First, thank you for for your interest in becoming a RappCats volunteer!  Without you, we would not be able to rescue cats in need.  Although we hope to establish a physical shelter in the not-too-distant future, we will always need foster homes!

RappCats does not have a dedicated shelter in which to care for cats that are awaiting adoption.  Foster homes are needed for short- and long-term care of cats.    Providing a caring foster home is probably the single greatest contribution that you can make to help RappCats help our homeless cats.

All potential foster homes must be approved by the Foster/Adoption Committee.  This includes submitting an application and having a home visit by one of our Cat Adoption Counselors.
While an animal is in foster care, it is still considered available for permanent adoption. If you decide that you would like to make your foster cat a permanent member of your family, you must contact RappCats to submit an application. The permanent placement of RappCats cats is at the sole discretion of the Foster/Adoption Committee.
The length of the foster commitment is up to you.   Since foster homes are the only temporary shelter currently available for cats in Rappahannock County, please consider fostering an animal indefinitely until a permanent home can be located.   Please ask for assistance from an F/A volunteer when selecting an animal to foster.  Some animals are recovering from illness or injury.   Others, particularly older cats, find comfort in foster care.   If you need to return your foster cat to RappCats at any time, prior notification is requested.
All foster homes will be asked to provide a description of their foster pet, including information on training, temperament, personality, and/or housebreaking to help match the cat with prospective adopters and for advertising purposes.
The Foster/Adoption Committee will take into consideration the opinion of the foster home regarding the compatibility of the foster cat with any potential adopters, but the Committee will exclusively make all decisions regarding the animal's permanent placement.
All foster animals will remain the property of RappCats until an adoption contract is signed by approved applicants. The foster parent does not have the right to release custody of any animal to anyone other than a representative of RappCats.
RappCats reserves the right to request the return of any foster cat. Upon request, the animal must be returned to a RappCats representative.

Important Warning: If you are taking in a cat that has been outside for an unknown period of time, you must isolate it from your other animals for at least two weeks – this is to keep your own animals safe and healthy.  During this time, the cat should be vetted if it had not been already (tested for FIV/FELV, applicable shots, dewormed, spay/neuter if old enough, a physical checkup . etc.). Expenses:All medical expenses are the responsibility of RappCats.

We ask that, if possible, foster parents pay for food and cat litter .  However, if you need assistance with food and/or litter expenses, please let us know.  The cat’s Veterinarian or a committee member can assist in advising what type of food is appropriate for your foster cat, if necessary.

Cat care:
All foster cats must be kept inside – this ensures their health and well-being while in the care of RappCats and ready for a permanent home.

Medical: 
In an emergency where you believe the cat requires immediate medical care and you can’t contact a board member, please take the cat to the appropriate vet. RappCats will take care of payment of the vet bills.  RappCats has an account at Rose Hill Vet in Washington VA. RappCats also has an arrangement with Blue Mountain Animal Clinic in Luray, Va, to provide medical treatment to our cats. If you know that the cat has already been seen by one of these veterinarians, if at all possible please first try to arrange the medical care through that veterinarian (see below

Veterinarians:

• Rose Hill Veterinary Practice: 540-987-9300, 21 Christmas Tree Lane, Washington, Va. (across from the Rappahannock High School)
• Blue Mountain Animal Clinic: 540-743-7387 (307 Collins Avenue, Luray, Va.

After Hours Clinics: Foster parent: MUST HAVE PERMISSION TO USE DUE TO HIGH COST.

• Prince William Emergency Veterinary Clinic, 8610 Centreville Rd Manassas, VA 20110, 703-361-8287 (drive time about 1 hour, 20 mins from Rose Hill) OR
• Valley Emergency Clinic, 164 Garber Lane Winchester, VA 22602, 540-662-7811, located across Rt. 522 from COSTCO (drive time about 1 hour, 5 mins from Rose Hill).
• In non-emergencies, please consult with your contact on the Foster/Adoption Committee.  In an attempt to be fair to the veterinarians who are kind enough to help us with reduced costs, and to keep the cat’s records in one location, cats go to their “first vet” – unless that vet was in Harrisonburg, in which case a member of the Foster/Adoption Committee should be the one to make the initial appointment on your behalf as a way of introducing a cat in our care.

Adoptions:
If you should find someone interested, please make sure they are aware that we ask for a donation of $85 to help defray the cat’s medical expenses, which is less than the amount we typically pay for shots, spay/neuter and other necessary vet care. They will also be required to fill out an adoption application, and allow for a home visit by a member of RappCats to ensure the best possible match between them and their adopted cat.

Foster cats, if old enough and vetted, should be available for viewing by a potential adopter with 24 hours’ notice if possible (although they will not be available for actual pick-up until expiration of the two-week quarantine period). RappCats requires that an adoption counselor meet with a prospective adopter prior to finalization of any adoption. Therefore it is recommended that the adoption counselor be present at the time the cat is viewed at the foster home. If the foster parent prefers not to have prospective adopters come to his or her home, an adoption counselor can pick up the cat and arrange for viewing at a separate location. Under most circumstances, the foster parent is welcome to meet any prospective adopters prior to finalization of the adoption.

There will be times that RappCats has an opportunity to promote the organization by bringing cats to an event. A RappCats board member responsible for that event will coordinate with foster parent to pick up and return the cat.

Training:

• If a foster parent is new to the world of cat care, a board member will assist in training and also be available for any questions during the foster period.      

 Special alerts:

• Kittens need special food – kitten wet and dry
• Be sure to close washers and dryers – a cat will get into them faster than you would believe.
• Always be alert to doors opening and closing – cats may try to escape and you don’t want to lose them or catch their tail in a door.