IBKR Foster Program
Fostering with IBKR is a unique and rewarding experience. Whether you're a long-time foster, or are interested in fostering for the first time, we are excited to welcome you to our team! Our foster homes form the backbone of our program, and IBKR encourages foster involvement in all aspects of foster care, from continuing education opportunities to potential adopter selection.
Types of IBKR Fosters:
Newborns
Age: 0-4 weeks
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Responsibilities: Consistent bottle feeding, weight tracking, bathroom assistance, hygiene assistance, and provision of a constant heat source.
Newborns are the most intensive of our foster types. These babies need to be fed every 2 to 3 hours in their first weeks of life. These little ones also need help keeping clean, using the bathroom, and staying warm - everything a mom cat would do for them. If you're interested in learning more about caring for these tiny babies, we're eager to teach you how!
Weaning Kittens
Age: 4-6 weeks
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Responsibilities: Supplemental bottle feeding, weaning from bottles to solid food, weight tracking, litter box encouragement, hygiene assistance, and continued health monitoring.
Weaning kittens require encouragement and patience (and frequent baths!) as they start to explore wet food, litter boxes, and all the fun social parts of being a kitten. These little ones can go 4 to 6 hours between bottle feedings.
Weaned Kittens
Age: 6+ weeks
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Responsibilities: Weight tracking, socialization, and safety awareness.
From 6 weeks on, these kittens are able to eat on their own and use the litter box on their own, but may still need help keeping clean.
During this exciting new phase of life, kittens need a safe space to run, play, and explore. Once these kittens get big enough for spay/neuter surgery (8 weeks AND 2 lbs), they are advertised for adoption.
Nursing Mothers
Age: Varies
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Responsibilities: Weight tracking, socialization, and safety/health monitoring.
IBKR occasionally takes nursing mother cats with kittens. It is important that a mama cat feel safe as she spends the next few weeks caring for her babies.
The foster caregiver will need to make sure mama cat is nursing her kittens regularly and that all are healthy and gaining weight appropriately. When the time comes, the foster will help mom wean her babies and get ready for a home of her own.
Sick & Feral Kittens
Age: Varies
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Responsibilities: Weight tracking, socialization, safety/health monitoring, and medicinal administration as needed.
Some kittens have had a rougher start to life than others. Feral kittens need patience and kindness as they learn to trust. Kittens that arrive with serious medical conditions often need specialized TLC, regular administration of oral medications, and continual health monitoring. Foster homes that take these special babies must be extra vigilant in order to observe potential problems before they become critical.