Want a kitten but aren’t ready for the commitment?
The Stockton Animal Shelter is offering supplies and support to potential foster families. According to Sheri Giles, the shelter’s kitten foster coordinator, fostering has great developmental benefits.
“The benefits are definitely really, really good,” Giles said. “When they’re here (the shelter), they’re obviously in a kennel and we don’t have the ability to help socialize them.”
Currently, Giles estimates that the shelter has triple the usual number of kittens in custody. The large quantity of kittens makes it difficult for each animal to receive one-on-one human interaction.
“When they go into foster care, they get better socialized,” Giles said. “If they’re having any issues, like medical issues or issues with drinking, it’s much easier for that to be noticed by a person who’s able to watch them rather than when they’re here in a kennel.”
In 2024, the City of Stockton Animal Services released its annual animal outcome statistics. 3,829 cats were taken in that year, 2,736 of those were strays. Out of all cats, only about 30% were adopted. Even more somberly, about 17% faced euthanization. Taking kitties in can save shelter space and lives.
The shelter will provide situationally relevant supplies to foster parents. For example, bottle-fed babies are given formula, syringes and nipples to feed them. Underweight weaned kittens are sent with wet food, dry food and pine-based litter, according to Giles.
Worried about navigating fosterhood? The shelter is prepared to provide medical support and guidance to kitten guardians. Those interested can email kittenfoster@stocktonca.gov or call (209) 659-4223.
For kitten-averse individuals, the shelter also needs foster care for other animals. Learn more here.