Volunteer
We'd Love Your Help.
The strength and success of Fat Kitty City come from our amazing and dedicated team of volunteers. We are always looking for more volunteers to help us in a number of ways.
Whether it is helping out in the office, taking care of the kitties at the Sanctuary, assisting at our weekly adoption events or fostering, we can always use the help!
We are accepting adult volunteers. If you are an adult interested in volunteering, please fill out our Volunteer Application.
Whether it is helping out in the office, taking care of the kitties at the Sanctuary, assisting at our weekly adoption events or fostering, we can always use the help!
We are accepting adult volunteers. If you are an adult interested in volunteering, please fill out our Volunteer Application.
Our Greatest Volunteer Needs Currently Are
ANIMAL FOSTER
CAT KEEPER
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETER
- We are in great need of fosters to care for kittens until they are ready for adoption
- We are in desperate need of fosters for adult cats who do not do well at the sanctuary, and who need a home environment
- We will provide all the food and litter, and we will cover medical needs
- If you think you might be interested in fostering, please take the time to complete our Foster Application. If you have any questions about the foster application, please contact Fat Kitty City by phone at (916) 939-3418
CAT KEEPER
- Requires a commitment of at least one day a week
- Help keep an eye on all our sanctuary cats and monitor their well-being
- Awareness of basic feline care
- Have basic knowledge of cat breeds and be willing to try and remember names
- Should be willing to help report health & behavior concerns while spending time with the cats
- Should have basic cat handling skills and be willing to learn advanced handling skills
- Ability to help clean kitty messes- you know the yucky stuff
- Smartphone is a must so you can report the extra yucky stuff when it doesn't look normal
- Requires a commitment of one day a week
- MUST LOVE CATS!
- Basic cat behavior knowledge
- Ability to brush cats or help kitties with special needs
- Help create enrichment activities and play with cats
- Sharing progress on specific cases as needed
- Help adoption counselors in describing cats up for adoption
- Requires a commitment of one day a week to an AM or PM shift
- Feed dry food/wet food, provide clean water and scoop litter boxes
- Work in teams of 3-4 people
- A minimum commitment of three months is required
- Training requires shadowing of feeder teams
- Clean buildings, acclimation cages, change bedding, disinfect litter boxes, etc.
- Help with the basics of fundraising
- Experience is preferred but not required
- Experienced grant writers only, please
- Experience preferred
- Take videos and pictures of cats, volunteers, workgroups
- Create engaging digital photo albums
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETER
- Experience preferred
- Post and update news and events
- Engage our existing followers and grow new ones
- Create visually appealing graphics and content
- Identify affiliate marketing opportunities
- Support fundraising efforts with unique marketing campaigns
- Must have license and transportation
- Shuttle cats/kittens to and from the sanctuary to Petco and/or Petsmart stores or to vet appointments- may also pick up from community members
- On-call position
- Requires a commitment of one Saturday and/or Sunday a month
- Minimum of one month required
- Work with adoption team to find loving homes for our deserving kitties through thorough screening, background checks and filling out the appropriate paperwork
- Training requires shadowing adoption teams a minimum of three times
- Adoption hours:
- PetSmart Folsom (IRON POINT RD): Hours available Sat. & Sun. 11a-4p
- Petco Cameron Park: Saturday 11a-3p
- Petco Folsom: by appointment
What is Planned Giving?
Planned giving means that you plan today to make a contribution to Fat Kitty City Sanctuary either now or in the future. Typical planned gifts are: Wills, Endowments to “restricted funds,” gifts of personal or real property, and beneficiary designations of insurance policies or investments you own. A planned gift also helps to insure the Sanctuary will be able to fund, in perpetuity, programs and services aimed at benefiting the quality of life for animals. Unrestricted contributions are vital to the Sanctuary’s ability to respond to an emergency or crisis, as well as to the ever changing needs of animals in the community. These gifts support the varied programs and initiatives of our shelter.
Can I Make a Difference?
There are several other options available. Your choice depends on your goals. An attorney or CPA can assist you in preparation of a Charitable Gift Annuity, Charitable Remainder Trust, Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity, or a Living Trust.
