The Kitty Sheet

July 10, 2024

Dear fellow kitty lovers, thank you for reading the first edition of The Kitty Sheet! We couldn’t be more excited to be your new source of kitty news, tips, rescue/adoption information and much more for North Texas cat lovers and beyond! We won’t lie. Our mission is ambitious, because the kitties deserve it.

-The Kitty Sheet

  1. Cats Take Flight! ✈️ On July 7th, 79 cats, mostly kittens, were transported from North Texas to their new homes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire thanks to the joint efforts of the SPCA of Texas, The Humane Society of North Texas and Cedar Creek/Athens. Click here to read the Facebook post!

  2. Food Safety Alert: Viva Raw Cat / Dog Food recall❗️ 

  3. North Texas Giving Day reminder! ⏱️ North Texas nonprofits have until August 9th, 2024 to register for North Texas Giving Day! Click here to get started.  

  4. In case you missed it… the FDA recently clarified its position on FIP treatment, essentially allowing the use of a compounded FIP drug in certain cases. Read more from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

  5. New data reveals that Texas heat-related pet deaths are 6 times the national average. SPCA of Texas

  6. Did you know July is Lost Pet Prevention Month? According to the Spay Neuter Network 1 in every 3 pets will go missing in their lifetime. Yikes! Microchips are a must!

  7. Cats on leashes? If NPR reports on it, you know it’s a thing.

  8. 7th annual Minneapolis cat tour draws hundreds of kitty admirers! Washington Post

  9. The Community Cats Podcast is hosting its next The Neighborhood Cats TNR workshop this coming SUNDAY July 14! ⬇️ Scroll down for more info or find out how to register here.

A few of the FeLV+ kitties that call Cupid’s Animal Haven home in Weatherford, TX.

WHAT IS FeLV?

Feline Leukemia, or FeLV, (along with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)), is a common, contagious feline-only disease caused by a retrovirus that weakens a kitty’s immune system. This causes them to be more prone to getting sick, typically leading to a shorter lifespan.

Cupid’s Animal Haven is a nonprofit cat sanctuary in North Texas that gives a permanent home to FeLV+, FIV+ and other sick, or feral cats. You see some of their FeLV+ cuties pictured above ⬆️ Cupid’s says it best when it shared their photos in a recent Facebook post along with this message:

These are a few of our Felv positive kitties.

Felv, feline leukemia, is not cancer. It just causes the cat’s immune system to be significantly weakened and makes them more susceptible to sicknesses.

While most Felv positive kitties do not survive a normal lifespan, until they are sick, they are just normal cats.

Some vets recommend euthanasia for cats with Felv, as it is contagious to other cats, and that the cat may not have a normal lifespan. But we reject that idea wholeheartedly! We have seen our Felv kitties play and run and just be normal cats. They may not live as long, but they deserve to live their best life until that day comes.

- Cupid’s Animal Haven/Facebook

Julia and Ramsey, FeLV+ buddies at Cupid’s Animal Haven.

Julia and Ramsey are two of Cupid Animal Haven’s FeLV+ residents! In fact, Julia is the sanctuary’s longest FeLV+ resident at almost four years! She arrived via the Garland Animal Shelter. Her best buddy Ramsey arrived not long after and has been Julia’s buddy for 3 1/2 years. He is even TikTok famous!  

Sheryl Hammett, the founder of Cupid’s Animal Haven, highly recommends that all kitties get VAXXED against FeLV. Hammett tells The Kitty Sheet: “It’s highly effective and can help slow the spread of FeLV.”

“Vaccination for FeLV is available, and although it will not protect 100% of cats vaccinated, it is recommended to reduce the risk of FeLV infection for cats at risk of exposure, such as indoor/outdoor cats. This vaccine is also now considered a core vaccine for kittens, due to their higher risk of developing progressive infection.”

💰️ Donate to Cupid’s Animal Haven. Let’s give this amazing 501© 3 nonprofit a much needed helping hand, so they may continue to give kitties diagnosed with FeLV, FIV and other illnesses a place to call home. Click here to visit their website for ways to donate and check out their Chewy Wish List!

