FFRC BLOG

FFRC Blog Week Ending February 21, 2026

You will be missed by all, my Magic Man!

He came to us as a little one

All twisted and tangled.

He left us quickly, we're so undone,

And now are hearts are mangled.

A Friend of FFRC

Special:

MAGIC

First, his story from the FFRC website:

Do you believe in magic? We do, here at Friends of Felines’ Rescue Center in Defiance, OH. Magic is our grey speedster boy! He arrived here as a little kitten of 6 weeks old from Tennessee in January 2015. He had been at a rescue but due to his severe leg deformities, FFRC was asked to help him. We drove down to get him and returned already in love with this little boy.

Magic was so very tiny, just 14 ounces. He was bottle fed, tested, wormed, and vet checked. Much work went into getting his loose stools under control. Slowly but surely he started gaining weight. And his personality blossomed!

Then we had to deal with the issue causing him the most trouble—those rear legs. Magic’s rear legs were so deformed; they looked like a pretzel which caused him a lot of trouble when he had to potty. In April 2015, during two separate surgeries, both rear legs were removed. He went from having to handle those rear legs that caused him pain to a zooming kitten!

Magic is a wonder. He loves everyone. He has a best bud, Trucker who is also two-front-legged. They are very close in age and frequently can be seen snoozing and playing together. There is a real connection between these two cats.

Then we came upon another trouble—that long tail became a hindrance to him. Magic tried so hard to get into the litterboxes (most of the time he was successful!), but that tail, because of the lack of muscle tone, was forever getting messy. And he did not like this. The reason is that he constantly had to have baths. Like many typical kittens, he was just too busy for that. So, another surgery removed the tail that was useless anyway. He couldn’t wave it around like a “normal” cat could. Now, Magic’s world was great. He could potty without a problem of getting messy.

Some of our cats have disabilities. All of our cats have cat-abilities. It’s amazing what can happen. Cats just figure things out—how can they handle this? How can they accomplish that desire to do something? They are cats and can simply do it! They do not waste time feeling sorry for themselves—they simply get on with the act of living and have a whole lot of fun doing it! They are amazing. In their heads, they are fine and dandy, just as they are!

Magic has become a permanent resident of FFRC. He still has occasional potty accidents for which he is always very very sorry. He’s like a beacon to us—showing us that no matter what life throws at you, it can be dealt with. It’s how it is handled that matters. He just smiles and gets right on going with life! I know that Magic has been an inspiration to many folks—they’ve told us how he gives them courage to carry on.

Magic has a special toy that he extra loves. Those sparkly pom poms are high on his list of likes! He knows many volunteers carry an extra ball around in their pockets, just for him. He will run up to them and look with those expectant eyes of his, waiting for the ball to be tossed for him to chase.

He also loves to race! Some of his cat buddies will start in one room and race throughout the Rescue Center. It doesn’t matter that he only has his front legs—he generally is the winner! He sits straight up and cranks those front legs in motion full speed ahead, with his head held high! He knows he can win!

Second, his final chapter:

Magic had been feeling under the weather. He was taken to Dr. Darcy's office on Thursday 2/12. It was found that he had pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreatitis. Magic stayed at the vet's office until Saturday, 2/14. He did not like being there. While he was there, he also was found to have a slight issue of inflammatory bowel disease. On Tuesday, he still wasn't eating or feeling good, so he went back to Dr. Darcy's office. Dr. Darcy worked with him until Wednesday morning, when she determined that she had done all that she could do for him and that it was time to let him go. She examined him after his passing and also found that Magic also had cancer.

