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FOSTER CARE PROGRAM S A N F R A N C I S C O S P C A W W W . S F S P C A . O R G

V O L U N T E E R M A N U A L

Josf

Make sure to join the SF SPCA Foster eGroup—http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spcafostercare

S F S P C A F O S T E R C A R E P R O G R A M V O L U N T E E R M A N U A L 1

TAbLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

ImportantQuestionstoAskYourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

FrequentlyAskedQuestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Welcome&Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SFSPCAFosterParentAgreement&Waiver(VolunteerCopy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

SFSPCAFosterParentAgreement:Cat/Kitten(VolunteerCopy) . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Section 1 — PREPARiNG FOR YOUR KiTTENS

ProvidingaSafeHomeEnvironment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

PickupandReturnProcedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Section 2 — CARiNG FOR YOUR KiTTENS

DailyCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

DailyRoutine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Revaccinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

CleaningUpBetweenLitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Section 3 — FOSTERiNG MOMS

FosteringMomCatswithKittens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Mom’sCareoftheKittens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

WhentoSeparateKittens&Mom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

ProblemBehaviorsinMomCats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Section 4 — EMERGENCiES & EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS

ProcedureforEmergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

GeneralCriteriaforEmergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

SignsofSickKittensandWhatYouShouldDoAboutThem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

FosterKitten Pawes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

KittenCheatSheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Section 5 — KiTTEN bEHAViOR & SOCiLiZATiON

EstablishingGoodHouseholdBehaviors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Socialization&Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

UndersocializedFosterKittenFlowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

©2011SFSPCA .Allrightsreserved .Nopartofthismanualmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanelectronicormechanicalmeans,includinginformationstorageandretrievalsystems,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthecopyrightowners .


important Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you decide to foster for the SF SPCA...

Are you able to get to us quickly in an emergency?

Will you be able to spend quality time with the animals? Onaverage,itisbesttospendatleast2hoursadaywithyourfosteranimals .Socializationcanbeas

importantasfeedingthemandkeepingthemclean .

Will you be able to commit to appointments ranging from once a week to every three weeks whether or not they are ill?

Are you aware that there is a great deal of clean-up and even possible damage to your home when you take a foster home?

Fosteranimalscanruinnewdrapes,carpeting,clothingandtheSFSPCAwillnotbeheldresponsible foranydamageincurredwhilefosteringananimal .

Are you willing to work with our veterinary care system? Pleaseunderstandthatonlyourvetscantreatfosteranimalsfreeofcharge .

Are you able to separate our animals from your own? Fosteranimalsmustremainisolatedfromyourresidentpets .Canyoukeeptheminanenclosedarea

awayfromyouranimals?

Can you commit to spending the entire foster period with the animal? Ifsomethingunexpectedhappens,youwillneedtocall415-522-3542toinformusofanearlyfoster

return .

Do you feel comfortable explaining to friends that these animals are not yours to adopt out and that they must go through the regular adoption process at the SF SPCA?

Will you be able to bring the animal back at the end of the foster period? Itcanbedifficulttoletgoonceyouhavebecomeemotionallyattached .

Are you emotionally prepared to handle the death of one of your foster animals? Thiscanbeverydifficult,butthesadtruthisthatitsometimeshappens .Inthisevent,theSPCA

shouldbecontactedimmediately .

iMPORTANT QUESTiONS TO ASK YOURSELF


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I let the kittens play with my resident pets? no!Youarerequiredtoseparateyourfosterkittensfromyourresidentpets .Notonlycouldyourpetsintroducediseasestothefosterkittens,butthekittenscouldalsointroducedeadlydiseasestoyourpets .Itisbesttoconsiderthehealthofalltheanimalsunderyourcare .TheSFSPCAcannotberesponsibleforthehealthofyourresidentpets .

What if I have to leave town and the kittens aren’t ready?Occasionally thingscomeup that requireyou to leave townbeforeyour fosterkittensarereadytobereturned .Ifthishappens,calltheFosterCoordinator(415-522-3542) toarrange for thekittens’care .Youcannothire someonetobaby-sit .Youaloneare responsible for thecareof thekittensandwecannotworkwithsomeonewhoisnotassociatedwiththeSFSPCA .

Can I foster kittens if I have a full-time job?Itdependson theflexibilityofyour jobandyour schedule .Mostofour fosterparents do work full-time, but are able to spend time with their foster kittensbefore they leave for work and when they come home . They are also able toaccommodatetheirscheduleifakittenisseriouslyillandneedstobeseenbyourmedicalstaffrightaway .

How much time do I need to spend with the kittens?Asmuchtimeasyoupossiblycan!Themoretimeyouspendwithyourfosters,themoreyouwillhelpwiththeirsocialization .You’llalsospotsymptomsthatyourkittensarenotfeelingwell—withkittensthisyoungthatcouldbecritical .Besides,it’salotoffuntoplaywithkittens!

Asnotedabove,it’snotthatyouhavetobehomewiththekittensallthetime,butyoudoneedtomakeacommitmenttotheirwell-being .Youareresponsiblefortheselittlelives!

How many kittens will I be fostering?Atleasttwokittensgooutonfosteratatimesothattheycanteacheachotherkittymanners .Inspecialcircumstances,akittenmaygoonfosteralonebutthatisusuallyforbehaviorreasons .

How long will the kittens need to be in foster?Kittensneedtobefostereduntiltheyreachtwopoundsofweight .Remember,“It’stheweight,notthedate!”

FREQUENTLY ASKEd QUESTiONS


Frequently Asked Questions (cont.)

What if I get overwhelmed and can’t take care of the kittens?Ifyoufeelthatyouareunabletogiveadequatecaretothekittens,contacttheFosterCoordinatorrightawayandmakearrangementstobringthekittensback .Weappreciatetheeffort;fosteringisnotrightforeveryoneallthetime .

Will I need to give medications? Almosteverykittenwillneedmedicationforsomething .Themedicaltechnicianwillbehappytoshowyouhowtogivemedicationtoakitten .Itisnotdifficultandisveryimportantthatyouareabletogiveakittenthemedicationitneeds .

When a kitten is two pounds is it automatically ready to come back?Thekitten is ready if it is twopoundsandnotonanymedication foranupperrespiratoryinfection .Atthattime,pleasecalltheFosterCoordinatorandmakeanappointmenttoreturnthekitten .

If one of the kittens is at two pounds but the other is not, do I return just that one?It’s usually better to return kittens together, but only if they are fairly close inweight .Ifthereisakittenthatismuchlargerthanitssibling,itmightbebettertoreturnthatoneratherthanwaitforthesmalleronetocatchup .Sometimesthelargerkittenwillalsoplaymoreroughlyorbemoreaggressiveabouteating,whichcanoverwhelmthesmallerkitten .ItwouldbebesttocalltheFosterCoordinatoranddiscusswhat’sbestforallthekittens .

Will any of my foster kittens die?Sadly, not all foster kittens survive, even with all the care they receive in afoster home . If any of your kittens die, call the Foster Tech & Emergency Line(415-740-1646) immediately and you will receive further instruction . Kittens areveryfragile,andnaturedidnotintendforthemalltosurvive .Happily,itisaverysmallpercentageofkittenswhodon’tmakeitcomparedtothenumberofkittenswhodogetasecondchanceandfindhappyhomesthroughthededicationandcareofthefosterparentshereattheSFSPCA .

FREQUENTLY ASKEd QUESTiONS


Welcome & introduction

Welcome to the San Francisco SPCA Foster Care Program! TheFosterCareProgramallowstheSFSPCAtotakeinabout1000morekittensperyearthancouldbehoused intheshelterduetolimitationsofspaceandresources .Yourhelpwillsavethelivesofmanykittenswhowouldbeeuthanizedatanothershelter .

