A Guide to Fostering Cats in Sydney

Rescue cats need constant help. If you can’t adopt a cat from your local shelter, there are other ways you can offer assistance. One is by volunteering to foster these stray, orphaned, abandoned, and abused feline pets. If you’re based in Emerald City or living close by, you’re in luck! We’ve got suggestions to help lead you to your next foster cat: 

• Rescues in need of cat foster carers
  • Sydney
  • New South Wales
• Facebook groups to join
• Cat fostering resources to read
  • Guides from Waldo’s Friends
  • Guides from Animal Welfare League NSW

Rescues in need of cat foster carers

There are many local animal rescues in Sydney and New South Wales that welcome cat foster parents, especially during kitten season. Before reaching out to your preferred group, remember to review their guidelines and requirements.

Sydney

• 4Lyfe Rescue
• Brighter Future Cat Rescue
• Canberra Pet Rescue
• CatRescue 901
• Catmint Cottage Rescue
• DCH Animal Adoptions
• Firefly Animal Rescue
• Forever Home Pet Rescue Inc
• Furry Friends Forever Rescue
• Inner City Strays
• Kiki’s Safe Haven
• Sydney Dogs and Cats Home
• Sydney Pet Rescue and Adoption
• The World League for Protection of Animals Inc

New South Wales

• Animal Rescue Coffs Harbour (ARCH)
• Animal Welfare League NSW
• Best Friends Pet Rescue
• Cat Rescue Newcastle
• Coastal Pet Rescue
• Community Cat Carers Inc
• Domestic Animal Birth Control Society (DABS)
• Dunroamin
• Helping Hearts Animal Rescue Incorporated
• Mini Kitty Commune
• Northern Rivers Animal Services
• RSPCA NSW

Facebook groups to join

Join these online communities to find cats you can take in and learn more about pet foster care: 

• Animal Foster Carers NSW – This Facebook group links foster carers with rescue groups based in NSW. Their guides also provide information on how animal rescue works in Australia, what foster carers do, and how to become one.
• MKC Foster Carers – A private space devoted to foster carers that work with Mini Kitty Commune. Fosters can ask questions, get advice, or provide general support for other volunteers.
• Sydney Vegan – Animal Adoption & Fostering – A private Facebook community that assists interested parties in adopting or fostering cats, dogs, rabbits, and even farm animals.  

Aside from these, there are other Facebook groups open for Australia-based pet foster carers:

• Animal Foster Carer Network Australia – An online group that connects Aussie animal rescues with possible foster carers.
• CAT NETWORK AUSTRALIA – Rescue/foster/adopt/BARN Cats – This public community was formed with the intention of helping cats found throughout Australia.
• Foster Carers Express (for animals only) – Through this group, pet foster carers living in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand can find out which animal rescues need urgent assistance. 

In addition, there are cat well-being and nutrition groups you may want to check out: 

• Anxious Cats of Australia – If you’re caring for an anxious, stressed, aggressive, fearful, or timid cat, this may be a good group to gain tips and insights from. They only advocate using force-free, science-based training methods to improve a cat’s behaviour.
• Cats Down Under – This group aims to educate its members about feline health, feline nutrition, as well as responsible cat ownership.

Cat fostering resources to read

These blog posts and guides will help cat foster parents raise their wards well.

Guides from Waldo’s Friends

• Cat grooming at home
• Dealing with cat biting and hissing
• Discovering why a cat pees everywhere
• Helping a pregnant cat before she gives birth
• Introducing a kitten to a cat or a cat to a dog
• Removing fleas on a cat

Guides from Animal Welfare League NSW

• Medical guides (from how to collect a urine sample to protocol for fading kitten syndrome)
• Cat behaviour guides (includes cat scratching, cats who play rough, petting-induced aggression, and fostering a frightened cat)
• Caring for neonatal kittens
• Caring for pregnant cats, mums, and kittens
• Putting an orphan kitten on a surrogate mum

Fostering is an essential part of animal rescue. Without these volunteers, animal rescues and shelters won’t be able to take in as many cats as possible. What are you waiting for? Sign up to be a cat foster parent in Sydney or New South Wales today.