His Legacy:

Magic was loved around the world. People tuned in to see him "scoot" across the floor and then dash off on his forelegs faster than most of the other kitties. Magic was one of the strongest cats that I ever met. Those that met him in person knew that he loved shoes. He would lay on your feet and tug at your shoelaces. He didn't like to be held much, but he was always first in line to be brushed. Mary Braids provided a memorial brush that is now hanging on the wall near the Center's door. E-Mails have poured into Megan's Inbox and YouTube and Facebook have been flooded with tribute stories about Magic. Our hearts are very heavy; however, we take comfort in knowing that for Magic's 11 years at FFRC, he was loved, warm and well-fed. Although we miss him, we must remember what Jacci said, "Always, the cat first!"

His Friends:

YOU all were his friends, but he had special kitty friends, too! His best friend was another two-legged kitty named Trucker. Trucker was with us for about 1 1/2 years. He was born 7/9/14 and passed on 3/23/17. Coralee was another kitty that was missing her back legs. She lost hers to frostbite. Coralee was best known for her no-nonsense attitude. If any of the youngsters were acting up, she stepped up and threw herself in the ruckus then put them in their place. Most recently, Magic was able to meet Rocket. To Magic, it must have been like looking at a younger shadow of himself.

And a Special Message from Megan:

In Loving Memory of Magic

This week, we gently said goodbye to our sweet Magic. With only two legs, he still ran like the wind and met each day with quiet strength and joy. Cancer took him from us, but his spirit was strong right up until the end.

Magic reminded us why we do this work—that every cat deserves love, compassion, and a chance to be seen for who they truly are. He was deeply loved by our staff, volunteers, and supporters, and he will always be part of the FFRC family.

Run free, sweet boy. Thank you for sharing your magic with us.

Love furever ~ Mama Megan

We will miss you MAGIC!

Adoptions:

JELLY: Our pretty tiger girl went to her furever home on Friday, 2/20/26 in a surprise adoption. Jelly was born at FFRC on 4/17/25 to Sinopa. She will be an only baby living about 45 minutes away. Her new Mom is not sure if she will be keeping her name but will let us know. Thanks to Terri for getting her a blanket.

TIMMY was adopted on Saturday, 2/21/26. His fur mom is ANGELIQUE. His mom and his siblings came to us on 11/25/25. Timmy's date of birth is 9/25/25. Timmy's new parents will be keeping his name. He will have a new brother named Gideon Burger who is a very playful 2-year-old. Timmy only had a 40-minute drive to his new home.

CONGRATUATIONS to our adoptees and adopters.

Intakes:

Our friends Stacy and Kat have been caring for feral cats at a local park for quite some time. While they were visiting them, they came across a set of siblings that were being a bit too amorous with each other. They were able to trap one brother (TIPPY) and sister (MILEY) and help them not become parents. They have another brother who is feral and will be trapped as soon as possible. The initial plan was to release these two; however, they really aren't feral, just a bit unsocialized. They were scared at first but are becoming love bugs and really like to be petted. We should be seeing these two in the main room soon.

Hi! I'm Miley

And I'm her brother, Tippy

BARNACLE FARNSWORTH III is a boy that showed up on the FFRC property a couple of weeks ago. We named him on Tuesday, 2/17. The other name choices were Brock and Benton. Brock tied with Barnacle Farnsworth III so, Megan's vote was the tiebreaker. All names were from the Name a Cat Program. The winning name was submitted by Samuel W. (We had been calling him Mr. Chunky Face, I wonder why). Our new boy is between 2 and 3 years old. He has vertical cuts on his forelegs but is healing pretty good. Once healed and neutered, he will be one of our outside kitties. He is a big boy and loves to eat.

AND...not just kitties, but we have 5 new GOATS!!!

1. CHARLENE is a Pygmy goat, about three years old. She is the mother to LUCKY.

2. LUCKY is an Alpine Cross goat; she is the mother to PEANUT.

3. PEANUT is a Pygmy Cross goat.

4. JOLENE is a Pygmy goat and mother to SPADE.

5. SPADE is a Pygmy Cross goat.

All of our new goats are females. These ladies are all full grown (between 2 and 4 years old) and weigh less than 40 pounds each and are about knee to thigh high. They were brought to us from a family that raised them for 4H and were no longer able to keep them. Megan took a video that is available through YouTube that is fun to watch! Here are some pics--aren't they cute?

