pinned: foster policy guidelines and medical restrictions

I am looking for a clear outline of the standard operational guidelines that our local rescue uses when accepting or refusing foster applications. I understand that medical restrictions are a major factor, but I want to know how these are applied consistently.

For instance, my Lulu is a 7-year-old DSH who deals with hairball issues, and Bodie is a 3-year-old tabby who is healthy. I am curious if the guidelines specify that a foster home must be able to handle chronic conditions like hairball management without additional support from the rescue.

It would help to see the specific criteria they use to determine if a home is suitable for a cat with ongoing medical needs versus a healthy cat.

From my experience, the guidelines usually hinge on whether the medical condition requires daily medication or specialized equipment. My Smokey is a 12-year-old gray cat with glaucoma, and I have to administer eye drops twice a day. The rescue was very clear that they only assign cats needing daily meds to fosters who have experience or are willing to commit to that schedule.

You can check out my thread on living with glaucoma to see the routine. It is not just about having a vet, it is about the daily logistics.

The guidelines also consider the environment. Moose is a 9-year-old Maine Coon who is deaf in one ear. When we applied for his foster spot, they asked specifically about our noise levels and whether we had other pets that might startle him. They reference tips for living with a deaf cat in their assessment to ensure the foster home understands the specific sensory needs.

It is not a one-size-fits-all approach; they look at the specific deficits of the animal.

I have read several academic papers on foster consistency and believe that the guidelines should be standardized to reduce stress on the animal. However, I have noticed that in practice, there is variability. for instance, my Olive is a 6-year-old gray shorthair who is extremely picky about food. The rescue did not have a specific guideline for dietary restrictions, so it was up to the foster to figure out the kibble brand that worked.

I think this is a gap in the current operational guidelines. Does anyone have a copy of the specific dietary protocols they use?

To answer Val's question about dietary protocols, I recall a discussion in getting Mittens to a healthy weight where they mentioned a specific feeding schedule for cats with weight issues. But for picky eaters, it seems less defined.

I am still waiting for a direct answer on how they handle the medical restrictions for chronic conditions like Lulu's. Is there a specific form or document that outlines these restrictions that I can reference?

Lynn, the specific medical restrictions are detailed in the application packet, but the operational guidelines for acceptance are based on the capacity of the home. For chronic conditions, we look at the foster's previous experience. You can see a similar situation in when we have to turn down a foster request where a senior cat with kidney disease was declined due to the foster's current workload.

The guidelines are not public, but the core principle is matching the medical complexity to the foster's demonstrated capability.