Generally,kittensintheFosterCareProgramarethosewhohavenotyetreachedthe2-poundminimumweightrequiredtoundergothespay/neutersurgery .Thesekittensareverysmall,andoftenrequiremoreindividualcarethantheycanreceiveinashelterenvironment .Ittakesalotofworkandalotofpatiencetocareforkittens .

Inordertofosterkittens,youwillneedsomesupplies .TheSFSPCAprovides a carrier, food, a scale, and medical care for the kittens .Fosterparentsare required tohavea litterboxwithanapprovedtypeof litter (seepage22);bowlsforfoodandwater; toys;andasafe,cleanspaceforthekittenstolivein .

Fosteringrequiresaflexiblescheduleandapersonalcommitmenttothekittens .Inatypicalday,youcanexpecttogivefoodandwatertothekittensatleasttwice .Thelitterbox(es)willalsoneedscoopingatleasttwiceaday .Don’tforgettoallowforalittleplaytimeandsnuggling!Dailyweigh-insarerequiredtokeeptrackofyourkittens’progresstowardtheirweightgoals .Ifthekittensyouarefosteringaresick,youwillhavetomedicatethekittensaswell .Additionally,youarerequiredtokeepappointmentsforregularrevaccinationsormedicalcare .Theexpectedminimumtimecommitmentisabout2hoursperdaycaringforyourkittens,andavaccinationappointmenteveryfewweeks .

Althoughfosteringisalotofwork,itisaveryrewardingexperience .Yougettohelpkittensgrowfromhelplesslittle beings into confident, well-adjusted family pets . You also get the fun of raising a kitten without theresponsibilityoflifetimecare .Mostimportantly,youaresavinglives .

SHoPPIng lISt Litterbox

Scooper

Appropriatelitter(see page 22)

Foodbowls(2—oneforwetfood,onefordryfood)

Waterbowl(onethatwon’ttipover)

Cardboardscratchingpost

Towelsforbedding

Toys(see page 23)

WELCOME & iNTROdUCTiON

MAkeSureToJoinTheSFSPCAFoSTereGrouPThisgroupistosupportfosterparentswhoarevolunteeringwiththeSFSPCA

andprovidesaforumforyoutosharephotosandtoreceiveimportantinformationaboutfostering

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spcafostercare


SF SPCA Foster Parent Agreement & Waiver (Volunteer Copy)

IunderstandTheSanFranciscoSPCArunsaFosterCareProgramforananimal(s)thatisnotadoptablebecauseofage,medicalconditionorbehavior .Ifullyunderstandthat this animal(s) is only temporarily in my care andbelongsexclusivelytoTheSanFranciscoSPCA .Ifurther

understandthat thepurposeof this foster relationship is solely toprovidecare forthis animal(s) . I understand that the designated foster supervisor must approve anydeterminationmadeconcerningthisanimal(s) .

Iunderstandandagree that Iwill return theanimal(s)on the scheduleddateorondemandwhichever is sooner . IunderstandthatanyandallplacementswillonlybemadethroughMaddie’sAdoptionCenterandaresubjecttothesameguidelinesasanyotheradoption .

IherebyacknowledgethatIhaveread,fullyunderstoodandfullyagreedtoallpartsofTheSanFranciscoSPCAFosterParentAgreementinadditiontotheabove,andthattheAgreementformshallserveasabindingaddendumtothisFosterParentagreement .

Volunteer Copy

SF SPCA FOSTER PARENT AGREEMENT & WAiVER (VOLUNTEER COPY)


SF SPCA Foster Parent Agreement: Cat/Kitten (Volunteer Copy)

As a foster parent for the SF SPCA, I agree to the following: To keep my foster cat/kittens current on their vaccinations.

To give my foster cat/kittens only medications prescribed by the SF SPCA Medical department.

To feed ONLY the food given to me or approved by the SF SPCA Foster Care Program.

To keep my foster cat/ kittens separate from any resident pets.

To keep my foster cat/kittens confined to a kitten-proofed space and indoors at all times.

To use an approved carrier to transport my foster cat/kittens to and from the SF SPCA.

That i will not give the care of my foster cat/kittens to anyone else at any time.

To notify the SF SPCA Foster Care Program and/or the Cat behavior department if my foster cat/kittens are not consistently using the litter box in an appropriate fashion.

To notify the SF SPCA Foster Care Program or the SF SPCA Medical department if my foster cat/kittens are not eating for more than 24 hours.

To notify the SF SPCA Foster Care Program or the SF SPCA Medical department if my foster cat/kittens are having diarrhea for more than 24 hours.

To clean out and disinfect all supplies used by my foster cat/kittens before using them with a new group of fosters.

To clean out and disinfect my designated cat/kitten space before introducing a new group of fosters.

IherebyacknowledgethatIhaveread,fullyunderstoodandfullyagreetoallpartsoftheSanFranciscoSPCAFosterParentAgreement .

IfIamunabletocomplywiththisagreement,IunderstandthatitmayleadtoaterminationofmyfosteringwiththeSFSPCA .

Volunteer Copy

SF SPCA FOSTER PARENT AGREEMENT (VOLUNTEER COPY)

S F S P C A F O S T E R C A R E P R O G R A M V O L U N T E E R M A N U A L


8

Providing a Safe Home Environment

the Safe Room Chooseaspacethatisfreeofthingsthatcanhurtakitten .Youmustbeabletocontrolthetemperatureoftheroom—besuretherearenodrafts .Thekittensshouldbeisolatedfromyourownpets,assomekittenillnessesaretransmittableandoccasionallyfatal,eventogrowncats .Theroomyourfosterkittensarelivinginshouldbeabletowithstandlitterboxaccidents,vomit,andspilledmedicine .Abathroomisoftenagoodchoiceforfostering(justdon’tforgettoclosethetoiletlidandhidethetoiletpaper!) .

Kitten-Proofing Rememberthatkittensarebabies,andconsequentlytheywilltrytogetintoeverything!Blockanyelectricaloutletsandputawayanythingthatakittencouldswalloworgettangledin .Hideanybreakableitems .Blockanysmallholeswhereakittenmighthideandbecomeinaccessibletoyou .Ithelpstoliedownontheflooronyourstomachsothatyoucanseetheroomfromthekittens’pointofviewandidentifypotentialhazards .Anywindowsintheroomshouldbekeptclosedorsecurelyscreened .

Inside the Kitten RoomThekittenroomshouldcontaineverythingthekittenswillneedtoeat,drink,eliminate,sleepandplay:

Haveatleastonebowlforwater,oneforwetfood,andonefordryfood .Itisbesttoprovidemore bowlsifyouhaveseveralkittenssonoonehastocompeteforaccesstofood .

Putthelitterboxesasfarawayaspossiblefromfood,waterandbedding .

Besuretoprovideenoughboxessothateachkittenhasacleanplacetoeliminate .

Oldtowelstendtoworkwellasbedding .Asecuresleepingarea,suchasacatcarrierwiththedoor removedoraboxonitsside,willhelpthekittensfeelsafe—thisisespeciallyimportantforshykittens .

Providesafe,disposableoreasilysanitizedtoystoentertainthekittenswhenyouarenotwiththem, suchaspingpongballsandwinecorks .

Finally,sometypeofscratchingpostorcardboardscratchpadwillbenecessary .



9

Pickup and Return Procedures

Picking Up Kittens Pickingupandreturningfosterkittensisaneasyprocess,butitrequiresalittlescheduling .

