunteers including fosters.

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