Join Wild Kitty Krew: Volunteer or Foster Today!

Are you looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of animals? If so, joining the Wild Kitty Krew as a volunteer or foster caregiver could be the perfect opportunity for you. With countless cats and kittens in need of loving homes, your support can have a profound impact. This blog post will explore the benefits of volunteering and fostering, how you can get involved, and the positive effects your actions can have on the community.

Volunteers using a catch pole to humanely secure a feral cat for neutering

Why Volunteer or Foster?

The Need for Volunteers

Every year, thousands of cats find themselves in on the streets, often due to abandonment or neglect. These animals require care, love, and attention to thrive. By volunteering, you can help provide that care. Here are some reasons why volunteering is essential:

• In the Oklahoma City metro area, animal welfare officials have estimated there are around 100,000 free-roaming cats — including stray and feral cats living outdoors.

• The Oklahoma Humane Society quoted about 98,000 feral cats and around 250 colonies in the Oklahoma City area.

• Volunteering with a cat TNR (Trap–Neuter–Return) group is a meaningful way to make a lasting difference for both cats and the community. TNR humanely reduces the number of stray and feral cats by preventing future litters, which helps stabilize and gradually decrease outdoor cat populations. Neutered cats are healthier, quieter, and less likely to roam or fight, leading to fewer injuries and nuisance behaviors.

• By volunteering, you help improve the lives of cats that may never be adoptable while also reducing shelter overcrowding and euthanasia rates. TNR programs create healthier colonies, protect local wildlife, and foster more compassionate community relationships. Whether you’re trapping, transporting, providing care, or helping with education and outreach, your time and effort directly support a proven, humane solution that benefits everyone involved.

  
  
  
  

The Joy of Fostering

Fostering is a unique way to help animals in need. It involves taking a cat or kitten into your home temporarily until they find a permanent family. Here are some benefits of fostering:

• Saving Lives: Fostering can literally save a cat's life. For those semi feral cats and kittens they just need someone to take a chance on them so they can learn how to be an inside cat.

• Personal Growth: Caring for a cat or kitten can be a rewarding experience that teaches responsibility, compassion, and patience.

• Building Connections: Fostering allows you to connect with other animal lovers and build a community of like-minded individuals who share your passion for helping animals.

  
  

How to Get Involved

Becoming a Volunteer

Getting started as a volunteer with Wild Kitty Krew is simple. Here’s how you can begin:

1. Fill Out an Application: Visit the Wild Kitty Krew website and complete a volunteer application form. This helps the organization understand your interests and availability.

2. Attend an Orientation: Once your application is approved, you will be invited to an orientation session. This session will provide you with essential information about the organization and your role as a volunteer.

3. Choose Your Role: Volunteers can assist in various capacities, including:

   1. Fostering: Provide a safe and loving environment until ready for adoption

   2. Trap-Neuter-Return: Help in a variety of ways with TNR. Trapping, Transporting, Providing a safe space before and after surgery, or Returning to their colonies

4. Administrative Tasks: Assisting with paperwork, social media, or outreach efforts.

   
   

Fostering a Cat

If you’re interested in fostering, the process is similar but with a few additional steps:

1. Complete a Foster Application: Fill out a specific application for fostering. This will include questions about your living situation, experience with animals, and preferences for the type of cat you’d like to foster.

2. Home Visit: A representative from Wild Kitty Krew may conduct a home visit to ensure your environment is safe and suitable for a cat.

3. Receive Your Foster Cat: Once approved, you’ll be matched with a cat or kitten that fits your lifestyle. The organization will provide you with supplies and guidance on how to care for your foster animal.

   
   

The Impact of Your Involvement

Positive Outcomes for Cats

Your involvement as a volunteer or foster caregiver can lead to numerous positive outcomes for the cats in your care:

• Increased Adoption Rates: Cats that receive love and attention in a foster home are often more social and better prepared for adoption, leading to higher adoption rates.

• Health Improvements: Foster caregivers can monitor the health of their cats, ensuring they receive necessary veterinary care and proper nutrition.

• Behavioral Development: Cats in foster homes often exhibit improved behavior, making them more appealing to potential adopters.

  
  

Community Benefits

Your efforts also extend beyond the individual cats. Here’s how your involvement can benefit the community:

• Education and Awareness: By volunteering and fostering, you can help educate others about the importance of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

• Strengthening Community Bonds: Working with others who share your passion for animals fosters a sense of community and collaboration.

• Encouraging Adoption: Your firsthand experience with fostering can inspire friends and family to consider adopting rather than buying pets.

  
  

Real-Life Success Stories

Meet Slate

Slate was a shy kitten found under a portable building in a soon to be construction area along with her four siblings. After being rescued by Wild Kitty Krew, she and her litter mates remained fosters in their care where they received love and socialization with other cats. We spent time playing with her and helping her overcome her fears. Within a few months, Slate was ready for adoption. She found her furever home with a young couple who fell in love with her playful personality, and she is absolutely thriving as a happy indoor cat.

Tips for Successful Fostering

If you decide to foster, here are some tips to ensure a successful experience:

• Create a Safe Space: Set up a designated area in your home where the cat can feel secure. This could be a separate room with food, water, a litter box, and toys.

• Be Patient: Every cat is different. Some may take time to adjust to their new environment. Give them space and time to feel comfortable.

• Stay in Touch with the Organization: Regularly communicate with Wild Kitty Krew about any concerns or questions. They can provide support and guidance throughout your fostering journey.

• Document Progress: Keep track of your foster cat’s behavior and health. This information can be helpful for potential adopters.

  
  

Conclusion

Joining the Wild Kitty Krew as a volunteer or foster caregiver is a fulfilling way to make a difference in the lives of cats in need. Your time and effort can lead to happier, healthier animals and a stronger community. Whether you choose to volunteer with TNR (trap-neuter-return) or open your home to a foster cat, you are playing a vital role in the journey of these animals toward finding their forever homes.

Ready to make a change? Complete your application today or email us to learn more about how you can get involved. Your support can create a brighter future for countless cats and kittens waiting for their chance at a loving home.