Health Updates:

MR. ROGERS is doing great! When he arrived, he weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. He is now up to 7 lbs. 5 oz. He was already neutered when he arrived.

FINNEY will be done with his FIP treatment in April. We will keep you informed as the date gets closer.

ROCKET is not quite ready to come up front yet. He had a bit of a "poo accident" recently, so we are still keeping him in Back Thumpers Room. He loves running around and climbing the pole all the way up to the top! Mary Braids has retro-fitted a drag bag for him. While wearing the bag, he did not leave a kitty trail.

Holds:

There are no kitties currently on hold.

Center Kitties:

OZ says talk to the paw!

TACO BELLE needs a quiet home, because she is very shy.

PURRSCILLA, MR. ROGERS and STARLIGHT are enjoying life in the Kabana.

Events:

We all had the opportunity to take a GoogleDoc Quiz about FFRC on Friday. I don't know if anyone got all the answers correct. I know that I didn't! There were 20 questions, not counting supplying your name, which many missed. This quiz was put together by Metalbumy. Thanks so much for doing this! It was a lot of fun and very informational. Here is the quiz!

A few clarifications on the answers:

Q9--There is no treatment after a cat has contracted CH; however, there is a way to prevent it--Please have your cats immunized for Distemper!

Q16--We used to put collars on kitties, so visitors knew that these cats were residents; however, this changed recently. We put collars on kitties that look similar so that our staff can determine which cat is which. This is especially important when doing meds.

Q20---DUH--you're reading the blog now!!!!

Current Needs:

A list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website.

Other:

We have a new volunteer. Her name is Kate. She is accumulating hours that will be used towards a Scout badge.

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

The kitties received a new treat on Box Day. They are chicken hearts. They gobbled these up as soon as they were out of the bag. Surprisingly, Malade loved the treats. She normally is not a treat gal. A large shipment of hearts arrived on Friday and were passed out and again, met with huge success.

We are considering whether to add chips to all of our Center Kitties. We have added this to all new ones that we have spayed and neutered.

Many of you may have noticed a little change in YouTube. Our Mods now have a blue shield next to their names, instead of a wrench! Also, when you like the FFRC page, a paw-print flashes. If you just tried this to see if I knew what I was talking about, make sure that you didn't unlike in the process!

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

The Kitten Lady is coming to Ft. Wayne on March 19. Megan and Team are looking forward to attending the event and learning more about kitten care and also sharing their information on CH cats with her.

FFRC is looking for 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. I've received mine, how about you?

Photos by Dawn and friends.

------------

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us"

Helen Keller

"Grief and love are conjoined, you don't get one without the other."

Jandy Nelson

FFRC Blog Week Ending February 14, 2026

Well, Valentine's Day has come and gone! With that, February is half-way past, as well! Those of us in the United States are looking forward to the end of this cold and snowy weather and will be celebrating President's Day on Monday, February 16th.

Here are 100 fun facts about President’s Day (https://mentalbomb.com/presidents-day-fun-facts)--OK, this is a lot to take in--LOL!! I also made a few updates as the information was a little dated.