For more information on planned giving options, please contact [email protected]
- Giving Through A Will – Whether your estate is large or small, preparing a Will now provides an orderly process to benefit your loved ones and to help benefit animals. You can give a specific percentage of your estate or a specific dollar amount, or you can leave a specific asset. You can also donate the remainder of your estate after expenses and gifts to your family. You may wish to notify us as to the terms and conditions of bequests you make to ensure your gift is handled as you desire.
- Restricted Endowments – Restricted gifts allow you to choose a particular program that you wish to support. It limits the use of your contribution to this program only.
- Gifts of Personal and Real Estate Property – Your donation of personal or real estate property which may appreciate in the future allows for a meaningful gift that grows in value. Donating assets which have already increased in value can save you capital gains taxes, generate a current tax deduction, and reduce your federal estate tax. These assets include real estate, stocks, bonds, collectibles, and more. Your attorney can help you select the right asset to best suit your situation.
- Beneficiary Designations – Life insurance gifts may be contributed as a form of bequest without a Will. You may designate the Fat Kitty City Humane Society as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy or as the contingent beneficiary if your primary beneficiary predeceases you. An annuity or mutual fund, bank account, pension or retirement account may offer you the same opportunity to elect the Shelter as your beneficiary or contingent beneficiary.
There are several other options available. Your choice depends on your goals. An attorney or CPA can assist you in preparation of a Charitable Gift Annuity, Charitable Remainder Trust, Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity, or a Living Trust.
For more information on planned giving options, please contact [email protected]
Sponsor a Kitty
Sponsor a cat that is not eligible for adoption for its lifetime for a one time $1000 donation (a feral or a cat that has special needs). Your donation includes photos, updates (including medical care), video per year, and a plaque with the name of an animal (your choice) on the entrance to the sanctuary.
Upon the passing of the cat, a memorial will be placed in the cemetery in memory of your support. If a cat passes away, the lifetime support can be transferred to another cat.
Upon the passing of the cat, a memorial will be placed in the cemetery in memory of your support. If a cat passes away, the lifetime support can be transferred to another cat.
Become a Fat Kitty City Guardian Angel
Becoming a Guardian Angel is easy: just choose a cat to sponsor from the pictures above or contact us to discuss your choice. Then, simply visit our donation page to Become a Guardian Angel.
If you prefer, you may mail your request and tax-deductible check to:
Fat Kitty City
2222 Francisco Dr.
Suite 220
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Or become a member of Fat Kitty City through a convenient recurring monthly payment or simply make a single payment each year. Just visit our Donate Page to set up an easy membership payment plan.
Please call us at 916-939-3418.
If you prefer, you may mail your request and tax-deductible check to:
Fat Kitty City
2222 Francisco Dr.
Suite 220
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Or become a member of Fat Kitty City through a convenient recurring monthly payment or simply make a single payment each year. Just visit our Donate Page to set up an easy membership payment plan.
Please call us at 916-939-3418.
Help! I Think I Found Abandoned Kittens! What Do I Do?
During high kitten season in the spring and summer, it’s not unusual to discover a nest of unattended kittens or a single kitten seemingly abandoned by the mother.
You want to help, right?
Not so fast. We know you’re an animal lover and it can be very distressing to think that these babies are in danger. However, before panicking and trying to come to the rescue of these poor kittens, please consider these facts and follow our best recommendations.
You want to help, right?
Not so fast. We know you’re an animal lover and it can be very distressing to think that these babies are in danger. However, before panicking and trying to come to the rescue of these poor kittens, please consider these facts and follow our best recommendations.
Example Situation: The mother cat is just temporarily away from her kittens.
Recommendation: You should wait & observe.
You may have come across the kittens while their mother is off searching for food, or is in the process of moving them to a different location. Try to determine if the mother is coming back for them, or if they are truly orphaned.
You may have come across the kittens while their mother is off searching for food, or is in the process of moving them to a different location. Try to determine if the mother is coming back for them, or if they are truly orphaned.
Here is what you should do:
- Stand far away from the kittens — 35 feet or more. If you stand too close, the mom will not approach her kittens. You might need to go away completely before the mother cat will return to attend to the kittens. It might be several hours before the mother cat returns — until she no longer senses the presence of humans hovering near her litter.
- If you need to leave before the mother cat comes back, evaluate whether the kittens are in immediate danger:
- Is it raining or snowing?
- Are dogs or wild animals that might harm the kittens running loose in the neighborhood?
- Does the neighborhood have kids or adults who are likely to harm the kittens?
