How to choose your first fosters

Where do I start?

Choosing your first foster kittens can be challenging, but we are here to help you decide! 

First, take a look at our handy chart of the different care schedules required for different ages & stages of kittens! Please note: these age and weight ranges are approximate. Each kitten develops at their own rate, and you will have our support In determining when your kittens are ready to graduate to the next stage! 

The Neonatal Foster Program encompasses a wide range of fostering opportunities, each with their own set of requirements. We are happy to work with whatever limitations you may have- read on to find out which types of fosters are best for common situation!

"I work full-time away from home. Can I still foster kittens?"

YES! You can absolutely still foster with the neonatal program even if you work full time. Here are two great options for you to consider.



"Someone in my household is immmunocompromised. How do I know which kittens are free of zoonotic diseases?"

We completely understand that some foster families may have extra concerns about taking in kitties that may have zoonotic (contagious to humans) diseases. Conditions such as toxoplasmosis and ringworm are fairly common with neonates coming from a shelter environment, but we're happy to help you take the necessary precautions to keep your family safe. 

Our #1 recommendation for fosters concerned about these conditions is to seek out kittens who have already been through our mandatory 10-14 day quarantine. During that time, the vast majority of illnesses the kittens may be incubating will have made themselves known, so we will be able to give you a much more accurate picture of their health than we can for kittens who are brand new to our program. We need transfers and babysitters for post-quarantine kitties pretty often, so please let us know if you are specifically interested in those opportunities!

"I'm new to APA! but I have neonatal fostering experience from another rescue/shelter. Can I start with a more challenging group?"

Yes, but within reason! We ask that folks with experience fostering with other organizations start with a foster kitten or litter that is a step down in difficulty/intensity from what you might have typically taken in the past. For example, if you have previously fostered litters of 4-5 bottle babies on a regular basis, (first of all, AMAZING, and welcome to APA!) we would ask you to take a litter of 2-3 kittens for your first time fostering with us. This may seem counter-intuitive, because we certainly want you to help us with larger litters in the future. However, the APA! Neonatal Foster Program has requirements that may be different and potentially more demanding than those of the program(s) you have experience with. We want to make sure you have a great experience fostering with us for the first time, and we find that easing in with an older or smaller group of kittens is a great way to do that.

"I'm new to fostering, but those newborns are so adorable! Can I foster them?"

You're right, they are adorable! Unfortunately, we find that starting off with the smallest & most demanding of our kittens can lead to fosters feeling overwhelmed and exhausted- for good reason! Kittens are born weighing between about 80-120g, and need to eat every 2 hours. Providing such intensive care for such tiny, delicate creatures can be a huge adjustment, especially for folks who are new to neonatal care in general. For this reason, we strongly recommend that fosters take a small group of older kittens for their first fostering experience. This provides an opportunity to get used to the responsibilities of fostering neonates without losing quite as much sleep!