Attention kitten lovers! It's that time of year again. Have you fostered kittens before? Have you never fostered kittens but have been thinking about trying it out? We have a dedicated team of seasoned kitten fosters (Sarah Plagens, Savannah Gibson, Susan Boyd, Carrie Eberhard, Esther Escudero, and Falyn Knebel ) here to answer all of your kitten fostering questions! 

We've put together a treasure trove of handy new resources, we have a new Kitten Help Line email address, and a Discord server to connect in real time with us and other kitten fosters where we can learn, laugh, and cry together. (Yes, kitten fostering sometimes involves happy, sad, and/or frustrated tears.)

Whether you're an old pro at kittens, or brand new and ready to learn, we can't wait to welcome you to Kitten Scouts!

If you're ready to sign up and get some kittens, email tag@dallaspetsalive.org. If you want to learn more about what it means to be a kitten foster, you can email kittenhelp@dallaspetsalive.org with questions!

Learn more about the Kitten Scouts and see the resources HERE. 

Join our Discord Channel HERE!

We ask foster parents to start preparing around 7 weeks old for kittens to be listed online at 8 weeks.

Preparation includes:

•  Taking pictures and sending them to foster@dallaspetsalive.org

• Filling out the Foster Profile

• Reviewing the Adoption Process and/or deciding if you want to adopt 

Then, foster kittens can be officially listed on the website at 8 weeks. 

Why 8 weeks? As we all know kittens are very fragile and sometimes with our best efforts they might fade or fail to thrive. Therefore, DPA has found that at 8 weeks we are less likely to have to make the phone calls to committed adopters that the kitten they adopted passed.

Litter Listings: This year, 2026, for the first time ever we will be listing groups of kittens 3+ or more to try to better help with matchmaking. Learn more here: Litter Listing + Single vs. Double Kitten Education

• Check out why Two Kittens are Better Than One: https://dpa.dog/2KittensRBetterThan1

• Check out the risks of Single Kitten Syndrome: https://dpa.dog/SingleKittenSyndrome

You can still market your kittens by sharing them on social media and having interested people either email adopt@dallaspetsalive.org and/or filling out the generic kitten application. The adoption team will not process applications until the kitten is 8 weeks old. As always, we go in the order as applications are received. 

If at anytime you or someone you know is interestd in adopting your foster kitten please email foster@dallaspetsalive.org. If someone else has applied and a MNG email has been initiated then we MUST honor that application first, this is why it is important to let us know ASAP if you are even considering.

As always PLEASE do not hand off your foster pet to an adopter without confirmation from the Adoption Counselor, Adoption Director, Foster Director, or VP / Assistant VP of Animal Operations.

For group / litter listings:

Foster Parents will:

• Coordinate one meet and greet per applicant (not per kitten)

  • During the meet and greet, the foster will:

    • Introduce all kittens

    • Discuss personalities and needs

    • Help match the best fit for the home

    • Encourage double kitten adoptions if applicable

• Guide adopters toward the best personality match

• Help educate on:

  • Energy levels

  • Temperament differences

  • Benefits of adopting two kittens

Fosters should not promise or hold specific kittens prior to meet and greet unless approved.

• Vaccinations: 

  • Rabies – For all cats over 3 months (12 weeks) of age. 

  • FeLV – For all cats over 8 weeks of age. 

  • FVRCP – For all cats beginning at 8 weeks of age. 

• Deworming and/or Fecal Exam 

• Combo test (FIV and FeLV test)

• Spay / Neuter (and recovery, 3-5 days for neuter, 5-7 days for spay)

• Microchip

As always PLEASE do not hand off your foster pet to an adopter without confirmation from the Adoption Counselor, Adoption Director, Foster Director, or VP / Assistant VP of Animal Operations.

Please keep us update to date via email at medical@dallaspetsalive.org and be sure to email our Kitten Scouts team (kittenhelp@dallaspetsalive.org). They also offer real-time support via their Discord channel and can help guide you step-by-step through this.

This is urgent. Please take the following steps right away: Fading Kitten Syndrome Protocol --> See the Fading Kitten Graphic

1. Keep the kitten warm

• Place them on a heating pad set to low or use a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel

• Make sure they can move away from the heat source if needed

• Kittens should feel warm to the touch, not cool

2. Do NOT feed if the kitten is cold

• A cold kitten cannot properly digest food

• Focus on warming first before attempting to feed

3. Once warm, offer supportive care

• Offer formula (if bottle baby) or food if they are eating independently

• You can rub a small amount of Karo syrup or honey on the gums if they are weak or not eating to help with blood sugar

4. Stimulate and monitor

• Gently stimulate to encourage urination/defecation if age appropriate

• Monitor breathing, responsiveness, and energy level closely

5. Stay in close communication
Please keep us and the Kitten Scouts updated, and us, in real time so we can support you.

Important guidance:
We do not recommend taking fading kittens to the ER, as their best chance is typically with their foster providing supportive care. Emergency clinics will often recommend euthanasia in these cases.

 If the kitten does pass:

• During normal business hours: please contact your preferred vet partner to arrange drop-off for cremation and let us know where you plan to go.

• After hours or on weekends: call (214) 550-2891 and we can help coordinate drop-off at Dallas Animal Urgent Care or Mid-Cities Animal Urgent Care

We know how hard and scary this is. We are here with you every step of the way.

Please keep us updated.

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If you think you are experiencing a foster pet medical emergency, please call the DPA Medical Emergency 214-550-2891.

Don't forget to save these numbers in your phone:

• DPA Medical Emergency 214-550-2891 (call in case of medical emergency)

• DPA Behavioral Emergency 469-643-2003 (call in case of bite, severe aggression, or lost foster pet emergency)

• Review the DPA Foster Emergency Guide

• Check out Vidaah Vet, our after-hours (Sat/Sun, and Mon-Fri 7PM - 7AM) medical emergency system: Vidaah Vet