| Issue No. 5 | December 2011 |
Happy Holiday Season from Everyone
(Feline and Human) at Tails High!
Felix: A Very Lucky Kitten
We believe that every cat and kitten in the Tails High system is lucky, because they’re guaranteed to receive lots of love and attention in foster homes before they are adopted, and even more when they go to their forever homes. But some are especially lucky.
Tails High was contacted by Judy to see if we could help find homes for five-month-old Felix and his sister Tigger. Judy agreed to take the kittens to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, keep them inside for another week for quarantine purposes, then bring them to us. On the way to the clinic, Felix had an accident in the carrier, and when she opened the carrier door to clean him and the carrier, off he ran… into the nearby woods! She called and called and was very surprised that this affectionate kitten she had raised since he was born, the kitten who slept on her at night, would run and not come when called. Workers at the clinic helped search; no Felix.
You might be surprised to hear that if your indoor cat accidentally got outside she would be so fearful that she might run and hide from you. But it’s true. TH Adoption Chair Kelley has helped many people who have called the Tails High Hotline in a panic because their cat escaped through the crack in the door when the carpet cleaners were there and they couldn’t find him, or one who escaped from a carrier in a parking garage after a vet visit, or … well, you get the idea.
(Note: If you or anyone you know has a cat go missing, contact the TH Hotline immediately, 703-819-5240, and we’ll do our best to help.)
We implemented the same advice Kelley gives to these callers: Quickly put up posters all over the neighborhood with a picture, a description, and a phone number; put out things with the cat’s scent (litterbox, bedding); and set humane traps nearby with food.
Four days went by, and we all worried terribly because it was getting colder and colder at night, and this sweet kitten was in an unfamiliar wooded area. How would he survive? Judy and her family went out several times to call his name, but he was never sighted. The clinic workers (primarily Elaine) and Tails High Advocate Juli checked the traps frequently, putting out the tastiest food in the traps. And then the night before Thanksgiving, we got the most welcome of news: “Felix is Safe.” He had gone into a trap and was brought inside, fed a wonderful meal, and allowed to sleep in warmth and safety.
It turned out that the very lucky kitten is a very handsome (see picture above) and exceptionally loving kitten. Felix will be at Tails High’s adoption event on Saturday at Mindful Hands in Old Town (1:00-8:00 p.m.), where I imagine he’ll find his forever home. He’s irresistible.
With this issue, we introduce a new feature, Head Bonks*, a tribute to all Tails High Advocates by focusing on one. So, naturally, for this inaugural column we’ll thank two people with the rare and highly coveted Double Head Bonk. Therefore, this month’s Head Bonk(s)** go out to Katherine and Jim Magee.
Katherine was among the first advocates to join the TH parade, fostering cats, creating cloth banners for events, and running many of our yard sales. She quickly drafted her husband Jim, who has been a real treasure to Tails High. He has a can-do attitude, an engineer’s mind and a heart of gold for the kitties. Among the many things to thank Jim for are designing and building (and continuing to help set up and take down) the new gizmo for adoption events; fixing all the broken TNR traps; and recovering donated cat trees and scratching posts for Tails High fosters (not to mention delivering them).
Recently, Jim discovered that the company he works for has a grant program for nonprofits. He applied for a grant for Tails High (without telling anyone, not even his wife), and Tails High quickly received a donation from Jim’s employer.
Katherine and Jim always have a smile and kind word. For that and their many efforts on behalf of the kitties, we say “Thank You!”
Bonk!
* Two Other Head Bonks: Ronnie (Tails High board member and Petco feeder supervisor) who came up with the title of the Advocate Appreciation column; and Laurel (adopter of Squiggles and Scratch), who designed the icon for this column.
** Some of you may be saying, “What is a head bonk?” A cat is truly showing affection when they bump you with the front part of their head, known as “head bonks.” He might rub along your chin and nose, engaging in the bonking/bunting behavior that began as a kitten when he’d rub around his mother’s head seeking to nurse. Some cats get so carried away that they even drool.
Please Help the Kitties
Do your online shopping through AdoptAShelter.com. This easy-to-use website is designed so that a portion of EVERY online purchase – at hundreds of top-name retailers – is donated to the shelter you choose (Tails High!). AdoptAShelter.com is FREE and easy to use. Simply log on to www.adoptashelter.com and select Tails High. With just one click you are on our shopping page. Then you shop like you always do at your favorite stores, from Amazon to Ebay to Zappos. A portion of EVERY purchase will come to us in a cash donation. Simply bookmark the Tails High Shopping Page and use it every time you shop.
Remind all your Federal employee family and friends that Tails High’s CFC number is 23910. The kitties appreciate the help!!
Ask the Kitties
What can I do to make sure my curious cat stays safe around my holiday decorations?
