Ever wanted to foster ‘fluffy, bouncy little kittens?’ SLO County shelter needs your help now

With kitten season approaching rapidly, San Luis Obispo Animal Services is looking for kitten fosters in preparation for the influx of young cats that enter the shelter yearly between March and October.

Kitten fosters provide essential care for kittens under 8 weeks old, mother cats and their babies, kittens with medical needs and those still adjusting to human interaction. Fosters play a crucial role in enhancing the health, well-being and chances of adoption for these young cats as they await their forever homes.

Depending on the age of the kittens, some may need to be bottle-fed several times a day, including outside of shelter hours. In these cases, foster care is literally life-saving.

Applying to be a kitten foster is a quick and easy process.

The application link and more information about fostering can be found on the SLO Animal Services website under the “volunteer” tab. Fosters are supplied with everything they need and trained by shelter staff before receiving kittens.

For people with little to no prior experience caring for kittens, kittens already eating on their own or mother cats with babies are a great way to ease into fostering. Fosters with prior experience may seek the extra challenge of bottle feeding kittens or kittens with medical challenges.

Beyond the benefits for the animals, fostering can be incredibly fulfilling.

SLO Animal Services administrative assistant Annette Sheely has been fostering kittens for over 12 years and encourages other animal lovers to apply.

“What started off as a little hobby has become such a rewarding, enriching activity for my whole family,” Sheely said. “If you want to laugh — foster fluffy, bouncy little kittens.”

This story was originally published February 9, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Ever wanted to foster ‘fluffy, bouncy little kittens?’ SLO County shelter needs your help now."