President’s Day is always celebrated on the third Monday in February.
President’s Day is a federal holiday, which means that banks, post offices, and government offices are closed.
President’s Day is also known as Washington’s Birthday.
The holiday was originally established to honor George Washington’s birthday, which was on February 22nd.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732.
George Washington was the first president of the United States.
The holiday was first celebrated as a federal holiday in 1885.
The holiday was originally celebrated on February 22nd.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 moved the holiday to the third Monday in February.
President’s Day is now seen as a day to honor all U.S. presidents, not just George Washington.
Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is also in February (February 12th), so he is often honored on President’s Day as well.
President’s Day is also known as “Washington and Lincoln Day” in some states.
Some states also celebrate the birthdays of other notable presidents, such as Thomas Jefferson, on President’s Day.
President’s Day is not an official name for the holiday, but it has become the popular name.
President’s Day is a popular time for retailers to offer sales and discounts.
President’s Day weekend is a popular time for people to travel.
Some people use President’s Day weekend to go skiing or snowboarding.
The largest Presidents Day parade is held in Alexandria, Virginia.
The first President’s Day parade was held in 1796 in Philadelphia to honor George Washington.
President’s Day is sometimes called National Freedom Day.
President’s Day is sometimes called American Heritage Day.
President’s Day is sometimes called George Washington Day.
Some states, like California, do not recognize President’s Day as a state holiday.
President’s Day is not celebrated in other countries.
President’s Day is a time for people to reflect on the contributions of U.S. presidents to the country.
President’s Day is a time to celebrate democracy and the freedom that the United States enjoys.
President’s Day is a time to honor the American spirit and the resilience of the American people.
The official name of the holiday is still “Washington’s Birthday” in some states, such as Virginia.
The date of the holiday is sometimes called “Presidents Day” in calendars and other official documents.
Some people celebrate President’s Day by visiting historic sites, such as Mount Vernon, Monticello, or the Lincoln Memorial.
Some people celebrate President’s Day by watching movies about U.S. presidents, such as Lincoln, JFK, or The American President.
Some people celebrate President’s Day by cooking traditional American foods, such as apple pie or fried chicken.
Some people celebrate President’s Day by hosting a barbecue with friends and family.
Some people celebrate President’s Day by dressing up as U.S. presidents or other historical figures.
President’s Day is a time for schools to teach students about U.S. history and the role that U.S. presidents have played in shaping the country.
President’s Day is a time to remember the sacrifices that U.S. presidents have made in service to the country.
President’s Day is a time to honor the men and women who have served as U.S. presidents and the legacy that they have left behind.
George Washington was the only president to be unanimously elected by the Electoral College.
George Washington was also the only president to not represent a political party.
George Washington was a skilled horseman and had several horses throughout his life, including his famous horse named Nelson.
John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, which was completed in 1800.
Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington D.C., in 1801.
James Madison was the shortest president, standing only 5 feet 4 inches tall.
James Monroe was the last president to have served in the Revolutionary War.
John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, was the first president to be photographed.
Andrew Jackson was the first president to ride on a train.
Martin Van Buren was the first president to be born in the United States.
William Henry Harrison was the first president to die in office, serving only 31 days before his death.
John Tyler was the first vice president to become president after the death of a sitting president.
James K. Polk was the first president to have his photograph taken while in office.
Zachary Taylor was the second president to die in office, serving only 16 months before his death.
Millard Fillmore was the first president to have a bathtub installed in the White House.
Franklin Pierce was the first president to have a Christmas tree in the White House.
James Buchanan was the only president who never married.
Abraham Lincoln was the tallest president, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall.
Abraham Lincoln was also the first president to have a beard.
Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached.
Ulysses S. Grant was the first president to have a speeding ticket, for driving his horse and buggy too fast.
Rutherford B. Hayes was the first president to use a telephone.
James A. Garfield was the second president to be assassinated, serving only 200 days before his death.
Chester A. Arthur was the first president to be born a U.S. citizen, rather than a British subject.
Grover Cleveland was the first president to get married in the White House, and also the first president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Benjamin Harrison was the first president to use electric lights in the White House.
William McKinley was the third president to be assassinated, serving six months into his second term.
Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president, serving from age 42 to 50.
William Howard Taft was the heaviest president, weighing over 300 pounds.
Woodrow Wilson was the first president to hold regular press conferences.
Warren G. Harding was the first president to own a radio in the White House.
Calvin Coolidge was the first president to give a speech on the radio.
Herbert Hoover was the first president born west of the Mississippi River.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two terms, serving four terms before the 22nd Amendment was passed limiting presidents to two terms.
Harry S. Truman was the first president to address the nation on television.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to use a helicopter for transportation.
John F. Kennedy was the youngest person ever elected president, at age 43.
Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to sign the Civil Rights Act into law.
Richard Nixon was the first president to visit China while in office.
Richard Nixon was the first president to resign from office, following the Watergate scandal.
Gerald Ford was the first president who was not elected to the office of president or vice president, but instead was appointed to the position after Nixon’s resignation.
Jimmy Carter was the first president to be born in a hospital.
Ronald Reagan was one of the oldest presidents, serving from age 69 to 77.
George H.W. Bush was the first president to celebrate Thanksgiving in Saudi Arabia with U.S. troops during the Gulf War.
Bill Clinton was the first president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, but he was later acquitted by the Senate.
George W. Bush was the first president to have a MBA degree.
Barack Obama was the first African American to be elected to the presidency.
Barack Obama was also the first president to have a Twitter account while in office.
Donald Trump was the first president to be impeached twice, but he was acquitted both times by the Senate.
Joe Biden is the oldest person ever elected to the presidency, at age 78.
Joe Biden is also the second Catholic president, after John F. Kennedy.
There have been 47 presidents, but only 44 men have held the office, as Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and is counted as both the 22nd and 24th president and Donald Trump served as both the 45th and 47th president.
Seven presidents were born in Virginia, making it the state with the most presidential births.
Four presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.
Only one president, James Polk, was speaker of the House of Representatives before becoming president.
Five presidents were vice presidents before becoming president: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, Richard Nixon, and George H.W. Bush.
Four presidents were assassinated while in office: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy.
Three presidents died in office from natural causes: William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The highest salary ever paid to a president was $400,000 per year, which was the salary for Barack Obama and is still the current salary for the position.
The presidential limousine, also known as “The Beast,” is equipped with advanced security features, including bulletproof windows and a tear gas cannon.
The Secret Service began protecting the president in 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley.
The presidential aircraft is known as Air Force One when the president is aboard.
There are over 14,000 books written about George Washington, making him the most written-about president

