WVC Animal Shelter

Revised December 2024

This manual is supplementary to the Foster Care Manual. Please ensure you have completely read and understood the Foster Care Manual and Foster Agreement, as it includes important information about the WVC Animal Shelter foster program and your responsibilities as a foster caregiver.

Section 1: Introduction

Fostering kittens saves lives. Kittens require intensive care and are among the most at-risk animals in shelters. Foster homes provide feeding, cleaning, transportation to appointments, and daily socialization until kittens are old enough (two pounds / 1,000 grams) to be spayed or neutered and placed for adoption.

Foster Family Responsibilities

  • Provide a safe, healthy environment
  • Transport kittens to and from appointments
  • Provide daily socialization and handling
  • Follow feeding and cleaning schedules

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Time commitment depends on age (neonates require feeding every 2–3 hours; older kittens eat independently)
  • Kittens are typically fostered in pairs or litters
  • Foster period continues until kittens reach two pounds and are altered
  • Medication may be required depending on health status
  • Kittens must be isolated from resident pets for at least two weeks
  • Personal pets must be vaccinated and healthy
  • Outdoor cats may not interact with foster kittens
  • If bitten and skin is broken, report within 24 hours
  • Adoption requires completing the standard adoption process

Section 2: Preparing for Your Foster Kittens

Kittens must be housed separately from other pets in a small, warm, draft-free room such as a bathroom or spare bedroom.

Supplies You’ll Need

  • Food and water bowls (multiple if large litter)
  • Dry and wet kitten food
  • Bottles (Breeder’s Edge formula required for bottle-feeding)
  • Low-sided litter box (multiple for larger litters)
  • Non-clumping litter (pine pellets or clay)
  • Soft bedding (towels or blankets)
  • Secure sleeping area (carrier without door or box on side)
  • Kitten-safe toys
  • Scratching post

Kitten-Proofing

  • Remove small swallowable objects
  • Hide breakables and toxic plants
  • Close toilet lids
  • Block tight hiding spaces
  • Keep litter boxes separate from food and water

Section 3: Scheduling Appointments

  • All appointments must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance
  • Vaccines are given every 2–3 weeks until 18 weeks old or adopted
  • Dewormers begin at four weeks old
  • Spay/neuter at two pounds (1,000 grams)
  • Contact foster department to schedule vet appointments
  • Supplies available at pickup, vaccine visits, and spay/neuter appointments

Section 4: Caring for Your Foster Kittens

Daily Health Monitoring

  • Weigh kittens daily
  • Track eating habits and activity
  • Watch for crying, lethargy, coldness, diarrhea, dehydration, breathing issues
  • Use carrier for all transport

Bottle-Fed Kittens

  • Feed every 2–4 hours depending on age
  • Refrigerate mixed formula (discard after 24 hours)
  • Warm formula before feeding (test on wrist)
  • Feed belly-down position only (never on back)
  • Stimulate elimination after each feeding
  • Monitor for aspiration (formula from nose or coughing)
  • Keep kittens warm (SnuggleSafe disc covered properly)
  • Weigh before and after feeding

Weaning (Starting Around 4 Weeks)

  • Offer warm gruel (2 parts wet food, 1 part formula)
  • Provide dry food and water at all times
  • Supplement bottle every 8 hours initially
  • Discard uneaten gruel every 4–6 hours
  • Introduce litter box during this stage

Independent Eaters (6–8 Weeks)

  • Dry food primary diet
  • Offer wet food at least twice daily
  • Replace water twice daily
  • Scoop litter box twice daily
  • Clean litter box every 2–3 days
  • Continue daily weight checks

Cleaning Between Litters

  • Clean all surfaces with bleach solution (1:32 bleach to water)
  • Soak plastic/metal items for 10 minutes
  • Wash bedding with hot water and bleach
  • Discard non-sanitizable toys

Section 5: Fostering Moms and Kittens

Environment

  • Quiet, private room away from pets and children
  • Provide whelping box with absorbent lining
  • Keep bedding dry and warm
  • Separate from other pets at all times

Nursing Stages

  • Weeks 1–2: Mom initiates nursing
  • Weeks 2–3: Kittens begin exploring; mom still nurses
  • Weeks 4–5: Weaning begins; kittens initiate nursing

Maternal Concerns

  • Monitor for mastitis (not emergency but requires vet consult)
  • Watch for maternal neglect
  • Expect protective behavior toward other animals
  • Do not punish maternal aggression
  • Do not separate kittens without approval

Section 6: Medical and Emergency Protocols

Common Signs of Illness

  • Colored eye discharge
  • Persistent sneezing with colored discharge
  • Loss of appetite (critical in kittens)
  • Lethargy
  • Dehydration (skin tenting)
  • Vomiting multiple times per day
  • Urinary strain or no urination
  • Watery or bloody diarrhea
  • Frequent ear scratching
  • Hair loss patches

Serious Conditions

  • Fading Kitten Syndrome
  • Panleukopenia (feline distemper)

Emergency Criteria

  • Labored or no breathing
  • Severe dehydration
  • Inability to stand
  • Unconsciousness
  • Cold to the touch
  • Trauma or broken bones
  • Profuse bleeding
  • Loss of appetite over 12 hours

Section 7: Socializing and Instilling Good Behaviors

Litter Box Training

  • Introduce at 4–5 weeks
  • Use low-sided boxes
  • Scoop twice daily
  • Clean fully every 2–3 days
  • Never punish accidents
  • Use enzymatic cleaner

Discipline

  • Use positive reinforcement only
  • Reward good behavior
  • Never spray with water
  • Distract rather than punish

Play Time

  • Provide solo toys (ping pong balls, tubes)
  • Supervise interactive toys (string/wand toys)
  • Discourage play biting

Socialization Plan

  • Gradually introduce new people
  • Introduce new environments slowly
  • Expose to normal household noises gradually
  • Leave carrier open in room for comfort training
  • If no improvement after two weeks, contact foster department