Subject: Dad! Hey Dad! Why are cats bad storytellers?

Newsletter

June 2024

Cat with heart balloon

In This Edition:

  • Thank You, Cat Dads!

  • Two by Two - Kittens in Pairs

  • The FFGW 2025 Calendar Contest

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CatDad Joke:


Why are cats bad storytellers?


Because they only have one tail!

Thanks, Cat Dads!!

Last month on Mother's Day, we paid homage to FFGW moms - feline mothers, and the foster mothers who work very hard to nurture them and their baby kitten families. Last weekend was Father's Day, and so we salute those special "fathers" - Cat Dads - who are also an integral part of FFGW's rescue effort!

You know who you are... whether you're cuddling kittens needing socialization, scooping litter boxes from the - wait, is that not the same foster we had last week - foster cats, driving kitties to and from appointments or not complaining because there was yet another feline mouth to feed this week (temporary, we swear it's a temporary foster!) EVERYONE at FFGW truly appreciates your support - as we try to make the world a better place, One Cat at a Time! 

It seems in some quarters that caring about cats isn't thought of as a mainly thing to do - or else, there would be no market for this shirt...

Definitely an image problem - and then there's the bad image that male cats carry around. "Tomcatting around" is hardly a compliment. 

...and then, of course, there's the Crazy Cat Lady Doll... never a Crazy Cat Guy Doll!  
Wait - that may actually be a good thing! But at FFGW, we know the truth - we only have to look as far as our volunteers to know that rescue is also a guy thing and that OUR men really do love cats. Check out the profile of one of our volunteers below!

Cat Dad Harry

Harry Shubin is Of Counsel to a boutique intellectual property law firm, formerly its managing partner, is a member of the Board of Directors of FFGW, and serves as our Secretary. In addition, he is the editor of our monthly e-newsletter (which you're reading now!) and so instead of interviewing himself, he has drafted one of his cats, PHolly, to write this portion.

PH: Why do I have to do this?

HS: Because I asked you, nicely?

PH: You mean you threatened to withhold my nightly treats.

HS: Ok, that too. So ask some questions.


PH: Have you always liked cats?

HS: Yes. My first stuffed toy was a fluffy white cat. My second stuffed toy was a black cat. It's rumored that the only reason I became potty trained was that the prize my parents offered was a kitten.

PH: TMI. So you've always had cats?

HS: Pretty much. You're #19, over 65 years.

PH: Have they always been black?

HS: No, there's been a little of everything - grey, orange, brown tabbies, longhaired calico, long haired white... and 7 black cats. I have a special affinity for black cats. That comes from my dad, who was a huge black cat fan - and also, in rescue, black cats have a hard time being adopted - but I know how special they are.

PH: Thanks! So, when did you get involved in rescue?

HS: About 20 years ago. My family adopted a couple of kittens, and I wanted an adult also since they have a harder time finding homes - and we kept going back to the rescue and looking at cats, and before I knew it - I had the t-shirt and was volunteering. And had 2 more cats.

PH: Have you always written the newsletter?

HS: In one form or another, yes. I've done a lot of things - interviewed adoption applicants and foster applicants, trained volunteers, staffed adoption events, traveled around the area giving vaccines, and for a number of years managed the in-store adoption center at a PetSmart. Currently, in addition to the newsletter and secretarial tasks for the Board, I review applications, provide occasional legal counsel, and soon hope to be more active at adoption events.


PH: What brought you to FFGW? There are a lot of rescues in the area.

HS: The attitude and dedication of the volunteers, and by that I mean everyone from the Board on down through the fosters to the event volunteers to the folks who answer the calls for transport all of the time. FFGW is aligned with my personal philosophy of rescue - we are not trying to be the biggest we can be, but we are trying to do right by every cat and kitten that we do rescue.

FFGW doesn't shy away from rescuing cats who might have higher medical needs or take a bit longer to find homes - bonded pairs, black cats - we may not save as many cats, but many of the ones we rescue wouldn't have otherwise been saved. That makes me very happy, and glad to be with FFGW.

Also - Rescue is a full time job - no matter how hard you try to leave it at the end of the day. The volunteers become like family - and I enjoy the company of so many of our volunteers who have become friends.

PH: What do you like best about rescue?

HS: Saving cats, of course... but also, seeing how finding the right purrsonality for an adopter brings joy to the family, and also to the cat. I like to say that we get paid in "Happy Tails."


