Foster care information

The Hague Animal Center provides shelter for hundreds of cats every year.
Some of these cats need extra attention and benefit from a temporary stay in a foster home. Foster volunteers take in a cat, a mother cat with her kittens, or orphaned kittens for several weeks to help them socialize, build trust, and receive lots of love and attention in a stable environment.

Foster care helps an animal in need and eases the workload of shelter staff. It’s a big responsibility, and sometimes difficult things happen. Eventually, the foster cat returns to the shelter, but with a much greater chance of being adopted.

Types of Foster Care
We are looking for foster homes for:

Mother cats with kittens
Orphaned kittens
Cats that need special care
As a Foster Home
You:

Have plenty of time to devote to caring for the cat/kittens
Do not have other pets, or your pets are cat-friendly, or you have a separate room to house the foster cat
Live in The Hague or nearby and have a car, so you can reach our veterinarian quickly in case of problems
Are available for several months (spring to autumn) to help us during kitten season
Mother Cats with Kittens
The mother usually takes care of feeding and raising her kittens. The foster provides a safe environment, food, water, and a clean litter box. Monitoring is still important — for example, if the mother does not produce enough milk or has inflamed nipples.
Later, socialization becomes a key part of foster care.
(Bottle-fed) Kittens
Orphaned kittens who cannot yet eat on their own need to be bottle-fed every 2 hours — even during the night. They also can’t regulate their body temperature or relieve themselves without help.
Kittens are fragile and need special attention and care. Therefore, you must not be away from home all day.
Socializing the kittens is one of your most important tasks.
Not everyone qualifies for bottle-feeding kittens due to the high level of care involved.

How Long Does Foster Care Last?
Upon arrival, kittens (and the mother) are examined by our vet and treated for fleas and worms if needed. If necessary, they may stay a few days in the shelter before going to a foster home.

At 4 weeks: kittens are dewormed (you’ll receive the medication from us).
At 6 weeks: first vaccination and another deworming — you’ll visit our clinic for this.
At 8 weeks: second vaccination and deworming.
At 9 weeks: if healthy, they return to the shelter for adoption.
What Does Fostering Kittens Involve?
You give the kittens the best possible start in life. That includes:

Cleaning up after them
Massaging their tummies
Treating their eyes if needed
Exposing them gently to people, children, other animals, objects, and sounds
If they experience all of this positively during this crucial stage, they’ll be more confident and adaptable in their future homes.

But eventually, you’ll have to say goodbye when they’re healthy and old enough to return for adoption.

Cats That Need Extra Care
Cats with medical issues or older cats often linger in the shelter with problems like skin conditions, diarrhea, or poor appetite. We do everything we can to help them recover — they deserve a chance at a new home too.

They often recover better and faster in a peaceful home environment where they can get extra care and attention.

That’s why we’re looking for foster homes willing to help observe and support their recovery, so we can eventually find them a forever home too.

How Long Does This Kind of Foster Care Last?
It varies per cat. Sometimes two weeks is enough; other times, they need more time. Sadly, it’s also possible that a cat is too sick or weak to recover.
Our goal remains the same: to give every cat a dignified life.

What We Offer
Expert advice and support
All necessary supplies: food, litter, blankets, and possibly a crate
Medical care for the foster cat
Fostering is a rewarding, challenging, and meaningful experience. You help an animal in need and reduce the shelter staff’s workload. It does come with responsibility — there may be illness, loss, or difficult behavior. And while it can be hard to let go when you grow attached, your care gives the cat a much better chance at adoption.

Interested? Fill out the application form.