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You will receive an ORANGE FOLDER for each of your foster pets. The folder will contain:
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Animal Health Record (AHR)
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Microchip information & registration instructions
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A “What’s Included” sheet
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Complimentary wellness visit info; our adopters can take to selected veterinary partners within 2 weeks after adoption for a FREE wellness visit
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Trupanion flyer
This folder should stay with the pet at all times including to vet appointment and adoption events
Once your foster is adopted, this folder will be given to the new guardians, so be sure all information is accurate, as this will serve as a medical record.
Please be sure to obtain a vet printout for major diagnosis or chronic condition, as you don’t want to incorrectly document it; please let this come from the doctor. This print out can be requested through GK Medical if it wasn’t given to you.
Think of a name.
1
Pick a unique but attractive name. Submit to Michelle Adams for approval to make sure we haven't had another one with the same name in the rescue in the past year which can make recordkeeping confusing!
Fill out your orange folder.
2
Fill out the Animal Health Record with the details you know. Keep this up to date as you move through the vetting process. Take it with you to all veterinary appointments!
Fill out an intake form.
3
Fill out an intake form within 48 hours of receiving your foster pet. When you have new bio info or pics, do an updated form. The info you provide is what shows up on our website, Petfinder, and other adoption sites.
Mark as adoptable.
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Cat can be marked adoptable by doing an updated profile form once this is done:
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Up-to-date on vaccines, including Rabies if over 16 weeks
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Spayed/neutered
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FIV/FeLV tested
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Microchipped
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Dewormed and clean fecal
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Microchipped
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Wellness visit by DVM done
Let's get that kitty a home!
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Take pics & videos to share in our Fans group on Facebook. Do update form when you have new pics or bio info.
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See about getting into a cattery/GKPAC
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Submit your cat for transport
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Attend adoption events
VacCINES
Vaccines are important to protect animals from serious illnesses that can get from other pets, in the outdoors, or from YOUR hands or shoes if you come in contact with a sick pet.
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See vaccine page for vaccine protocol.
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Your pet can get vaccinated by most VetBox folks or with a vet tech by making an appointment. Also available with our vet partners.
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Pets need at least one vaccine before they get spayed/neutered.
Fecals and deworming
Almost all the pets that come into our program have likely been exposed to intestinal parasites. Left untreated, these parasites can cause a dog or cat to suffer from nutritional deficiencies, GI issues, and even fatal complications. To combat these parasites, we use a deworming protocol and regular fecal exams to ensure the parasites were eradicated. Fecal exams consist of a trained veterinary technician preparing and examining a fecal sample under a microscope or by sending out to a lab.
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See deworming page for deworming and fecal protocols.
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Dewormer can be obtained from the Office front lobby 24/7 or from any VetBox.
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Fecals can be performed at office or GKPAC with vet tech visit, or with our vet partners.
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Pets must have at least one negative fecal before they can be adopted.
Flea prevention
Fleas live off of the blood they access by biting. They cause irritation which can develop into skin conditions. Heavy loads can cause dangerous cases of anemia. They can also transmit tapeworms. It is important to keep our pets up to date on flea prevention.
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For active infestations on intake, always give Capstar which is a pill available in the Office lobby 24/7 and through all VetBoxes. Capstar quickly kills all fleas on a pet, and is active for about 24 hours.
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To prevent future infestations, flea prevention should be applied monthly on all adults and kittens over 8 weeks. The rescue uses Advantage for topical flea prevention, with the following exceptions:
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Pregnant and nursing cats with flea infestations should be given Capstar. If a topical is needed to fend off reinfestation, Revolution should be used which you can get from the Office by doing a supplies request. Revolution can also be used to treat mange, lice, and ear mites and should be used when we are attempting to rule out flea dermatitis.
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Any cat who has a flea infestation should also be treated with oral praziquantel, which kills the tapeworms they may have. You can request this from the office.
routine diagnostics
There are diseases for dogs and cats that are so common that it is considered a part of routine vetting to screen them. These routine screenings must be done before a pet can be adopted.
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All cats receive a snap or a triple test to test for FIV/FeLV or FIV/FeLV/Heartworm.
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These tests can be done at a vet tech appointment, at participating vets' offices, and with some providers at time of spay/neuter.
microchips
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We often put microchips in at the time of spay/neuter, but if your pet is already speutered, you can make an appointment with a vet tech to have it done. If your pet visits one of our vet partners, they often will implant the chip then. It is also recommended for any pets who may be a flight risk without waiting until surgery date.
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Microchips are required for adoption.
At this time, our options for sterilization surgeries are limited, so we thank you for being flexible!
WHEN CAN A PET HAVE SURGERY?
When the pet is healthy, and after the pet has been in the care of the rescue for at least two weeks so we can be sure they won't come down with any cooties.
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NURSING MOMS: Mama cats can be spayed once their kittens are weaned.
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IN HEAT: If a female animal has gone into heat, they should wait at least two weeks before having surgery.
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BABY KITTENS: Some veterinarians are comfortable doing spay/neuter surgeries on kittens 8 weeks/2 lbs and older. Others have a later minimum age for surgery.
WHEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT?
Please book in advance, allowing some time for the pets to get healthy or make weight. Do not wait until they are fully ready to be adopted to request an appointment or you will lose valuable searching-for-a-home time. Your mentor can help you figure that out!