Echo (formerly Lil Angel) responds: Hmm, good question!! You may have noticed we kitties are curious by nature. I might hide when you drag your huge, needle-covered tree into my domain…I mean our house. But I’ll come out to sniff and explore it soon enough, and you might want to monitor me around the tree. When I first go to inspect it, I might think the water in the tree stand sitting at my level is a more festive-looking thirst quencher than my regular water dish. And I won’t stop to think about how the tree water might contain poisonous fertilizer or harmful bacteria that could make me sick!
I also might have to try out all the new hanging ornaments. I’ve heard rumors of this very delicious-looking decoration called tinsel. Hundreds of shiny strings dangling within my reach? How would I resist?! But I don’t want my mom to have to take me to have surgery on Christmas morning. (I’d miss out on all the catnip-filled presents I’ll get for being so good this year!) And gifts wrapped with ribbons are equally tempting but could also get stuck in my digestive tract. So watch me closely when I dive face-first into the presents!
And when trimming the tree, keep those shiny, breakable glass ornaments high up where I won’t be tempted to swat and break them. But you should know that the soft ornaments hanging at the bottom of the tree are now mine for the taking and hiding under the couch. In addition, I’ll admit I can’t be trusted around wires and cords. They look like toys to me and I won’t be able to restrain myself from fiercely attacking them.
When bringing in holiday plants and flowers, keep in mind that holly berries, poinsettia, mistletoe, and lilies can make me very sick…especially lilies, which cause kidney failure in kitties. Ouch. Try artificial plant decorations instead. And then I can attack them to my heart’s content.
If you throw a party, keep me in a quiet room away from the noise (with food, water, and a litter box, please!). I may be shy around a large group of new people and I may even try to escape outside. So be sure I’m wearing a collar with a safety tag, so if I do get out, I will be sure to find my way home.
For more kitty-specific holiday safety tips, check out these links:
Reminder
Please regularly visit the Tails High website: www.tailshigh.org.
- Read our Blog to keep up with Tails High kitties between issues of The Scratching Post. It’ll put a smile on your face the rest of the day!
- Click on the “Events” tab to see where to meet Tails High cats and kittens this month.
- Click the “Graduates” tab to see such wonderful pictures as these before and after adoption shots of Miles and Oliver:
Their adopters report, “They have been the gift that keeps on giving!”
| Issue No. 4 | November 2011 |
Tails High’s Second Anniversary Party a Huge Success!!
More than a hundred Tails High supporters ate, drank and made merry at the party celebrating Tails High’s first two years. And as if that weren’t enough, we also raised a bit over $5,500 at the party from donations and silent auction purchases.
These pictures were taken by Tails High adopters (and professional photographers) Tara and Danny of One Summer Day (http://www.onesummerdayphoto.com/). Check out the blog entry on their website entitled “Kitty Mayhem,” which has gorgeous pix of TH kittens, and wonderful words about Tara and Danny’s Tails High experiences.
It’s a Very, Very Small World (Tails High Edition)
Somehow a tiny black kitten got lost in a pile a leaves. He was hungry and scared and meowed as loudly as he could. Lucky for him, his meows were heard by a wonderful family who took him into their home, fed him, loved him, named him Scratch, and looked for a cat rescue organization to help him. When Tails High picked him up, he weighed only one pound and three ounces, so he needed extra-special attention and was placed in the home of kitten foster mama extraordinaire, Joyce, where he grew and frolicked with other like-sized kittens.Both the rescuer family and the foster mama attended our Anniversary Party a few weeks ago. Imagine everyone’s surprise when it was discovered that Joyce and the dad of the family were from the same town … wait for it … in Scotland!! Small world, indeed.
But there’s more. Scratch and Squiggle (a kitten friend Scratch met in Joyce’s house) are in a new home with a wonderful family. The lucky kittens have a new mom and dad, a human brother and two human sisters. And guess what we just found out? The rescuer family also has a connection with Scratch’s new family. They have children on the same soccer team, the Mighty Puffins! It’s a small world indeed.
Ask the Kitties
How can I get my cat to stop scratching my expensive couch?
Michi replies: Cats need to scratch. We use it to mark our territory, not by claw marks but via the scent glands on our paws. Scratching helps keep us in shape. When we stretch, we work and pull our muscles. Umm, it feels so good to stretch! So don’t even think about trying to get a cat to strop scratching. That won’t happen.
Let me ask you a question: Do you think your cat gets up in the morning and says, “What can I do to hiss my mama off today? I know, I’ll scratch her favorite sofa.” I don’t think so. What she probably says to herself is, “Wow, I need to stretch. Where is something I can scratch?” So what you should do is put a scratching post, or even one of those inexpensive corrugated cardboard boxes you can buy in pet stores, right near where she usually sleeps. If she’s like most cats, she’ll want to scratch and stretch right when she wakes up. You might want to put a bit of catnip or a treat on it for the first few days.