The Community Cats Podcast’s Online Feline Leukemia Day conference is this Saturday! CCP says it will feature experts from various fields, including veterinarians and shelter specialists. You’ll get the latest updates on Feline Leukemia studies, improvements in care, and practical tips to help you establish effective policies and programs for finding homes for these special kitties. Cost: $25.

  • 💻️ What: 2024 Online FeLV Conference

  • ⌚️ Date/Time: Saturday, July 13th, 10am-5pm EST

  • 💰️ Cost:$25.

  • ☑️ Register: The Community Cats Podcast

OTHER FeLV Educational Resources

Primrose: Primrose is a gorgeous two-year-old domestic longhaired Calico sweetheart! Maricats Rescue saved Primose from the street just DAYS before giving birth to five kittens! She’s just wrapped up her mamma duties and is ready for her forever home. Learn more and adopt through Maricats Rescue.

Felicia & Danny: This beautiful bonded pair is Mamma Felicia and her remaining kitten Danny! They’ve been waiting patiently for far too long and would like to be adopted together. Learn more and adopt through Buddies Place Cat Rescue.

Oreo: Help this beautiful girl find a forever home! She’s been in rescue a year! “Oreo deserves a loving family. She is still the same happy girl she was a year ago. We know she does well with other cats now with slow introductions ... who wants to give this girl a chance.” - Learn more and adopt through Four Paws One Heart, Trophy Club.

Hunter: This handsome boy is five months old! He’s mostly gray with a super cute white spot on his chest. Hunter is described as very loving and playful! He also gets along with everyone! Learn more and adopt through Purrfect Cats.

Pumpkin: Pumpkin turns three this month!   “I'm an adorable sweet lady who's owner passed away and I'm a bit confused. I'll do best in a quiet home.” - Adopt through Dallas Cat Lady

Sasha, Moira & Calypso are former mamma kitties looking for loving homes in the near future! Learn more and adopt through Feral Cat Community Alliance.

Periwinkle: This handsome 8 year old boy is FRONT DECLAWED and needs to be the only cat. “When Periwinkle is not overseeing the castle, his majesty enjoys watching cat tv, chirping for treats, and wrestling with toys.” - Learn more and adopt through Buddies Place Cat Rescue.

Meet Nadia!  “This sweet mama cat is so lovely and we believe she is about 10 years old. We love her "grumpy" face but don't let that fool you, she is sweet and loving. She is a talker and loves to carry on conversations with you!” Learn more about Nadia and how to adopt through Four Paws One Heart, Trophy Club.

Our special thanks to esteemed Certified Feline Training and Behaviorist Molly DeVoss of Cat Behavior Solutions for allowing us to share her super informative Cat Talk Radio podcasts with you each week! Molly has spent decades helping cats who are suffering in shelters. Her vision is to reduce the number of cats euthanized in shelters through positive reinforcement and behavior modification so fearful cats become more adoptable. She sat on the Dallas Animal Advisory Commission for eight years, and works with the cats at Albuquerque Animal Welfare, Dallas Animal Services, Santa Fe Humane Society, Felines & Friends New Mexico, and individuals seeking cat behavior guidance.

❤️ Molly also has recently introduced an AMAZING program for shelter cats! She’s created the Feline Right At Home program in partnership with Vitakraft. It’s a FREE training program for shelter staff and volunteers to help scared, stressed and fearful cats become more trusting and more adoptable.

✅ Shelters should visit Feline Right At Home to learn more and apply!
📹️ Molly shares more about the program and her passion for helping shelter cats in this YouTube Video!

Courtesy: Cat Behavior Solutions - Cat Talk Radio.

This Week’s Cat Talk Radio Podcast - Mental Stimulation: What is mental stimulation in cats? Why is it important? What will happen if my cat is not adequately stimulated? Molly and Dewey talk about this issue and the dangers of having an cognitive atrophied cat. Listen to Molly’s podcast below! ⬇️ 

✅ Subscribe to the Cat Behavior Solutions - Cat Talk Radio YouTube channel here. 
✅ Follow Cat Behavior Solutions - Cat Talk Radio on Facebook.