- Are the kittens located in an area with heavy foot or car traffic?
To help with your decision, it is important to know that it might take several hours for the mother cat to return, and healthy kittens can survive this period without food as long as they are warm. Neonatal kittens are much more at risk of hypothermia than they are of starvation.
During spring and summer months, waiting a longer time to see if mom will come back is much safer than during frigid winter months.
The mother cat offers her kittens’ best chance for survival, so wait and watch as long as you can. The best food for the kittens is their mother’s milk. Remove the kittens only if they are in immediate, grave danger from the current environment.
During spring and summer months, waiting a longer time to see if mom will come back is much safer than during frigid winter months.
The mother cat offers her kittens’ best chance for survival, so wait and watch as long as you can. The best food for the kittens is their mother’s milk. Remove the kittens only if they are in immediate, grave danger from the current environment.
Example Situation: The mother cat returns…
Recommendation: Leave the kittens with their mother.
If mom returns and the area is relatively safe, leave the kittens alone with mom until they are weaned. You can offer a shelter and regular food to mom, but keep the food and shelter at a distance from each other. Mom will find the food but will not accept your shelter if the food is nearby, because she will not want to attract other cats to food located near her nest.
Six weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from the mother for socialization and adoption placement, and any time after eight weeks for Trap-Neuter-Return (spay/neuter, vaccination, eartip, and return to their colony).
Female cats can become pregnant with a new litter even while they are still nursing, so don’t forget to get the mother cat spayed or you will have more kittens soon! Learn how to socialize kittens and how to successfully trap a mom and her kittens.
If mom returns and the area is relatively safe, leave the kittens alone with mom until they are weaned. You can offer a shelter and regular food to mom, but keep the food and shelter at a distance from each other. Mom will find the food but will not accept your shelter if the food is nearby, because she will not want to attract other cats to food located near her nest.
Six weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from the mother for socialization and adoption placement, and any time after eight weeks for Trap-Neuter-Return (spay/neuter, vaccination, eartip, and return to their colony).
Female cats can become pregnant with a new litter even while they are still nursing, so don’t forget to get the mother cat spayed or you will have more kittens soon! Learn how to socialize kittens and how to successfully trap a mom and her kittens.
Example Situation: The mother cat does not return…
Recommendation: Remove the kittens, but be prepared to have to support them.
If you discover that mom has been hit by a car, or if for any reason it appears that she is not coming back, then you should remove the kittens. This is crucial to the kittens’ survival. But you must be prepared to see this project through to weaning if you decide to intervene!
If you discover that mom has been hit by a car, or if for any reason it appears that she is not coming back, then you should remove the kittens. This is crucial to the kittens’ survival. But you must be prepared to see this project through to weaning if you decide to intervene!
Why Can’t Fat Kitty City Take the Kittens?
If you take the kittens in, it is unlikely that Fat Kitty City can help you. We operate without any permanent staff and, like many rescue organizations, we have very few available volunteers to take on bottle-feeding on short notice.
Some organizations do have experienced bottle-feeders, but prior logistical planning is necessary.
Want to become a FKC Volunteer and help us in situations like this? Contact us now to volunteer!
Animal shelters and veterinarians generally do not take in newborn kittens, since they do not have the staff to feed and stimulate them for elimination around-the-clock.
You can contact us at 916-939-3418 and we will attempt to find someone to bottle-feed the kittens, but this might take days or weeks, and we might not be successful in locating a feeder.
If we do find someone to bottle-feed, you might still be responsible for taking the kittens back when they no longer require bottle-feeding. You also might be responsible for paying for veterinary visits, which might include emergency medical care, and will definitely include spay or neuter surgery, disease testing, and vaccinations. And finally, you might be responsible for adopting the kittens into permanent homes.
Some organizations do have experienced bottle-feeders, but prior logistical planning is necessary.
Want to become a FKC Volunteer and help us in situations like this? Contact us now to volunteer!
Animal shelters and veterinarians generally do not take in newborn kittens, since they do not have the staff to feed and stimulate them for elimination around-the-clock.
You can contact us at 916-939-3418 and we will attempt to find someone to bottle-feed the kittens, but this might take days or weeks, and we might not be successful in locating a feeder.
