It's been a week..........super busy, super sad, super happy. I know I've gotten behind in many things. And this blog may not be complete with all info. If so, I'll apologize in advance and depend on your forgiveness. As I've said, it's been a week.
First and most important, many of you already know, we lost our dear friend LJ this week, on Wednesday. LJ moved here last fall because she loved the cats of FFRC, she had many friends here at the rescue and she felt like this was her family. She moved right next door, we put in a sidewalk to make our popovers easy. It had been a long long time since I had a neighbor that was a real friend. And I loved it. LJ passed in peace--she was happy and even though we were not prepared for this to happen so quickly, she was ready and content. Her cat Enola had been stuck like velcro to her these past couple of weeks and was with her when she passed. We will continue Enola's care. I've been asked about a service for her. As she requested, she wanted her ashes to be spread on FFRC property and especially at the backwater. Plus, she wants bagpipes to be played. Not just the music, but a real person! She was insistent on that! So, come nicer weather, we will hold an open service in her memory. I already know this will be a joyous time celebrating her fun life with us. She will be missed so so much.
I'd like to say a giant thank you to all that made a donation to FFRC, in memory of LJ. She would be extremely pleased with that--I can see her smiling about it right now! I am grateful.
Yesterday was our Royal Election! And what a wonderful election it was! We had 890 votes come in, each $5.00. That brought in $4450 for FFRC for bill paying. I am so so grateful. And here's the election outcome--
Second Runner-Ups: Asha & Ramsay (these two brought in a combined 123 votes)
First Runner-Ups: Prince Derecho & Princess Lucie (brought in a combined 166 votes)
And.........Queen Coralie and King Magic (brought in a combined 288 votes!!)
We then had bump ups which went over $5,000--needless to say, Steve paid bills last night.
We also had many consolation prizes and two bigger prizes for the queen/king votes. It was a wonderful event, full of fun and friendship. Thank you to all that participated and to those that joined us on the cam!
We have taken on a mama cat and her 6 babies. They arrived on 2/11. Mama's name is Rose. When babies are older, Rose will be spayed and adopted back into the family that she came from. She also has 3 kittens from a previous litter and those kittens are now scheduled for their spays soon. The 6 kittens are healthy and ever so sweet. Our friend LJ was aware of these kittens coming to FFRC--we talked about it earlier in the week and she was so excited! These kittens will be known as the LJ litter. The babies were born 1/21/21 and are 3 weeks old.
Rose--a white calico, ever so sweet and a good mama
Jerry--brown tiger, ASH, twin, male
Larry--brown tiger, ASH, twin, male
Laura--tiger/calico, female
Lennon--gold ASH, male
Joall--gold tiger/white, male
Jean--gold tiger, female
King Magic is doing wonderful. His bum where his abscess was has healed beautifully. The surgical site is checked 2-3 times a day. Queen Coralie continues to feel good. She is actually now on minimal meds for her tumor but is eating very well. She sure loves to nap in her crown bed! Sparrow is getting stronger and sure is a climber. She can put her back weight on that right leg even though it "wiggles" quite a bit. We are giving her ample time before any decisions are made. She is like a bird, flying all around!
We have some thanks to give:
Faithy--donation to cover a spay/neuter/vaccine
Daniel K--donation to FFRC
Timothy R--donation to FFRC
Pat D from PA--donation in memory of Anna Lauren Hodum, sister in law.
Lana H--donation to FFRC
Edith L from MD--donation to FFRC
Cheryl B--donation to FFRC
Cathy OA--donation for FFRC
Sue OD--donation for FFRC
Sonja M from Australia--donation to FFRC
CHarlotte T--donation to FFRC
Lisa C--donation to FFRC
Judeanlee--donation for FFRC
Clara N from NY--donation to FFRC
Gusti--donation to FFRC, in memory of our past King Bruno/PawPaw and Queen Jessie
Zsofia H/Trillyke--donation to FFRC
Sharon G from UK--donation to FFRC
Anne L--donation in celebration of CDot Moss getting adopted!
And then.........we had BOXES!! a million thank yous! We are hoping soon that we can resume BOX openings on cam! But, in the meantime, we open them in PawMart and make notes! And we ooooh and awwww over every BOX!
Karen & Gilbert- 2 shop vac filters, FF appetizer, 1 box Lil Soups, 6 pkg Catit, Box of Beyond Broth, Temptations, 2-1 gallons of Mr. Clean
Dustin H--24 hand sanitizers for vols
MLS--12 boxes of Lil' Soups
NJLurker--2-cat headed scratcher bed!, 100 tubes Churu, 30 tubes Catit cream;y
Aprilcatlover--24 jars babyfood, 2 FF appetizers, 2 cases Beyond Broth
Mary R from NY--crocheted dog coats (will go to our local shelter!)
Dora A--snackers for cats & Lil Soups
Deb C--22# Iams dry food, 152 cans 9-Lives
Nona--Lots of "C" batteries!
Floyd & Patty--12 cans RC Mother/Babycat
JoyceOH--2-24 pk Friskies
Randi & Mary--2 cases Purrfectly chicken
StripeyD--turbo scratcher replacements 6 pk, 2 Lil Soups
Contessa & Family--Sheba cuts, cards & puzzle book
Anonymous Friend--Lg temptations, 1 pkg Greenies, 30 ct Lil Soups
MM--4 quilts, different bed sizes, all cat designs
Christopher & STephanie C from AL--donation, LOTS of cat toys!
Jane90125--2 floppy fish, 2 Party Mix, 2 scratcher, playhouses, 16# Purina One Kitten
M & M--Goebel figurines, all signed, so beautiful
Judeanlee--C batteries, 2 purple mamas, 3 temptations, 6 Lil Soups, 4 scratchers, cat toys!
KarenB--3 cases FF Broths, Sheba Portions 24, 2 bags horse treats, 4 Lil Soup, 4 cat snackers
Elaine & Alan--5-Friskies 24 cans, 1 Friskies 32, 3 FF, 1 FF Appetizers, 2 bags litter
Bill & Lisa S Family from PA--card (this donation in name of Patricia S)--2 flats stamps, Sheba Portions, 7 cat toys, 8 FF Appetizers, 6 broths, 3 snackers, Cat Advantage
It makes me so grateful that these items have arrived. And it's easy to see just some of the huge variety of items that we use here at FFRC. All of this is possible from donations such as these. It's incredibly heartwarming to me and very thankful.
Little Myles is here now. He is big enough to not be fostered any longer by his Auntie Peggy. She did an awesome "job" with him. He's happy, good weight, so sweet and playful. He loves to play with the toys and with Nugget and Alexandra. But, he's not beyond chasing a cat tail either!
This Thursday is another HumaneOhio surgery day. It's a loaded schedule, as usual. It amazes me how there are still so many kittens and cats not spayed/neutered yet. Spring is only 35 days away. Days are becoming longer in sunlight. This is what triggers heat cycles to begin. Many of the female cats in the last 3 loads have been in heat. Please.......don't wait until it's already spring. Get those surgeries scheduled now, where there is perhaps only 1 or 2 cats to do, instead of 12-15 to do by mid summer. Remember.....a cat giving birth in early spring can have 3-4 litters before late fall. And those early spring babies can have babies of their own in the fall.
From King Magic--Take care everyone. Appreciate your family and friends. Give your pets an extra hug. Wash your hands often. Always be willing to forgive. And reach out to others that need help--a wonderful gift to give. And don't forget how good back rubs feel (Magic is a pro at receiving those!)