The space required for fostering depends on the age and number of cats you’re fostering. At minimum, every foster needs a bathroom or another small room they can put the cat in for at least the first few days the cat is in the foster home.This space should be easy to clean (tile or hardwood floors) and have few or no unreachable hiding spaces.

If a foster wants to take on a pregnant cat or mom with a litter of kittens, it’s preferable they have a spare bedroom, den or a similar space that can be entirely separated off to keep the kittens confined and safe.

Fosters who are interested in taking on a scared cat would also benefit from having a separate space with few hiding spaces where the cat could live long-term as they become socialized.

Fosters living in small spaces (e.g. bachelor, studio or 1-bed apartments) should consider the layout of their space and how disruptive it would be if the cat were vocal or active during the night.

A cat can stay in a foster home from a little as a few weeks to as long as six months or more, depending on the specific behavioural or medical issues they’re dealing with.

There are also some 'long-term' foster cats, which are cats who may be more difficult to find adopters for due to chronic (and often costly) health conditions, and this includes some cats who are receiving palliative care for terminal illnesses (e.g. late stage kidney disease).

Fosters must be prepared to commit to a minimum of 3 to 4 months per foster cat.

Fosters are matched to a cat based on the alignment between the foster's experience and home layout and the cat's needs (e.g. Can the foster give meds? Do they have experience handling scared cats? Do they have a spare room that can be used for a mom and babies?) Seasonal changes affect the wait time as well. In the spring and summer, we usually have a lot of cats entering our system and therefore the wait times are lower. In the fall and winter, we typically have fewer intakes and fosters should expect to wait longer for a good match.

Please note, being approved as a foster does not guarantee you will be placed with a cat. Cat placements are made at the discretion of the foster coordinator team based on their assessment of the foster’s experience and setup.

● Fosters are matched with a cat based on the alignment between the foster's experience and home layout and the cat's needs.

● Once the cat is in the foster home, the foster should check in regularly (weekly to every few weeks) with their foster coordinator to update them on how the cat is doing.

● The foster should also reach out to their foster coordinator any time they have questions or concerns about their cat’s health, behaviour or any of the requirements for the adoption process.

● The foster and foster coordinator should discuss and come to an agreement about whether the cat is ready for adoption. This may require input from the medical or behavioural team.

● Once the cat is deemed ready for adoption, the foster submits all the information (photos, bio, health info, etc.) and then the adoption team takes over.

● The adoption counselors initiate viewings of the cat, either in the foster home or online. They then collect feedback from the foster on how the viewing went. They finalize the adoption if the adopter and foster are happy with the match.

● Once the cat is adopted, the foster is ready to take on a new cat.

The foster receives a range of support from VOKRA, including direct support from their foster coordinator and a dedicated medical team and behavioural support team.

The foster’s assigned foster coordinator should always be the first point of contact for the foster. The foster should contact the foster coordinator any time they have a question about the health or behavior of the cat, VOKRA processes or next steps for the cat’s adoption.

If required, the foster coordinator may request the foster submit a medical concern form to notify the medical team about a health issue with the cat. The medical team will follow-up directly about next steps and the foster and foster coordinator would work together to resolve the issue and keep the medical team informed.

If required, the foster coordinator may connect the foster with our behavioural support team if the foster needs assistance with socializing the cat or addressing other behavioural issues (e.g. biting, jumping on the counter, etc.). The behavioural team will follow-up directly about next steps and the foster and foster coordinator would work together to resolve the issue and keep the medical team informed.

Additionally, VOKRA provides all the supplies needed to foster including: food, treats, litter, litter boxes, bedding, scratching posts or cat trees, toys, supplements and medications.

Fosters are required to provide dishes for their cat to eat and drink out of. As well, if fosters expect to foster for a long time, it’s recommended they also purchase a cat nail clipper, flea comb and a kitchen scale (for weighing food or the cat, as needed) as these will be very useful and are a good investment as they can be used for a long time.

Fosters are also required to have their own means of transportation for scheduled trips, such as picking up supplies or going to the vet, as well as in the event of an emergency. If fosters are borrowing a vehicle from a friend, roommate or family member, they’re required to ensure tthey have quick and easy access to it. If the foster is planning to use a car share service (e.g. Modo, Evo, etc.) or taxis or rideshares, they are expected to assume the costs of this.

At minimum, fosters are required to have some experience with cats, preferably through having grown up with cats or having had cats as an adult, though more experience is preferred. Fosters are not required to have any special knowledge about cat health, though of course this is a huge asset. If a foster lives with other people, it’s required the other people living in the home are comfortable around cats, not allergic to cats and are willing to follow VOKRA guidelines around the health and safety of the cat (e.g. keeping the cat safely indoors).

Fosters are required to provide daily hands-on care for their foster cat as needed, which can include: playing, brushing, trimming nails, giving medications, monitoring litter box use for signs of illness. Therefore, fosters need to be comfortable handling cats and should not be afraid of cats.

Fosters are required to communicate regularly with their foster coordinator by email (preferred) or phone or text. The foster is required to provide regular updates about their cat and to respond in a timely manner if the foster coordinator, health team or behavioural team reaches out with a question or asks for an update.

Note that at all times VOKRA remains the official owner of the foster cats and, as such, fosters are required to follow all of VOKRA’s policies regarding keeping the cat indoors only and to follow all the instructions of the medical or behavioural team, irrespective of the foster’s personal feelings about an issue.

Choose adopting if:

● You want to foster to see how it is to live with a cat before adopting.

Each new foster takes up a lot of time and energy for our VOKRA team as they learn our processes and get experience caring for a cat. If you’re considering adopting, it’s better to apply to adopt a cat and work with your assigned adoption counselor to find a cat who fits your skills and lifestyle.

● You are definitely planning to adopt a cat at some point, but you’re not sure exactly when you will be ready.

Each new foster takes up a lot of time and energy for our VOKRA team as they learn our processes and get experience caring for a cat. If you’re considering adopting, it’s better to apply to adopt a cat and work with your assigned adoption counselor to find a cat who fits your skills and lifestyle.

● You can’t bear the thought of a foster cat you have had in your home for weeks or months going to another home when they’re adopted.

Saying goodbye to your foster kitty is an essential part of fostering. If you don’t think you would be able to emotionally handle that experience - and it’s understandable if you cannot - then fostering may not be the best fit for you.

Choose fostering if:

● You have experience caring for cats with behavioural issues or medical issues, or you have experience with bottle feeding or with pregnant cats or moms and kittens.

● You know you’re not in a place to adopt a cat (e.g. travel a lot, are living in Vancouver only for a short time, are in Canada on a temporary work or study visa) but you’d still love to provide a home for cats in need.