For adoption, this place is typical: pay a small fee and take your new adorable cat(s) home! For fostering, however, go elsewhere. There are many other organizations that will not only give you a formal training on what's expected of a foster (and caring for sick kittens and cats), but will actively support you by covering the vet bills, food and litter--such as the Best Friends Animal Society. They will also lead the charge with getting the cat(s) adopted quickly, involving you in the decision as much as you would like.
So, when you do your research, be careful! There are a few groups that facilitate fostering, such as groups of idealistic--and potentially corrupt--individuals raising money on Facebook or Twitter to save cats from being killed at local shelters (with money raised by how much the others like a particular cat, rather than the money in general going to a pool; in the end, the foster of the saved cat doesn't see a dime of that, so where did the money go?!). And, these groups, though very informal, may claim to offer the same support as a brick and mortar organization. But, if my experience speaks any truth, I will tell that I was given a sick mother with three sick kittens from one of these Facebook groups and showed up at the "affiliated" vet where all bills were supposed to be covered only to be turned away unless I put my own credit card down. Fortunately, Cat Connection LA wasn't that group. BUT, there was a point in 2012 when I brought in my second foster cat (the one from CatCo, not the Facebook group) to the vet that CatCo works with, and the vet told me that this was the last visit CatCo was covering. (Further, I was supposed to receive financial support for the food and litter, but that stopped after the first three months--and my emails and phone calls to the funder were ignored.) For all intents and purposes, it seemed that, after about the first 6-12 months, CatCo had dropped this special needs cat on me without my permission.
Fast forward a few years later, and my life required a hiatus from fostering (aka forced adoption). I hadn't heard from CatCo since 2012, so I figured that I was likely alone in my search for a temporary foster. But, surprisingly, after not hearing a word from Adrienne, my contact at CatCo, she responded to my request for help. She said finding a foster would be impossible, as it was kitten season and my estimated 3-6 month need was a bit long. But, she said she could board Harley for 3 months if needed; meanwhile, I found a foster who could commit to help, meaning Adrienne's offer became my contingency plan. She also told me that the vet who told me CatCo was no longer covering the cat's care was wrong, and that she assumed for the past 3 or 4 years that I had been bringing my cat, Harley (formerly known as Alexander) in for care (despite receiving no updates to his medical records or any bills indicating as much). She proceeded to colorfully blame me for believing the vet, after previously always saying, "Do whatever the vet wants. She's great. You can trust her." Anyway, given I could now bring Harley in and get his dental cleaning done on CatCo's dime, I dealt with her condemnation, focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel.
Fast forward again, this time to my visit to the vet to get his comped check up. I speak to Adrienne to ask to get a test approved, and she says yes but then starts telling me she no longer wants to go along with my fostering plan, and instead I would have to adopt him that moment (and lose her boarding offer) or leave him there for good. She said she didn't want the "hassle" of dealing with the foster I found and didn't "trust" that they would care for the cat well. Yet, she's never met me in person and I became her foster without any training or vetting... and she hadn't contacted me in about FOUR YEARS to see how the cat was doing (though her vet verified I gave exceptional care to the point where he is off his meds). I questioned her change of heart, and she didn't like that one bit. She kept reiterating that she didn't care about her relationship with me, just about the cat and avoiding the hassle of a new foster. I told her I thought that the plan we had was the best--the cat stays in a home he knows (his foster is the person who has cat sit for me many times over the years) until I get settled again. I also reminded her that she wouldn't have known the difference had I not reached out to her after years of her never showing a dose of concern over his well-being. She had no response. In the end, I never saw the cat after he went back for his lab test. I told her I will adopt him after her change of heart, but now she won't let me. Worse yet, Beverly Oaks continues to work with her! Update: I heard my Harley has asthma from the anxiety of living with his new owner. All that I have now are tears and memories.
Bottom line: Great for adoption and a temp no-kill home, but don't foster through CatCo. read more