Care Beyond The Shelter: WHS Cat Foster Program
opening hearts & homes to felines in need
“One of favorite moments was when we had a group of stray kittens and there was one outcast kitten the finders believed wasn't a part of the litter. She was skinny, fearful, and covered in feces that had matted into her fur. You could tell she'd been in this condition for a long time, it was amazing that she had survived this, so we named her Wonder,” Sawyer said. “My coworker got to work on her straight away, bathing and brushing her, and I was shocked that the little cat actually started purring and enjoying the attention when normally a cat would hate being bathed. I've never met a more grateful kitty!”
When you think of the work of the Whatcom Humane Society, it’s natural to think of WHS’s physical shelter locations—our domestic animal shelter, farm facility, and wildlife rehabilitation center—yet there are also many critical efforts taking place that reach beyond the doors of our animal care facilities. One such initiative is the WHS Cat Foster Care Program.
In its current iteration, the foster care program focuses primarily on cats (dog fostering occurs on a case-by-case basis, thanks to the support of WHS’s animal behaviorist, who also serves as a full-time in-shelter animal care supervisor). For cat fostering in 2024, WHS had a total of 462 felines cared for by 54 foster homes.
“I started this role at the beginning of kitten season, when kittens rapidly pour into the building all day long. A lot of them aren't in great shape when they come to us and need immediate care,” Foster & Rescue Coordinator Sawyer Lanto said. “Our foster volunteers understand that kittens who are less than 8 weeks old have very weak immune systems and need to be taken out of the shelter as soon as possible, so they are willing to juggle work, everyday tasks, housework, taking kids to school, their own pets, etc.”
Sawyer went on to highlight that based on the ratio of cats in foster care to the number of active foster homes last year, many volunteers “were incredibly generous with their time and labor” and took on back-to-back foster cases.
For foster parent Connie H., who has been volunteering since July 2023 and assisted over 21 kittens so far, the benefits of fostering go both ways, enhancing the lives of the animals and people alike.
“It’s being able to watch them grow and thrive and become sweet well adjusted kitties for their forever homes. The ones that stand out to me are the ones that have needed TLC—their first day compared to their last day when they go back are always the most rewarding,” she said. “My daughters love having kittens to play with, and it keeps our resident cats young at heart.”
Foster parent Katlyn M. echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Fostering cats has opened my eyes to the small ways I can make really great impacts. I only started fostering in May, and I believe the number is 22 kittens and cats that we’ve had the privilege to foster. I remember all of their names and have learned so much from every single one. It’s what drives me to continue to learn new skills like SubQ fluids.”
As of the start of 2025, there are about 50 cats in foster care, with upward of 80-plus active foster homes during peak points of the year. Providing support for all of the foster families is a big job.
“Ringworm is especially challenging because it's difficult to detect before kittens go into their foster home, it contaminates the environment, and sometimes it takes a long time to treat. This is usually way more than a foster expected to take on, and sometimes understandably the kittens have to be returned,” Sawyer shared. “We have a couple superheroes involved in the foster program who will take ringworm kittens and are committed to treating them. I want to find the best way to tackle ringworm in foster care and inspire more foster parents to sign up to be a lifeline for these kittens.”
Another aspect of the program focused on bolstering support for both cat foster families and the foster care coordinator is WHS’s cat foster mentor team. Composed of a group of longtime volunteers with specialized cat caregiving skills and experiences, foster mentors are assigned as case managers for each foster family, providing an invaluable point of contact to discuss everything from health and behavior notes to sharing cute photos and stories.
“They provide guidance to the foster family about kitten health, tips and tricks they've learned, and supporting them through the unfortunate times when kittens get sick and the foster must follow a treatment plan, or even a kitten passing away in some rare cases,” Sawyer explained. “They work tirelessly to support the fosters, and this support provides our fosters with a sense of community.”
Being a support system often extends beyond the typical work day for Sawyer, too.
“I have had a lot of people have troubles with after-hours emergencies. It can cause so much chaos and confusion, and I realized part of the reason why is because fosters felt guilty about calling me on the emergency phone in the middle of the night,” she said. “I started to be more encouraging of them reaching out to me and have been more reassuring if an emergency comes up. It's always top priority to help someone if their kitten is still critically ill, and I'll do whatever it takes to get them through it.”
Blue's before (left) and after (right) foster trans-fur-mation!
Blue was all ready for his new home thanks to his foster fam!
For Sawyer, witnessing the transformation that each animal undergoes from intake through the foster care process provides encouragement during the long, hard days that are an inherent part of animal care.
“I've seen the foster care program bring out the best in people and bring a niche community together,” she said. “People who were previously strangers will bond over their kittens' stories and may end up comforted through grieving a loss or celebrating the kittens’ return to the shelter and adoption. It's super inspiring to see that every little life truly matters, and that there are so many people willing to give a helpless animal a chance.”
As foster parent Katlyn M. also shared, “Not to sound too cliché, but I truly feel like I have felt more love through this fostering program with the Whatcom Humane Society and helping these tiny kittens than I ever have in my life. Fostering can be tough at times—though I find that the harder it is, the larger my heart becomes.”
Ready to join the Cat Foster Crew?
Meowvelous news! Be sure to review the foster volunteer guidelines available at whatcomhumane.org/volunteer and sign up for an upcoming volunteer information session for more details and next steps!