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

Presenter: Kristyn Vitale, PhD 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 that 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. Learn more about the study and how to apply the results in an animal shelter setting. The research discussed in this webinar was made possible by a grant from Maddie’s Fund®, #ThankstoMaddie.