Foster a cat

Why become a cat foster carer?

We have many cats who come into Raystede benefit from foster care whilst we find them their forever home. We also have kittens and pregnant queens in need of temporary foster.

Becoming a foster carer provides cats with extra love, care and support in a home environment whilst we look for their forever homes. Fostering will also free up space on-site at Raystede so we can support more cats in need.

With help from our team, you will also have the opportunity to support cats with any challenges they are experiencing, preparing them for their forever homes whilst keeping them happy and enriched.

Some cats may have medical issues, which means it often takes a little longer to rehome them. Fostering cats like this means they will have comfort and medical support for you whilst they wait to be adopted.

We also need people to foster animals who are on our Break Away scheme. Break Away is a vital service that supports people who are fleeing domestic abuse or facing short-term hospitalisation by temporarily fostering their animals. You can read more about our Break Away scheme here. Owing to the nature of this scheme, Break Away foster carers are often called upon to help with little advanced notice and so we are looking for fosterers who don’t mind looking after an animal under these circumstances.

You’ll have the opportunity to get to know our amazing cats and be part of the fantastic team at Raystede. You’ll provide updates, including videos and pictures, of their progress. Your insights will greatly improve their chances of finding a forever home, as potential adopters can see how they're settling into a home environment.

Please complete the foster application form, in the first instance, giving us as much information you can about your experience, home and what you can offer as a cat foster carer. If you have any questions or need help completing the form, please contact the Rehoming team on 01825 880468, or email rehoming@raystede.org.