Foster moms give lots of love.

Foster

At VIVA, kittens are not adoptable until they weigh enough to be spayed or neutered (2 lbs.). Until they reach that weight, they are cared for by one of our loving foster families. Foster families have different duties to perform depending on the age of their kittens. For instance, orphaned kittens of two weeks of age must be bottle fed every few hours, and then must be stimulated to urinate and defecate. Foster moms and dads set their alarms for three or four hour intervals and perform these tasks all through the night. When kittens are five weeks old, the job gets easier, but it still requires a big time commitment. Kittens need to be supervised, socialized, and kept healthy.

When the kittens finally reach two pounds, foster familes deliver their kittens to the vet, and then to the adoption center. The job is difficult, but rewarding, and we always have a shortage of foster families. If you are interested in helping, please begin by reading the excellent kitten handbook at the Kitten Rescue of
Los Angeles website. If you think you have what it takes to make a great foster parent, please email our kitten foster coordinator.