Fosterer volunteer

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

From elderly moggies to energic kittens, every day across the UK cats and kittens are in need of a temporary place to stay, and lots of love and TLC! We need more fosterers like you to provide a safe, temporary haven for cats and kittens and provide them with everything they need before they get their chance to land on their four paws and make a house a home.

You can expect us to 

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Ensure you have all you need in place to foster the cat(s) in your care, for example equipment and food
• Cover all your foster cats’ expenses and agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

A bit more information about this role and the team

Becoming a fosterer for Cats Protection means you’ll temporarily take care of a cat in need while we find them their new forever home. This involves providing a safe and loving home for your foster cat (or cats) for between a few weeks to several months. You’ll get to know the cat in your care and fulfil their day-to-day needs by feeding them, changing their litter tray and keeping their space clean, making sure they have fresh water, socialising them, grooming them and, of course, offering lots of chin scratches! If they need any additional care, you’ll give them their medication and take them to vet appointments to keep them healthy and happy.

As your foster cat settles and you form a bond, you’ll play a huge role in helping to find them the perfect match by telling us all about the cat’s personality and taking lots of photos we can share with prospective owners. You’ll accommodate pre-booked visits from any potential adopters who pass our checks.

We’ll provide everything you need such as beds, toys, food and cat litter.

What do I need to become a fosterer for Cats Protection?

To be able to volunteer as a fosterer for Cats Protection, you will need:

your own home, or written permission from your landlord to foster cats

to be 18 years or older

experience of caring for pets or a willingness to learn about care care. We can provide all the training and support you need

a good-sized dedicated room in your house just for your foster cat, or a garden or suitable outdoor space where we can put an outdoor pen

access to transport to take your cat to any appointments

If you have other pets, you’ll need to keep them away from your foster cat and have them all vaccinated and, if they are cats, neutered.

What we need from you 

• A stable, safe and compassionate environment in your home or in a purpose-built pen in your garden provided by us
• Enrich the cats’ experience in care including play, exercise and appropriate handling/interaction
• A willingness to complete some training in order to provide high standards of cat welfare
• Introduce cats to prospective adopters so they can find their forever home
• You can find out more about being a Fosterer on our website

Time expectation

Our volunteer fosterers usually spend around one and a half hours per day (around 10 to 13 hours per week) in this role, but this might vary depending on the number of cats or kittens in care.

You may be just the volunteer we've been looking for! 

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.