FFRC Blog Week Ending May 30, 2026

It's the unofficial start of Summer!!!! Pools are open; many kids are out of school and the weather is warm! Oh yeah, and it's Kitten Season. We all love to watch the babies play but is important to Spay and Neuter your kitties. An unspayed female can have between 2-5 litters per year. The average size of a litter is 3-6 kittens. Do the math/science---these means 6-21 kittens per year. This is on the low side. Many estimate the number is closer to 20-40 kittens during peak fertile years. This doesn't count the kittens having kittens or the fact that a single tom spreads his love with multiple females. FFRC is happy to partner with Humane Ohio to offer low cost spay/neuters. This week we sent 29 females and 19 males for their spay/neuters. Humane Ohio is hosting a 20th Birthday Bash on June 20th and is proud to have spay/neutered over 250,000 dogs and cats since they opened their doors.

Adoptions:

There were no adoptions this week.

Intakes:

All of our pens are FULL!

On Tuesday, May 26th, a local fire department contacted FFRC. They had a cat that was dumped at their department. The kitty was found in a ditch in a clear backpack. No food, no water and very hot conditions. The cat had been in this carrier for over 24 hours before she was found by a passerby and her dog. Kitty is shell-shocked from being in this deplorable situation. She ate for the first time on Friday, but she is still very scared. She is very shy and we will need to earn her trust. We named her CHEWIE, a name from the Name a Cat Program that was submitted by SonJa. Chewie is a domestic medium hair inky with silver highlights and big beautiful green eyes. She is approximately a year old.

Voting Results of the 154 votes cast:

Chewie 38%

Hiccup 37%

Buddha 25%

We also had a baby kitty dropped off at about 9:30pm on Wednesday 5/27. This kitty was found in a gentleman's yard. She has bad eyes due to a common issue caused by the herpes virus. One eye will need to be removed. She is only 4-5 weeks old. She is also an inky but has white on her chest and her bikini area. She loves her purry momma! We have named her ALIKI, a name from the Name a Cat Program that was submitted by Patrick R.

Voting Results of the 173 votes cast:

Aliki 49%

Feisty 35%

Moocher 16%

And if two new kitties weren't enough, we also had a return. ROCHESTER was returned on 5/28. He was adopted as a little kitten about 11 years ago. He is also an inky with white paws and bits on his face--almost a tuxie. He has a severe cauliflower ear, that we will help with repeated cleaning by our famous Lynnette. Other than his ear, he is a healthy chunky boy! Returns make us very sad. Cats are very traumatized by changes in their environments. Please have a plan for your kitties if you can no longer provide a healthy home for them.

Health Updates:

All of our kitties are doing great, but we do have some upcoming vet visits:

CHICA will be going to Dr. Darcy's office on June 11th for a dental checkup.

BOWIE and ZOOKY will also be going for a dental on June 18th.

Bowie

Zooky

The date for JENNY's eye removal has not yet been sent. We will take the advice of our vet on whether he second eye can be saved.

Center Kitties:

Who is this? Looks like a POPSICLE at rest or is it a COUCHSICLE?

WILLOW and LEMON have joined SCHMOOKIE and TAYLA in June's Room. This is a room just to the left of the camera (as Chatters see it). Schmookie has new cream for her wound and is newly spayed and loves her adopted baby Tayla.

Here is Schmookie with Tayla, and babies Willow and Lemon

We need to move PHILOMENA and her babies to Paddy's Place so that they all have more room. However, the hoarding kitties are in there now. We have been leaving the door open so that kitties can get used to the main room. Moving day is soon.

Holds:

There is a very special hold in the making. RAISIN and WIBBLES will become Vegas Babies! That's right, JUDE'S mommy is looking for some more friends for him. No date has been determined yet but stay tuned for more updates!

Meet the Covies!

