Foster cats soon become a part of the family, even if it is just for a short period of time. The longer you are left caring for a cat, the more attached you will become to the animal. When it is time to find a new home for your foster cat you will need to ensure that the animal goes to a good home. What qualities should you look for in new owners when re-homing foster cats?
How Many Years’ Experience Does Each Candidate Have?
Everyone has to start from somewhere as a cat owner. But if you are looking for a good, solid home for your current foster cat, it is beneficial to look for candidates who have some experience as cat owners, vet technicians or pet sitters. Those with previous experience will have a range of skills to offer following the adoption process, from litter training kittens to caring for the needs of geriatric cats.
What Are the Living Arrangements Like?
Cats do not require a great deal of room to roam around. However, they should be in a home where they are not cooped up in a single room with no interaction from their owners or other pets in the home. There is nothing wrong with candidates keeping one or two rooms out of bounds to cats. But if it soon becomes clear that the cats will not be comfortable in their new surroundings, do not take any risks with their well-being.
A Willingness to Pay an Adoption Fee
Paying an adoption fee does not mean that you are selling the cats. Such fees typically cover the costs of vaccinations and offer health-related checks. An adoption fee also helps weed out those who do not really have a cat’s best interests at heart.
Do the New Owners Gel with the Cats?
It is important for a foster cat to feel secure right from the get-go. Before you hand the cat over, make sure the cat actually gels with the new owners. Take the cat round to each candidate’s home and see how well they interact with one another. Initial feelings of nervousness and apprehension are normal. But if it becomes clear that the cats feel out of place, or you sense that something is not quite right, take the cats back and keep looking.
Re-homing foster cats is part of the job. The look of delight in the faces of new cat owners helps to make the job worthwhile. As a foster cat carer, do not immediately go for the fist candidate who comes along searching for a cat. Make sure you do your research and re-home cats with the right candidate.
More from this contributor:
Do You Have What it Takes to Provide Foster Cat Care?
How to Prepare Your Home for a New Foster Pet.
Should You Pay Friends for Foster Care of Your Pets?