Advent #10 - Foster Over Christmas

Lots of cats and kittens will be spending their Christmas at Woodside, but you can help by offering them a temporary home and fostering them. Fostering can be extremely rewarding and offers support to the animal whilst they are waiting to find their forever home.

About the Foster Family

Our Foster Family is made up of  dedicated volunteers who offer love and temporary home to the large number of cats and kittens that come to Woodside every year.

Key Requirements

Fosterers need to live within easy travelling distance (maximum of 30-40minutes) of our Animal Centre in Leicestershire. You have a spare room where cats and kittens can enjoy a safe and quiet space If you already have a pet cat it will need to be fully vaccinated.

Characteristics of a foster carer:

• Animal lover
• Patient
• Understanding and empathetic
• Dedicated/flexible
• Willing to learn
• Extraordinary!

To be a fosterer you do not necessarily need experience but must be realistic, practical and compassionate. The ability to empathize with an animal's situation and reactions rather than sympathize allows you to provide the ideal approach to increase their confidence and work with any anxieties.

Support and advice is on hand or easily accessible at all times throughout your fostering experience here at Woodside we are always developing more and more training, advice and workshops for fosterers and their families.

We also use our dedicated foster carers to help us look after the number of pregnant cats that arrive at our Centres every year.