Volunteer Cat Fosterer
Could your home be the calm retreat a rescue cat needs?
Our cattery can be a busy place, and while we work hard to keep our cats comfortable and stimulated, some simply find the noise and activity of centre life too unsettling. For these cats, a quiet home environment makes a world of difference - giving them the space, calm and one-to-one attention they need to thrive while they wait for their forever family.
About the role
You'll be providing a home-away-from-home for cats who are finding cattery life difficult, helping them feel safe, settled and cared for until they're ready to move on to their forever home. You'll follow a clear care plan for each cat, and our team will be on hand throughout to support you.
Foster placements vary in length depending on each cat's needs - we'll always work around your availability where we can.
What we need from you
You'll need to be comfortable handling cats and have a basic understanding of their needs - we're happy to provide training if you need a confidence boost in any area. Above all, you'll need to be calm, reliable and happy to follow guidance from our team. All foster cats must be kept indoors so you'll need to be comfortable having litter trays in your home.
We're ideally looking for:
- A quieter, peaceful home where foster cats can be kept securely inside and have plenty of space to move around, exercise and explore
- Someone able to transport foster cats to and from our centre or vet for health checks (roughly twice a month) or in an emergency
- A driver with your own transport
- Someone based in the Derby area
We do foster to families with children, we will just match you with foster cats that will be happy in a home with kids.
If you have other pets in the home, you'll ideally need an unused/spare room for the foster cat to stay in, and your other pets need to be neutered and up to date with vaccinations.
If you rent your home, please note that we require written permission from your landlord before a foster cat can come home with you.
Getting started
You'll receive a full induction before your first foster cat arrives, including time at our centre getting to know the cat's individual personality and needs. We'll make sure you feel well-prepared and supported before they come home with you.
What we provide
We can provide everything your foster cat will need during their stay, including food, litter, toys and PPE. If there's anything you're able to contribute yourself, that's always gratefully appreciated, but there's no pressure to do so.
All veterinary costs are covered in full by us, and all medical care is arranged through our own vet. We remain responsible for all foster animals' medical and behavioural decisions, which are always made in close consultation with our vet - we'll always keep you informed and will include your observations when making decisions.
Why join our team?
There's something really special about watching an anxious cat gradually relax and come out of their shell in a home environment. We're a small, independent charity, separate from the national RSPCA and entirely self-funded, and our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. By joining our volunteer foster team, you'll also:
- See first-hand the difference a home environment makes to a cat's confidence and wellbeing
- Be part of each cat's story, from unsettled in the cattery to happily finding their feet in their forever home
- Enjoy a 20% discount across all of our charity shops
- Be invited to our yearly celebration for volunteers and staff - our small way of saying thank you for everything you do for us
Please note that availability for this role is limited. All applications will be reviewed and we'll be in touch if you're successful, so if you aren't selected this time, please do keep an eye out for future opportunities.
Interested?
If you'd like to apply for this role, please fill in the short form below and a member of our team will be in touch.