Courtesy: Grand Prairie Cat Crew.

Want to help provide fresh water to community kitties this summer? Here’s how you can help! The Grand Prairie Cat Crew is in need of empty, clean Tidy Cat litter buckets to convert into water buckets for summer. GPCC says these are great to have where water is scarce for community cats or wildlife. “We recommend a cool spot and you can add blocks of ice. The point is it is WATER so wildlife and stray cats won't die.” - GPCC via Facebook.

✅ To donate a litter bucket, the Grand Prairie Cat Crew drop off address is shared on its Facebook page. That’s also where you can also inquire about availability. Thank you GPCC for all of your efforts to help outdoor, vulnerable and at-risk cats!

Edgar is being cared for by Leo’s Friend’s Rescue (Dallas)

  • ✅ Help Edgar the kitten ⬆️ continue his long journey of healing after being found in unimaginably horrific condition. Leo’s Friend’s Rescue (Dallas) - Details/Donate

  • ✅ Professor ToeBeans needs help with a serious eye issue. He’s under the care of Dallas Pets Alive - Details/Donate (⚠️ GRAPHIC PHOTOS WARNING ⚠️ )

  • ✅ Strawberry Poptart is a sweet kitten with a significant shoulder injury. She is under the care of Wonky Whiskers Rescue (Waco/Woodway/Hewitt,TX) Details/Donate

  • ✅ Help McFluffy who has a broken leg! This poor girl is currently in the care of Cats in the Cliff (Dallas). Details/Donate

Ozzy & Ringo investigate their new interactive feather toy.

Ozzy and Ringo are two brothers living their best lives after being adopted from the Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth in 2022. ❤️ They’re putting toys and products to the test so you don’t have to! This week, we find out if an interactive feather toy has what it takes to win their approval.

What: Bentopal Automatic Cat Toys Interactive Feather Toy
Price as of 7/9/24: $25 (+ 10 % coupon) Amazon 
👍️ Likes: Moves and spins well. Operates for long time without the need to recharge. Easy to put together and charge.
👎️ Dislikes: Feather arm movement a bit aggressive and may hit the kitty, scaring it! Can get stuck under low to ground furniture.

THE PAW 🐾 METER

Ozzy: (1 to 5): 2 Toebeans! Well this is a surprise! Ozzy, resident 🦎 chaser, didn’t have the time of his life with this interactive toy, and actually found it kind of scary. Ozzy says it moved too fast when he wasn’t ready. He did like watching his brother play with it from afar, but decided he’d rather not partake in the action.
Ringo: (1 to 5): 4.5 Toebeans! You can definitely call Ringo a fan! In his words, he loved it! He watched it and chased after it. He even brought it to mom one night and meowed to let her know he wanted to play.

Rocky crossed the rainbow bridge in February 2024.

🐱 READ: FIV in Cats: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus FAQs - Best Friend Animal Society.

✅ YES, you CAN adopt an FIV+ kitty!  The Humane Society of the United States shares more information about what to know about FIV+ cats. 

 😺 Winston at Arlington Animal Services, in Arlington, TX, is just such a kitty, currently in search of forever home! Adopt or Pledge today!

Want to help feral and stray cats in your neighborhood live better lives? Learn how to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and colony management from the experts at The Neighborhood Cats! This workshop explains what TNR is and why it works. It also covers getting along with neighbors, trapping prep, trapping itself (including entire colonies at once), feeding, providing winter shelter, and more. You’ll receive a certificate of attendance and gain access to an ongoing Facebook group for networking with other TNR activists.

Can’t take part? Check out these 7 Steps of TNR from Neighborhood Cats.

The Kitty Sheet believes every kitty matters. It strives to connect a community of cat lovers who want the best for the felines in their lives. Its mission is to promote adoption, rescue and fundraising efforts, along with the compassionate care of community cats and all the things that help kitties live their best, healthiest lives in the environment in which they call home.