FFRC Blog Week Ending August 22, 2026
On 8/17, we recognized Black Cat Appreciation Day. Black Cat Appreciation Day celebrates our mysterious, sleek, and often misunderstood feline friends every August 17. These beautiful creatures, sometimes unfairly associated with bad luck, deserve all the love and attention. Updated on Jun 11, 2026 in Animal by Logan Sachon
Adoptions:
"Hi, You Guys!" This is how the Gumby Show always started. Well, we have our very own GUMBY, and he was adopted on Saturday, August 22nd to Stephanie. She also has BUCKEYE, another kitty and two old dogs. Stephanie can often be seen working hard at FFRC. On 6/5/26, Gumby was found by Stephanie's husband. A bunch of kitties had been thrown from a car while it was on a bridge. Most of the kitties had some form of injuries and were taken to various rescues. Gumby came to us. He had an injured front leg, which was recently removed. UHHH, no one told Gumby that a three-legged cat shouldn't be climbing towers and trees at all -- let alone only a few weeks after surgery. We are so happy that he has gone to a great home. Gumby was born on 4/21/26. I'm sure we will be seeing pictures of him. His name has not yet been decided.
We had two returns this week. KA-KENYA is a black and white female with a DOB of 4/15/17. She had originally been adopted on 11/13/19. She arrived at FFRC on 10/31/19 and weighed only 5.1 lbs. at that time. GABEL is black female with a slight white tail tip. Her DOB is 11/23/18. She was one of 6 black babies that had eye issue and were known as the "Abel" kitties. She was adopted on 3/30/19 and renamed ROSIE. It is always regretful to see any returns, but it is especially sad when the cats are seniors and have lived in their own home for a very long period of time. The kitties are depressed and despondent when they are returned. We will be working with them and will provide photos and updates as we have them.
After his visit to the vet, SHADOW, one of our barnie boys is doing OK. There was nothing unusual found. Cindy will be watching him closely--I mean Shadow will once again be watching Cindy closely!
On Monday, PHILOMENA's babies + ALIKI spent their first night in the Center. They are having a great time.
SAZAZ will be going home very soon. She doesn't have to travel far. Our own Debbie will be taking in another big kitty for her very own. Debbie is still feeding babies: Nigel, Beazlee and Shine. She needs to get them ready to move to the main center. AND.... then I think that Debbie needs a little "no kitty" time before this beautiful lady moves in. We are so happy for Debbie and Sazaz!!!!
Center Kitties:
CALLAHAN and JACKMAN in Wrestlemania 10,000!
Lovely LEIBCHEN needs a nice quiet home.
Adopted Kitties:
HIRO (CAVENDISH) taking a little nap.
And who doesn't want to get an update on the SIN CITY 6?
Current Needs:
Below are the links to the most recent needs:
Lots of SNACKERS---this info from Dagda!!!! He says this every day!
We also need Odoban, Bleach, 6 " plates, wet food and baby food!
A Little Something Extra, Coccidia.
This is lengthy, but good you might find it interesting.
What Is Coccidia in Cats?
Coccidia are single-celled (protozoan) parasites that nearly all cats are exposed to in their lifetime. The parasite travels into the intestinal lining cells of the cat, where it matures over about two weeks into oocysts, rupturing the cells and causing intestinal damage. These oocysts then pass through the intestines into the stool to finish their life cycle, become infective (sporulate), and spread into the environment. It takes no more than 16 hours for a passed oocyst to sporulate into an infective state. Once in that state, they can survive for up to year in temperate environments.
There are many species of coccidia that infect many different animals, but almost all these parasites are host-specific, meaning a cat cannot transmit an infection to a dog or human, they can only transmit it to other cats.
An infection with coccidia does not always mean an illness is present. Many cats will eliminate the parasite on their own while others may shed oocysts in their stool without ever showing symptoms (asymptomatic). When illness (coccidiosis) does occur, it is often in young kittens or older cats with poor immune systems.
As the life cycle of these parasites occurs in the intestines, signs of illness are related to the digestive system. Diarrhea is most common and may be associated with weight loss. Cats can become dehydrated (especially young kittens), and reluctant to engage in normal, playful behaviors. Only in rare cases will there be vomiting and loss of appetite. These symptoms may be aggravated by stressful environmental changes like adoption, weaning, or living in an animal shelter.
