— About our foster program —
You don’t have to be a feline expert to join our team. If you’ve got a love of cats, a willingness to learn, and a little extra room in your heart and home, we can help with the rest!
Rescued cats and kittens in foster care get TLC and the comforts of home so they can start life off on the right paw. Veteran foster volunteers also provide temporary care to cats and kittens who are recovering from illness or injury, or who need socialization support. With the help of amazing foster families, FFCR’s foster program cares for 400+ homeless kittens and cats each year. Plus, fostering makes room at the shelter to take in more cats who need help, saving multiple lives.
We cover all vetting and medical costs.
Cats and kittens must be kept separate from other animals in the home for a minimum of 2 weeks. Additional time must be allowed for vet appointments to be scheduled and carried out. FFCR covers all vaccinations, spay or neuter surgeries, flea treatment, dewormers, microchip implantation, and other basic medical needs pre-adoption. All vet & hospital trips and any bills must be preapproved to be paid for by FFCR.
We provide a starter supply kit.
New fosters are provided with everything they need to start off on the right paw! Each time you foster, you’ll receive a kit full of the basic starter and medical supplies you may need. FFCR covers all medical costs, food, and litter for your foster animals. Foster families are free to supply any additional items of their choosing, like bedding, food/water dishes, trees, toys, and other enrichment items. Anytime these items are donated to the rescue, they will be given to our fosters!
The role of a foster home.
Fostering is a lot of fun — but it’s not always easy. You’ll need to ensure your kittens or cats are getting proper care, including timely vaccinations and transport to vet appointments. We’ll ask you to advocate for your foster animals to help them find adoptive homes once they’re ready, which includes regularly updated photos. Training on taking the best pics with your cell phone camera is available! You’ll have the option to show your fosters to potential adopters right from your home. In-home adopter visits aren’t required, but doing so helps save space at the adoption center for other kitties in need and reduces travel stress on the cats. Some foster parents choose to train as adoption counselors too.
We put the 'toebeans' in team!
As a FFCR foster parent, you’ll never feel alone. You get support from your coordinator and from a close-knit team of fellow foster volunteers. Plus, you’ll be teamed up with a trained foster mentor who will guide you through the fostering experience.
Goodbye is the goal.
Fostering is a temporary situation and letting go of one foster kitty means you’ll be able to help another. But it can still be hard to say goodbye. Thankfully, our foster team is here to help you through it. Every adoption saves one life, but a dedicated foster parent can save lots of lives by caring for many kitties who need extra help to find their own new homes. Goodbyes are tough, but oh-so-rewarding too!
Your first step to fostering for FFCR is to complete our Foster Interest Form. Fostering with us works best if you live within the Chicago metro area and can arrange transport to an approved veterinary clinic when necessary. In some cases, transport can be arranged.
Fostering Opportunities
Fostering time commitments will vary, although a few weeks to a month is typical. There are some instances where longer stays do happen.
Kittens
Kittens eating on their own who are 2 or more weeks away from being ready for adoption need a safe space to grow. Kittens still may need to go through vetting.
Mama & Kittens
Nursing kittens may need supplemental feeding or other supportive care. Kittens will need to reach 2 lbs before they are eligible for spay/neuter surgeries and adoption.
Adults
Adults are a great place to begin your foster journey! Many times adults come fully vetted and don’t require more than a safe and soft place to decompress and await their forever homes.
Seniors
Older cats need special attention and a quiet, accessible home. These souls face high euthanasia risks due their advanced age; even though they have so much love to give! Cats are considered seniors around 11 years & “super-senior” cats at 15+ years.
Socialization
Some cats come to us a little shy or spicy and need some extra time to trust and feel safe. Fostering these kitties will mean a longer time investment, but there are few things as rewarding as witnessing their true purrsonalities bloom.
Medical or Special Needs
A few cats need a dedicated space to recover or flourish. These can range from broken limbs, diabetes, ringworm, neurological issues, or other specialized needs that require longer time commitments.
FELV+/FIV+
FIV+, FeLV+, kittens or adults that need medical care or daily observation. Some of these cats need to be the only cat in the household (but not always). Many FELV+ and FIV+ cats live a long and happy life!
Adoption Counselor
Adoption Counseling is a key point in the rescue process. Counselors work to pair cats with the applicants wishing to add that special pet to their family. They then perform their matchmaking magic to find that perfect fit!
Meet some of our cat fosters
Michele, Downers Grove IL
I enjoy having cat butts in my face. But no really, I adopted my kitty from A.R.F., then started volunteering to help with social media and marketing. A bit later, I also became involved in dog adoption events, though my first love is cats (sorry dogs…. #NotSorry). When A.R.F.’s cat coordinator asked for emergency fosters a while back, I raised my hand to foster one. Nearly 70 fosters later, I’m so happy I continued to foster and didn’t stop at one. Seeing updates on the lives of my fosters after they are adopted makes the challenges worth it. Fostering isn’t always easy, but it is always rewarding.
Ashley, Chicago IL
I never thought I was a cat person until I adopted my Sushi 3 years ago after falling in love with him at a rescue. I thought he’d grow out of his kitten phase after a year, but he was very much still playful and I knew I needed to get him a friend. I was scrolling through available kittens online and I kept seeing links to foster. I started thinking this would be a great way to find the perfect fit for us, to take advantage of my spare bedroom I never quite figured out what to do with, and to find a hobby that was meaningful. We took the leap and had our first foster crew – a mama and her 3 babies – in Dec. ‘22 and haven’t stopped since. Over 30 cats and kittens have passed through our now “kitten room” and I’ve absolutely loved caring for each and every one. We did find my cat the perfect friend, but will continue to foster because it’s just a part of who we are now. I’ve made amazing friends in the organization and also through other fosters, volunteers, and even adopters who I love to keep in contact with. It’s easily the best decision I’ve ever made and I proudly call myself a cat lady now. 
Kat, Homer Glen IL
I enjoy having cat butts in my face. But no really, I adopted my kitty from A.R.F., then started volunteering to help with social media and marketing. A bit later, I also became involved in dog adoption events, though my first love is cats (sorry dogs…. #NotSorry). When A.R.F.’s cat coordinator asked for emergency fosters a while back, I raised my hand to foster one. Nearly 70 fosters later, I’m so happy I continued to foster and didn’t stop at one. Seeing updates on the lives of my fosters after they are adopted makes the challenges worth it. Fostering isn’t always easy, but it is always rewarding.
Ariel, Chicago IL
I began fostering with FFCR in July 2021. My journey began a few months after my special needs senior dogs passed. I had been providing hospice care for so long that I began looking for ways I could give back in animal welfare. We adopted from FFCR, and the rest is history! My soft spot is rehabbing behavior cases. Shy, spicy, neglected, or otherwise, these scaredy cats heal my heart! There’s nothing quite like witnessing the turnaround of a cat who learns to trust and feels safe and loved. If you are contemplating fostering I want you to know that you CAN do it, and you CAN let go! Any small space in your home can be used as a temporary shelter. It beats a cramped cage or even worse, euthanasia! I often hear “I couldn’t do that! I‘d keep them!” and if you have that special connection, adopt that cat and continue fostering! Remember that going home is the goal, and celebrate each successful adoption! You did a great job and saved the life of that animal. Making room in your heart and home for your next batch keeps the entire rescue network going, saving countless lives and creating happy families.
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