Volunteer As A Cat Foster Carer
Jean playing with foster cats
Could you be a volunteer cat foster carer for us? We are looking for volunteers to take care of adult cats until they are rehomed.
The RSPCA Cat Hub is looking for volunteer Cat Foster Carers, who live in Darlington or Stockton, to provide care and suitable housing in a safe environment for adult cats, in accordance with RSPCA policies and guidelines. Fostered animals may include older cats with special health needs.
Fosterers are expected to feed, water and groom cats as appropriate, provide suitable bedding (supplied if required), keep accurate records of expenditure, via receipts and completed expense forms, and record information on the animal’s welfare and behaviour to assist in the rehoming process. All food and litter is provided.
Occasionally we will require access to fostered cats during working hours to transport them to vets, so it would help if you are retired or work from home, but we will consider any circumstances.
Previous experience of fostering is beneficial and experience of caring for cats is essential. You will need a separate room to keep the cats in and your family must be fully supportive. If you have existing animals we prefer they are neutered but are happy to discuss on a case by case basis.
If you are interested in this role, please email sophie.moran-barker@rspca.org.uk and request an RSPCA Volunteer Application Form. You will need to provide details of your relevant experience of caring for cats, and provide two referees for us to contact. You need to be 18 years old for all our volunteering roles.
You may be asked to attend an informal interview and, if successful, when you start as a volunteer you will be provided with an induction programme and training.
Jean’s Story
Jean is one of our most experienced cat fosterers, caring for RSPCA older cats and kittens since 2018. She says: “Fostering is hard work but very rewarding.
“Being a cat foster carer takes a lot of your time and patience. The cats need feeding and cleaning, grooming and medicating, stroking and socialising, which depending upon how many cats you have can take hours out of your day. You will also shed tears when they arrive, often malnourished and underweight, with wounds needing treatment, with flea allergies and scared. But then you feel you have done a good job when they come back to health and respond to your love and patience. The rewards are great and I will do it for as long as I can!”