Foster With Us

You Have the Home. We Have the Cats Who Need One.

Pookie’s Place Cat Rescue and Sanctuary operates entirely on a foster-based model. We do not maintain a shelter facility, and we never intend to. We believe cats recover, grow, and thrive most successfully in the environment of a real home rather than a cage, and our foster network is what makes that possible.

Fostering means welcoming a cat or kitten into your home on a temporary basis, providing safety, stability, and individualized care until that animal is ready to be placed in a permanent, loving home. No prior experience is required. Every foster volunteer is supported by our organization from the moment they say yes.

Why Foster

Every foster home we open directly increases our capacity to rescue. When a cat moves into foster care, we are able to pull another animal out of crisis, whether that means an overcrowded municipal shelter, a hoarding situation, or a colony in need of intervention. Fostering is one of the highest-impact ways to support our mission, because its effect multiplies far beyond the single cat in your care.

Foster volunteers also witness transformation in a way few others do. Cats who arrive frightened, undersocialized, or medically fragile often become confident, affectionate, and playful within the safety of a foster home. Watching that change take place, and knowing you made it possible, is one of the most rewarding aspects of this work.

We also design fostering to be flexible. Some volunteers foster for a matter of weeks; others open their homes for months at a time or take on long-term sanctuary placements. Some foster one cat at a time; others take in bonded pairs or entire litters. We work with each volunteer to find an arrangement that fits their household, schedule, and comfort level, and we remain available for guidance and support throughout the placement.

What We Provide

• All food, litter, and basic supplies needed to care for your foster cat or kittens
• Comprehensive veterinary care coordinated through our partner clinic, Liberty Hill Animal Hospital
• A detailed Foster Care Manual covering intake, daily care, medical protocols, and the adoption process
• Direct access to our foster support team for questions, guidance, or emergencies
• Marketing and adoption support, including professional listings and promotion through our adoption network and social media channels

What we ask in return is straightforward: a safe space in your home, consistent care, and open communication with our team.

Types of Foster Placements

Bottle Babies and Nursing Mothers

For volunteers prepared to provide round-the-clock care to neonatal kittens or a nursing mother and her litter. This is one of our most time-intensive foster categories, and full training and supplies are provided to every volunteer who takes it on.

Kittens

Weaned kittens who need a safe, structured environment in which to grow, socialize, and reach a healthy weight and age before they are ready for spay or neuter surgery and adoption.

Adult Cats

Adult cats frequently need a period of decompression away from a shelter environment, or a transitional home while they wait to be matched with an adopter. These placements are often quieter and shorter in duration than kitten fostering.

Senior Cats

Older cats are among the most frequently overlooked animals in rescue, yet they are often the most gentle and appreciative companions. Senior foster placements provide comfort, routine, and dignity during an animal’s later years.

Medical and Hospice Fosters

For volunteers comfortable managing a cat’s recovery or ongoing medical needs, including administering medication, monitoring post-surgical healing, or providing end-of-life comfort care. Full veterinary guidance and support are provided throughout.

Sanctuary Fosters

Some cats, due to chronic medical conditions or temperament, are not well suited to traditional adoption. These cats still deserve a stable, loving environment, and our sanctuary foster program provides long-term or permanent placements for them, backed by the same level of organizational support as any other foster arrangement.

The Foster Process

1. Submit a foster application so our team can learn about your household, experience, and availability.
2. Our foster coordinator will match you with a cat or litter suited to your space, schedule, and comfort level.
3. At intake, you will receive your foster animal along with all necessary supplies, medical records, and care instructions.
4. Throughout the placement, you will provide daily care and communicate regularly with our team, who remain available for support at any time.
5. We schedule and, in most cases, arrange transport for all necessary veterinary appointments at Liberty Hill Animal Hospital.
6. Once your foster animal is healthy, appropriately aged, and ready for placement, our team markets them for adoption and screens prospective adopters.
7. When a match is finalized, you will say goodbye knowing you gave that cat the best possible chance at a permanent home, and you will be ready to welcome your next foster.

Who Makes a Strong Foster Volunteer

We welcome foster applicants from a wide range of circumstances. Strong candidates include:

• Individuals or families with a safe, secure indoor space for a cat or kittens
• Both renters and homeowners, provided that pets are permitted in the residence
• Households with or without resident pets; our team will help assess compatibility and manage introductions
• First-time foster volunteers, who receive full training and ongoing support
• Anyone able to commit to consistent, attentive care and regular communication for the duration of the placement

A large home is not a requirement. A spare bathroom, a spare bedroom, or even a properly equipped crate setup, combined with time and attentiveness, is often all that is needed to provide an effective foster placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost to becoming a foster volunteer?

No. Pookie’s Place Cat Rescue and Sanctuary covers the cost of food, litter, supplies, and all veterinary care associated with your foster animal.

How long will I be fostering for?

The length of a placement varies by animal. A healthy kitten awaiting adoption may need only a few weeks, while a shy adult cat or a medical case may require several months. We communicate expected timelines with each foster volunteer before a placement begins.

What if I already have pets in my home?

Many of our foster volunteers have resident pets. Our team will discuss your household in detail and recommend either a safe introduction plan or a foster placement well suited to your existing animals.

What happens if I need to travel during a placement?

We understand that life circumstances change. Please provide as much advance notice as possible so that we can arrange respite care for your foster animal.

Can I request a particular type of cat to foster?

Yes. We do our best to match volunteers with animals that suit their stated preferences, available space, and level of experience, and we welcome that input during the application process.

What if the placement does not work out as expected?

This does occur on occasion, and it is not a failure on your part. Our team will work with you to troubleshoot the placement or arrange alternative care within our network.

What if I fall in love with my foster animal?

This happens frequently, and we welcome it. We refer to this outcome as a “foster failure,” and it is always cause for celebration.

Ready to Change a Cat’s Life

Every cat placed in foster care is a cat removed from crisis, and every foster home opened is a life saved. If you are ready to make a difference, we encourage you to submit a foster application today.

Apply to Foster

If you have questions before applying, our team is happy to discuss what fostering would look like for your household. You can CONTACT US.

Pookie’s Place Cat Rescue and Sanctuary is a foster-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Central Texas and surrounding areas.