Marketing Your Foster

The Cat Marketing Team appreciates everything you do to keep our cats and kittens happy, healthy, and safe. When it’s time to find them a forever home, we are here to help!

Together we can showcase your foster so they’re irresistible to their perfect adopter. You know your cat better than anyone — that’s why providing photos and information is a required part of fostering. We rely on you!

How Does Marketing Help Your Foster? 

Creating a profile for the cat or kitten in your care gives them the best chance at a quick adoption.

With your photos and insight, we will create a profile page (like this one) that helps connect your cat with their perfect person — whether they’re found on the website or matched directly with an adopter looking for a cat just like yours.

Help your foster go straight from your home to their loving forever family!

Adult Cat Profile

The ideal time to create a profile is around 1-2 weeks, when you’ve gotten to know your foster. The Cat Marketing Team will email you reminders to complete your forms. Forms are due by the end of those two weeks.

Use the Cat Profile Form to share what makes your kitty unique. It’s quick, easy to complete!

Be thoughtful and focus on what makes them special. Specific examples or stories that show their personality are a big help!

Kitten Profile

When you get to know your kittens, complete the the Kitten Profile Form. It takes just 15–30 minutes for a whole litter. 

Email photos at 6 weeks to get them on the APA! website. The completed form is due when they’re 7 weeks old.

Most kittens are cute, playful, and love to nap, so go beyond the basics! Tell us how yours plays, shows affection, and the moments that make you smile.

Got Mom too? She needs a profile as well. Her form and photos are required before she leaves your care.

Photos

Nothing draws adopters in like cute, expressive photos. Take your time, you can use your phone for beautiful shots!

A few tips:

• Team up! Have a friend hold your kitty or grab their attention while you snap the photos.

• A clip on ring light is helpful in dark rooms.

• Use “tap to focus” to set your iPhone’s focus point. Tap where you want the photo to be clear and sharp.

• Quick edits - the “magic wand” tool on your iPhone edits your photo instantly with one tap. 

Open photo > tap the icon with lines and circles > choose adjust > tap the magic wand

Keep the goal in mind - to grab the attention of an adopter. Face up, ears forward, eyes open and bright.

For more, see our Quick Tips for Great Cat Pics

A complete profile includes:

• A Head-Shot or portrait from mid-chest up, show that cute face

• A Full Body Photo: entire cat in any position, show that nice coat

• Personality Photo: Playing or snuggling, help adopters imagine life with this kitty.

• Compatibility: Moments with other cats, people (or kids), and dogs.

Videos

A picture may speak a thousand words, but a video can say even more!

Video clips help adopters envision your cat in their home. 

Share 10–30 second clips highlighting different traits.

Think: What does this video say about the cat in front of me?

“I love to cuddle!”
“I’m a catnip fiend!”
“I love my dog friend!”

Every cat is unique, let their videos show it!

Is Your Foster Not Quite Ready to Find a Home Yet?

Please let us know! You can reply to our marketing email or send a quick note to cat.marketing@austinpetsalive.org

If you’re unsure for any reason, whether you think a kitten isn’t quite ready, or you’ve connected with a potential adopter, just get in touch.

We’re always here to support you in helping your foster cats and kittens find their forever homes.

Thank you for opening your heart and home - you're truly saving lives!