Subject: 💜 Cheese & Pepper & Stories of Heart 💜

Newsletter

February 2024

Cat with heart balloon

In This Edition:

  •  Stories of Hearts, A Heartwarming Adoption, and A Spicy Little Kitty!

  • It's An Event! (Calling all Fosters & Future Fosters)

  • We Interrupt this Broadcast... They're Coming!

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Cacio e Pepe

A Story of Heart

“Cacio e Pepe” – literally “cheese and pepper” – is, according to Travel Magazine, one of Italy’s most beloved dishes, one which “warms the heart on cold nights.”

It wasn't yet cold last summer when we rescued the fluffy litter, but it was clear that the littlest kitten in the litter was a spicy little girl with a huge personality, and she fit her name.  It soon became apparent, however, that she was little because her heart wasn't working right...

Pepe had a patent ductus arteriosis (PDA), a condition that results when this blood vessel does not close down after an animal is born, resulting in a loud murmur and abnormal blood flow within the heart. One guiding principle at FFGW is that we will always endeavor to provide medical treatment when the prognosis is positive and the kitty won't suffer - even when that treatment is costly.

And so, Pepe had a surgical procedure to have a clip placed to close down the PDA. 

The smallest clip available was used but Pepe was so small that the clip could not fully close down the PDA; yet, it was necessary to do the surgery when she was small to prevent irreversible heart changes.  It was a difficult surgery... ..but it was successful!  Her murmur disappeared, and she seemed to be growing normally and able to play without any exercise intolerance. The cardiac specialist would next see her in October, and assess how the surgical clip has helped the abnormal blood flow within her heart.

The next hurdle was finding the right home, not an easy task as Pepe might need more monitoring by the cardiologist throughout her life time.  Her heart was strong, but she would need someone with a lot of love to open their heart to her.

And so we wrote the best bio that we could!


Our little Pepe may not be Italian, but she sure will warm your heart as she snuggles in close! And speaking of heart, Pepe has a special one. Born with a heart defect, little Pepe had surgery and a tiny little clip inserted, with the result that she plays normally and does all the cute little kitten things without a problem. She may need regular visits to a cardiologist for monitoring but is doing really well! Should she need another surgery, FFGW will cover the cost. Cacio e Pepe is beloved in Italy, and also quite beloved by FFGW! Can she come warm your heart on a cold night soon?


And then... we waited for the perfect person - who appeared in the form of a vet with whom we used to work, now a professor teaching veterinary medicine.  She contacted us and less than a day later brought Cacio e Pepe home, and just recently brought us the best news!


Pepe has been seen again by the cardiologist for her heart checkup and her heart did heal - the clips worked !!  We know her little heart will warm her adopter's heart for a long time to come. 


Cacio e Pepe's treatment was possible thanks to your support - and we thank you from the bottom (and the top, and the middle!) of our 💜s!

Good for Your Heart!


You know what else is good for your heart? Some low salt Miso! No, not the soup, the charming black and white cat! Miso is an energetic youngster who is all about playing and exploring. When he does go to bed, he likes to curl up next to you and ask for scratches on his chin.

Despite his heart condition, Miso acts just like any other juvenile cat, and his cardiologist says he can jump, climb, play and enjoy himself without worry that those activities will have a negative effect on his heart. Miso is on an inexpensive medicine that he easily takes in his food once a day.  He also eats a high quality senior food (even though he is a youngster!) because senior diets are formulated with the correct amount of (low) salt required for cardiac care.  Miso will have a follow-up appointment in the July-August timeframe that will provide more guidance as to his overall prognosis.  FFGW will cover the cost of the follow-up appointment with Friendship Animal Hospital's cardiologists, even if Miso is adopted prior to the time the follow-up is due. We're hoping that someone will open their heart and home to Miso!

You've Got Questions - We've Got Answers!


If you're fostering cats or interested in learning more about the fostering process, we have an informational event coming up on Saturday, March 2nd in Sterling - reply to the Newsletter for more details!

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Program...


Of housecats, desperate to find a forever home - for this emergency announcement!

Kitten Season is just weeks away!  Starting in early spring, shelters will be overwhelmed with kittens and pregnant mom cats.  FFGW will do our best to find them their own purrsonal love story, but to do that, we need foster homes!  If you can open your home and your heart to these precious babies, please fill out a Foster Application today!

And don't forget about our adult cats, who are often overlooked in favor of fluffy cute kittens - they may have slightly bruised hearts but still have a lot of love to give - like Jeremy!

Jeremy

Too Old to Climb Your Curtains... Not Too Old to Climb into Your Lap!