If you read the entire list, WOW!!!!

Adoptions:

SCOOT, now WAFFLES was adopted on Friday, 2/13. He went home with his Daddy, where he will be the King of the Castle and watch sports and just hang-out doing "Guy Things". Waffles was 4 months and 18 days at his adoption. He arrived with Angelique and his siblings when he just a tiny baby. Waffles only had about a 5-minute drive and had lots of toys waiting for him. Special thanks to Valerie C who supplied a blankie for Waffles.

Intakes:

Our friends Stacy and Kat have been caring for feral cats at a local park for quite some time. While they were visiting them, they came across a set of siblings that were being a bit too amorous with each other. They were able to trap one brother (TIPPY) and sister (MYLIE) and help them not become parents. They have another brother who is feral and will be trapped as soon as possible. The initial plan was to release these two; however, they really aren't feral, just a bit unsocialized. They were scared at first but are becoming love bugs and really like to be petted. Tippy is a black and white cat with very large feet. Mylie is also of similar colors.

We also have a boy that showed up on the FFRC property a couple of weeks ago. He also is a bit unsocialized and is not yet neutered. We haven't yet named this boy. He is between 2 and 3 years old. A blood draw was done and he tested negative. He is in pretty rough shape and has wounds on his forelegs. These wounds are on the outer surface of each front leg and are horizontal up to his shoulders. His legs are swollen and infected. We currently have him on meds to help with the swelling, infection and pain. We don't know what caused the wounds and will most likely never know. We do second blood draws on all of our kitties. It is especially important for this boy. Once healed and neutered, he will be one of our outside kitties. He is a big boy and loves to eat.

Hopefully, will have pictures of these new kitties soon.

