Our cats and kittens most urgently in need of foster are listed below. If you are new to fostering with us, please apply here to get started. If you’ve fostered with us before, you can call each location directly at the phone numbers listed below. When you arrive to meet or pick up potential fosters, please bring a carrier with you (if you do not have a carrier, let us know). We will provide you with a sample of what the cat has been eating here in the shelter, along with the cat’s paperwork and any meds they may be on.

For a refresher on PAWS’s foster policies and procedures, view our online orientation here

Every time an animal leaves into foster care, it opens a space in our shelters to save another in need. You are truly changing lives: not just for these cats, but also for others whose lives depend on a spot at PAWS. Read on to find your next foster kitty!

(updated April 19th 2025)

 

Urgent Medical & Behavior Cats

These cats need to finish their medical recovery to become healthy enough for adoption. They will heal faster and be much happier in a home than in the shelter. ​

	Name: Honey & Blue *URGENT* Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/13/2025 These two poor kitties are super duper stressed at our shelter! They were surrendered because their owner could no longer logistically care for them, and they’ve been understandably confused and stressed at their new surroundings- Honey has even started hunger striking, and sometimes rarely leaves her hidey hut. We’re hoping to reunite these two bonded friends asap, and we’re starting them both on Gabapentin to hopefully lower their stress levels until we can get them out. It seems to be helping thus far, but they’re still a bit shy. Honey is around 6 years old, already spayed; Blue is about 7 years old, already neutered. They can start adoption promo once they’ve settled into foster care and are eating regularly again.
	Name: Crunchwrap *URGENT* Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/13/2025 Crunchie almost looks more like a little bear than a cat- he’s adorable and scrungly! He’s around 9ish years old, give or take (hard to confirm since he’s got no teefs!), and he’s already neutered. He’s a bit skinny, he’s on an antibiotic for a stubborn URI, and he’s gradually recovering from anemia. We’d like to recheck him in about a week to see how his anemia and cold recovery is coming along, and once he’s feeling better and gotten a little glow-up in foster care, he can start adoption promo! Crunchie’s such a sweetie~ Look how much he loves pets!!
	Name: Lady Kluck Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/13/2025 Miss Lady here is a unique little gal- she’s missing most of her left front leg! We’re not sure what happened (if she was born this way, etc) but the leg seems to be causing her some trouble, so we’re planning to amputate what little is left of it to prevent potential wounds or pain if the nub opens. Lady is also being treated for an autoimmune condition called pododermatitis, or ‘pillowfoot’. This chronic condition doesn’t have a cure BUT can be successfully mitigated via a once-daily drop of her antibiotic, Doxycycline. She’ll be taking this for life to keep her feetsies happy and healthy! Lady is already spayed and around 4ish years old. Once she’s healed from her amputation she can start adoption promo. UPDATE: Lady Kluck had her leg amputated on 4/19 and would love a foster home to recover.
	Name: Sky Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/13/2025 Meet Sky! She’s chonky! Like, so chunky so cannot groom her lady bits, and needs some foster help. She’s 18.2 pounds, but should be closer to ~11lbs to be back at a healthier weight again. The excess weight is going to put too much pressure on her leggies as she ages, if she doesn’t drop some pounds asap. She is also getting daily wipes around her anus and perivulvar areas for a few days to start, because of the aforementioned struggles to clean herself, but she may need occasional follow-up maintenance during her weight loss journey, if she ever develops irritation again. Sky is around 7ish years old and already spayed, so she can start adoption promo soon. Her owner also reported possible (but very much unconfirmed) seizure-like activity in the home. They gave limited info on the episode(s) and we don’t have any vet care history documents to confirm if she has had any actual seizures, so some general monitoring would be fantastic in foster care! See Sky enjoying some wand toy time~
	Name: 2Paw Shakur Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 3/20/2025 2Paw is a very special little lady. As her name suggests, she -literally- only has two paws. Both her back paws are long gone, though we don’t know what happened to them- old injury? Congenital defect? Umbilical cord mishap as a newborn? Dunno! She gets around pretty well, all things considered, and in a pinch sometimes just walks on her front paws- she’s amazing! One of 2Paw’s back legs, her right one, is shorter than the other, and as a result of its length it hits the ground more directly than her back left leg. When she first arrived at PAWS, this leg had a healing wound on its tip, and we spent a few weeks bandaging it so it could heal. We are now trying to see how 2Paw can do navigating with this leg in a home environment- preferably in a carpeted space!- to see if the ‘nub’ can callus over or if it will open up again from repeat use. If it’s the latter, we may try a special surgery to give it more protection, though if it stays nice and closed she can be adopted out as-is. 2Paw may not be able to do things like climb stairs or tall furniture, and will need a low sided litterbox to skidoodle in and out of, but she is doing her best to live her version of a normal life. Legs aside, she looks great- good appetite, understands the litterbox, grooms herself. We recommend blocking off stairs with a baby gate (PAWS can loan you one if needed!). update 4/15: 2Paw just started an antibiotic for a kitty cold!
	Name: Havoc Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 3/23/2025 We are thinking of renaming Havoc to Houdini – this guy is an escape artist! Havoc was recently returned from his foster after he learned to open doors, and the resident cat was not a fan. Now he is looking for a foster home where he can be the only pet and eventually free roam in the entire home. He loves people and just wants attention, but he’ll let you know when he’s had enough attention. Havoc recently got neutered, had an eyelid surgery, and had a jaw repair! He’s handled all of this medical care with grace and is ready to recover in style. Havoc currently takes gabapentin in his food and also gets an eye ointment twice a day. He also has a little ‘button’ implanted on his chin to help correct his jaw. This will eventually need recheck and removal. He is a total charmer and would love to meet you!
	Name: Chicken Little Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/2/2025 Chicken Little is a special guy! He came to us with a wonky gait and muscle wasting in his hips and hind legs. We worried he might’ve suffered a lower back injury, but upon analyzing his xrays, it all actually seems to be foot-related. We’re not sure if his gait and muscle condition are from lack of activity after his foot injury and/or if there’s any nerve damage in addition to what we saw on his xrays, but we’re going to start him on some nice Gabapentin for his ouchies, and also start some neat physical therapy exercises! These can be done for 5-10 minutes, ideally three times a day in foster care, and we can show you how to do his PT! (It’s going to be easy, no fancy degree required.) Look at Chicken enjoying playtime!
	Name: Stomperson Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/16/2025 This skinny li’l string bean is Stomperson! Yes, it’s an odd name. He’s estimated to be under 2 years old, already neutered, and came to us pretty skinny and anemic! He’ll be taking a once-daily oral liquid antibiotic for a couple weeks to start, and once he’s gained a few more pounds (he was about 3.5lbs at arrival, but he’s definitely not a kitten!) we want to recheck his bloodwork to confirm his anemia is resolving/ed appropriately. Health aside, he’s a very engaging, social butterfly, and would love a home that can give him lots of playtime and attention!