This is from our recent Facebook post:
Cats’ Cove and The House that Jonah Built are home to a group of permanent resident cats. These cats are known as The Covies. These cats are large adults that are mostly unadoptable due to behavior problems such as unreliable litter box usages and demanding outside time. FFRC strives to ensure cats are kept indoors, which is why all our adoptable cats go to homes where they will be kept indoors at all times. Cats that are raised indoors only are perfectly happy staying indoors, but cats that are raised with outdoor access are often not content with remaining inside. We believe that the quality of life and happiness of our cats is of the utmost importance, so rather than turn away cats that refuse to remain indoors we have the compromise of the Cats’ Cove and The House that Jonah Built structures. These are wonderful, friendly, visitor-greeting cats! We know them well, each and every one of them.
The Cove is currently occupied by:

Anony
Walter
Fluffs
Victor
Pogo 
Frank
John
Dude
Dollop
Gordy
Chowder
Bandit
Biscuits
Parker
A few interesting Cove facts:
Walter is deaf and has mild CH.
Dollop and John are both polydactyl, they have thumbs!
Biscuits and Parker are the only female Covies.
Gordy and Chowder were rescued from a hoarding situation in Michigan along with Emmy, Tigerlily, and Bellamy.
Anony was elected Mayor by his fellow Covies. (We don't ask too many questions about what goes on down there. Strictly cat business!)
 #rescuecats #ffrc

Adopted Kitties:

Do you remember BRYNN and RENEE (Wonder)?

BUCKEYE is living the dream with him new mom, Stephanie! He is very loved.

May Wrap Up:

Here is the May Wrap Up from Megan:

This month...

We said "Hello!" to:

Philomena and the Philomena Five! This lady was dropped off in our parking lot along with her 5 babies: Rumer, Renly, Pascal, Smudges, and Catsby. They're still working on growing and figuring out life. When they do it'll be time to find their Forever Homes! We hope they find them quickly.

Tayla, a little girl who was also dropped off in our parking lot. She was terribly sick and her intake led to one of the most heartwarming things you'll see... While Director Megan and Assistant Director Lynnette were tending to her, Schmookie, one of the girls we took in from the hoarding situation last month, was in a pen nearby. Upon hearing the baby's cries Smchookie perked right up and demanded she be brought to her. She was so insistent that Megan and Lynnette decided to let her see the baby. Smchookie instantly began to groom Tayla from head to toe! Just like she was her own! It was absolutely adorable, almost too much to take! They still nap together and are both working on healing together.

Chewie, a beautiful inky fluff who was found by someone and taken to the fire department, who contacted us. The circumstances where she was found were very, very stressful and she's stll extremely nervous. We're just letting her chill until she's comfortable. It's okay, Chewie girl, your best life has just begun!

Aliki! She's a little girl who was brought in by a kind gentleman who found her in his yard and had no way of caring for her. She has a really bad eye that will have to be removed but is otherwise doing great. After she gets all healed up she'll be ready for a home! We hope she doesn't have to wait long to find one.

Rochester, returned 11 years after being adopted. He's very unsure right now but he's trying to readjust to life here. An awful lot has changed since he left!

We said "Have a Great Life!" to:

Crackers! Our cuddly little one eyed boy has found his Forever Home! He is keeping his name.

Miley! It's laughable to think that this girl was ever thought to be feral as she picked out her very own family. She now lives in Michigan. Her name is TBD.

Other things of note:

We had SO many birthdays! 14, in fact! Let's break it down, in case you missed it:

5 Residents:

Derecho turned 14

Ramsay turned 9

Marilyn turned 9

Dagda turned 4

Butterbean turned 3

4 Adoptables:

Jefferson turned 9

Dusty Rose turned 9

Zoolove turned 8

Puddin turned 3

2 Porchies:

Sarge turned 13

Cooper turned 9

And 3 Barnies:

Grizzly turned 12

Blackie turned 10

And Barnacle Farnsworth III turns 3 May 31st! Happy birthday, buddy!

Whew! That was a lot. Almost like May is kitten season or something...

We set up a booth at the local Lilac Festival and raised $758! The money raised will be used to replenish our vouchers for our spay and neuter program, to help make the cost even more affordable! Thanks to everyone who came out to see us and donated!

May was a great month, here's to hoping June is ever better! Here's some ways you can be part of it and help out:

Adopt!! https://www.fofrescue.org/adop.../ffrc-adoption-application/

Monetary donations: https://www.fofrescue.org/ways-to-help/paypal/

Amazon wishlist: https://www.fofrescue.org/ways-to-help/amazon/

Chewy wishlist: https://www.fofrescue.org/chewy-wish-list/

Or you can subscribe to our YouTube channel, like our videos, share our posts on social media, etc. Every little bit helps!

Let's do it, June!

Yama giving Faisy a bath!

