RSPCA SA Cat and Kitten Foster Handbook - Emergency Guide and Foster Care Overview

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Adam

RSPCA South Australia’s Cat and Kitten Foster Handbook provides practical guidance for foster carers, including key roles and volunteer expectations. It outlines what foster care is, why animals enter foster placements, and how the foster program supports better welfare and adoption readiness. The guide includes essential shelter contact information and emergency phone numbers, plus introductory preparation topics such as setting up a foster room, feeding, litterbox setup, and common medical and behavioural issues.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages34

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

Important Information and Emergency Numbers

Welcome

What is Foster Care?

Foster Volunteer Duties

Suggested Fostering Supplies

Toys

Animal Proofing Your Home

Mother cats with kittens

Setting up your Foster Room

Feeding Kittens

Litterbox Set up

Common Medical and Behavioural issues

Kitten Behaviour

Kitten Developmental Stages

Behaviour modification kittens

Kitten Mortality

Return and Adoption

Cleaning Procedures

Safety and Incident Reports

A reference guide for RSPCA SA Foster Carers Cat and Kitten Foster Handbook Important Information and Emergency Numbers ............................................... 2 Welcome ........................................................................................................... 3 What is Foster Care?……….……………………………………………………………………..………….4 Foster Volunteer Duties ..................................................................................... 7 Suggested Fostering Supplies ............................................................................. 8 Toys................................................................................................................... 9 Animal Proofing Your Home ............................................................................. 10 Mother cats with kittens .................................................................................. 12 Setting up your Foster Room ............................................................................ 13 Feeding Kittens ................................................................................................ 14 Litterbox Set up…..……………………………………………………………………………………………15 Common Medical and Behavioural issues......................................................... 16 Kitten Behaviour .............................................................................................. 18 Kitten Developmental Stages ........................................................................... 19 Behaviour modification kittens ........................................................................ 23 Kitten Mortality ............................................................................................... 24 Return and Adoption……………………………………………….………………………………….…..25 Cleaning Procedures ........................................................................................ 26 Safety and Incident Reports ............................................................................. 27 Feline-alities…………………………….…......................................................................30 Weight Charts .................................................................................................. 32 Important Information and Emergency Numbers RSPCA South Australia 25 Meyer Road, LONSDALE, 5161 Opening hours to the public 􀁸 10am – 4pm weekdays (CLOSED Tuesdays) 􀁸 10am – 2pm weekends and public holidays The foster office is staffed 􀁸 8.30am – 4.30pm weekdays 􀁸 8.30am – 3.00pm weekends and public holidays To contact the Foster Team During Shelter Hours M: 0417 999 940 -cats and kittens, pocket pets M :0400 851 368 – dog and puppies Email the Foster Coordinator [fostercare@rspcasa.org.au](fostercare@rspcasa.org.au) Book a cat, kitten, or rabbit for desexing [desex@rspcasa.org.au](desex@rspcasa.org.au) [After Hours](After Hours:)[:](After Hours:) If there is an Emergency please call: 0417 424 614 􀁸 Please save this number into your mobile on the first day of taking home a foster animal. 􀁸 We would prefer you to call if needed, rather than wait till morning if an animal is seriously unwell Notify the Foster Coordinator orthe RSPCA immediately if a foster animal becomes lost! Welcome! Welcome to the RSPCA South Australia’s Foster Program. Your volunteer contributions allow us to continue to successfully rehome thousands of animals every year. As the number of animals that our shelter sees increases annually, so does the number of animals who need foster homes. Each year our numbers continue to grow, as does the need for volunteers to help save lives. Our foster care program is growing rapidly and we are so pleased to have many new carers joining. It is an exciting time with lots of new developments coming, so we thank you for your patience and support. Helping animals through RSPCA SA will soon be easier and more accessible to everyone! Your help is price

FAQs

Why do animals enter foster care through the RSPCA South Australia program?

Animals may be too young or small to be desexed, lack confidence around new people, be recovering from medical treatment, need respite from the shelter, or require foster support for serious conditions (including terminal illness with specific experienced-carer criteria).

What emergency contact information should foster carers know?

The handbook lists shelter opening hours, foster office staffing times, foster team contact numbers, an email for the Foster Coordinator, a desexing booking email, and an emergency phone number, with instructions to save the number on day one.

What commitment is expected from foster carers?

Foster carers must be able to spend time daily for health checks and interaction, keep the foster environment clean, be available at short notice for transporting animals to the shelter if needed, and collect supplies and medications.

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Adam