Cat Fosterer Sussex East and Hastings Branch

Here at Bluebell Ridge RSPCA Centre, we have been rehabilitating and rehoming unwanted, stray and abandoned cats for 23 years. We'd now like to expand our team of volunteer fosterers so we can offer an alternative rehoming journey for those who don't cope as well in a cattery environment and would benefit from one-to-one behavioural or medical support.

As a cat fosterer, you would be supporting the RSPCA in providing our cats with the safety of your home whilst tending to their welfare needs such as feeding and grooming. In addition to this, by providing a temporary loving environment, you will play a crucial role in a cat’s wellbeing and socialisation, which will significantly improve their chances of successful rehoming. Once everything is in place, the animal centre will guide you through the fostering process and ensure that you have all the necessary equipment, food, and veterinary care for your fostered cat. The RSPCA is also happy to reimburse any other pre- agreed expenses that you may incur through volunteering for us.

Whilst our cats are in your foster care, you will:

• Provide them with care, suitable housing, and a safe environment as per our policies and guidelines.
• Feed, water, and groom them in line with our advice.
• Transport them to any veterinary appointments if required.
• Provide them with your time and patience.
• Help us spread the word about the cats in your care so they might find their forever home quicker.
• Playing and cuddles are also a must!

What we are looking for in a volunteer Cat Fosterer:

• Volunteers aged 18 or over who have had plenty of experience caring for cats.
• Based in our region which covers Camber to Bexhill and north to Hurst Green
• Fostering experience is beneficial but not essential as training is provided.
• For their wellbeing, our cats need to be kept in a separate room, so the whole family should be on board.
• Any existing pets or animals need to have been spayed/neutered (some medical reasons may mean they cannot be, so please let us know if this is the case).

What we can offer you as a volunteer Cat Fosterer:

• You will be making a massive difference to the welfare of the cats in your care.
• Join a community which will enable you to meet new people and make new friends.
• Learning new skills through our comprehensive induction and fostering training programme.
• Enhance your CV by adding your volunteering experience and newly acquired skills.

It is worth mentioning that our cats do have different needs as whilst some are ready for rehoming others may require rehabilitation or ongoing medication. Therefore, we also aim to understand your situation and circumstances to ensure that we match you with your perfect foster cat. Fostering a cat is such a rewarding experience, giving a needy feline the love and care they so deserve, and seeing them blossom. We'll give you the support and guidance you need along the way, and together we can improve the lives of cats in our care.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for our branch!

For more information and to apply, please contact us on 01424 752121 or by email: enquiries@rspca-sussexeastandhastings.org.uk You can also visit our website for more information - https://www.bluebellridge.org/fostering

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependant on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.