Other Events:

It's nearly time for this year's Cat-a-thon! This year, the event will be held from June 15-19. This is the biggest financial Fundraiser of the year. We will use the same type of board as we have in the past. The boxes will be numbered 1 through 400. We ask for a purchase of one of more boxes. The number on the box is the amount that you pledge to FFRC. Many fun activities will be held during the week. We plan on having two phone lines this year to make it easier to get through to us. Calls will be taken from 10am to 4pm, so that we can reserve time for meds and other crucial kitty business. We are also hoping to have a visit from a doctor! Let's beat last year's total of just over $112K.

Also, back by popular demand will be CatStock which has been renamed FFRC Chatters Weekend!!!

Here is the link for the hotel block to get discounted rates at the Hampton Inn! Make your reservations soon! [https://group.hamptoninn.com/lqhld7](https://group.hamptoninn.com/lqhld7)

Current Needs:

Thank you so much for all that sent in items during Tuesday's Box Day. We received lots of food, treats and cleaning supplies. For items that we need, a list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website. We are almost out of the following:

Disinfecting Wipes

6" plates

Other:

Megan is back from her wonderful vacation where she was able to meet Mods Claire and Paul and also Mod Burgundy. These visits were the highlight of her trip! Vacations end, but her cold is keeping on giving. Get well soon, Megan!

The goats got their nails trimmed this week. One of the larger goats has a bit of a nail issue, but we are working on it.

The Valentine's Day Date videos are nearly ready to be sent.

If you haven't looked at our Instagram page, please do!! There are great pictures of our center's kitties. Thanks so much!

FFRC is always looking for Center volunteers. Candidates need to be at least 18 years old and have transportation to get here. Volunteers work set shifts and have assigned tasks, which include cleaning, feeding and other caring for cats. Please contact Megan if you would like to help.

Please make sure that you have a plan for your pets in the event that you are no longer able to take care of them. The best plan is to have both a primary and a secondary backup.

2026 Calendars are now available and are being offered in two sizes: 8 1/2 x 12 or 8 1/2 x 14. Orders for calendars will be through the FFRC Store and also on the FFRC website. We are unable to take orders via the phone or e-mail.

Photos by Dawn and friends.

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In honor of International Hug Your Cat Day!

International Hug Your Cat Day 2026

International Hug Your Cat Day is celebrated on May 30, 2026, as a global day to show love, affection, and appreciation for cats National Day Today+1.

Date and Observance

Primary date: May 30, 2026 — widely recognized worldwide for hugging and pampering cats National Day Today+1.
Some sources also note June 4 as a related “Hug Your Cat Day” in certain calendars, but May 30 is the official International Hug Your Cat Day Neakasa.

Purpose and Significance

This day is dedicated to:
Celebrating the human–cat bond and the joy cats bring to our lives daysanddates.com.
Encouraging affection through hugs, petting, and play to strengthen trust and emotional well-being daysanddates.com+1.
Promoting animal welfare by raising awareness about proper cat care, nutrition, and veterinary visits daysanddates.com.

How to Celebrate

Hug and cuddle sessions — spend extra time snuggling your cat daysanddates.com.
Playtime — use toys, laser pointers, or fetch games to keep them active Catster+1.
Pamper with treats and toys — spoil them with favorites or new items daysanddates.com+1.
Grooming spa day — brush their coat and give a gentle massage Awareness Days+1.
Social media — share photos/videos with hashtags like #HugYourCatDay or #InternationalHugYourCatDay daysanddates.com.
Support animal charities — attend adoption events or fundraise for shelters daysanddates.com.

"In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this."

Terry Pratchett

"What greater gift than the love of a cat."

Charles Dickens

"One cat leads to another."

Ernest Hemingway

FFRC Blog Week Ending May 23, 2026

May 20th was World Bee Day! Thanks for the reminder, DarkCat!

"The hum of bees is the voice of the garden."

Elizabeth Lawrence

It is also time of remembrance in the US as we celebrate the upcoming Memorial Day!

"For many Americans, Memorial Day is more than a long weekend and an unofficial start to the summer season. The real meaning of the holiday is meant to honor all U.S. soldiers who have died serving their country.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day's history goes back to the Civil War. It was declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Although Veterans Day in November also honors military service members, Memorial Day differs by honoring all military members who have died while serving in U.S. forces in any current or previous wars."

from Emily Vetter and Camille Fine, USA Today

Also, in the US, we celebrate the GREATEST SPECTACLE IN MOTOR RACING", the Indianapolis 500. The Sunday before Memorial Day, hundreds of thousands of race fans flock to the Town of Speedway, Indiana to witness the Indy 500 and watch the winner kiss the yard of bricks!