Health Updates:

MAGIC has been feeling under the weather recently. He was taken to Dr. Darcy's office on Thursday. He has pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, which is the organ responsible for producing digestive enzymes and hormones, like insulin. This is not a common condition, but not all that unusual either. Magic stayed at the vet's office until Saturday. He did not like being there. While he was there, he also was found to have a slight issue of inflammatory bowel disease. This 11-and-a-half-year-old (can you believe that?) was, as Dr. Darcy said, "It's hard to do an ultrasound on a glow worm." He is home now and is in a pen so we can monitor him.

JENNY is doing great and is now in the main room. Her eye conditions are improving!

MR. ROGERS went to see Dr. Darcy on Tuesday. We were very curious on finding out his age. Dr. Darcy looked at his eyes and his teeth and first estimated his age from 4-5. Then she did a more complete physical and thought maybe he was around 10. We are sticking with our age of 7 years, which is really anyone's guess. The bloodwork for Mr. Rogers came back great, as did the rest of his physical, except for a few things. He does have some bad teeth, but they are clean! He also has a little bit of an inflammatory bowel issue, which may be why he isn't gaining weight as quickly as we would like. He will be on a medical protocol for a bit to see if this helps. Mr. Rogers is All Bark and No Bite! He grumbles like an old man but wants pets like a kitten. He is now in the main room. During Friday's festivities, he got a little overwhelmed and put himself into a pen just to have some alone time.

JUNIOR went to Dr. Darcy's office with Mr. Rogers. His heart was re-checked, and he is getting better.

WIBBLES and RAISIN were spayed on Monday and were back at FFRC on Wednesday. They are doing fine but have shaved bellies.

CRACKERS has a little opening in his sutures from his eye closure. This is clearing up.

Holds:

TIMMY is on hold. His adoption has been re-scheduled to 2/21 at 10:00 am.

Timmy will be going home to a friend, so he won't be lonely!

Center Kitties:

DAGDA is looking like the proud lion that he is!

SAZAZ is enjoying a well-earned rest.

SPIKER wants his human servants to cover him up.

Events:

Valentine's Day Fundraiser

58 tickets sold for a total of $290.

Basket won by Sarah & Jim

Surprise consolation prize winner: Janet SCH

135 tickets sold for a total of $675.

Basket won by Michelle HO

Surprise consolation prize winner: Cyll W

201 tickets sold for a total of $1,005.

Basket won by Darla W

Surprise consolation prize winner: Denise KI

194 tickets sold for a total of $970.

Basket won by Diane GU

Surprise consolation prize winner: Josephine B

99 tickets sold for a total of $495.

Basket won by Janet KO

Surprise consolation prize winner: Jenny B

107 tickets sold for a total of $535.

Basket won by Christine W

Surprise consolation prize winner: Annette CH

67 tickets sold for a total of $335.

Basket won by DBase

Surprise consolation prize winner: Rayda

97 tickets sold for a total of $485.

Basket won by Cyll W

Surprise consolation prize winner: Darla W

Total raised from the sale of tickets $4,790. After bump-ups, the total soared to $6,145. Date Video Prize Winners: Please expect to receive your personalized e-mailed video in approximately two weeks. Thanks so much for everyone that participated by supplying the baskets, purchasing tickets, sending in bump-ups and viewing our celebration!

Current Needs:

A list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website. We are extremely low on Baby Wipes!

Other:

We had a Humane Ohio event on Tuesday. We were able to send up 21 males and 30 females to be "fixed". If you figure each cat has at least 7 kitties, this one event prevented 350 cats from being born--this doesn't count the additional kitties that would be born from the kittens of the newly spayed cats. There were no official FFRC cats sent. We are very thankful that Humane Ohio now allows 10 more cats to be sent per visit, because their transport truck holds more.

Megan and Lynnette visited Humane Ohio this week!

The farrier visited on Wednesday. Lucy and Sunshine are now sporting their Spring pedis (without the polish)!

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.

------------

"Thanks to our angels, we can do a lot of medical good."

Our very own Debbie

"Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you."

Eileen Caddy