PAWS is full of kittens that need urgent foster care in order to survive! Volunteer foster parents are crucial to the survival of our young kittens, as foster care provides a safe place for the animals to recover and find good adoptive homes, and frees up much needed space at the shelter for other needy animals. PAWS receives many kittens too young to be adopted out yet that need foster care until they are old enough for spay/neuter surgery. We especially need foster homes for momma cats with young nursing kittens, and for orphaned newborns that need to be bottle fed. We also need foster homes for young kittens without mothers who are eating on their own. If you have a spare room in your house please consider helping us to get these adorable babies and their mommas out!

Here are some litters currently in need of foster care:

A) URGENT: Litter of 4 (2 tabby, 1 grey tabby, 1 white/black) 3-4 weeks old. They are eating wet food but need some supplementary bottles or formula added to the wet food. These kittens have a bad case of conjunctivitis and will need to be on meds (provided by the shelter)

B) Single grey kitten 7 weeks old

C) Single tabby kitten 5-6 weeks old

D) Grey/white momma cat with 5 kittens (various colors) 1-2 weeks old

E) Tortie momma cat with 6 newborns

F) Black/white momma cat with 5 kittens (various colors 2 weeks old

G) Litter of 4 (1 orange, 1 calico, 1 tabby, 1 blue) 5 weeks old

H) Litter of 4 (2 black/white, 1 black, 1 calico) 5-6 weeks old

I) Litter of 4 (1 tabby, 1 black, 1 black/white, 1 calico) 5 weeks old

J) Litter of 4 (2 black/white, 1 torbie, 1 tabby) 8 weeks old- close to adoptable age!

K) Litter of 4 (all black) 6 weeks old

L) Litter of 3 (2 tabby, 1 black) 4 weeks old- eating wet food, very scared

M) Litter of 2 (all black/white, 1 is longhaired) 6-7 weeks old

N) Single black kitten 5-6 weeks old

O) Litter of 4 (1 calico, 1 tortie, 1 black, 1 tabby) 4 weeks old- eating wet food

P) Single grey and white 6-7 weeks old

PLUS 10 MORE LITTERS THAT I HAVE NOT YET INVENTORIED!

IF YOU CAN FOSTER ANY OF THESE LITTERS:
Come to the shelter anytime today (saturday) until 6 pm to take what is available,
OR
Come to the shelter Sunday between 11am and 6pm,

Unless you have a confirmed pick up time for today for a specific litter, all litters go into foster care on a first come, first serve basis.

What does Foster Care entail?
What is the time commitment?
Kittens must be fostered until they are able to be spayed/neutered, which is generally at 8-9 weeks old (when they are at least 2 pounds). So if you have newborns, the foster commitment is generally 8 weeks, if you get kittens a couple weeks old, the commitment would be shorter. Once they are old enough for surgery you set up an appointment to bring them in. You can find adopters for them yourself (marketing kittens is easy, and we can help!) or you can leave them at the shelter after their surgery appointment to have them adopted out here.

What do foster parents need to provide?
Foster parents must provide shelter, food, litter and love until the cat/kittens can be adopted out.

What does PAWS provide?
PAWS will provide all vet care and medicine needed at our clinic which is open everyday 10am-4pm. Our foster care office and volunteer network will provide support and information on bottlefeeding, raising kittens, marketing animals for adoption, etc.

More information on fostering cats and kittens from PAWS, check out our Foster Care Handbook and Foster Cat Guide available as downloads at: http://www.phillypaws.org/downloads.cfm

PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS! WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET!

Thank you!

I have a cat..Sorry, I can't help, but I would be willing to stop by with a donation of supplies, food, etc.

What is the need? Can people help another way?

If you never tried this you must! I found (2) 1 week old babies and raised them, at the time I had a few cats, I found a home for 1 but couldn't give up his brother. It was hard letting one go but hes in eyes view. It took a bit of work but was a great expierence. I have a full house now or I would do it again!!!! He will be with you forever.

I would love to take a kitten or two, but I have leather furniture - and the thought of kittens climbing up it just send chills up my spine--and wallet.

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United we stand. Divided we fall.

I to have leather but they don't like it, I also have a nice big scratching post made of rug that they hang on, The little guy claws at the underside of a cloth chair now and then but just to streach...