First,youwillfilloutashortquestionnairesotheFosterCoordinatorknowswhatkindsofkittens wouldbebestforyoursituation .You will only have to fill out this form once a year .

Youwillthenbeplacedonthespcafostercaree-group .

Assoonaskittenscomein,theFosterCoordinatorwillsendamessagetothee-groupinforming everyonethattherearekittensinneedofafosterhome .Ifyouhavenoemailaccess,youmayreceive aphonecallwhenyourservicesarerequired .

Whenyourespond,thefostercoordinatorwillhelpyouscheduleaconvenienttimetopickupyour freshgroupofkittens!PickupmustoccurduringtheSFSPCA’sbusinesshours .

Returning Kittens Returningfosterkittensisaverysimilarprocess .

Assoonasyourkittensbeginreachingthe2-poundgoal,contacttheFosterCoordinator .Shewill adviseyouonthebestplanforgettingthekittensin .it’sbesttoreturnthekittensinthemorning between8:00am–9:45amsothekittenscangettheirspay/neutersurgerythatsameday.

Beforeyoureturnthekittens,filloutthefosterreturnsheetsowehaveextrainformationtogive thepotentialadoptersandfacilitatetheadoptionprocess .Please note that we can only accept a limited number of kittens for return in one day so make an appointment early enough to get them in on the date you need .

MakesurekittenshavetheirIDcollarson .

Whenyoureturnkittens,theyarenotimmediatelyavailableforadoption .Firsttheymustundergoa healthcheck .Duringthehealthcheck,theSFSPCAexaminesthekittenstoseeiftheylookhealthy andhavemadethe2-poundminimumweightrequiredforthespay/neutersurgery .Theywillreceive anyvaccinesthatmaybedue .

A-nUmBeRS

Each kitten is assigned an A-number. You’ll see this A-number on the collar and on your foster paperwork. Refer to the kitten’s A-number whenever you call the SF SPCA—it’s easier to find information on the computer using the A-number.



10

daily Care

Health monitoring Itisimportanttomonitorakitten’shealthandweightdaily .Youwillbegivena“dailyfosterjournalform”whereyoushouldrecordeachkitten’sweight,eatinghabitsandoverallhealth .Youwillalsobegivenascalesoyoucanmeasureeachkitten’sweight .

Weighing Your KittensYoushouldweighyourkittensatthesametimeeverydayandkeeptrackoftheirweightgain/loss inyourdailyfosterjournal .Keepthislogcurrent,asitwillbetheeasiestwaytotellwhenyouhaveaseriousproblemandneedtoseekhelpforthekittens!Ideally,yourfosterkittensshouldbegaining10–15grams(1/4oz–1/2oz)aday .ifyourkittensarenoteatingandarelosingweightyoumustcontacttheSFSPCAFosterProgram(415-522-3542or415-740-1226)andyoumayneedtobringthekittensinrightaway.ifyouareunabletocontacttheFosterProgramandyoufeelthatitisanemergency,pleasecall415-740-1646.

FeedingPleasefeedyourfosterkittensonlywhatisprovidedtoyoubytheSFSPCA .Thesekittenswillgenerallybegivenonebrandoffoodintheadoptioncenter .Also,thekittenshavebrandnewdigestivesystemsthatcanbeirritatedbyintroducingtoomanyfoodchoices .Somehumanfoodscanbetoxictocats,soitisbestnottoexperiment

Ifyourfosterkittensrefusetoeatthefoodyouweregiven,contactthefostercoordinatororthetechline .Thepersonyoutalktowillhelpyoudeterminewhetherthisisamedicalproblemorapreferenceissue,andwilladviseyouofthenextsteptotake .Donotattempttomakethisdecisionyourself .

not eAtIng!

not eating can become anemergencyquickly,sopleasecall if your kitten has not eatenfor12hours.



11

daily Routine

Feeding Kittensshouldbefedatleast2timesaday . Pickupdirtywetfooddishes . Monitorappetites .

Cleaning Schedule Scooplitterboxatleast2timesdaily . Monitorfordiarrhea . Claylittershouldbedumpedandchanged everyotherdayfor2kittens,dailyformore than2kittensorifkittenshavediarrhea .

Health Check Lookoveryourkitteneverydayforanychanges orpotentialmedicalproblems . Checkbodyandfur . Lookcloselyateyes,inmouthandears . Checkcollars . Weighkittens . Checkenergylevels .

Playtime & mental Stimulation Kittensshouldreceiveonetotwoplaysessions dailywithinteractivetoys(ormore!) . Remembertodiscourageplaywithhands . Interactivetoysshouldnotbeleftunattended withkittens . Safesolotoyssuchaspingpongballsshould beleftoutatalltimes . Changeuptheenvironmentinsmallways . Cardboardboxes . Movethingsaroundinthekittens’room .

Socialization Socializekittensaminimumof2-320-minute visitsdaily . Undersocializedkittens3-420-minutevisits daily . Encourageaffectionatebehavior . Kittensshouldmeetnewpeopleafewtimes weeklyifpossible .

Handling & gentling Mediumorlong-hairedkittensespeciallymay benefitfromdailyexposureto brushinginverysmallamounts . Gentlyhandlingpawsinpreparationfornail trimming . Exposuretobeingpickedup .

not eAtIng!

not eating can become anemergencyquickly,sopleasecall if your kitten has not eatenfor12hours.



12

RevaccinationsKittenswillneedroutinevisitstothedoctorregardlessoftheirhealth .Kittensarevaccinatedeverytwoweeks .PleasecheckwiththeFosterCoordinatortofindoutwhatthecurrentrevaccinationscheduleis,andpleasebesuretokeepyourkittensonthisschedule .Youareresponsibleforrememberingtomaketheappointments—noonewillcallandremindyou .

OnlygivekittensmedicationswhichareprescribedspecificallyforthembytheSFSPCAveterinarians .Youmaybeaskedtotryseveraldifferentmedicinesbeforefindingonethatworks .Justbepatient!Itmaytakesometime,butwithcareandattention,kittenswillusuallyreboundfromillnessandbeupandaboutinnotime .

Whenyoucomeinformedicalappointments,pleasemakesuretohaveidentifyingcollarsonthekittens.

Cleaning Up between LittersWhenyoureturnthefosterkittens,youwillneedtosanitizethefosteringroombeforeputtingnewkittensin .Startbyremovingeverythingthekittensslepton,atefrom,playedwithandeliminatedin .Scrubeverythingthekittenscouldreach(don’tforgetthewalls)withaweakbleachsolution(1partbleachto32partscoldwater,or1ounceperquart—youshouldalwaysmixthebleachwithcoldwatertoreduceanyharmfulvapors) .Foodandwaterbowlscanbewashedinthedishwasher;theheatwilldisinfectthebowls .Ifyoudon’thaveadishwasher,thensoakthebowlsinthebleachsolutionforapproximately10minutes .Cleanthelitterboxandanyreusabletoyswiththebleachsolutionaswell .Washallbeddingusingbleachandhotwater .Throwawayanytoysmadeofcardboardorothernon-cleanablematerials .Thisshouldpreventanynewlittersfromcatchinganythingthatthepreviouskittenscontracted .

RevACCInAtIonSkittens are vaccinated every twoweeks.Youareresponsibletomakeappointments — no one will callyou to remind you. To schedule arevaccination appointment, calltheMedicalAppointmentsline:

(415)554-3084(Monday–Saturday:8:30am–5:00pm)



13

Fostering Mom Cats with Kittens

Fostering a mom cat with kittens is a very exciting and rewarding job . You willgettoseeintimatelyhowamomcatcaresforherkittensaswellasthestagesofdevelopmentintheirrelationship .Thisappendixwillhelpyoubethesupportivefoster parent and will address what to expect, normal behavior, and problembehaviorandtroubleshooting .