Causes of Coccidia in Cats
Most cats, particularly those who spend time outdoors, pick up this parasite from their environment, grooming it off their fur and feet.
Mice, rats, and other common prey species are known as transport hosts because they can carry certain life stages of coccidia, which then infect the cats who hunt them. Cats who share a litterbox with an infected cat risk picking up the parasite themselves, even if they do not hunt or go outside.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Coccidia in Cats
A veterinarian will take into consideration the cat’s history, symptoms, and use a microscope to determine if oocysts are present.
Coccidia is diagnosed through a stool sample. In this testing, fecal matter is mixed with a special solution that allows the oocysts to float to the surface, where they can be collected on a slide and examined under a microscope. Each species of coccidia has a unique oocyst appearance that can be identified.
Treatment of Coccidia in Cats
Coccidia is usually eliminated in cats with an oral antimicrobial medication. Sulfadimethoxine (Albon®) is the most commonly used product, though there are other medications that may be recommended.
Depending on the severity of the cat’s illness, antimicrobial treatment is often combined with medications to help alleviate symptoms, such as probiotics, low residue diets, anti-nausea medications, and fluid therapy.
Recovery and Prevention of Coccidia in Cats
Cats that are properly treated and supported typically make a full recovery from coccidiosis.
Daily removal of feces from the litterbox, routine cleaning of the environment, and treating all cats in contact with the infected cat are recommended to prevent the spread of disease.
Cats with outdoor access and cats who like to hunt should have fecal flotation tests completed annually to look for asymptomatic infections.
Coccidia in Cats FAQs
Can cats get rid of coccidia on their own?
Asymptomatic cats frequently eliminate coccidia infections on their own.
Cats with signs of illness may recover without intervention, but they will likely be in significant discomfort. It is not recommended that infected cats recover without medication as it will prolong illness and they are likely to spread the infection to other cats.
What happens if coccidia goes untreated?
Untreated clinical coccidiosis can lead to dehydration, weight loss, lack of appetite, and even death.
How long can coccidia live in carpet?
Certain life stages of coccidia can live for months in the environment, including carpeting.
How do you get rid of coccidia in your home?
It is important to clean litterboxes daily to prevent maturation of coccidia oocysts. Mature or sporulated oocysts are more resistant to most common disinfectants. Treating infected animals and keeping the environment clean are the most important steps.
Is coccidia contagious to other pets?
Coccidia is host-specific, meaning the specific species that infects cats can only infect cats. There is no risk to other kinds of household pets.
Is coccidia contagious to humans?
Humans are not susceptible to infection from feline coccidiosis.
Are there home remedies for coccidia in cats?
Coccidiosis should only be treated under the supervision of a veterinarian with FDA-approved medications.
Events:
On Box Day, we received many wonderful donations. Alley Cat and Tory had set up a Paws for the Cause donation site which brought in office and cleaning supplies, toys, food and snacks which were greatly appreciated.
We also received monetary and other donations from a Chatter friend that collected donations during the US127 Garage Sale.
Thank you so much for thinking of FFRC!!!
Megan took a few much-needed days off on 8/19 & 8/20. Of course, she's still feeding the babies, which always come first.
Debbie is feeling a bit under the weather. Wishing her the best.
Well, Cindy's new helper, Rose, did not show up as expected. We are once again searching for some much needed help.
We had an extended power outage this week. Our back-up generator kicked in as expected, so the Center was fully functional. This prompted discussions on why the camera was out for so long. When there is a power outage, the generator automatically kicks in and covers all of our electric needs. However, the camera does not automatically come back on. The computer towers that regulate the camera have to be manually reset, and then our moderator, VRS, needs to do her magic to bring the cameras up. Many times, just like this one, the outages happen during off hours. There isn't anyone to reset the towers so the cameras will be down until this can happen. Please keep in mind, the Center is fully functional, it is just the cameras that are not available. Our staff and volunteers understand that these extended outages can be upsetting to those that are not able to view as expected. We are sorry for the interruptions, but we work diligently to return your service as soon as we can.
If you haven't looked at our Instagram page, please do!! There are great pictures of our center's kitties. Thanks so much! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ffrckittycam
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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Groucho Marx
“Black cats have an air of mystery that adds to their charm. They are the true magicians of the feline world”
Unknown
“A black cat's presence is a reminder that even in darkness, there is a glimmer of light.”
Unknown
“A black cat is the perfect confidante - a silent companion that brings comfort without judgement.”
Unknown