New Long Term Foster Care Program

SCFN has taken in a number of friendly cats that have tested positive for Feline Leukemia.  They are currently living in an enclosure at the Mims sanctuary. It is difficult to find permanent adoptive homes for these cats. All of these cats were slated for euthanasia before volunteers agreed to take them in.

SCFN has instituted a new program for long-term fostering. The cats cannot be in homes with other cats that are healthy, since it is possible to spread the disease through casual contact between cats (eating the same food, drinking from the same water bowl). Persons fostering are encouraged to take more than one cat so they’ll have company but there are some cats that are fine being “only” cats in a family. 

Foster parents agree to provide regular care for the cats and would pay for these expenses (food and litter primarily). SCFN would take the cats for their annual vaccinations and would be responsible for those costs.   SCFN would also take any cat back for veterinary care at its expense should a cat get sick. Similarly, if the foster parents’ had to return the cat for any personal reason, SCFN would take it back under its care. Persons fostering would sign an agreement with SCFN acknowledging these conditions.  The agreement would also spell out special needs of the particular cat being fostered, if any.

Some leukemia positive cats can live long, healthy lives and never show any symptoms.   Others may develop illnesses and their leukemia status may make it harder for them to fight off the disease. Each cat is different. At least these cats are being given an opportunity to live.

Anyone interested in considering giving a good home to one of these cats should contact Mackenzie Quirarte at 321-794-4996 or Kathleen Harer at 321-799-4379.

Fostering A Cat or Kitten

There is a pressing need for more foster parent volunteers to raise the feral kittens found at KSC and other Brevard County sites. The current group of six foster moms is overloaded and cannot take in more kittens. What this means is that new kittens found and not fostered will have no future as a domesticated animal.

The socialization process needs to be started at a young age (6-8 weeks) to be effective. Older kittens are harder to tame and will probably be shy or unresponsive. Some older kittens may adapt better with another cat in the household. Other shy kittens will eventually become affectionate if given lots of time and patience.

Small, social kittens have the best adoption rate. Older, shy kittens are harder to place since they require special people, willing to give a little more for a special cat. Any kitten that remains antisocial and not adoptable will be treated like an adult feral cat as a last resort and maintained in a feral cat colony.

These small helpless victims of human's carelessness require very little to be fostered. A small room, a little food, and someone's time is all that is needed.

The rewards for this small investment are tremendous: