Company for Ginny - Fostering?

[Janeyk]

After reading the CP fostering guidelines tonight, it states that resident cats and foster cats MUST be kept completely separately and for very good reasons. It can be distressing to introduce cats and then if they bond and have to be separated, this can also be very upsetting indeed. Lots of health and behaviour conditions can occur. Some rescues do let you mix but I personally don't think it's wise.
If you really want a friend for Ginny then why not offer a rescue cat a lovely forever home? 

Totally agree, it wouldn't be fair for Ginny to make friends then take them from her, I wouldn't see fostering as fulfilling her needs.  If she wants a pal I would adopt a permanent friend for her.

[Beth]

After reading the CP fostering guidelines tonight, it states that resident cats and foster cats MUST be kept completely separately and for very good reasons. It can be distressing to introduce cats and then if they bond and have to be separated, this can also be very upsetting indeed. Lots of health and behaviour conditions can occur. Some rescues do let you mix but I personally don't think it's wise.
If you really want a friend for Ginny then why not offer a rescue cat a lovely forever home? 

Yeah... maybe getting a second cat would be the best plan, i can always pursue fostering later on.

In that case... does anyone know of any long haired cats/kittens in the southampton area okay with cats, dogs, and a small boy? (I realise i could be in for a long wait  )

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

After reading the CP fostering guidelines tonight, it states that resident cats and foster cats MUST be kept completely separately and for very good reasons. It can be distressing to introduce cats and then if they bond and have to be separated, this can also be very upsetting indeed. Lots of health and behaviour conditions can occur. Some rescues do let you mix but I personally don't think it's wise.
If you really want a friend for Ginny then why not offer a rescue cat a lovely forever home? 

[Beth]

Personally i dont think foster cats should be mixed with resident cats, if you do then some quarantine time is essential. Theres many invisible problems that can rear their ugly head, so something to think about. A toddler and a dog would help socialise a cat so shouldnt be viewed as a bad thing

That was something i'd thought of too, and i thought maybe a large dog crate downstairs could be a safe haven for a foster cat which could then be kept downstairs, and as Ginny is as yet not brave enough to venture downstairs then they could be separate for a quarantine period/indefinitely. (the company for Ginny would then arise if i failed at fostering )

[Millys Mum]

Personally i dont think foster cats should be mixed with resident cats, if you do then some quarantine time is essential. Theres many invisible problems that can rear their ugly head, so something to think about. A toddler and a dog would help socialise a cat so shouldnt be viewed as a bad thing

[Beth]

I think Ginny would love some kitty company (she saw a cat on TV yesterday and was trying to play with it  )

I'm unsure whether to get a second cat myself, or possibly start fostering, i think the fostering would be something i'd find really rewarding. Would any rescues even use someone with a toddler and dogs to foster? If anyone can recommend any rescues local to southampton, who are either happy to re-home or to foster to someone like me then i'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

I was considering contacting the rescue Ginny came from but as they are in wales and i don't drive i think fostering for them would be out of the question really.