Ethical Question About Temporary Cat Fostering

steve

As I'm sure anybody reading this knows, there are organizations that place cats temporarily until they find a permanent home. My thinking is that these cats are rarely placed but I know very little about it besides that they exist.

So, is it wrong to foster a cat temporarily (maybe for several years) with an org like this if my primary reasons are mouse control?

The cat of course would be well cared for, have a companion dog, and plenty of space. However, in the event of any great expense or that I moved and didn't want it anymore, we would be splits.

Thanks in advance for your considered responses.

laura b

Thank you for thinking about fostering, and for being honest about your reasons.

If the cat would truly be well cared for (ie, given decent food, shelter, affection; taken to the vet if need be) I don't see a problem with being somewhat mercenary about it. You wouldn't need to be concerned with vet costs, because the rescue organization would cover that.

If you're working with a reputable group (PM me if you'd like some recs), I don't think it's the case that foster cats are "rarely placed". I've done a lot of rescue work with a local cat organization, and no cat I've dealt with has been fostered for more than a couple of months before being placed in a permanent home. It would be highly unlikely you'd be fostering the same cat for years.

The homeless pet problem is so huge and so tragic in this city, I don't see the harm in you taking in a kitty for the short-term. The reason people foster as opposed to adopting is precisely because they can't or don't want to make the permanent commitment.

And who knows, you could fall in love. I've had a number of friends who were "just fostering" because they didn't think they were cat people--who ultimately couldn't part with their new friend.