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!
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!
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 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