4-year old Jeremy is a distinguished orange and white lovable boy.  Jeremy and his brother Oliver sadly found themselves in a high-volume noisy shelter after their owner went on hospice care.

While Oliver bounced back quickly to his normal, cheerful and playful self, Jeremy didn't understand where his owner went. Jeremy feels deeply and becomes very attached to his people, which is not uncommon with our sensitive orange boys.  He is initially fearful of new surroundings and is slow to trust, but once you gain his trust, he promises lots of couch snuggles and purrs! 

Jeremy enjoys sunbathing, Temptations treats, and watching TV with his person.  Jeremy and Oliver are a bonded pair who must be adopted together, and Jeremy's fondest wish is for a quiet, stable, forever home with patient owners who will give him the time and love he needs to show his true (orange) colors!

So many cats... so many needs.  It does seem overwhelming.  But we like to think of it as "saving the world, one cat at a time!"  If your New Year's resolution was to do something kind... we could use your support.

1.  Fosters!  

FFGW is primarily a foster-based rescue, and for us to rescue a cat or kitten, there has to be a temporary home where he or she can go.  Fostering is really rewarding and we'll show you all you need to know - you just provide food, litter and love!  Foster space will be especially important as spring approaches and "kitten season" - the time when shelters will be overflowing with found kittens - is soon upon us.  You can find out lots more about fostering HERE and at our Foster Event above.

If you're interested in fostering, fill out an application and we'll contact you and answer all your questions!

2.  Caretakers!

A few of our cats are housed at the Leesburg PetSmart, where we have adoption events.  If you aren't able to foster, you can still get the cat experience and be all warm and furry by signing up for a caretaker shift to feed, clean and play (!) with the cats at Leesburg. 

 

Contact brittany@ffgw.org for more details!

3.  Drive!

We often need folks who can meet a rescue transport, or pick up a cat from one of our partner vets and bring them to a foster home (or vice-versa).  If you have a bit of free time, we would love to have you on our list - when you're able to drive, just respond to the email request.  If you can provide some wheels, just respond to this newsletter.

4.  WordPress

If you have WordPress skills, we could use your help with our website.  Our website is a primary driver of our adoptions, and we work very hard to keep it up to date on adoptions and new intakes - but a few more paws helping would be magnificent!


5.  And of course... 

Donate

Your generosity is what allows us to provide a great life and care for cats like Cacio e Pepe, Miso - and so many more!

Check Us Meowt!

On Social Media!

Facebook & Insta!

We try not to overflow your email inbox, and most months send just one Newsletter with a deep dive into all that's going on at FFGW, and some fun cat-centric stuff - but you can find out all the rescue happenings closer to real time on our social media! 

(And of course... see a lot more cute kitty pictures!)


Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter below!

I Feel Like Something Chewy!

Actually, not that chewy, but "Chewy"!

www.chewy.com is a pet product company specializing in home delivery of all things pet-related.  

FFGW has a "wish list"  which you can find here:

Any products you select from our wish list will be delivered directly to us for use at our adoption center at PetSmart and by our fosters!

If you're new to Chewy, we'll even get a gift certificate for bringing in a new purchaser.  

It's a great way to help us in our mission to help the kitties!

Thanks to everyone who has donated food, treats, litter, beds, toys...  Chewy's platform doesn't allow us to see the names of our generous donors, but please know that your support is very much appreciated!  And if you drop us a line and let us know when you donate something, we'll be more than happy to send our thanks!

This post contains affilliate links.  FFGW may be compensated if you buy something after clicking on these links.

Shop at Walmart and Help the Kitties!

Go to the link above, designate FFGW as your charity, and each purchase will be "round up" to the nearest dollar - with that change going to FFGW.

We've Gone Home!

Adopted - January (24)

Bob Parra, Beauty, Fancy, Teddy, Bobby Sue, Mildred, Mindy, Ariel, Mr. Fluff, Chrome, Etta Place, Caramel, Bear, Betty White, Lilac, Lillie, Tawny, Rava, Phoenix, Lemon, Noodles, Daisy, Mandy & Polly

Adoption Fairs

Leesburg Weekly Fair

Leesburg PetSmart -  Sundays 12 - 2 pm

              

  

  --Midweek Adoptions by Appointment for Cats in the Center--

We need volunteers to help care for the cats at Leesburg!

Looking for a new cat for your family? Get pre-approved for adoption by filling out an adoption form online today.)

11160 C-1 So Lakes Dr # 707, Reston, VA 20191, United States

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    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of Feline Foundation Newsletter (Ruth Mulkerin, 11160 C-1 So Lakes Dr # 707, 20191 Reston, United States) and sent via GetResponse on 2024-02-20. Report abuse