What type of Setting Do mom Cats need?Inoneword:CALM .Instincttellsmomcatstokeeptheirkittenssafeand,inordertofeelsafe,theyneedprivacy,quiet,andminimalactivity .Stresscancausecatstobecomeaggressive,tonottakecareoftheirbabiesproperly,and,insomeinstances,evencausesextremebehaviorssuchascannibalism .Yourroleistogivethemomcatthetypeofenvironmentwhereshecanfeelcomfortableraisingheryoung .

Every household that intends to foster a mom cat with kittens should have aseparateroomawayfromthehubofdailyactivity .Ahomewithnootherpetsisidealbut,ifyoudohavepets,youshouldbeabletopreventyourpetfromgoinguptothedoorofthefosteringroom .Momcatfostersarenotrecommendedifyouhaveadogunlessitisaverymellowandquietdog .Ifyourhomeenvironmentis loudand/oractive,suchaswithyoungchildren,youmaywanttoconsideradifferenttypeoffoster .

Home Introduction — You will need to set up the room for your foster momandbabiesbeforeyouletanyofthemoutofthecarrier .Ideally,youshoulddothisbeforeyougetthemomandlitterfromtheSPCA .Theroomshouldhaveoneortwolarger“safespaces”ornests,boxesontheirsides,oranemptylitterboxlinedwithtowels,etc .Momwillwanttochoosesomewheretokeepherkittens .TheSPCAmayalsoprovideyouwithavari-kennelwhich,onceyoutakethedooroff,canmakeanicecubbyformomandbabies .

Whenyoufirstletmomout,donotpetherormaketoomanyadvances .Leaveheralonewiththekittenstoexplorehernewhome .Adultcatscantakeawhiletoadjusttonewplacesandmomcatsarenoexception .Theymaytakeafewdaysormoretocomeoutofhiding .

litterbox—Ideally,thelitterboxwillbeasfarawayfromthefoodandwateraspossible .Itshouldhaveregular,unscentedclaylitterinit,bescooped2timesaday,andbedumpedoutonceweekly .Oncethekittensstartusingthelitterbox,youwilllikelyneedtoaddlow-sidedboxesthatareeasyforthekittenstogetinandoutof,and/orcleanmorefrequently .

Handling & Socialization—Proceedslowlywithanyadultcatyoudonotknow-lether come toyou,petheronlyasmuchas she is comfortablewith, and stoppettingatthefirstsignsofdiscomfort .Thesesignsmayinclude:swishingtail,earslaidbackortothesides,headjerktowardsyourhandortheareawhereyouwerepettingher,tensingup,crankyoverdrawnmeow,movingaway,hissing,orgrowling .

Even a momma cat needs playtime . Make sure to have solo-play toys as well asinteractiveplaysessionswithmom .Afterkittensare2-3weeksold,shemayshowmoreinterestinplay .Pleaserefertothesection,“Playing”(seepage23),formoreinfoontheimportanceandthehow-to’sofplaytime .



14

Mom’s Care of the KittensForthefirstfewweeksoflife,momshoulddoeverythingnecessaryforthekittens .Afterthat,youcanstartsharingsomeofthekittencaredutieswithher,ifsheiswilling!Belowisanexplanationofthenormalcareamomcatgivestoherkittens,withanapproximatetimeline,soyouwillknowwhatbehaviorstoexpect .Allcatsare slightlydifferent,with somebeingmoreattentivemoms thanothers,but ifamomcatfailstocareforherbabiesinanyoftheseimportantfunctions,letusknowassoonaspossiblesotheycanallbeevaluatedbymedicalstaff .

nursing—Kittensbegintonurse 1-2hoursafterbirth .Thoughbornwiththeireyesclosed,theycanfindtheirmotherbyherwarmth,andsheshouldmakethiseasierbylyingnearthemonherside .

the nursing/suckling relationship occurs over 3 stages. In thebeginning,mominitiateseachnursingepisode,wakingthekittens by licking them and then encircling them with her body . After a little searching,kittensquicklylatchon .

Thesecondstageoccursafterthesecondorthirdweek,whenthekitten’s eyesandearsarefunctioningandtheycaninteractwiththemotherboth insideandoutsidethenest .Atthisstage,thekittensalsoinitiatesomeof thenursingepisodes .Themothergenerallycooperatesbylyingdownand takingupthenursingposition .

In the third stage, starting at about 5 weeks postpartum, the kittens initiatevirtuallyallnursing .Themotherbecomesgraduallymoreevasive anduncooperative .Neartheendofthisstage,themotherbeginstowean herkittensbybecominglessandlessavailable .Inwildcats,thisisthetime whenthemomwouldbegintoprovidethemwithfreshkilledprey .Youcan helpintheweaningprocessbyencouragingthebabiestoeatcannedand, later,dryfood .

grooming—Kittens receive a lotof groomingand licking from theirmothersduringtheirfirst2-4weeks .Thisanogenitalgroomingstimulateselimination,andthefecalmatterandurineareconsumedbythemom .Thisiseffectiveinkeepingthenestandbabiesclean .Later,astheyoungareabletoleavethenestarea,theanogenitallickingsubsides,andtheyoungdepositfecesandurinenearby .Atthispoint,providinglow-sidedlitterboxesnearbywillteachthemtousethelitterbox .Yougenerallydonotneedtointerveneatthispoint,thoughthereismorecleaningasthingscertainlygetmessier!

When to Separate Kittens & MomIf all members of your feline family are healthy and well-socialized, there maybenoreasontoseparatebabiesfrommotherbefore8weeks,orwhentheyarereturnedtotheSPCA .However,sometimestherearemedicalorbehavioralreasonstoseparatemomfromkittensearlier .Theseinclude:

1 Momisnottakingcareofthebabies .Workcloselywithfosterand medicalstafftodeterminethis;warningsignsincludenotnursing,not respondingtothekittens’crying,stayingawayfromthebabiesthatare under5weeks,andnotgroomingthebabies .

2 Momisundersocializedorhasotherbehaviorconcerns,andisnotreadily handleablebypeople .Mommayalsopreventkittensfrombeinghandled ifshehasmaternalaggression,orifthefosterparentisscaredto approach .Wedonotwantkittenspickinguponthisbehaviorpattern (imprinting)sowewillwantthebabiesseparatedfromthemomassoon asmedicallyadvisable,usuallywhenthekittensareeatingontheirown, at4to5weeksofage .Wealsomaywanttogetthemombacktothe SPCAearliersocatbehaviorstaffcanworkwithherbehaviorissues .

3 Momistakingcareofthebabies,buttherearemedicalconcernsforthe mom,orthebabies,whichwarrantseparation .Thisisnotverycommon; ourmedicalstaffwillalertyoutothisifitisnecessary .



15

Problem behaviors in Mom Cats

maternal neglect—About8%of kittensdie from inadequatematernal care .The deaths are usually due to hypothermia if the kitten strays away and is notretrieved, or improper/inadequate nursing at birth and after . Maternal neglecthasseveralcauses—somecatsseemto lackmaternal instincts . Insomecases, itis nature’s way: if kittens have birth defects or are otherwise weak at birth, themommay ignore them,orasdiscussedbelow,cannibalize them . Inmanycases,itseemsthatenvironmentalstressplaysarole,andthusitisveryimportantthattheenvironmentbekeptquiet,calmandwithfewvisits .Catsshouldprimarilybeleftalonethefirst2weekspostpartumexcepttofeed,clean,andcheckinonthebabiesafewbrieftimesaday .