Adoptions:

There were no adoptions this week.

Intakes:

There were no intakes this week.

Center Kitties:

Two of our favorite residents (of course, they are all our favorites) celebrated their 9th birthdays on May 19th! Birthday gear was sent to FFRC by Antonio and opened on Box Day.

RAMSAY is looking sharp in his Furari, wearing his birthday gear!

MARILYN is wearing her crown, because she is the Queen Mom of FFRC!

SQUIZZLE would like a taste of this!

Who needs a dust mop, when you have MS. JEWEL?

Health Updates:

All of our kitties are doing great!

Holds:

There may be a very special hold in the making. RAISIN and WIBBLES are most likely becoming Vegas Babies! That's right, JUDE'S mommy is looking for some more friends for him. Stay tuned for more updates!

Meet the Office Kitties!

This is from our recent Facebook post:

When Director Megan first took over Assistant Director Lynnette told her they would have NO cats in their office. Long story short, there are now 5. 
Abba and Aponi were found in someone's yard with terrible eye infections that left them blind. The damage was so bad that they had to be removed. This brother/sister duo adapted well and are now sweet, playful, and adventurous cats! Their DOB is 6/28/23.
Smokey and Junior came to the Rescue after a beloved moderator passed away. They were his cats and one of his last requests was for FFRC to take care of them. They are both elderly gentlemen and very, very sweet. Junior is very diligent to help the ladies work at their desk. And Smokey takes all the naps so they don't have to. Natural born Office Kitties!
Junior's DOB is 6/29/11 and Smokey's is 11/20/11. 
Mitzy was born 4/30/24 and arrived 6/724 when some people found her but couldn't afford the care she needed for her badly infected eyes which needed to be removed. She is crazy and silly and brings plenty of youthful energy to the Office. Her favorite hobby is catching flies, though no one is quite sure how!
The Office is an ideal smaller area for the blind kitties to easily map out and for the elderly kitties to chill in without being overwhelmed or tiring themselves out. Besides, we can't expect Humans to do all the work on their own! So the next time you receive a reply to an email or phone call, or receive an item from a Flash Sale, etc. know that Megan and Lynnette don't get ALL the credit. 

Adopted Kitties:

Remember MACARONI and PICKLES? Now they are MAC and PICCOLO! They now live with their Doggo buddy, Tanner. Mac especially loves sharing the dog's bed.

Here are some photos of MICHAEL (RADAR) and VICTORIA. These were taken right before they were brought to FFRC.

Other Events:

Megan is back from her vacation and SonJa is visiting---Hoping for no new babies!

Believe it or not, it is time to start planning for this year's Cat-a-thon! This year, the event will be held from June 15-19. This is the biggest financial Fundraiser of the year. We will using the same type of board as we have in the past. The boxes will be numbered 1 through 400. We ask for a purchase of one of more boxes. The number on the box is the amount that you pledge to FFRC. Many fun activities will be held during the week. More to follow.

Also, back by popular demand will be CatStock. This event will be renamed soon. We have received a number of suggestions. This will be a scaled down version of past year's events, so that staff can enjoy themselves. It will be a great time for a picnic and visit with your FFRC family. There may also be a small work party put together during the weekend. Mark your calendars for 9/12 & 9/13. The Hampton Inn in Defiance has a block of rooms for us!

Current Needs:

A list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website. We are almost out of the following:

Disinfecting Wipes

Odoban--can be purchased at Dollar General

Royal Canin Mother and Baby Cat Dry

Soups/Stews/ Broths/Bisques

Canned Chicken

Canned Fancy Feast and Friskees

Temptation Treats

Other:

No Q & A was held on 5/22, due to Megan's vacation.

The Valentine's Day Date videos are nearly ready to be sent.

If you haven't looked at our Instagram page, please do!! There are great pictures of our center's kitties. Thanks so much!

Please make sure that you have a plan for your pets in the event that you are no longer able to take care of them. The best plan is to have both a primary and a secondary backup.

Photos by Dawn and friends.

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In honor of Memorial Day!

"A true hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom."

Bob Dylan

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but to urge to serve others at whatever cost."

Arthur Ashe

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

Ronald Reagan