We really like to scratch a vertical surface that is tall enough to allow us to fully arch our backs and really get into it, but is also stable enough so it won’t fall over. Cat trees can be an excellent option, as they also provide us the ability to get above our surroundings, something else we love!
One thing that probably won’t work is to take her paws and try to show her how to scratch the new scratching post. She’ll likely think, “How dare you! I know how to scratch. I was scratching long before I knew you.” I’m sure she will forgive you (probably at next mealtime), but as with all things feline, you’ll be more successful in getting a cat to do what you want her to if you think about it from the cat’s viewpoint.
For more information, click on one of these links:
http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/article-applied-behavior/why-cats-scratch-things.
http://www.partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/destructive-scratching
TH Reminders
- Federal Employee Donations: CFC #23910
- Visit our website: www.tailshigh.org.
- Click on the “Events” tab to see where to meet Tails High cats and kittens this month.
| Issue No. 3 | October 2011 |
Tails High’s First Two Years
What have we accomplished in our first two years?
- We have found homes for 400 cats and kittens (a 25 percent increase in our second year).
- We provided advice/help to hundreds of cat guardians.
- And best of all, we met you!
Celebrate!!
We have much to celebrate, so please join us for Tails High’s Second Anniversary Party this Saturday evening, September 24, from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the Old Town Hilton Hotel (across from the King Street Metro). The Hilton offers free parking in their garage with validation.There is no admission charge to attend our party. The Hilton will donate to Tails High a percentage of revenue from drinks and food purchased that evening. We will also have a silent auction of 70+ items, including designer accessories; B&B and hotel stays; fine wines; golf package; infield box seats to 2012 Nationals game, restaurant and spa gift certificates – to name just a few of the more tempting items.There will be a few sweet, young Tails High kittens at the Hilton to help us celebrate (perhaps Spudsy, shown below as a TH bottle baby, and now at 2 months).
Gemini Update
Gemini will get have stitches from his second surgery removed on Wednesday. A big “thank-you” to everyone who chipped in to help pay for his surgeries. If he gets the “all okay” from vet eye specialist Dr. Corcoran of VetVision, Gemini will soon be appearing at adoption events to find his new family.
Ask the Kitties
What is the most important ingredient in cat food?
Tiki replies: I bet you said “meat.” I love meat. Yum-yum, chicken and turkey and meat, meat, meat! But that’s not the right answer. Actually, the most important ingredient in cat food is water. Can you believe it? Water! It turns out that we were originally desert animals, and get 80% of our water from our food. Unless we’re sick, you probably won’t see us lapping at the water bowl all day like a doggie. We’ll sip a bit here and there (I prefer the faucet to a water bowl myself), but we don’t usually drink as much water as we should. It needs to be in our food. My foster mom gives me canned food, but she also adds some water to it, making it like a soup. It’s really good that way, like having extra gravy. Plenty of water helps keep me in tip-top shape and my coat soft and clean!
My cat’s birthday is coming up, and I’d like to get him a really great toy. Any suggestions?
Holly and Kendra reply: If we were going to a desert island, and could only take three toys, here’s what they would be: Cat Catcher by Go Cat ($6.99), Sparkling Tickler 18-inch Stick Feather Toy ($2.99), and Kitty Bopper Wand Cat Toy by Go Cat ($4.99). We go crazy for these toys, running, jumping, stalking and pouncing. We were always happy when our foster parents brought these out and played with us. These three toys, and many others, can be ordered online from Creme de la Cat.
CFC Campaign
Tails High CFC Number for Federal Employee Donations: 23910
If you are a Federal employee, it’s nearing the time when you get to pick the charities you’ll support through participation in your agency’s CFC campaign. We hope you’ll select Tails High (CFC #23910) for a portion of your CFC donation (and perhaps mention us to your coworkers). We’d also be very appreciative if you would give our CFC number to your cat-loving relatives and friends who are Federal employees and encourage them to consider Tails High as one of their selected charities. All donations are used to purchase food, vet care/ medicine, and other supplies for the cats and kittens Tails High cares for. To help people see we’re worthy of their support, encourage them to visit us here, www.tailshigh.org.
| Issue No. 2 | September 2011 |
Tails High Second Anniversary Party!
Please join us in celebrating our Second Anniversary on Saturday, September 24, from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the Old Town Hilton Hotel (across from the King Street Metro). The Hilton will donate a portion of all revenue from drinks and food purchased that evening by Tails High supporters. We will also be holding a silent auction, which was a huge success last year.
At our First Anniversary party last year, we were pleasantly surprised by the wonderful turnout, as was the Hilton, but even though service was quite slow, everyone had a fabulous time. The Hilton has assured us they will be prepared for our large group of cat lovers this year. Another improvement will be a cake. Katie, one of our junior volunteers, pointed out last year that a party isn’t a party without a cake!!