You will need to watch daily for signs that a mother is neglecting her young,especiallyinthefirstfewweeks .Callusif:

Themotherspendsallhertimeawayfromthekittens .

Shedoesnotgroomornursethemfrequently .

Thekittenscryandsheseemsnottorespond .

maternal Aggression towards other animals—Aggressivebehaviortowardscatsordogsisverycommoninmomcats,astheyaretryingtoprotecttheiryoung .Pleasedonottrytointroduceyourfostercatstootheranimals .Thiscanbeverystressful andoffersnoadvantages . Pleaseblockanyavenues theymayhave forseeingothercatsordogs,andstrictlyenforceseparationfromyourresidentpets .

If,forsomereason,themomcatseesanotheranimalandisupset,quicklyremovethesourceofanxiety(coverupwindow,etc .)andleavetheroom .Donotattempttocomfortorreassurethemomcatorbabies .Comebackin20minutesorsotocheckonthem .

maternal Aggression towards people—Occasionally,mothercatshavestrongprotectiveinstinctsagainsthumansaswell .Theymayhiss,growl,orstrikeoutifyouapproachthekittens .At theSFSPCA,wetry toscreen for thesebehaviorsbutsometimestheywilldevelopdowntheline .Iffacedwiththissituation,moveveryslowlyaroundthemomcatandthenest .Wearalongsleevedsweatshirttoprotectyourselfasyoucleanaroundher .Trytobribeherwithtastytreatssuchaschickenbabyfood .Speakinasoft,reassuringvoice,andtrynottoreactifthemomcathissesorgrowls .DONOTcorrectthecatbysprayingherwithwaterorundertakingothertypesofcorrection .Remember,she isactingoutofanaturalinstincttoprotectheryoung,andifyouactinathreateningmanner,herbehaviormayescalate .

CalltheFosterProgramCoordinator(415-522-3542)atthefirstsignofmaternalaggressionforindividualadviceandevaluationofyoursituation .Insomecases,wemayadvisethereturnofmomandkittens,orjustthemom,dependingontheageandhealthofthekittens .



16

Procedure for Emergencies

If your foster is having a medical emergency:

FosterTech&emergencyLine:415-740-16461 CalltheFosterTech&EmergencyLineat415-740-1646 .

2Speaktoatech(makesuretogettheirname) .Describewhat’shappeningandtheywillletyouknowifyouneedtobringtheanimalintotheSFSPCAinfirmaryrightawayor,ifitisafterhours,toSanFranciscoVeterinarySpecialists(SFVS),theemergencyclinic .

3Ifitisafterhoursandthetechgivesyouauthorization,bringyourfosteranimal,thepinkfosterformandthe“RequisitionforProBonoServices”formwithyoutoSanFranciscoVeterinarySpecialists(SFVS) .

4MakesuretotellSFVSthatyouareanSFSPCAFosterParentandgivethemthe“RequisitionforProBonoServices”formthatyoushouldhavereceivedwhenyoupickedupyourfosters .Thiswayyoushouldnotbebilledforthevisit .

5 BeforeleavingSFVS,alwaysaskforacopyofthetreatmentsheet .InformationonthissheetisimportantforfuturefollowuptreatmentattheSFSPCAInfirmary .

6CallAlisonLane,LauraMullen,oroneoftheSFSPCATechsthenextmorningandletthemknowwhathappened .ThefosteranimalwillprobablyneedtocomeintotheSFSPCAforarecheck .

emeRgenCY ClInIC FoR SF SPCA FoSteRS

SanFranciscoVeterinarySpecialist600Alabama(at18thStreet)

SanFrancisco,CA94110

Phone:415-401-9200

it is essential to notify the SF SPCA the day after the emergency. The shelter must know of any emergency the following day.



17

General Criteria for Emergencies

emergency situations include:

Continuous weight loss

Continuous diarrhea

Continuous vomiting

Bleeding of any kind—nose, urine, stool

Any trauma—hit by a car, dropped, limp, stepped on, unconscious

Difficulty in breathing/blocked airway

Lethargy

Dehydration

If the animal has vomiting or diarrhea, but is still active, eating and drinking, it can probably wait until the next day to receive help. However, if the animal is lethargic and shows no interest in food or water, it is wise to seek emergency help at the time.

Coughing or sneezing should pose no immediate problems unless accompanied by blood or symptoms such as lethargy or dehydration.




Phone:415-401-9200




18

Signs of Sick Kittens and What You Should do About Them

Duetotheshelterenvironmentandthefactthatthesekittenshaveveryfragileimmunesystems,kittensarepronetocatchingcoldsandothersicknesses .Theseillnessesrangefrommildtolife-threateninginnature .TheSFSPCAprovidestreatmentforanyillnessesthatoccur .

How Do I Know if the Kittens are Sick?Healthykittenshavealotofenergywhentheyareawake .Theyareplayfulandwillonlyspendashorttimeinyourlap .Theeyesandnoseshouldbegenerallyfreeofanydischarge .Thestoolwillbefirmandwell-shaped .Kittenseatalot,buttheamounttheydrinkdependsonhowmuchwetfoodtheyconsume(themorewetfood,thelesswater) .Kittensmaysneezeoccasionally .Theymayalsoscratchalittle .Thesearenormalkittenbehaviors .

Itisnotalwaysobviouswhenthekittensaresick .Innature,catswillhideanysicknesssotheydon’tappearvulnerable .

Diarrhea—Thereare3typesofcatstool:normal,soft,anddiarrhea .Normalstoolwillbefirmandwell-shaped .Whenyoufirstnoticesoftstool,youshoulddropoffafecalsample .Ifitcontinuesorgetsworse,makeamedicalappointmentandbringafecalsamplewithyoutotheappointment .Diarrheaiscompletelyliquid .Itmayappearthatthekittenisexcretingplainwaterortheremaybesomecolortoit .Eitherway,makeamedicalappointment(415-554-3084)andtakeafecalsample(getwhatyoucan)withyou .Monitorthekitten,asdiarrheacanleadtodehydrationandbecomeseriousratherquickly.Youshouldalwayshaveafecalyzerhandywhenfostering .Followthedirectionsonhowtotakeafecalsampleonthenextpage .MakesuretolabelthefecalyzerwiththeA-numberofthekitten.Todropoffasample,bringittotheSpay/Neuterfrontdeskat201AlabamaStreetbetweenthehoursof9:00amand5:00pm .It’sbettertodropthesampleoffearlierinthedaysothatthetechniciancanrunafecaltest .Ifthetestispositive,atechnicianwillcallyou .

Coccidia—Coccidiaisaparasitemostprevalentinkittens,butoccasionallyfoundinadults .WhenafecaltestispositiveforCoccidia,youmustmakeanappointmenttobringyourkittensinsothedoctorcanprescribemedicationsforthem .Coccidiaoftencausesdiarrheainkittensandtheycangetdehydratedveryquickly .Dehydrationisaseriousmedicalissueandcanbefataltounderagekittens.

Stool exAmPleS

Normal Stool

Soft Stool

diarrhea



19


Worms (roundworms & tapeworms)—Wormsarecommoninkittens .Generally,kittensaredewormedwiththeirvaccinationswhentheyfirstcomeintotheSFSPCA .Roundwormslooklikespaghetti,andwillcomeoutinthelitterboxorinvomit .Tapewormsarewhiteandsegmented .Occasionallyyouwillseethewholeworm,butmoreoftenyouwillseewhatlookslikedriedricestucktothekittens’hindquarters .Ifyouseeanyworms,pleasecalltomakeanappointment(415-554-3084) .

vomiting—Vomitingisnotseriousunlessithappensmorethanonce .Ifyourkittenskeepvomiting,calltheFosterTech&EmergencyLine(415-740-1646)rightaway .Ifthekittensingestedsomethingpoisonous,thefasteritistreated,thebettertheoutcome .

eye Discharge—Itisnormalforkittenstowakeupwithalittledarkcrustintheireyes .Ifyounoticethat the kittens have yellow or green discharge coming from their eyes all the time, make a medicalappointment(415-554-3084) .Youcantreatthesymptomsoftheeyeinfectionbywipingtheeyeswithawarm,wettoweluntilitistimeforyourappointment .

