West Philadelphia | University City

Foster for City Kitties

Thanks for your interest in becoming a foster home! Foster homes are the foundation of our organization. This critical service allows us to house cats and kittens while they wait for permanent homes--meaning we can save more lives. City Kitties pays for 100% of veterinary costs and provides plenty of support throughout the foster process. Check out our volunteer profile page for more about our individual foster homes and how they got involved.

You will make a great foster parent if:

you are flexible, patient, and love animals!

you live in the general vicinity of West Philly, South Philly, Center City, or

Fairmount. We need foster homes to be close to us, as well as our veterinarian and

potential adopters.

you are comfortable providing minor health care, with guidance from City Kitties.

(oral and topical medications, flea/tick preventatives, grooming, etc.)

your pets are up-to-date on appropriate medical care and spayed/neutered.

your current cats live indoors at all times and your home is safe for cats/kittens.

(screens on all windows, kitten-proof where applicable, etc.)

you are willing to provide most food/litter/basic living costs.

(City Kitties provides all medical care.)

you have access to a car (your own, a friend's, or PhillyCarShare)--this is not

required but very helpful.

If you fit these requirements, please fill out the application below. If you have questions, feel free to email us using our contact form.

Your Information

Your name:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Email:
Phone:
Date of birth:


Have you applied (or do you plan to apply) to other rescue organizations in the Philadelphia area to become a foster home?
Yes. Organization name(s):
No

Do you rent your home/apartment? Yes No

If you rent, do you have permission from your landlord to have a cat? City Kitties will call to confirm this.
Yes No

Landlord name:
Landlord phone:



Please describe your living arrangement and the other people you live with (spouse/partner, relatives, roommates, children).

 

Does anyone in your household smoke inside the home? Please note that second-hand smoke affects cats just like humans.

Yes No

Please tell us why you are interested in fostering animals for City Kitties:


City Kitties requires a six month minimum commitment from our foster homes. Is there anything that would prevent you from remaining a foster home during the next six months? (e.g. moving out of the area, graduation, marriage, other major life change):


Animal Information

City Kitties tries our best to match homes and cats appropriately. We respect foster homes' wishes not to deal with particular situations, like a pregnant/nursing mother and kittens, or multiple cats/kittens. However, we cannot guarantee that every cat will be the perfect guest in your home! You may get a cat that needs help with minor behavioral issues, like rough play or inappropriate scratching. Since cats very often come directly from the street (after a trip to the vet's office, of course), we may not be aware of these issues before the cat enters your home. Are you willing to deal with these behavioral issues, with the support of City Kitties?

Cats new to foster care often need minor health care, such as oral antibiotics, flea/tick preventative, other topical medications/creams, brushing/grooming, etc. City Kitties can provide guidance on dosing medications. Will you be able to provide this kind of care on a daily basis, if needed?

If your foster cat becomes sick or needs follow-up care, City Kitties may ask you to provide transportation to and from the vet's office. Do you have regular and reliable access to a car (your own, a friend's, Philly Car Share)?

City Kitties often has foster cats who test positive for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Like humans with HIV, FIV+ cats can live long, normal, and happy lives. These cats do not need any special care, other than a low-stress environment and high-quality food to keep their immune system healthy. FIV does not affect humans, dogs, or any other species--just cats. If you don't have any other cats, we may ask you to foster an FIV+ kitty. Would you be willing to do so? (If you have cats in your home already, this does not apply to you.)


City Kitties asks that foster cats be checked on once daily while you're away (or more if circumstances require it). We aren't able to provide or pay for petsitting services. How will the foster cat/kitten be cared for when you are out of town?

Current and Past Pets

Please provide the following information for each animal currently living in your household:

Animal 1:
Animal 2:
Animal 3:
Animal 4:


Veterinarian Information

If you currently have pets, please provide a veterinary reference.

Clinic name:
Phone (required):
Name of person with account at the vet office:
Names of animals under the account:
Additional vet information:

 

Please check over all information before you hit the "submit" button, and make sure your email address/phone number is correct. If you wish to give City Kitties additional information, you may type it below. Additional comments:


Trouble with our application? Please let us know.