Cats/Kittens in Need of Foster Transfer or Sitter

These kitties are already in foster but could really use a new foster home, to avoid having to come back to the shelter!

	Name: Lloyd *URGENT needs foster transfer by April 20th!* Location: foster care – this pet is not at the shelter Lloyd is a beautiful and fuzzy 4 year old orange tabby that’s recovering from eye surgery very well! Despite his proud lion look, Lloyd is a bit of a nervous boy at heart. Trusting new people is hard, we get it buddy! Because of this we’re looking for a cat savvy foster that’s willing to work through his initial difficulty adjusting to new spaces. Lloyd’s current foster is going away on a long trip so they are unable to hold onto this sweetie, but he has made amazing strides in his current home! The first few days in their home, he showed fear-based behaviors like hissing, swatting, and occasional accidents outside the litterbox, but luckily this isn’t a long term issue! Lloyd’s current foster has noted these behaviors ended once he got used to their space and describe him as “sweet chill dude” that loves gentle pets and the occasional low energy play session. Lloyd is already available for adoption, but we’d prefer to keep him out of the stressful shelter environment if possible!
	Name: Maurice *Needs foster sitter from ~4/30-5/4* Location: foster care – this pet is not at the shelter Maurice needs a sitter for a few days, since his fosters are moving! “Hi all! Looking for a temporary foster for Maurice from about April 30th-May 4th, with some flexibility in those dates. My partner and I are moving to a new place, and with the hustle/bustle and movers we think Maurice would be better off on a little vacation for a few days. He is FIV+, he takes a once a day allergy pill, and gets a daily mouth rinse for gingivitis- all easy to give! He is a pretty easygoing guy with a great temperament and is generally pretty happy doing his own thing, as long as he gets his meals on time.”  If you can help out Maurice, please email foster@phillypaws.org!
	Name: Tootie *Safety Net, needs foster transfer ASAP* Location: foster care – this pet is not at the shelter Tootie is a Safety Net kitty in foster care who needs transfer asap! Her tentative reclaim date is 5/23, but ideally a potential foster would be able to hang onto her for a few extra weeks, if needed, since reclaim date extension requests are very common in our Safety Net program. Here’s more info about her below from her current foster: “Tootie has been an absolute joy to have around. She’s about 1–2 years old, super cuddly, and playful. She spends her days snoozing in my lap while I work, and in between meetings, we get in a little laser pointer or ribbon toy time. She’s eating and drinking well, no special diet, and loves being around her human. That said, one of my resident cats is not a fan, and has been bullying her despite very slow introductions and close monitoring (the scratches on her nose break my heart!). They’ve had a few squabbles—even with separation—and I think Tootie would really thrive in a pet-free home. She’s also peed in my dog’s bed a couple of times, so that’s another reason I think she’d do best as the only animal for now. Tootie actually has a lovely sponsor who’s covered food and litter for her, and I’m more than happy to pass those along and/or help with any other supplies needed.”
	Name: Jet *needs foster transfer by April 30th!* Location: foster care – this pet is not at the shelter Jet is a 6(ish) year old girl who’s quite the couch potato. She wants nothing more than to sit with you while watching television, or just relaxing in her ‘tent’ bed to take a nap. She also loves to be brushed and will give you all the purrs. Jet’s current foster will no longer be able to foster her starting April 30th, so she needs foster transfer asap. Jet is an amazing girl, and has come SO far, and we’d hate for her to have go back to the shelter. Jet is special because she historically has had persistently elevated liver enzymes in her bloodwork that previously led to jaundice, which has thankfully resolved. She’s on two medications (liquid, given once daily) due to said liver enzymes and, while still a little elevated, her liver levels in her bloodwork are improving very nicely! She will next be due back to recheck her liver levels in either April or May. And her medication is easy enough to give even though she isn’t the biggest fan, and Jet has also already started her adoption promotion. Her foster can provide some of her current supplies, though Jet may need a taller litterbox- if you want to borrow one from PAWS, just let us know! PAWS will provide any needed medication refills.