Sneezing/nasal Discharge —Occasionalsneezingisquitecommoninsmallkittens .Ifthesneezingbecomesfrequent,examinethedischargecomingfromthesneeze .Ifitisclear,theinfectionisprobablyviralandmedicationmaynotbeneededbutitisimportanttomonitorthekittensincasetheproblemgetsworse .Ifthedischargebecomescolored(e .g .greenoryellow),itistimetomakeamedicalappointment(415-554-3084)becausethekittenmayhaveabacterialinfection .Besuretomonitorthekittens’breathingaswell .Ifthekittensseemtobestrugglingtobreatheorarebreathingwiththeirmouthsopen,calltheFosterTech&EmergencyLineimmediately(415-740-1646)foradvice .Also,besurethatthekittensarestilleating,asakittenwon’teatwhatheorshecan’tsmell .

lethargy—Healthykittensarenormallyactivewhentheyareawake .Sickkittensmayhavelowenergyandwant to just sit in your lap . Eachkitten isdifferent,dependingon their socialization level, but ifyounoticeadropinthekitten’sindividualenergylevel,itisbesttomakeamedicalappointment(415-554-3084) .Someundersocializedkittenswillhaveatendencytomovelessbecausetheyarefrightened,soitmaybedifficulttomonitortheirenergylevel .Ifyouarenotsurewhetheryourkittenislethargicorjustbeingquietandstill,pleasecalltheFosterCoordinator(415-522-3542)oratechnician(415-740-1646) .Ifakittencan’tberousedorseemsweak,thisisanemergency!CalltheFosterTech&EmergencyLine(415-740-1646) .

tAKIng A

FeCAl SAmPle

1 Removegreeninsert .

2 Insertthesmallendofthegreeninsertintothefecalsample .

3Replacegreeninsert,closecapandbringthesampletotheSpay/Neuterdeskat201AlabamaStreetbetweenthehoursof9:00amand5:00pm.*

*Make sure to label the fecalyzer with the kitten’s A-number.

ALWAYS bring a fecal sample to any medical appointment involving diarrhea. if you are unable to

bring the sample in immediately, you can place it in the refrigerator for a few hours before dropping it off.



20


Fleas, lice, & ear mites—Manyofthekittenswereceiveinthefostercaresystemwerebornoutdoorssotheymaycometouswithfleas .Also,fleasarejustafactoftheshelterenvironment .Kittenswithfleaswillscratchthemselvesa lot .Dailybrushingwiththefleacombanddailybeddingchangeswill reduceandmaybeeveneliminatethefleas .Ifyouseelotsoffleasdespitetheseefforts,contacttheFosterCoordinator(415-522-3542)todecidethenextstep .YoumaybeabletousethefleashampootheSFSPCAprovides(doNOTusestore-boughtfleaproductsonthekittensastheyarenotsafeforkittens)orthetechsmaywanttoapplyatopicalfleatreatment .

Liceareadifferentmatter .Youwillnotseetheactualadultlice .Instead,youwillseewhitedotsonthekittens’fur .Ifyoucanbrushthedotsoff,itisdandruff .Ifyoucannotremovethedots,thenitisprobablylice .Makeamedicalappointmentandthetechswilltreatthelice .Licearespecies-specific,andyoucannotcatchthem .

Kittenswithearmiteswillscratchtheirearsandshaketheirheadsa lot . Insidetheearsyouwillseeadarkdischargeresemblingcoffeegrounds .Makeamedicalappointment(415-554-3084)togetthekittentreated .

Ringworm—Normallythefuraroundthelips,ontheeyelids,andontheearsisalittlethin .Thisisnothingtoworryabout .However,ifyounoticehairthinningorcompletelycomingoutinpatches,pleasemakeamedicalappointment(415-554-3084) .Furlossisthefirstindicatorofringworm,whichisafungusthatcanbespreadtohumansandotherhouseholdpets .Theyoung,theelderly,andpeopleandanimalswithsuppressedimmunesystemsaremostsusceptible .Whileitisnotfatal,ringwormisitchytopeopleandveryhardtogetoutofyourhome .Washyourhandsandanyclothingthatyouwearinthefosteringroomwiththekittensbeforetouchingyourpets .Ifyouaretreatingkittenswithringwormathome,youcanasktheFosterCoordinator(415-522-3542)forprotectivegowns,gloves,and/orbooties .YoualsohavetheoptiontoreturnthekittenstotheSFSPCAfortreatment(whichtakes6weekstocomplete) .




Phone:415-401-9200




21

Foster Kitten Pawes

toolS

nergye

eightW

ppetiteA

ointers:P

SitUAtion WHAt to Dokittensarelosingweight,notveryenergeticand/orarehavingdiarrhea

MakeamedicalappointmenttohavethekittensseenASSOONASPOSSIBLE .Kittensaresosmallthatanyweightlossissignificant .**YoushouldalsotalktotheFosterCoordinatororatechontheFosterTech&Emergencylinetodetermineifthisisanemergency .

kittensarehavingliquiddiarrheaformorethan12hours

Makeamedicalappointmenttohavethekittensseenrightaway .Bringastoolsample(seepage19) .Diarrheacancausedehydrationwhichcankillyourkittens .Ifthekittensarehavingliquiddiarrhea,arenoteatingwellandarenotenergetic,thiscouldbeanemergencyandyoushouldcalltheFosterCoordinatorortheFosterTech&EmergencyLine .

kittensarenoteating,don’tseeminterestedinfoodbutareenergetic

TryaddingGerber’sbabyfoodandcalltheFosterCoordinator .DonotgivekittensanyfoodthatisnotsuppliedbytheSFSPCAFosterProgram .

kittensarehavingverysoftstoolbutareeatingandenergetic

Collectafecalsample(seepage19)anddropitoffatthespay/neuterdesk .Thefresherthesample,thebetter,andifyouareunabletobringthesampleinimmediately,pleaseplaceitintherefrigerator .Ifthereareanyparasites,atechwillcallyouandhaveyoucomeinformedication .Ifyoudon’thearfromanyonebutthekittencontinuestohavesoftstool,makeamedicalappointmentandbringinafecalsample .

kittensarenotlosingweight,butarenotgainingweight

Ifthekittensareenergetic,eatingwellandnothavingdiarrhea,keepmonitoringthekittensandiftheydonotgainweightin24hoursoriftheirappetiteorenergyleveldrops,calltheFosterCoordinatorortheFosterTech&EmergencyLine .

kittensaresneezingandhavingthickoryellow/greendischarge

Makeamedicalappointment .Warmupthewetfood,ifkittenscan’tsmellthefoodtheydon’teat .

kittenseyeslookweepyandareredorhavinggreen/yellowdischarge

Makeamedicalappointment .Inthemeantime,useacottonballorsoftclothtogentlycleantheeyes(don’trub!)ofanydischargeandapplyawarmcompressforafewminutesonceortwiceaday .

kittensaredueforvaccinations Makearevaccinationappointment .Youcanmaketheappointmentforuptotwodaysaftertheduedate,butnolater .Ifkittensarelateontheirvaccinationstheyaresusceptibletodiseaseswhichcanbelethal .