PH: Well, I'm certainly glad you like black cats. On a purrsonal note... about the spelling of my name?

HS: Your rescue name was Polly. We wanted to name you Holly after a favorite restaurant. The spelling was a compromise. The P is silent, like in ptomaine.

PH: Could you find another example besides poisioning? Also, rather than having to explain it every time I go to the vet, I'd have preferred a name that you could find on a key chain at the dime store.

HS: About that...

Kittens in Pairs

Two is Far Better than One


Yes, it sounds like we're just trying to increase adoption numbers... but there are a lot of very good reasons why FFGW (and many other rescues) require that very young kittens be adopted with a playmate. Not only is it far better for the kittens, but it's actually less work than 1!


Kitten expert Hannah Shaw ("The Kitten Lady") lists 7 reasons why kittens should be adopted in pairs:


Learn by Observation - Kittens learn by observation and will more quickly pick up skills like using the litter box or grooming if they have another kitten or cat to teach them.


Focus Play Aggression - Having a friend means they can take out their play aggression on one another (instead of on you.) They’ll also teach each other good boundaries about biting and scratching. Read about biting behaviors in kittens and how having a playmate can help!


Entertain & Enrich - When your kitten has a buddy, they’ll always be entertained, active, and enriched. And a happy cat makes a happy home!


Keep Out of Trouble - One mischievous kitten can be destructive if left alone, but two kittens tend to keep each other occupied and out of trouble.


Easier Intro to Adult Cat - If you have an adult cat at home, two new kittens may be easier to introduce into your family than one. While one kitten may nag an older cat, two kittens will keep each other company while the older cat watches from a distance.


Comfort in Friendship - Having a pal will help your kitten settle into a new home. Just like humans, kittens have an easier time feeling comfortable trying something new if they’ve got a friend to do it with them.


Bonded Pair Adoption - It’s easier to adopt a bonded pair than it is to introduce a new cat later. Adopting a dynamic duo ensures that you’ll have a harmonious home for years to come!

FFGW is excited to announce our 2025 Fabulous Feline Calendar Contest!! 

This year’s contest will run from August 15th through Sept 18th. You enter the contest by submitting a photograph of your cat with a $10 donation. Votes are $1/vote and you can vote as many times as you want! 

Start taking pictures now so you have the perfect picture to enter! Photos that are high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and in landscape format will look great in the calendar.

The top vote getter will win the coveted cover photo for the 2025 calendar! The 2nd - 13th place winners will have their feline featured as Cat of the Month. You will also have the option to reserve calendar days and feature your kitty on a particular date block.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for timely updates. Future newsletters will provide additional details too!

Featured Kitty - Stripe!


This month's featured kitty is - again - Stripe! Stripe joined us at our Kendra Scott event, and her transporter was absolutely charmed by her - they had an entire conversation in the car on the way to the event! We don't understand why she hasn't been adopted - and we're featuring her again!!

Stripe is practically a kitten herself at just 11 months old, and in addition to being chatty and active she is super friendly and fun - and a lap cat!

We can't believe that Stripe hasn't been adopted yet!

(She's not a one-trick cat, either - in addition to her striking stripes, she has lots of spots too!)


Make an appointment to meet Stripe today!


Desperate for Fosters!

No Room at the Inn?


Money to pay for the care of kittens is only part of what is needed for us to rescue. 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!  The reason folks most often tell us that they can't foster? They're afraid they won't be able to let go. Come to one of our adoption events, see the joy on the faces of people bringing home a new kitty, and you'll see that letting go is easy when there's so much love to share.


Our need for fosters is critical as the flood of kittens continues - and we also try to save those overlooked adult cats. Please consider using a bathroom or spare bedroom to house foster cats and...


Instead of "there's no room at the inn," please help FFGW say

 "we'll leave the light on for you!"


You can find out lots more about fostering HERE!

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


 

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! 


Watch our social media for details on Kendra Scott & Do More 24!

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

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram 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 - May (25)

Carmen Santiego, Knight, Socks, Yin Yang, Buttercup, Rusty, Hash Brown, Sherbert, Sorbet, Grainger, Brenda, Midnight, Twilight, Puzzle, Anise, Grayson, Venus, Lolo, Balashi, Pitch, Fable, Cider, Smith, Leo & Milo

Adoption Fairs

Leesburg PetSmart

Check Our Website for Days & Times

              

  

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

and in Foster Homes Throughout the DC/VA Area

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.)


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