| | | October 2020 -- In This Edition - Musings from the Editor - On Black Cats
- The Black Cats of October
- Meowloween Safety
- Combined Federal Campaign - We Need Your Help!
- Event Update
- Adopted Cats
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| | | | Musings On Black Cats Our Editor Has Some Thoughts About the Season's Feline Icon |
| | It’s early October as I write this, the leaves are starting to turn, acorns are falling with a force that would send Chicken Little scurrying for the hills, and the Halloween decorations and candy have been out now for at least two weeks. I’m working on FFGW’s October Newsletter, sitting here with a cup of coffee and a breakfast of cereal in the “BOO” bowl, while Pearl patiently (ok, not so patiently) waits for me to finish so she can have her mandatory couple of licks of milk before I remind her cats are lactose intolerant and rinse the bowl out in the sink.
The BOO bowl is a leftover from my kids’ younger days, and is adorned with cats on the inside, but surprisingly not black cats – Boo is filled with sleepy tabbies. I love black cats, and have three of them. As a cat person, with a few too many cat-shaped things in the house, I’ve always liked the Halloween images – after all, what’s not to like about seeing black cats everywhere this time of year? Taking a step back, though, I realize that those images are anything but positive. Typically, the cat’s back is arched, the tail is fluffed, the cat is snarling or hissing and the eyes are a frightening shade of orange. In fact, when I asked my son to add a cat to his drawing, so I could feature it in this Newsletter, without my specifying the type of cat it first came out that way.
How did black cats become associated with fright, with witches, with evil? If any color of cat was associated with Halloween, shouldn’t it be the black and orange tortie? Black cats surely need to hire one of those image scrubbers who remove negative stuff about you from the internet…
For a long time, rescues believed that there was the need for special protection of black cats at Halloween, with some going as far as to halt all adoptions of black cats for the entire month of October. We’re now learning that is not necessary (see the article later in this newsletter), and that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, black cats fall into the category of “less adoptable” – a term that, as you’ll elsewhere in this newsletter, is wrong as well. I’m glad that we no longer give black cats only 11/12ths of the chance other cats have to be adopted.
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| | The weeks before Halloween are the quiet before the storm, the last bit of time before the hustle and bustle of the holidays starts in earnest. It’s also a tough time for rescues, as donations, which typically are the greatest around the holidays, are in a valley but costs continue unabated. Our big planned fundraising event was put on hold due to Covid, and your support for our mini fundraisers this year has really helped us and we extend our sincere thanks! We hope you'll consider our end of the year campaign next month as we try to start 2021 able to continue helping at-risk cats and kittens.
Also this month, we ask that if you are a federal employee, you list FFGW as a recipient in your agency’s CFC/United Way campaign (CFC#26212; United Way #8911). We are also asking for some special help with the campaign, later in this newsletter.
I hope one day soon we will be able to resume weekly adoption events, and I hope to see you there – I’ll be the one showing off photos of his three black cats... and a white one with a serious milk problem.
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| | The Black Cats of October |
| | Hello... By day, I am Raven, FFGW Adoptee, Billionaire Purrlanthropist... At Night, Criminals, a Cowardly Lot of Mice and Bugs, call me... |
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It was a not too-distant time when our Caped Crusader Catman was in the temporary Cat Cave at an adoption event, awaiting the Cat Coordinates for his forever home. Now, he's here to bust the myths about black cats! Then, as now, many of the cats currently in the care of FFGW - are black.
Black cats, right before Halloween? Yes, FFGW does not suspend black cat adoptions for the month before Halloween. On the one paw, our adoption counselors are attuned to any vibrations of someone adopting for less than honorable purposes. On the other paw, we may tell an adopter that they can adopt, and pick up the cat after Halloween. On the third paw, our adoption fee makes it less likely that someone dishonorable would spend the money to adopt. And, on the fourth paw - the real truth is that black cats are no more likely to be hurt at Halloween, than any other time of year.
Various studies have shown that any cat that is outdoors is at risk at Halloween, and one of the many reasons that FFGW’s adoption contract requires that cats be kept indoors (the greatest risk is the adopter's neighbor's children - not the adopter).
Best Friends Animal Society agrees:
Indeed, the ASPCA says the greatest risk to black cats around Halloween is perishing in shelters.
It is a commonly held belief that black cats have a harder time than other coat colors with respect to being adopted - all year long. Perhaps it’s because they’re more difficult to photograph, or because their facial features seem to be invisible, except for those eyes. Or, maybe it’s their association with scary things of the season. How did black cats get such a bad reputation, that association with witches and goblins and all things scary? It doesn’t have to be that way! In England and Japan, having a black cat cross your path is considered to be – GOOD luck! And in parts of France, black cats are referred to as "matagots" or "magician cats." According to local superstition, they bring good luck to owners who feed them well and treat them with the respect they deserve. Now that’s a superstition we need to encourage! So please help spread the word – black cats actually bring good luck, and FFGW has lots of sleek, purring, good luck ready for a forever home... cats like Gabe! |
| Gabe loves attention! He came from a situation where he was living with 8 brothers and we think he would love the company of another cat in his forever home. He will talk to you about his day, bring toys to your feet and want to know what you are doing throughout the day.
Gabe loves to play. His favorite toys are fishing pole toys. He also knows how to fetch! He loves belly rubs and praises, loves to be with his people and enjoys cuddling in bed. Gabe is FIV+, which doesn't slow him down, and he can live a long and normal life. You can read more about Gabe and FIV on our website just by clicking his photo.
