My cat kneads me like he's preparing to try out for the next season of the Great British Baking Show. He does this every morning when he's had enough cuddle time. And again, every night just before J.B. Fletcher reveals the killer on Murder She Wrote, my cat Mazel is up on my belly gently pressing into my skin rolls with his little toe beans. 

But it's not just me who gets the patty cake treatment! Mazel will knead our pillows, blankets, and (when they haven't been paying attention) he has even found a way to knead our dogs.

If you’ve read the other articles in our Foster Cats 101 series, you’ve heard me gush about how amazing fostering can be. Don’t let the title of this article fool you. I’ll be gushing in this one too. Believe it or not, saying goodbye as a foster guardian can be a beautiful thing. It is so rewarding to see your foster cat, whom you have loved and cared for, start a new life with someone else who will do the same — for the rest of their life!

Sadly, it also seems to be a big reason people don’t think they’re cut out to foster cats. They’re not sure how to manage the emotions of letting their foster go after building a bond. So, let’s talk about it and take some of the mystery away. I'll share tips for getting through difficult times and, most importantly, finding the positive, warm-and-fuzzy feelings that are easy to overlook when you’re in an emotional tornado.

The big day is here! You’re bringing your foster cat home, and the first part is easy enough. You’ll sign paperwork at the rescue and do a final review with your foster coordinator. Then they hand you a carrier full of furball, and you’re off.

You’ll probably spend the whole drive home talking in a ridiculously sappy voice, introducing yourself to your new foster cat, and telling them all about the time they’re going to spend with you before they head to their fantastic forever home. Okay, maybe that’s just me. Or you may sit quietly, listening to NPR. I suggest you try it my way. It makes the drive go faster. And before you know it, you’re home! What happens next?

My cat, Mazel, is just about the sweetest little smushed-faced angel. We spend much of our time snuggling, holding paws, and sometimes he even licks me.

That being said, even during the most tender moments, there are times when it seems as though a switch has been flipped. In the middle of giving me kisses, he'll suddenly wrap his body around my hand and use his back legs to try to turn my wrist into skin confetti.

Mazel's kicking behavior doesn't appear to be coming from a place of fear. What exactly is happening to make my little fuzzy pants go from tender to the Terminator in the blink of an eye?

I turned to Dr. Susan Krebsbach, a veterinarian with behavioral expertise, to get some answers and sent her the following footage of Mazel's kicking behavior.

If you’ve found this article, you must be considering (or have already volunteered) to foster a cat. We’re so glad! You may be a little nervous the first time … or second … or third for that matter. But it’s an amazing thing you’re doing, and we want to help.

If you’ve already partnered with a rescue organization and been paired with a foster cat, you just need to set up your space and do a little mental preparation. That’s what we’ll be talking about in this article – ways to prepare your home, set up your foster cat or foster kitten’s space and set your expectations. If you’re new to the Foster 101 series, welcome! Depending on where you are in the foster process, you might want to take a look at the earlier articles in the series to find more information on:

• Why fostering is so beneficial (for both cats and humans).
• What you should consider before becoming a foster guardian.
• The process of applying with a rescue and being matched with a foster cat or kitten.

If you’re considering fostering a cat or kitten for your local animal shelter or rescue group, THANK YOU! We want to help you prepare by sharing our experience as volunteer cat fosters. In this article, we’ll take you through the application process and the various ways rescue organizations help find the right foster cat or kitten for you.

In the first two articles of our Fostering 101 series, we talked about the overwhelming need for foster homes for cats (not to mention for dogs, birds, rabbits, farm animals, and just about anything else covered in fur, feathers or scales). We also discussed some of the important considerations and questions to ask yourself to determine your best foster scenario. If you missed it, take a minute and check those out:

• Why You Should Consider Fostering a Cat
• How to Become a Foster Cat Guardian

Once you’ve determined what type of foster situation will work best for you – call it your “foster plan” — it’s time to officially get the ball rolling.

If you’re toying with the idea becoming a cat foster (or are already so excited to foster that you can’t think straight), you’re in the right place! Foster Cats 101 is a collection of articles covering the what, why, and how of fostering fur balls. In our last article "Why You Should Consider Fostering a Cat," we talked about why fostering is so important, how good it feels to be part of the rescue experience, and the benefits of fostering animals.

Now let's get into the most important part of the process — a deep dive into the different types of foster situations out there and understanding exactly what you have to offer. This will help you come up with a foster plan that works for you, your lifestyle, your family (human and furry), and your foster cat.

If you’re looking for a way to help animals, rescue organizations, and even families in your community, consider fostering! It’s an experience like no other. There’s a foster out there for just about any situation or lifestyle. It can be as simple or involved as you like. All you need is a little patience, a little space, and a lot of love.

Why I Became a Cat Foster Guardian

I grew up in a household where any animal in need of care was welcome. It was a revolving door of stray cats, dogs whose owners couldn’t keep them, injured, wild this and that, and once, a pregnant spaniel found wandering the desert, who soon gave birth to 14 puppies! It certainly wasn’t easy for my mother to manage and care for all these critters. But she never said no. Well, occasionally she said no, but never really meant it.

When I moved out on my own, I knew I wanted to continue supporting animals in need, the way my family had. My plan was to buy a house and dedicate a spare room solely to fostering cats. It took a while, but I finally did it. I lovingly call it the Foster Suite. And it has been my absolute joy.

I’ve had cats my entire life. But it wasn’t until recently that I had my first experience taking a cat through recovery from a serious surgery. She was a beautiful little foster kitten named Bettina.

About a year ago, I made the decision to start fostering, focusing on cats in need of special care, either with recovery from surgery/illness or socialization issues. Bettina was only my second foster and took considerably more intensive care than my first, who only had a cold and needed a week out of the shelter to recover. (And who, incidentally, I fell madly in love with and adopted at the end of that week.)

You’ll hear a bit about my story, successes and failures, products I found helpful, conversations I wished I’d had, and how an old bra saved the day.

Veterinarians get asked this question all the time, “Which treat is best to give my pet?” As a veterinarian who has formulated many diets and treats for dogs and cats, I can tell you that if chosen correctly, treats can supplement your pet’s health as well as be very beneficial to their overall well-being.

Not to mention the training that often accompanies treating, or the mental stimulation of an interactive game.

Because every pet is an individual with their own personality and preferences, some treats may be accepted readily whereas some pets require a little trial and error before you find the treats they love. With pet individuality in mind, let’s explore what sorts of treats are ideal for cats.