If we do find someone to bottle-feed, you might still be responsible for taking the kittens back when they no longer require bottle-feeding. You also might be responsible for paying for veterinary visits, which might include emergency medical care, and will definitely include spay or neuter surgery, disease testing, and vaccinations. And finally, you might be responsible for adopting the kittens into permanent homes.
If You Decide to Take Care of the Kittens
Kitten Care & Bottle-Feeding – First Steps
Prepare for bottle-feeding and proper care before you take the kittens off the street.
If you feel you must take the kittens in, wrap the carrier or container you will transport them in in a towel for warmth, but make sure you leave air holes uncovered so the kittens won’t suffocate.
Check to see if the kittens are warm. This is more important than feeding. Never feed a cold kitten!
If the kittens are cold, you will need to warm them up slowly. You can tell a kitten is cold if the pads of his feet and/or ears feel cool or cold.
Put your finger in the kitten’s mouth. If it feels cold, then the kitten’s temperature is too low. This is life-threatening and must be dealt with immediately.
Warm up the kitten slowly over 20 minutes by wrapping him in a towel or baby blanket, holding him close to your body, and continually rubbing him with your warm hands.
Determine the age of the kittens by comparing them to the photos and descriptions on the How Old Is That Kitten? Kitten Progression: At-a-Glance page on the Alley Cat Allies website.
Newborn kittens need to be fed and stimulated for elimination every three hours around-the-clock.
Prepare for bottle-feeding and proper care before you take the kittens off the street.
If you feel you must take the kittens in, wrap the carrier or container you will transport them in in a towel for warmth, but make sure you leave air holes uncovered so the kittens won’t suffocate.
Check to see if the kittens are warm. This is more important than feeding. Never feed a cold kitten!
If the kittens are cold, you will need to warm them up slowly. You can tell a kitten is cold if the pads of his feet and/or ears feel cool or cold.
Put your finger in the kitten’s mouth. If it feels cold, then the kitten’s temperature is too low. This is life-threatening and must be dealt with immediately.
Warm up the kitten slowly over 20 minutes by wrapping him in a towel or baby blanket, holding him close to your body, and continually rubbing him with your warm hands.
Determine the age of the kittens by comparing them to the photos and descriptions on the How Old Is That Kitten? Kitten Progression: At-a-Glance page on the Alley Cat Allies website.
Newborn kittens need to be fed and stimulated for elimination every three hours around-the-clock.
Feeding & Elimination
Neonatal kittens (under four weeks of age) cannot eat ANY solid food (not canned, not dry) and cannot urinate or defecate on their own, so you must bottle-feed them around-the-clock and stimulate their genitals after every feeding so they can eliminate.
For example, if you have kittens less than one week old, they will need to be fed and stimulated every three hours. That means you will be caring for them eight times a day — for example, at midnight, 3:00 a.m, 6:00 a.m, etc.
If the kittens are unusually small or sickly, they might need to be fed every two hours.
Skipping feedings or overfeeding can cause diarrhea, which results in dehydration, a condition that can be fatal for small kittens (not to mention a hassle for you to clean up after). Diarrhea requires a visit to the veterinarian.
As the kittens age, the number of feedings they need per day goes down. You can start weaning at four weeks of age.
For example, if you have kittens less than one week old, they will need to be fed and stimulated every three hours. That means you will be caring for them eight times a day — for example, at midnight, 3:00 a.m, 6:00 a.m, etc.
If the kittens are unusually small or sickly, they might need to be fed every two hours.
Skipping feedings or overfeeding can cause diarrhea, which results in dehydration, a condition that can be fatal for small kittens (not to mention a hassle for you to clean up after). Diarrhea requires a visit to the veterinarian.
As the kittens age, the number of feedings they need per day goes down. You can start weaning at four weeks of age.
What Do I Feed the Kittens?
Milk Replacement Formulas
Powdered kitten milk replacement formula is better for kittens than the canned liquid formula. We recommend that you use only powdered kitten milk replacement formula from the start — or as soon as possible — to prevent diarrhea.
Two major brands of formula are available: PetAg KMR® Powder and Farnam Pet Products Just Born® Highly Digestible Milk Replacer for Kittens.
Both brands are available in both canned and powdered formulas. We highly recommend the powdered type to prevent diarrhea. It can be purchased at pet food stores, veterinarians’ offices, or online.
Powdered kitten milk replacement formula is better for kittens than the canned liquid formula. We recommend that you use only powdered kitten milk replacement formula from the start — or as soon as possible — to prevent diarrhea.
