Maddie's Insights: Short-Term Foster Programs for Shelter Cats: Beneficial or Problematic? On-demand webcast

Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.  

Every year millions of cats enter animal shelters in the U.S. alone. Interventions are greatly needed that have the potential to reduce cat stress and increase cat welfare while in the shelter environment. Although dog foster programs have become commonplace for many animal shelters, cat foster programs are relatively uncommon, potentially due to the belief that cats may be at risk of unnecessary stress from the fostering experience. In the study, researchers examined the social behavior and stress levels of cats that stayed in the shelter to cats who left the shelter for short-term foster, either for 1-night or 1-week. The results of the study indicate that shelter cats placed in foster care were not at a disadvantage. These findings can benefit both cats and animal shelters alike. Attendees will learn more about the study and how to apply the findings of the research to help reduce stress and promote welfare for cats living in animal shelters. The research discussed in this webinar was made possible by a grant from Maddie's Fund®, #ThankstoMaddie.

Presenter: Kristyn Vitale, PhD

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval (valid through 1/4/25).

Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastShortTermFoster

keywords  Maddie's Insights, short-term foster programs, shelter cats, rescue cats, cat foster programs, stress in shelter cats, feline social behavior, cat behavior, cat foster study, Kristyn Vitale