	Name: Ferdinand *Needs foster transfer by 1st week of May* Location: foster care – this pet is not at the shelter Look at this handsome little gentleman! His name is Ferdinand and he is a lovely little lap cat / wand toy wizard / couch potato hybrid, who can be cuddly with a nice splash of playful and chatty. He may be nervous in new situations, but once adjusted he is a nice mix of social and independent. Ferdinand was surrendered by his previous owners because of some litter box struggles, which started after his declaw procedure and several pounds of weight gain occurred. He arrived at PAWS clocking in at 16.58 pounds, though after moving into foster care, he’s slimmed down to a much healthier 14lbs and has had zero litterbox issues! He also gets a wee bit of Gabapentin to ease any potential foot pain post-declaw, and takes it beautifully in his meals. Ferdie would benefit from an adult-only home as the only kitty, to ensure his space stays as low-stress and low-commotion as possible. He is around 2ish years old, and already neutered.
	Name: Quartz *needs foster transfer by June 7th!* Location: foster care – this pet is not at the shelter Originally adopted from PAWS almost a decade ago, Quartz was found as a stray during the winter and is now back with PAWS. She’s around 12 years old and already spayed, and she has a couple health needs we’re supporting! Medication-wise, she takes a twice-daily Methimazole gel in her ear for Hyperthyroidism, and three daily doses of Keppra tabs for a seizure disorder— all of which are well-controlled and just part of her daily rhythm. Her foster mom can vouch that she takes her meds like a champ and still has plenty of cozy, cuddly energy to share! Regarding Quartz’s seizure history, she historically has had full seizures -a couple times a month before starting meds- and ‘focal seizures’ that manifest as facial twitching a few times a day. And given that she is an older gal, her legs aren’t as strong as they used to be, so while Quartz often loves a good nap on the couch (perhaps with some help getting up) jumping and climbing is a little tough for her nowadays. We suspect she has arthritis, so we’re keeping an eye on her mobility and comfort level! Super Senior Kitty status aside, Quartz really is a gem- she loves attention (and catnip) and can be SUPER sweet and goofy! Quartz’s current foster is okay hanging onto her until early June. If she’s not adopted by then, she will need a transfer by 6/7!
	Name: Stella *needs foster transfer by June 1st!* Location: foster care – this pet is not at the shelter Stella was originally adopted from PAWS as a wee babe, but found herself back with us due to some changes in her adoptive home. Stella would do best as the only pet in the home (she prefers to be the Queen Bee), but frankly, she’s worth 10 cats! She would prefer a quieter and adult-only home where she can have her amazing zoomies in peace and quiet! Stella’s current foster will be moving in June, so Stella will need new foster placement if she’s not adopted out by 6/1! We previously had Stella at our Grays Ferry and Old City locations, but she has a tendency to hunger strike when at our buildings, and as a result of eating inconsistently, she then gets constipated. She has been well regulated with her appetite and her litterbox patterns in foster care, and we’d really love to keep it that way! ♥ Stella’s already spayed, about 11ish years old, and has already started her adoption promo. She’s a fairly low-key gal with some goofy moments, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down despite her senior status! She will come to her new foster home with Gabapentin for any transitional anxiety, as well as her Miralax powder that she was previously taking for past constipation.

