A cat fosterer should not adopt the cat she is fostering

A cat fosterer should have committed to the role before embarking on it and the role is about improving cat welfare generally.

My first foster cat has been adopted and I have mixed emotions: sadness at losing him and pride in improving the welfare of cats by being part of a team which finds homes for cats who are, hopefully, temporarily without a home and a carer.

The person who adopted him named him “Downton”. He is a classy looking cat and the name reflects that; it’s a good name.

Here is a video of Downton with me (to date) – there is some breezy background music – just click on the sound icon below the video!:

I might make another video over the next week because the lady who adopted him will pick him up next Saturday. I have another week to give him my love.

Sometimes, just very occasionally, a person who fosters cats may adopt a cat who she is caring for. But the situation under which this happens should be very rare, in my opinion.

Cat fostering is about improving the welfare of cats. A person who is fostering cats should have decided before she/he began doing the work that she is in the “business” of cat welfare. By that I mean general cat welfare; improving the welfare of cats and not improving the welfare of an individual cat that he or she likes.

When a person goes into the “business” of fostering cats the decision that the person makes really should be a commitment to improving the welfare of cats generally. It should be a mindset in which the person tells themselves that if they adore a cat that they are looking after and then want to adopt that cat, they have committed themselves to the welfare of cats and therefore they should follow through and allow that cat to be adopted (tough, though, it might be)

In allowing that individual cat to be adopted they also allow another cat, who has thus far been unwanted, to be looked after by them and then that cat to be adopted by new caretaker and so on, whereupon cat welfare benefits.

Some people involved in cat fostering have the facilities to house and look after a number of cats but I only have the facilities to look after one cat and therefore if I adopt that cat my role as a cat fosterer is over and my role in fostering cats as a way to improve general cat welfare ceases, which goes against the purpose for which I took on the role as a cat foster in the first place.

The decision before fostering cats should be taken as seriously, and with the same care and consideration, as when adopting a cat for the life of the cat.

If a cat fosterer goes into the business (and I believe it is really a form of work) of improving cat welfare he should stick to it or get out of it – I may 😉 .

Ultimately it is about self-discipline and shunning self-indulgence. It is tough and emotional but who said improving the welfare of animals is easy?

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36 thoughts on “A cat fosterer should not adopt the cat she is fostering”

  1. Its how long they get left with you. Cats are adept at stealing your heart very quickly. I struggle if I have them for any amount of time hence Honey and I’m still trying to find a home for Mr Jinks. I’m hoping that the CPL will showcase him on their website soon…

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