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Visit the Spay/Neuter page to learn more about spay/neuter options for your foster and instructions for scheduling.
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tracking progress
Weigh kittens daily up until at least age 6 weeks. Keep a journal for your kittens' weight-gaining progress. This is a great option.
Kittens should gain on average about 4oz weekly.
1 month - 1 lb, 2 months - 2 lbs
If they fall behind, talk to your mentor.
kittens 4.5-8 weeks
(exclusively eating kitten food)
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Dry food: Free feed (meaning you keep their dry food bowl full 24/7)
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Wet food: Should be offered 3-4 times daily.
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Non-clumping litter only
kittens 12 weeks to 1 year
(eating kitten or all-stages food)
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Dry: Free feed
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Wet food: Should be offered at least 2 times daily.
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Your preference for litter
senior cats 12+ years old
(eating senior or all-stages food)
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Wet food: Preferred. Some seniors can only eat wet food.
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Dry food: Can be offered in addition to wet; either free feed or feed according to package. May need to be moistened.
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If possible, feed smaller, more frequent meals 3-4 times a day to aid digestion.
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If your senior is losing weight, eating or drinking less/more than normal, contact GK Medical.
kittens weaned - 4.5 weeks
(exclusively eating kitten food)
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Wet food only. Preferably leave wet food out 24/7 and change when it looks icky. At a minimum, offer four times daily.
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Non-clumping litter only
Kittens 8-12 weeks
(exclusively eating kitten food)
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Dry food: Free feed
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Wet food: Should be offered 2-3 times daily
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Begin transitioning to clumping litter if desired at around 10 weeks old
cats 1+ years old
(eating adult or all-stages food)
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Dry: Free feed
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Wet food: Should be offered at least 2 times daily.
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Your preference for litter
pregnant cats, nursing queens
(eating kitten food)
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Dry: Free feed
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Wet food: Shoudl be offered at least 4 times daily.
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Non-clumping litter only one kittens born
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Flea medication must be pregnant and nursing cat friendly, NO ADVANTAGE. Revolution only.
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We created the foster tier system to ensure we could continue to help as many cats and kittens in need that are found by our fosters and volunteers while not burning through our human and financial resources to do so.
Tiers are listed below.
group A
Fosters who participate in the rescue as a whole, meaning they participate in activities that help the rescue function and grow. This includes being active in several of the following: fundraising, mentoring, fostering non self-sourced cats for GK, attending events, and volunteering at office, GKPAC, or in other roles.
Limitations:
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No limit on cats that are brought into the rescue that they will foster themselves within limitations of safe housing limits (e.g. no mixing litters).
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No limit on cats that are brought into the rescue that go to other fosters.
Expectations:
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No special expectations.
group
b
Fosters who consistently bring cats into the rescue and foster them themselves.
Limitations: No limit on cats that are brought into the rescue that they will foster themselves within limitations of safe housing limits (e.g. no mixing litters).
Expectations:
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Full cooperation with vetting & fundraising efforts for medical and fospice cases they brought in by:
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Promptly following GK Medical advice for appointments and treatments, AND
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Providing regular social media updates with fundraising links. For example, if you bring in a cat that is considered a fospice cat, you should be posting a new photo in Fans every two or so weeks with updates on how the cat is doing and fundraising links for those on medication or receiving treatment.
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Volunteer in at least one of the following activities: volunteering at GKPAC or office or in another role, mentoring, participating in events, fostering non self-sourced cats for GK, etc.
group
c
Fosters who consistently bring cats into the rescue and do NOT foster them all themselves.
Limitations:
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No limit on cats that are brought into the rescue that they will foster themselves within limitations of safe housing limits (e.g. no mixing litters).
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Can bring in one litter, one pregnant cat or nursing mom with babies, or 2 adults per month to go to another foster.
Expectations:
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Choose one of the following:
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Serve as a GK volunteer in another capacity, OR
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Provide their food, litter, and snap tests
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Full cooperation with vetting & fundraising efforts for medical and fospice cases they brought in and are fostering by:
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Promptly following GK Medical advice for appointments and treatments, AND
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Providing regular social media updates with fundraising links. For example, if you bring in a cat that is considered a fospice cat, you should be posting a new photo in Fans every two or so weeks with updates on how the cat is doing and fundraising links for those on medication or receiving treatment.
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group
D
Fosters who come on board to foster just one cat/litter that they are bringing into the rescue, or those who foster cats once in a while that they bring into the rescue.
Expectations:
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Must get negative snap test before official acceptance into rescue (can be done at GK Vet Tech appointment for $20 per cat)
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Must provide food and litter
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Need to fully cooperate with vetting & fundraising efforts for medical and fospice cases they brought in and are fostering by:
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Promptly following GK Medical advice for appointments and treatments, and
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Providing regular updates and photos to be used for fundraising & awareness efforts. For example, if you bring in a cat that is considered a fospice cat, you should be posting a new photo in Fans every two or so weeks with updates on how the cat is doing and fundraising links for those on medication or receiving treatment.
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The actions listed as expectations above are, of course, helpful and important in all cases, but moreso when you bring a cat into the rescue. Simply said, we will expect more help from you as a foster if you ask us to back you rescuing a cat with a broken leg versus us putting out a call for a foster for a cat with a broken leg and you volunteering to foster.