FosterCarePhonenumbers

Foster Coordinator (415) 522-3542(Tuesdays–Saturdays)

Foster tech & emergency line (415) 740-1646(everyday,24hoursaday)

medical/Revaccination line (415) 554-3084(Pleasespecifyifyouneedamedicalappointmentandneedadoctortotakealookatyourkittensorifit’sarevaccinationappointmentwhichisonlywithatechnician)

Kitten Cheat Sheet


Section 5 — KiTTEN bEHAViOR & SOCiALiZATiON

22

Establishing Good Household behaviors

litterbox—Thelitterboxyouprovideforyourkittensshouldhavelowsidessothatitiseasyforthekittenstogetinandout .Plasticboxesareusuallythemostcosteffectiveandeasytousebecausetheycanbesanitizedoften .Somefosterparentspreferdisposablelitterboxes .

Litterboxesshouldbekeptcleanall thetime .Scoopingtheboxtwiceaday isagoodguideline,unlessyouhavelotsofkittensorthekittensaresick,inwhichcase,youmayneedtocleanitmoreoften .Ifyou’reusingaplasticlitterbox,makesuretodumpalllitteroutregularly,andwashwithhotsoapywater .ThisshouldbedoneweeklyifusingaclumpinglitterlikeWorld’sBest,orevery2-3daysifusingclaylitter .Considerthisaroughguidelinesinceyourcleaningroutinewilldependonhowmanykittensyouarefostering,howmanylitterboxesyouhave,andwhetherthekittenshavenormalstools .Acleanboxwillencouragegoodlitterboxhabitsandwilllimitthekittens’exposuretogerms .

You should only use litters on the SF SPCA’s list of approved cat litters: S’Wheat Scoop

World’s best Cat Litter

Jonny Cat or other unscented clay litter

Many kittens experience some litterbox problems . This can be from a medicalconcern(usuallydiarrhea)orduetothefactthatthekittenisstillbeinghousetrained .Anotherpossibilityisthatthekittenhastoomuchterritory,andcannotgetbacktothelitterboxintimetoeliminatethere .

Thefirstthingyoushoulddoifyourfosterkittensmissthelitterboxischecktoseeifthekittenshavediarrheaorsoftstool .Inthatcase,takeafecalsampleusingtheprovidedfecalyzer(seepage19)andmakeamedicalappointmentforthekittens .

A few tips: Keepthekittensconfinedtoasmallterritory .Theyoungerthekittens,the smallerthespaceshouldbe .Iftheyareallowedtohavemorespace,there shouldbeatleastonelitterboxineachroom .

Returnthekittentoitslitterboxregularly .Donotforcethekittentostayin thelitterbox,justgentlyplacehernearorintheboxevery15-20minutesas areminder .

Cleanall“accidents”wellwithenzymecleaners(suchasNature’sMiracle) .

Neveryellatorotherwisepunishakittenforurinatingordefecatingoutside thebox .

Oneortwolitterboxmissesareacceptable,butifakittenishavingrepeated problemswithlitterboxusage,pleasecontacttheCatBehaviorOffice (415-554-3525) .



23

Establishing Good Household behaviors

Discipline — The best way to handle mostundesirable felinebehaviors is topreventthem.Kittens are at the most playful and curious stagesof their lives . They are likely to explore and testtheenvironmentinwaysthatanadultcatmaynot .Manykittenswillgrowoutofthistendencyastheygetolder,so it’sbesttoallowthemtoenacttheirnatural kitten curiosity while trying to establishgoodhabits .

Inmostcases,it’sbettertodistractakittenfromaninappropriatebehavioranddirectthemtosomethingmore positive . Distracting a kitten beforehand isevenbetterbecauseitlowerstheriskthatakittenmayviewthedistractionasareward .Youcandothisbygettingtheirattentionwithnoise,toysortreats .

Anotherwaytoaddressinappropriatebehavioristomodifytheenvironment .Thismayinvolvesuchthingsasputtingplantsoutofreach,orusingdoublesidedtapeonoff-limitsurfaces .

Anytypeofphysicalpunishment,suchasnosetappingorscruffing, is recognizedbyleadingcatbehaviorexpertsasdetrimentalandcounterproductive .Additionally,waterbottlesshouldnotbeusedtocorrectkittenmisbehaviors .

Playtime—Playtimeisaveryimportantpartofkittendevelopment .Kittenswillneedtoystoplaywithsothattheycanoccupytheirmindsaswellasgetexercise .Itiscrucialforyoungkittenstohaveotherkittenstowrestlewithinordertodevelopappropriateplayskillsandbeproperlysocializedwithotherkittens .Aslongasitismedicallyfeasible,wewillbesendingoutkittensinpairsataminimum .Ifyouhaveonlyonekittenthatisbecomingincreasinglyactiveorstartingtonip,youwillwanttocontacttheFosterCoordinatortoseeifthekittencangetaplaymate .

there are two types of toys you should provide for the kittens: solo toys and interactive toys Solotoysshouldbeeasytocleanandimpossibleforthe kittenstoconsume .Ping-pongballs,toiletpapertubes andwinecorksaregreatexamplesofsolotoys .These toyscanbeleftforthekittenstoplaywithevenwhen youaren’tthere .

Onthecontrary,interactivetoysshouldneverbe leftwithanunsupervisedkitten .Thesetoysare greatforencouragingthekittenstoexerciseandto enacttheirnaturalhuntingskills,butifyouaren’t looking,akittencouldeatpartsofthetoyorget tangledinthem .Also,kittenshavebeenknownto chewoffpiecesofrubber(likefromtheendsof thenoodletoytheSFSPCAsells)andgetthemcaughtintheirintestines,sojustwatchthemclosely!Interactivetoysincludeanythingwithstringorparts(likebuttonsorfeathers)thatcancomeoffandcauseharmtothekitten .

Always have toys available to play with when you are visiting with your kittens .Discouragekittensfrombitinghandsorfeetand/orusingbodypartsastoys .

Claw Sharpening — Encourage good habits by providing your kittens with acardboardscratchingpad .Encourageuseofitbydraggingtoysacrossorupthepost .Never“make”thekittenscratchbyholdingtheirpawsanddoingthescratchingmotion .Cardboard scratchers shouldbechanged inbetweenyour foster litters(theremaybesomemorepermanentoptionsaslongasyouareabletosanitizethembetweenlitters) .Discouragekittensfromscratchingfurniturebydistractingthemwhentheystart,orcoveringthesurfacewithalooseclothordoublesidedtape(“StickyPaws”) .



24

Socialization & Handling

new People—Manytimesfosterkittensonlygetexposed to their foster parents, but ideally, theywouldbeexposedtovariouspeople .Controltheinteractionssothatitisagoodexperienceforthekittens-make sure thepetting is gentle, and thatpeopleuseinteractivetoysforplay .

