caring for senior cats in foster: what to expect

I’m starting a small foster group for senior cats who have been rejected by other shelters due to their complexity. I know the basics, but I’m worried about the day-to-day grind when they aren't just healthy old cats. I lost Sandy to EOD in 2023, so I’m a bit gun-shy about the medical side. I have a spare room set up, but I’m not sure how to structure my days if I have three cats with different meds and mobility issues. Has anyone else done this? What does the actual schedule look like?

This is a huge undertaking. I have two 7-year-olds, Shadow and Sunny, but they are relatively healthy. Shadow is very shy and Sunny is bold, so their behavior alone takes up a lot of time. If you are dealing with multiple health issues, you need to look at the logistics of feeding times and litter box access. I found that separating them by age and condition helped me keep track of who was eating what. Did you consider staggering their intake times?

Oh my god, this sounds so intense. I have Kiwi, my 1-year-old Bengal, who is a ball of energy, and Mimi, my Ragdoll, who just sleeps. The contrast is wild. But I can’t imagine dealing with a senior who is sick. I’m anxious just thinking about the meds. How do you keep track of who gets what? I feel like I’d forget one dose and then feel terrible. Is there a system that works for people who overthink like me?

Anna, use a pill organizer with labeled compartments for each cat. I did this with Bandit before he got fixed. He’s 4 and bitey, so I couldn't just drop a pill in his mouth. I structured my days around his behavior, not just the clock. For seniors, you need to anticipate resistance. Check out this thread about giving meds to grumpy seniors. It has some specific tricks for hiding pills in toppers that might save you some stress.

Thanks, Denise. I was actually going to ask about that. I know Linda Foster, or fourrescues, is doing a lot of fostering. She was refused a spot for a senior with CKD recently. I think she has a lot of experience with this specific mix of issues. Did she post anything about how she handles the daily monitoring for kidney issues? I want to make sure I’m not missing any subtle signs.

Linda is great, but she’s dealing with a lot of young cats right now, like Pepper and Ollie. Her senior experience might be a bit older. However, I found this thread about daily routines for cats with arthritis really helpful for the mobility aspect. It talks about placing litter boxes in low-traffic areas and using shallow trays. That’s a big part of the daily care that people overlook. It’s not just about the meds, it’s about making the environment accessible.

I was reading this post about monitoring hydration and kidney signs earlier. It made me nervous. I didn’t realize how specific the checks need to be. If I’m fostering seniors, do I need to be checking their gums every hour? It feels like a lot of responsibility. I just want to do it right, but I’m scared I’ll miss something important.