Adoptions in Record Time: Mimsy and Her Four Boys
We’ve been pretty successful in finding homes for cats and kittens, and most don’t have to wait long for their new families. But the story of Mimsy and her four kittens is pretty amazing.
Mimsy was a young, pregnant brown tabby who was taken in by a cat-loving woman. Four handsome tabby kittens arrived shortly thereafter. The Good Samaritan and her family were moving out of the area. We agreed to help, and Mimsy and her 2-week-old boys came the home of a TH foster.
Mimsy and her family prospered in the foster parents’ loving care. The boys were named Bismarck, Einstein, Smoky, and Woodley. When the kittens were weaned, the foster parents tearfully brought Mimsy to be spayed so she could begin her new life with her forever family. (Mimsy found that family less than a week later.) They also brought back the gray tabby (Smoky), because they had decided to keep two of the three brown tabby kittens. Smoky was adopted within a few days of being neutered.
After the other kittens were neutered, Bismarck and Woodley went back home. The following morning, a family came to look at kittens, and walked out with their new family member, Einstein. He is now the younger brother of another former Tails High kitty, Maxwell. And so, poof! One mama cat and four kittens went to four families. Last we heard, all felines and humans are very, very happy — which makes all of us at Tails High very happy as well.
Tails High is Approved for the Combined Federal Campaign
Federal employees can contribute through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Our CFC number is 23910. We’ll remind you as the time for making selections approaches, but hopefully you will give our CFC number to your animal-loving friends, neighbors, and family who are Federal employees and ask them to consider allocating a part of their CFC contribution to Tails High to enable us to rescue more homeless cats and kittens.
Update: Happy Jack Finds a New Home!
In our first issue, we profiled Happy Jack and Gemini, two miracle kittens who arrived at Tails High weighing less than 3 ounces. Happy Jack had lost one of his eyes. We’re pleased to report that Happy Jack and his new sister Snickers (a beautiful black and white tuxedo kitten) are blissfully happy in their new home.
In addition to rescuing homeless cats and kittens, Tails High works to help cat guardians and cat lovers every way we can. Please feel free to contact us by email (meow@tailshigh.org) or phone (703/819-5240) if you have a question or need advice on anything about your cat. We’ll give advice from personal experience, as well as refer you to authoritative sources.
| Issue No. 1 | August 2011 |
Welcome
We invite you, as a member of the Tails High family, to read the first issue of The Scratching Post, our e-newsletter celebrating rescue cats and sharing information about our activities. Since we began this joyful venture in October 2009, we have found homes for over 300 homeless cats and kittens, and along the way it has been our pleasure to meet/email/talk with you and hundreds of other cat lovers.
Kitten Season
Kittens, kittens and more kittens!! We’ve got calico kittens and tortie kittens and tabby kittens of various colors … gray kittens with white spots and white kittens with gray spots … orange kittens and black kittens and tuxedo kittens with mittens. As kittens are adopted (over 50 so far), more arrive to take their places. Enjoy the pictures in this issue, which are just a sampling of Tails High kittens of 2011. (And see our blog at www.tailshigh.org for more!!)
Happy Jack and Gemini: Beating the Odds
Together the two kittens weighed 5 ounces when they arrived at TH’s bottle feeder’s house, and one was missing an eye. In her 20 years of working with tiny motherless kittens, Laura had never seen such small ones. The odds were overwhelmingly against a good outcome, but the babies were fighters. They wanted to live and eagerly took the bottles offered by Laura. The next day, we put the two in Leni’s house, with a mama cat who had finished nursing her own babies.
The kittens gradually put on weight, thanks to nourishment from the mama cat and extra bottles from Leni. It wasn’t until they were a month old that we allowed ourselves to hope they’d survive. Leni named the boys Happy Jack and Gemini. Now nearing 3 pounds, these two miracle kittens have a love of people and a zest for life that are truly awww-inspiring.
Our Website
The Tails High website, www.tailshigh.org, is an ever-changing view of cats and kittens available for adoption. While there are many areas to explore on the website, please take special note of these three:
Events tab lists all of the upcoming Tails High adoption events in the coming weeks. Please stop by to meet and play with our super friendly and affectionate cats and kittens. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face the rest of the day.
Spay/Neuter Options tab provides information about where to get low-cost spay or neuter. This service is not necessary for Tails High cats because spay/neuter is taken care of as part of the adoption process. But spread the word to your friends and neighbors who adopted “free” kittens. It’s so important that all cats be spayed/neutered, because for every cat or kitten we help, there are hundreds being born who won’t find homes.
Recent Blog Posts (right-hand column) contain pictures and stories about Tails High cats and kittens (both before and after adoption), as well as helpful information for cat lovers.
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