Newsletter

CFF NEWSLETTER

JULY-AUG 2024

Featured Adoptions

Message from the Director

I hope this edition of The Scoop finds you and your family staying cool during this truly toasty summer. I am always amazed at how little the heat seems to bother our feline residents…many of whom still seem to prefer taking their naps outside rather than in the comfort of the air-conditioned cottages. They inspire all of us to try to think about the heat the way our cats seem to!

CFF welcomed Jeff Corwin, world-renowned biologist and wildlife conservationist, to our Sanctuary on June 11. He was here to film part of the documentary he is producing to expose the tragedy of dog and cat overpopulation in South Florida. This was organized through the Everglades Animal Coalition and the Pegasus Foundation and included Nala’s New Life Rescue as well. We all enjoyed watching the process and working with Jeff and his team. There are photos on the following pages.

Later in June, we held a Celebration of Life for the wonderful cats who have left us behind. It is always a moving ceremony as we remember our friends.

Looking to the future…planning is heating up for our annual signature fundraising event. This year’s party, Masquerade Meows, will be held on November 9 at Harbour Ridge Country Club. Hopefully, you have seen the Save the Date information in your email, on Facebook, on the posters around the Sanctuary…or maybe all 3! Sponsorship opportunities are available, so watch your email and Facebook for more information about that. Tickets go on sale in mid-September.

Now that the kids are back in school, vacations are over, and life is getting back to normal, we anticipate even more visitors. Remember to tell your friends and neighbors that CFF has the best cats and kittens for adoption in town!

Until next time,

Pauline Glover

Executive Director

Pauline Glover

Executive Director

Board of Directors

Kathy Kienke

President

Kim Atwell

Vice President

Bruce Lokay

Treasurer

Richard Loew

Secretary

Donna Kern

John Pavela

Judy Schulte

Available for Adoption

We Were Adopted!

Vinny & Joey

These 7-year-old brothers came to us when their owner could no longer care for them. They are beyond beautiful and have gotten to be quite the gregarious guys in the Cattery and have blended with the other kitties in their area well. But, they want and deserve a home of their own…either together or separately. Come meet them. We think you’ll fall in love!

Grey Sage

Grey Sage is a very handsome all grey guy with a big fluffy tail who recently came to us. At 2 years old, he is still a young and engaged guy who enjoys the company of people and other cats. His laid-back demeanor makes him a good companion pet…and you’ll never tire of looking into his gorgeous green eyes! His brother, Phoenix, a grey/white tuxedo charmer is also available.

AB & LD

OK....who doesn't want a pair of black panthers to liven up their home? The 2 are eight months old and ready to go...spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, treated for fleas and worms, and loaded with cuteness. They could be adopted together or separately since they have confident and independent spirits. We think if you come by for a "meet and greet," you will be as mesmerized as our staff and volunteers are by these fine kitties. AB is a boy, and LD is a girl.

Around the Sanctuary

As you read in the Director’s Message, we were honored to host Jeff Corwin and his crew as they filmed footage for their upcoming documentary about dog and cat overpopulation in South Florida. Part of the focus of the film was the transport of dogs and cats to the Northeast. Coordinated with Nala’s New Life Rescue, CFF houses cats rescued from Okeechobee Animal Control as they await medical clearance and certification prior to transport. When space is available, CFF sends some of our adoptable cats on transport as well making room at our Sanctuary for additional intake. We are proud that 100% of the cats we have sent have been adopted within a month of their arrival. We’re all looking forward to the documentary’s release.

The Celebration of Life, held on June 29, was both a heartwarming and heartbreaking event. Every cat and kitten at CFF has special human pals…and it was those pals who spoke so eloquently about those who have left us recently prior to placing their ashes in the Memorial Well. They may be gone, but they will never be forgotten.

And, once again, we are humbled by human generosity. Blessing Blankets Made With Love delivered this wonderful basket full of cozy blankets to send home with adopted cats and kittens. As you can see, Rudy and Oreo approve!

Unsung Heroes

Imagine that it is 7am….you have just gotten up and have that 1st cup of coffee in your hand. You might read the newspaper, you might watch a little TV, you might pat your kitty or walk your dog. And, that is great. But for this month’s unsung heroes, while you are having that 1st cup of coffee, THEY are also getting ready to arrive for their morning volunteer shift, arriving at CFF between 7:30 and 8:00am.

And, once they arrive, they move into overdrive almost immediately because there are LOTS of hungry mouths to be fed in their assigned campground. If you have ever had the privilege of being there early in the morning, there is nothing more smile-inducing than a line of kitties escorting the feeder into the cottage where the food is plated and distributed to the appreciative kitties. Each cottage is thoroughly cleaned… floors swept and mopped, counters cleaned, dishes washed, dry food and water bowls cleaned and replenished, dirty bedding replaced, litter boxes tended to, and toys distributed. Once outside the cottage, there is sweeping, cleaning the yards, and generally tidying up. Those shifts have to be covered 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Most volunteers come once a week, but there are a few strong souls who come twice a week. Our Sanctuary could not run without them…and they are able to provide focused love and attention to the cats in their assigned campground.

And, then there is the laundry…and lots of it! We have some volunteers who prefer afternoon shifts which begin at 1:00. In addition to laundry and maintain organization in the laundry room, they help with afternoon feeding of the special needs cats, brushing the cats who are prone to mats, giving tours to visitors, socializing cats who are new to our Sanctuary, scooping litterboxes, and…did I mention laundry?

Our staff is awesome….but without the volunteer horsepower we have, we could not afford to rescue as many cats and kittens because we would not be able to do so. And, so, a heartfelt THANK YOU to the cleaning/feeding/laundry angels in our presence!

Cleaning/Feeding/Laundry Volunteers

Bittersweet Moment

Mikey was a senior guy who spent the last few years with a family as a medical foster. He came back to CFF as his life was nearing its end. Mikey became an immediate favorite with staff and volunteers due to his sweet and resilient nature. He took his daily walkabouts in the cattery visiting with everyone in his path. Unfortunately, his time came, and he quietly passed over the Rainbow Bridge with 2 of his favorite folks by his side. This, too, is part of the rescue experience….a difficult, but very important, part. Godspeed, Mikey.

How You Can Help

Cat Adoptions

Are you looking for the perfect kitty companion to brighten your life? We have open adoption hours daily

from 11am to 3pm (except Sundays) and have

adoption counselors on hand to introduce you to our kittens and cats.

Other times are available by appointment (772-463-7386).

The adoption fee is $100 for one and $150 for two.

Any adopted cat/kitten must be in a carrier to leave the property

for the animal’s safety.

Donate

As you might imagine, we need lots of supplies to care for 150+ adult residents and anywhere from 20 to 80 kittens in foster homes. Our list is also available on Amazon.com.

Friskees canned food
Fancy Feast kitten canned food
Purina One Healthy Kitten dry food
Purina One adult dry food
Scoopable cat litter
Paper towels
Dawn dish soap (blue)
Temptation treats

Volunteer

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our Sanctuary.

Without them, we could not care for our residents, provide foster homes for our kittens, hold fundraising events, maintain our social media presence and our website, etc.

Volunteer and Foster applications are available on our website. Please complete and submit the application, and we will be in touch!