Make a meaningful difference for at-risk shelter cats.
Often, the cats who shut down in a shelter setting need a home-like environment to feel safe and let their personalities shine. For these cats, fostering saves lives. Many cats relax in a matter of days after arriving in foster homes. Others may need more time and encouragement to build trust.
We'll match you with a cat who’s right for your interest and experience, and provide the supplies and guidance you’ll need to get your foster cat adopted. All you need to become a Cat Town foster is a calm home, patience, kindness, and time!
We always have a need for fosters, especially if you have experience with:
Cats who are fearful or may hide
Cats who may sometimes nip/swat
Cats who require medication
So that our team can offer all of our foster volunteers plenty of support, we currently limit our fostering radius to Oakland and adjacent cities. To learn more, please email foster[@]cattownoakland.org.
Cats Needing Foster
Cat Town partners with Oakland Animal Services to identify the cats in most need: those who are struggling with life in a cage, who need extra medical care, or require a little more patience to help them find their confidence. The following cats are waiting for a foster home so they can have a better chance at adoption. Won't you help them on their journey?
“When I tell people that I’m fostering, many of them say they couldn’t do it because it would be hard to say goodbye. I don’t think people who foster have some magical ability to disconnect. I feel sad AND happy when people come to meet my foster cat. But fostering is so necessary! There are so many great cats who just can’t show their best side in a shelter or an adoption center. I think it’s really cool to see shy or reactive cats come out of their shell when you foster.”
— Michelle, Cat Town Foster
“Fostering cats through Cat Town has been such an uplifting experience. It's truly rewarding to witness how important a comfortable, non-cage environment and daily human interactions are for shyer cats. The people at Cat Town are supportive, knowledgeable, hands-on, address all questions and continuously replenish supplies. Cat Town connects us to cats in need, and it has been so satisfying to express our love for them by partnering with such a caring organization.”
— Anonymous Cat Town Foster
“Something I didn’t expect to happen at Cat Town was that I would learn to fall in love over and over and over again and that something like that could be so delightfully infinite.”
— Taryn, Cat Town Foster
“The cats come to us — we don’t even have to leave the house to volunteer! And then our job is to play and cuddle. What’s not to love?”
— Prasad, Cat Town Foster
“Honestly, it's hard for me to think of fostering as volunteering. All the folks at Cat Town are so lovely and grateful, but I feel like I'm getting the better part of this deal. My fosters have been, generally, the cutest little floof-monsters in the world. I get to hang out with cute cats, and feel awesome about doing something good? Yes!!!”
— Staci, Cat Town Foster