It Takes a Village to Save a Cat
Found a cat and able to give them a temporary home?
As the number of cats needing rescue has grown, we often reach capacity for extended periods, leading to a long waiting list for foster homes.
Our Community Foster Program allows us to help more cats with your help. The person who finds the cat provides a home and daily care, while Hyde Park Cats helps with veterinary care and the adoption process.
Community fostering may not be appropriate for an unsocialized outdoor cat who should be evaluated for trap-neuter-return, or TNR. If you’re unsure, contact us!
How the program works
As a community foster, you agree to:
Provide a safe indoor home and everyday care
Cover all the cat’s veterinary costs
Share photos and updates
Help transport to vet appointments and facilitate adoption meetings
Keep us informed if you decide to adopt the cat, rehome them yourself, or work with another rescue
Hyde Park Cats will:
Guide you through the fostering and rehoming process
Help schedule the cat’s veterinary care
Advertise the cat for adoption after they are spayed or neutered
Screen adoption applicants
Coordinate the adoption process
Veterinary care and costs
Initial vetting costs average around $125–$163, depending on the clinic and the cat. Hyde Park Cats is billed directly by the clinic, so community fosters reimburse Hyde Park Cats for vet care.
Full vetting generally includes:
Spay or neuter surgery
Vaccinations
A microchip
Flea treatment and deworming
If we adopt the cat out, we can reimburse your medical expenses up to the amount of the adoption fee.
Community fosters remain responsible for any additional vet care until the cat officially enters the Hyde Park Cats foster program. Once the cat enters our program, Hyde Park Cats will cover approved veterinary care going forward.
Finding the cat a home
Once the cat has been spayed or neutered, Hyde Park Cats will post them for adoption and begin screening applicants.
You may also decide to:
Adopt the cat yourself
Find an adopter through your own network
Work with another rescue organization
Please tell us as soon as your plans change. Cats should not be listed with more than one rescue at the same time, and clear communication helps everyone avoid duplicate work.
Never give the cat to an adopter without careful screening. Hyde Park Cats can help guide you through the process.
Low-cost veterinary resources
If you choose to participate in our Community Foster Program, you may find these local veterinary resources helpful for routine, incidental, or other care. You are welcome to use these providers if you prefer to arrange veterinary care on your own.
PAWS Chicago Lurie Clinic — Chicago
South Suburban Humane Society Clinic — Matteson
NAWS Humane Society Clinic — Mokena
Humane Indiana Estelle Marcus Clinic — Munster, IN
Anti-Cruelty Care Clinic — Chicago
Ready to get started?
Contact Hyde Park Cats with:
Clear photos of the cat
Where and when the cat was found
What you know about their health and behavior
Whether you have checked for a microchip
How long you can provide care