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| | | Gooood Eeeeevveennning...
Oh! Hi, Count Catula! Goodness, what big teeth you have. Are you telling us a spooky story tonight?
No... Tonight, I am telling you all about... Meow-o-ween Safety!
With Halloween just weeks away, it is important to remember that more pets are lost on Halloween night and July 4th than any other day of the year.
With everyone's attention focused on Covid safety, it's easy to also forget pet safety. Halloween can be noisy and very frightening to pets, even if you will not be opening your door this year. If you will be entertaining the little ones, a disoriented cat or dog may scurry out the front door while you are handing out candy to cute little ghosts, goblins, witches... and the occasional cat. Not only is the door a hazard, but off limits food such as candy abounds, not to mention all those fun discarded candy wrappers that crinkle just great and are a lot of fun for little paws.
Don't forget to take extra steps to ensure kitty stays in, and if your home will be open to trick-or-treaters, or you'll be having a social distanced gathering, any knocking on the door and noise from revelers doesn't stress her out.
Consider keeping Fluffy in a room, far away from the noise, with some soothing music, and perhaps a spray of Feliway, Rescue Remedy or Spirit Essence “Safe Space.” Keeping your cats in a safe room will not only avoid one getting outside, but will also keep them away from tempting treats like chocolate which can make them seriously ill, or those fun, crinkly candy wrappers which can do the same. |
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Make sure everyone knows not to open the safe room door! |
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Mom says we have to stay inside... I wanted to go Trick or Mouse!
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I'll be robbing kibbles from the rich, and giving them to the poor!
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Mittens never lived down the year he skipped his usual tuxedo for a witch's costume and everyone told him he wasn't a "real" black cat... |
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What a miserable neighborhood. All they give out is candy - I didn't get a single mouse in my bag!
No unwilling cats were harmed in the production of these photographs. HOWEVER… Before you decide to put Fluffy in a Halloween costume, please read what Award-Winning Cat-Blogger Ingrid King says about that, and don’t add any stress to your felines this holiday!
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| | Fall Fundraiser - Flowers for Felines
Purchase High Quality Dutch Mill Flower Bulbs for fall planting
FFGW will receive 50% of the cost of your order!
Let’s “slay” those pesky vet bills and fill our coffers again so we can continue to rescue cats and kittens in need!
Click on the photo to order!
The package said "Tiger" - I thought they meant Tiger Lily!
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| | | We Need Your Help! The Combined Federal Campaign is an effort through the United Way for Federal Employees to participate in charitable giving. Under the auspices of the program, employees can select from a wide array of charities for giving. In past years, a dedicated crew of volunteers has attended events at area Federal agencies, and spoke about FFGW. This year, all charity events will be virtual. We need your help with two things: - Speakers! People who can participate in the virtual events and talk about FFGW, our program, and how important giving thorugh the CFC is to our mission.
- A Videographer! We have the opportunity to have a one-minute video uploaded to the CFC website, so that people can hear about us even outside of these virtual events. If you have some video skills, and can help us put together some video that we already have, a voice over that we'll write, and compliant captioning, we would absolutely love the help!
If you can help with either of these things, just reply to this newsletter! Thank you VERY much!! |
| | Amazon Smile!
We'll admit that in an effort to stay home, we've been ordering a lot online, much of it through Amazon. What if you could do that, and help your favorite rescue at the same time?
Well... you can!
The image below will take you to smile.amazon.com, where you can select Feline Foundation of Greater Washington to receive a portion of every purchase you make.
It doesn't change the price to you, but it can mean extra cash for FFGW!
Please think about us when you shop! |
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Happy Tails
(We admit it... we love making people and cats happy!)
Sometimes, a Happy Tail is about an adopted cat flourishing in his or her forever home. We love to show you those photos. A really important part of our effort, though, is the calming environment that our fosters provide, that nourishes the soul of a sad and scared cat. |
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They say a picture is worth 1000 words. We think that words aren't needed to tell Tigger's story, from the shelter - right, or above on your phone- to one day in a foster home, below. |
| | | Thank you SO much to our fosters whose Happy Tails set the stage for those Forever Happy Tails that we love so much!
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| | Adoption Fairs
Reston Monthly Fair Postponed Until Further Notice
Leesburg Weekly Fair Leesburg PetSmart Postponed Until Further Notice
We're Back!! We're not having regular adoption events yet, but our cats are back in residence at the Leesburg PetSmart! We need volunteers to help care for the cats - contact Brittany@ffgw.org
Looking for a new cat for your family? Get pre-approved for adoption by filling out an adoption form online today.)
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We've Gone Home!
Adopted in August & September (71): Raven, Phantom, Leo, Luke, Pebbles, BamBam, Princess, Lacey, Soda, Rocky, Storm, Lucky, King Louie, Zeke, Rosalee, Jasper, Cappuccino, Espresso, Eva, Bert, Jojo, Baloo, Bagheera, Robby, Minnie, Cheeto, Ernie, Starlee, Ringo, Mowgli, Jellybean, Rocky Orange, Brigit, DJ, Greynose, Kalvin, Baxter, Shadow, Myles, Isobel, Lavinia, Lars, Hendrix, Starla, Latte, Kasey, Tucker, Pixie, Wren, Frappe, Coffee, Bilbo Baggins, Sybil, Magnus, Masha, Verona, Mac, Julia, Sorrento, Genoa, Clover, Chip, Gideon, Sugar Maple, Thomas, Vanilla Maple, Nelson, Dino, Gazoo & Horacio
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