Ready to get your fosters adopted?
Advertising Your Foster(s) Online
The key to getting your fosters adopted is getting the word out and that begins with you! How well they are advertised can make a big difference in how efficiently they are adopted to a home that’s a good fit for them. Here are a few tips:
At least one GREAT, well-lit, crisp and clear photo of the kitten, looking at the camera is key. The photo is the number one important piece, so make sure you prioritize getting a good one. We also offer the opportunity to get high quality pictures at our vaccine clinics or adoption fairs as an additional resource.
A short video showcasing the kitty doing something adorable, being itself, or otherwise showing how great they are can help an interested adopter imagine how they can be in their own home.
A brief description of the kitten's physical and behavioral traits. Help people envision how this kitty would be in their home to help them find a good fit. Their personality traits as they emerge can be key. Any favorite activities, toys, or similar items can help personalize their description to intrigue interested adopters. If they love chin scratches, will do flips for mouse toys, love to talk, think mealtime is the best time, or anything that can help their personality come through can do a lot to help someone bond with them online.
If available, a bit about the kitten's story and how it came to us.
Fosters are not required to write their own descriptions but are welcome to try their hand at it if they are up to it. Assistance is available but the more information you share relating to above topics, the better our marketing team can assist with writing a good description to help draw in interested adopters as well as help ensure they find a home that is a good fit.
Start advertising early! Even though they can’t go home until spayed and 8 weeks of age, discuss the possibility of posting them earlier with your adoption counselor. Many potential adopters will love being able to see the kitten at an earlier age, and will be willing to wait until they are ready to go. This means they’ll have something lined up as soon as they're spayed/neutered allowing them to go home that much more quickly. While this can vary, getting them ready to be advertised at 6 weeks of age is a good, general practice if they are healthy and well. Not sure if they are ready to be marketed online? Check with your adoption counselor or Angela for advice on the best time.
Advertise far and wide! Juliet’s House will post an adoption profile on PetFinder.com and Adoptapet.com but you should make use of other outlets that you have to maximize their chances for adoption success – sharing on your personal social media accounts, NextDoor or Craigslist, etc. Placing advertisements in as many places as possible allows you to cast a wide net -- then you'll have so many interested adopters, it’s easier to pick the one that will truly be best for the kitten. Encourage anyone interested to complete our adoption application online and your adoption counselor will jump in to help.
If your kitten has not been adopted before it is fixed (around 8 or 9 weeks), you can bring them to meet potential adopters in person during Juliet’s House weekly adoption fairs at Petsmart. Sometimes you will be offered the chance to bring them prior to this but we recommend discussing with your adoption counselor first. You will also be assigned an adoption counselor to help you through this process and can help with recommendations as to when they are ready to come to adoption fairs. If your foster is 4 months or older, it must have an up to date rabies vaccination first. Talk with your contact with the rescue to help make this happen.
Photography Tips
Use a high-quality camera whenever possible. If you don't have a camera, please let us know so that one of our volunteers can help you. If you are using an iPhone, turning the camera upside has proven to help the camera focus better.
Use natural light. A flash isn't flattering -- so open those windows and wait until the sun is high and you've got some nice warm light to capture all the kitten's features in a photo.
Choose a clean, plain background. No one wants to see clutter in a photo -- so make sure the kitten is truly the focal point.
Get the kitten to look at the camera by using noise and toys to get her attention. You can use anything that makes a sound -- even crinkly paper. Hold it over your head to get her to look up, then quickly snap the shot.
Take the picture from the kitty’s level. Whether this means putting them on something higher like a chair or you getting down on the floor on their level, it improves the likelihood they get noticed.
A short 5-15 second video can also be used to help showcase your fosters. If there is anything they particularly love or are particularly adorable doing, try to get a video that can be included.
Sample Adoption Posts
Daphne is a fun-loving little girl. As the only girl in her group (with the exception of her mom), she is very good at running and playing with the boys. She is usually one of the first to start a game, whether it's a wrestling match with the others or chasing one of their kitten toys. One of her favorite toys is a wand toy with feathers as she will chase and jump to catch and defeat it. When she isn’t busy playing, her favorite spot is on her foster mom's back/shoulders. She is always jumping up to get to see the world from up high with the added perk of staying close to her people. Given her young age and playful personality, she'd love to find a home with one of her group, Anthony, Benedict, and Simon Bassett or in a home with another young kitty around.
Or
Her name means brave one in Hawaiian and that describes her perfectly. Before rescue Koa was let down by humans, but she has learned to trust again. She longs to be petted and told how beautiful she is. Watching her play with her ball tower, spring toys, and catnip mice you would never guess she once looked at toys unsure of what to do with them. No, Koa is not taunting you by sticking her tongue out. When she came to us her teeth were in terrible shape, and she is feeling so much better now that they’re gone! Her foster mom loves her gummy yawns and that her tongue sticks out when she is extra sleepy or concentrating on something unfamiliar.
Looking for more tips? Stayed tuned!