Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.
We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.
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 energetic 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
Our Perth branch was established in 2000, and since then has found homes for thousands of cats and kittens, all of whom were initially cared for by our fantastic volunteer Fosterers and we are now looking for another volunteer to join our team.
Most of our Fosterers care for one or two cats at a time and enjoy providing lots of TLC to those cats, some of which have had a difficult start in life. Then once they’ve been matched with their new families, our fosterers say goodbye and get ready to welcome in a new kitty.
Obviously experience looking after cats would be an advantage, but don’t worry – you’ll get access to our full Fosterer training programme and will have back-up from our small team of existing Fosterers and other branch members. We’ll also provide everything you need such as beds, food and cat litter.
All you need is space in your garden for one of our pens (we’ll install it and make sure it’s perfect for the new arrivals) and a lot of love and enthusiasm for giving cats the best care possible while they are with you.
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.
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:
to be able to dedicate enough of your time. Our fosterers usually spend around 10 to 15 hours per week actively caring for cats in this role, ensuring they are safe and well-looked after during the time they spend with you
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.
