Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.
We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.
Our vision for volunteering
Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.
The difference you will make to cats and people
Across the UK, we have volunteers helping to hand-rear kittens who have either lost their mother, been abandoned, or their mum is just too sick to look after them.
This is a very hands-on role providing every aspect of care a kitten needs; including handfeeding approx. every two hours day and night, medicating, socialising, toileting and weaning on to solid food. You will be providing excellent care and a great start in life for kittens who will then go on to be rehomed by our cat centre. We will be with you every step of the way providing training, information, equipment and support. So if you have experience in handling kittens or have a veterinary nursing or animal welfare background then this extremely rewarding role may be for you!
You can expect us to
- Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
- Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
- Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
- Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities
A bit more information about this role and the team
We are currently looking for kitten hand-rear fosterers in Northern Ireland. This is an extremely hands on volunteer role that requires dedication throughout all hours of the day and night. Only those with prior experience will be considered due to the nature of this volunteer role. If this sounds like something you might be suited to, please complete an application and we can send you some further information and discuss what the role might entail.
What we need from you
You’ll be:
- Providing a consistent feeding regime (newborn kittens must be fed every 2 - 2.5 hours)
- Toileting – stimulating the kittens to pass urine and faeces before and after feeding until at least three weeks old
- Maintaining minimum veterinary and cat care standards
- Cleaning and looking after the cats’ environment and equipment including a strict hygiene regime to prevent disease
- Administering medication as required
- Socialising the kittens appropriately according to Cats Protections’ kitten socialisation plan to prepare kittens for their life in a home
- Taking kittens to the vets and visiting the cat centre as required
Time expectation
Our volunteer hand-rearers usually spend three to five hours over a 24-hour period in this role, but this might vary depending on the number of kittens in care.
You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!
We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.