Interactingwithrespectfulchildrenisalsohelpful .Children should always be supervised whenhandling kittens and should be old enough tounderstandhowtohandlekittensgently .Ifakittenseemshesitantorfearful,it’sbestandsafesttogivethechildotherwaystointeractwiththekittenthatarepositiveandsafe,suchasusinginteractivetoysorhand-feedingtreats .

new environments—Ifyourkittensarecomfortableinthesaferoomandyouhavetheabilitytokitten-proofotherspacesinyourhome,youcanexposethemtootherrooms .Allowingthekittentoexplorenewspaceswhilehavingtreatsandinteractiveplayavailablewillcreateapositiveassociationwiththesenovelexperiences .Keepthesessionsbriefandreturnthekittentothesaferoomiftheyseemoverwhelmed .A largedogcrateorkittenplaypen isanotherwaytoexposethekittentootherroomsinasafemanner .Notallkittenswillbereadyfortheseadventures,butmanywillbenefit .Youmustdisinfectanyareasyourkittenshavehadaccessto,sokeepthatinmindbeforeyouletthemintoanewspace(seepage12) .

new noises—Itisbeneficialtoexposekittenstonormalhouseholdnoisesasmuchaspossible .The trick is todo itwithout traumatizing them .Forexample,startoutwiththeTVorradioataverylowvolume;ifthekittenisfinewiththat,increaseitgraduallyoveraperiodofdaystoanormalvolume .YoucanrunthevacuumbrieflyontheothersideoftheCLOSEDdoortothesaferoomand,oncethekittenisacclimatedtothatovertime,crackthedooropen .Thisprocesscanberepeatedwithotherhouseholdappliances .

grooming & Body Handling—Itisimportantforyoungkittenstogethandledfrequently, so that they become accustomed to it . This will make them lessdefensiveaboutdifferentareasoftheirbodybeingtouchedinthefutureandalsohelps prepare them for vet visits and general grooming in the future . Typicallysensitiveareas includetoes/paws,chestandbelly,andthemouth .Touchtheseareasinagentleway,aspartofyourpettingsessions .

nailclipping—Getyourkittensusedtohavingtheirnailstrimmedata youngage(youcanhavethisdemonstratedifyouareunsurehowtodo this) .Petandholdtheirpawsgentlyaspartoftheirdailyhandling .This canbepairedwithatreattohelpthembuildmorepositiveassociations .

Beingpickedup—Makesureyourkittenispickedupafewtimesa dayormore .Trytomakeitapositiveexperiencebypettingthekitten andencouragingpurringandaffectionatebehaviorwhenholdinghim/her .

Car trips & Carriers—Itishelpfultoacclimateyourfosterkittenstothecatcarrierwhentheyareyoung .Makethecarrierapleasantplace,notonlysomethingthatcomesoutwhenit’stimeforshots!Wedgethedooropen,orremoveitforsafety,andkeepablanketinthere,addingtreatsandtoysonoccasion .

Youcanhelpacclimatekittenstocarridesandtravelbymakingshorttripswiththekittensinthecarrier .Theseshouldbeseparatefromtheirveterinarycheck-ups,andcanbeassimpleasatriparoundtheblock .

be sure to ALWAYS keep your foster kittens in their carrier when outside or traveling in a car. Even if you think you are holding the kittens securely, they can be startled and dash away if they are not enclosed.



25

Socialization & Handling

Introduction to other Foster Kittens—Mostof the time, it iseasyat thisyoungagetointegratefosterkittens .Ideally,youwoulddoagradualintroduction .Youwillwanttoseethatbothkittensareinitiatingthewrestlingandthatneitherkitten seems intimidated for long . Kittens who are getting along normally aregenerallydistractiblewithtoysifhissingorbattingstartstoescalate .Thekittensshouldalsobeabletoeatandusethelitterboxnormallyaroundtheotherkitten .Occasionally,kittensmayhavenegativereactionstoanewkitten .Thefollowingarenormalreactionsthatwillusuallypasswithinafewdaysifyouleavethekittenstogethertoworkitout:

Smallhisses,especiallywhenthekittengetsclose

Battingattheotherkittenwhenapproach

Roughplay,includingsomevocalizing

Signsof seriousproblems includepersistent “bullying’byonekitten,where theotherkitten isnever theone initiating the roughplay, andseemsscaredof theaggressor,hidingandtryingtogetaway .

other signs of a serious problem are: Theaggressorisdifficulttodistractawaywithtoys .

Thereisaseriousmismatchinsize .

Onekittenkeepstheotherkittensfromusingthelitterboxor eatingfood .

Onekittenissicker/weakerandseemsunabletokeepupwiththeplay .

When in doubt, separate the kittens temporarily by setting up a carrier with adisposable litterbox, towel, and food/water and keeping one kitten in there .ContacttheFosterCoordinatororCatBehaviorstaffformoreguidance .



26

Undersocialized Foster Kitten FlowchartThischartismeanttohelpyouseetheprogressinyourfosterkittens’behaviorandknowwhentocontacttheCatBehaviorProgramformoreassistance .

FIRSt FeW DAYS

Activitiestoengagein:burritoingkitten

(useglovesandtoweltohandleifnecessary)

handfeedingwetfoodorbabyfood

practicepickingupthekittenandreturningtosafespacerepeatedlytogethimusedtoapproach

tryplaywithsmallinteractivetoys,butfocusshouldbeonhandling

Your kitten is hissing, spitting, swatting, growling

AFteR 5–7 DAYS

Continuehandling,increaseplaytime .Workongettingkittenusedtohumans

approaching,orstanding/walkingaroundkittenwhileplaying,beinghandledalloverbody .

Your kitten is hissing, spitting, swatting, growling

Continuewithfocusonhandlingasnotedabove .Continuehandfeedingbabyfood .

Hissing on approach, but responsive, purring, warming up to pets

Separatefromotherkittensifapplicable .Confinetosmallerarea .

CalltheFosterCoordinator(415)522-3542 .

No change or improvement in behavior

AFteR 7–10 DAYS

Congratulateyourselfonajobwelldone!

Social, purring, relaxed with handling and approach. Focus on getting kitten to approach you for attention.

CalltheFosterCoordinator(415)522-3542 .Wemayneedtodosomemoreworkwiththis

kittenintheshelter .Thankyouforallthetimeyougavethiskitty!

No change or improvement in behavior

Someundersocializedkittensaregoingtostayalittleshy .Keepondoingthegoodwork

untildonefostering .

Still a little hissy or shy and apprehensive

Foster Care Phone NumbersFoster Coordinator (415) 522-3542Tuesday–Saturday: 8:30am–4:30pmSchedule pick-ups and drop offs and for all other questions. Leave a message if you get no answer and if it is not an emergency. The Foster Coordinator is not locked into these hours and may be able to help you at other times as well.

Medical Appointments (415) 554-3084Monday–Sunday: 8:30am–5:00pmTo make medical appointments (including revaccinations). Please be sure to specify if you need a doctor present at your foster appointment.

Foster Tech & Emergency Line (415) 740-164624 Hours/Day, 7 Days/WeekTo get advice about the urgency of a situation and/or to obtain permission to go to the emergency vet if necessary. Get the name of the person you speak to and inform the foster coordinator the next morning.

Procedure for EmergenciesIf your foster is having a medical emergency:

Foster Tech & Emergency Line: 415-740-16461 Call the Foster Tech & Emergency Line at 415-740-1646.

2Speak to a tech (make sure to get their name). Describe what’s happening and they will let you know if you need to bring the animal in to the SF SPCA infirmary right away or, if it is after hours, to San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS), the emergency clinic.

3If it is after hours and the tech gives you authorization, bring your foster animal, the pink foster form and the “Requisition for Pro Bono Services” form with you to San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS).

4Make sure to tell SFVS that you are an SF SPCA Foster Parent and give them the “Requisition for Pro Bono Services” form that you should have received when you picked up your fosters. This way you should not be billed for the visit.

5 Before leaving SFVS, always ask for a copy of the treatment sheet. Information on this sheet is important for future follow up treatment at the SF SPCA Infirmary.

6Call Alison Lane, Laura Mullen, or one of the SF SPCA Techs the next morning and let them know what happened. The foster animal will probably need to come in to the SF SPCA for a recheck.

EMErgEnCy CLInIC For SF SPCA FoSTErSSan Francisco Veterinary Specialist600 Alabama (at 18th Street), San Francisco, CA 94110Phone: 415-401-9200

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