Kitten Litters (Including Nursing Moms)

These young kittens need a foster home until all are ready for adoption. Some have come in with a nursing momma! Kitten Litters (Including Nursing Moms)

Ringworm Cats and Kittens

These cats are recovering from a skin infection that’s easily treatable in an isolated home environment. Caring for these kitties is easy and just takes careful persistence and a separate space in your home. Read out our foster parent guide to ringworm to learn more!

	Name: Edmund *URGENT* Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 3/12/2025 This handsome lug is Edmund – he’s around 2ish years old, already neutered, and being treated for ringworm on the back of his neck! He is still eligible for adoption promo, since he’s already neutered, but he’d certainly have a much, much nicer time kicking his fungal friends to the curb in foster care, rather than at the shelter! Ringworm aside, though Edmund is a real sweetie- he’s a social butterfly who is very sad to be out in our ringworm trailer, away from where all the people are! He’s an energetic young guy who would love to get more attention in foster care than we can give him at the shelter. More info about ringworm treatment can be found here! You can see more Edmund action via this link as well as this one!
	Name: Truffula *URGENT* Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/1/2025 Truffula here is around 2ish years old and being treated for ringworm! She otherwise appears to be in okay shape, minus looking a smidge scruffly. Since she cannot be spayed yet due to said ringworm, she is eligible to begin promotion for Pre-Adoption, where an approved adopter would take over fostering her until she is cleared for spay and adoption finalization. Truffula would looove to blow this rinwormy pop stand that is our treatment trailer and get into a foster home asap! More info about ringworm treatment can be found here! Check out Truffula being adorable!
	Name: Eureka! *URGENT* Location: Grays Ferry Clinic Date of Arrival: 4/09/2025 A little shy at first, Eureka would love to get more TLC time to build up her confidence in foster care! After a few minutes of one-on-one time she’ll show off her elevator booty with some scritchies and roll over while getting pets! We can see a happy, goofy girl behind that shyness; she just needs a little help to come back out! Eureka is being treated for suspected ringworm and has a pending culture, though overall her fur looks pretty good, so we have high hopes that she can kick her infection quickly. She’s around 4 years old, still needs to be spayed, and can also start pre-adopt promo asap. More info about ringworm treatment can be found here. You can see Eureka being cute here! Eureka may seem shy but she really likes pets!

 

Shy Cats and Safety Net Program Cats

These cats are very sensitive to the stress caused by the loud shelter environment and need a loving home setting to relax and let their personalities emerge. Learn more about our Safety Net Foster Program here.

Please check back later!

Old City Adoption Center

These cats are waiting for foster care from our Old City location!

	Name: Khaleesi Location: Old City Date of Arrival: 4/12/2025 Calling all senior-loving fosters for this silly goose! If you’re wondering who this goofy looking alien is, this is Khaleesi! She’s a 10 year old lady, with a stout little frame, adorable big expressive eyes and the cutest little meow! Khaleesi was recently surrendered due to life changes in the adopters home, and is now at the Old City Adoption Center ready for adoption. Unfortunately, since she spent the majority of her life in a home, this little lass is having a hard time adjusting to the shelter environment and has been a bit shut down. We’d love to get her into a cozy quiet foster home without any other pets or kids. She takes gabapentin twice a day for her hyperaesthesia (a condition that causes overstimulation or hypersensitivity to stimuli). Otherwise, Khaleesi has a mild dental disease that may need a dental in the future, but isn’t a high priority at the moment. The previous owner described Khaleesi as friendly, independent, affectionate and mellow in the home, so she’s a pretty low maintenance gal!

Social Cats (including FAST Candidates)

These sociable cats need a foster home! NOTE: If you are taking a foster cat that’s a FAST program candidate, it will be slated to be dropped off at our PetSmart or Old City locations for adoption within 2-3 weeks, since we need to keep those locations filled with adoptable kitties!

Please check back later!