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Cat Foster Program Outcomes: Behavior, Stress, and Cat-Human Interaction.

Kristyn R Vitale¹, Delaney H Frank², Jocelyn Conroy²

¹Animal Health & Behavior, Distance Education, Unity College, New Gloucester, ME 04260, USA.

Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI

|September 9, 2022

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Short-term cat fostering, including overnight stays, is safe for shelter cats. This study found no increase in stress or behavioral issues, suggesting fostering can aid cats when shelter space is limited.

Area of Science:

Animal behavior and welfare
Veterinary science
Shelter medicine

Background:

Cats (Felis catus) possess greater social flexibility than commonly believed.
Traditional cat care is often based on the misconception of feline aloofness.
Limited research exists on the risks and benefits of cat fostering programs compared to dogs.

Purpose of the Study:

To empirically assess social, behavioral, and stress outcomes for shelter cats in short-term foster environments.
To evaluate the safety and welfare implications of overnight and 1-week cat fostering.

Main Methods:

Shelter cats were placed in foster homes for overnight or 1-week durations.
Social behavior, fear, aggression, and physiological stress (cortisol levels) were monitored.

Keywords:

Felis catus cat cat behavior cat–human interaction social behavior stress

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Main Results:

No statistically significant improvements in human-directed social behavior or stress levels were observed in foster cats.
Foster cats did not exhibit increased fear or aggression compared to shelter environments.
Cortisol levels in foster cats were not significantly higher than in cats remaining in shelters.

Conclusions:

Short-term cat fostering (overnight or 1-week) does not appear to be more stressful than remaining in a shelter.
Findings provide empirical evidence supporting the safety of moving cats to foster homes for short durations, aiding shelter capacity.
Further research is recommended on long-term fostering and practices enhancing cat welfare in foster care.