AUSTIN, Texas – At the Austin Animal Center, there's always plenty of kittens waiting for their forever home.

But soon, some are going to jail.

It's part of a new partnership between Austin Animal Center and the Travis County jail, where inmates will foster kittens from the shelter.

"This not only involves them, but another animal so it's giving them the opportunity to be responsible for something other than themselves," said Heather Stan with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

Along with kittens, some inmates will also foster dogs.

Travis County recently launched a dog-training program for convicts. It was a success, making the dogs more adoptable and the inmates more motivated.

"They are actually getting something done,” Stan said. “They're accomplishing something while they are in jail, which is not something a lot of people can say."

The Austin Animal Center will provide a mother cat and her litter for the inmates to nurture.

"They'll raise the kittens up until adoption age, write little notes about them, and start clicker training with the kittens," said Lauralei Combs with the Austin Animal Center.

Of course, not every inmate is eligible for the program.

"We do have to look into their previous charges and current charges that the inmates are there for, but if they do meet our requirements then they will get enrolled into the program,” said Stan.

For the inmates, it's a chance to see firsthand how something so small fits into a bigger picture.

"(Jail is) not always the best place to be, but with a program that's provided to them like this one, it really does give them a lot of hope and a sense of pride," Stan said.

The Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Austin Animal Center will present the program to the Travis County Commissioners Court.

They hope to begin the fostering program shortly after it's approved.