Two major brands of formula are available: PetAg KMR® Powder and Farnam Pet Products Just Born® Highly Digestible Milk Replacer for Kittens.
Both brands are available in both canned and powdered formulas. We highly recommend the powdered type to prevent diarrhea. It can be purchased at pet food stores, veterinarians’ offices, or online.
Some sources for these products (call the stores first to make sure they have it in stock)
Some sources for these products (call the stores first to make sure they have it in stock)
Make sure that the powdered formula you are using is fresh by opening the pop-top and smelling it. It should smell slightly sweet, like powdered milk. If it has a sharp smell like bad cooking oil, cheese, or chemicals, it is rancid, and dangerous to give to the kittens. Do not use any type of formula past the expiration date.
Once opened, kitten milk replacement formula (canned or powdered) must be refrigerated promptly and stored in the refrigerator. You cannot keep opened kitten milk replacement formula out of the refrigerator for very long before it spoils. Think of it as fresh milk.
Tip: Using unflavored Pedialyte electrolyte solution instead of water when mixing the powdered formula for the first 24 hours of feeding helps prevents diarrhea and eases the transition from mom’s milk to commercial kitten milk replacement formula.
You can purchase Pedialyte at most drug stores and supermarkets.
- Your local vet hospital
- Petco
- Walmart
- Amazon.com
Make sure that the powdered formula you are using is fresh by opening the pop-top and smelling it. It should smell slightly sweet, like powdered milk. If it has a sharp smell like bad cooking oil, cheese, or chemicals, it is rancid, and dangerous to give to the kittens. Do not use any type of formula past the expiration date.
Once opened, kitten milk replacement formula (canned or powdered) must be refrigerated promptly and stored in the refrigerator. You cannot keep opened kitten milk replacement formula out of the refrigerator for very long before it spoils. Think of it as fresh milk.
Tip: Using unflavored Pedialyte electrolyte solution instead of water when mixing the powdered formula for the first 24 hours of feeding helps prevents diarrhea and eases the transition from mom’s milk to commercial kitten milk replacement formula.
You can purchase Pedialyte at most drug stores and supermarkets.
Final Comments
As you can see, trying to save abandoned kittens is a time-intensive and sometimes heart-breaking effort. It puts great strain on rescue organizations and animal lovers like you.
This just reinforces our message to spay and neuter cats BEFORE they reach their sexual maturity, which is earlier than one might think! A female cat can have kittens as early as 5 to 6 months.
Please help to spread the message to ALWAYS spay and neuter your pets.
This just reinforces our message to spay and neuter cats BEFORE they reach their sexual maturity, which is earlier than one might think! A female cat can have kittens as early as 5 to 6 months.
Please help to spread the message to ALWAYS spay and neuter your pets.
Foster
The Fat Kitty City Foster Program is designed for animals that are not quite ready for adoption. This includes kittens that are too young, animals with injuries that simply need time to recover, and mothers with litters that need to be together until the babies are weaned.
Foster parent volunteers are needed to take care of these animals for a specific amount of time, providing the daily care, feeding, and administration of any needed medicine during that period. The animal(s) remain the property of Fat Kitty City.org and when the animal(s) are ready for adoption, they are brought back to Fat Kitty City.org for a check-up and placement. The foster parent(s) have the option of adopting the animal(s) at a discounted rate if they should so choose.
If you think you might be interested in fostering, please take the time to complete our Foster Application.
If you have any questions about the foster application, please contact Fat Kitty City by phone at (916) 939-3418.
Foster parent volunteers are needed to take care of these animals for a specific amount of time, providing the daily care, feeding, and administration of any needed medicine during that period. The animal(s) remain the property of Fat Kitty City.org and when the animal(s) are ready for adoption, they are brought back to Fat Kitty City.org for a check-up and placement. The foster parent(s) have the option of adopting the animal(s) at a discounted rate if they should so choose.
If you think you might be interested in fostering, please take the time to complete our Foster Application.
If you have any questions about the foster application, please contact Fat Kitty City by phone at (916) 939-3418.
Get in contact with us.
Our organization is ran on volunteers like you. To get in contact with us for any reason, use the methods below.
Fat Kitty City Humane Society
4641 Post Street #4273 El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 |
MAIN: (916)-939-3418
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