Freedom!

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Subject: Freedom!

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Newsletter

June 2026

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In This Edition: We address misinformation about FIV

FIV+ Cats - Freedom from Fear
Foster Feature
Freedom - But NOT for Your Kitties

FIV+ Cats

Maybe the + stands for Extraordinary!

If you've been with us a while, you may recall Murphy (pictured right), the subject of our 2023 Year End Letter (which you can read HERE).

Murphy came to us badly injured, resulting in the

loss of a leg after a year of trying to heal his wound. Murphy recovered well, and then found himself in a wonderful forever home, thanks to the financial support of our donors who keep us from having to give up on a challenging and costly case such as Murphy, and also thanks to the incredible patience and effort of Ashley, Murphy's wonderful foster (more on her in a moment!), who took him to many specialist appointments as we sought to treat him.

Murphy also had FIV. When FFGW intakes a cat, the initial vet exam includes a "combo" test which lets us know if they have feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia (FeLV). Often confused, these two viruses are quite different. There was a time when cats who tested positive for FIV (that's the plus in FIV+) were considered unadoptable, and people - not understanding the disease - feared them. Shelters routinely euthanized these cats, and rescues would not take them.

The best these kitties could hope for was space at a sanctuary where they could live out their lives. And then, something funny happened - people noticed that these sanctuary cats lived long and healthy lives, just like any other cat. We are proud that FFGW was one of the first rescues in the area to recognize this and to take FIV+ cats from shelters. Our philosophy, amply demonstrated by Murphy, is that if a cat can have a good quality of life with treatment, we will do what is necessary to give them that life, and so FIV is just another of those things we don't shy away from. The funny thing is - typically, FIV+ kitties require NO special medical treatment or intervention, and have a normal lifespan. To quote Murphy's foster Ashley, "FIV cats don't know they have FIV, and do everything that any cat can!"

Here is the reality of FIV:

1     FIV is not in itself a life-threatening disease
2     FIV does not 'destroy' the immune system
3     FIV is not 'Cat AIDS'
4     FIV is not contagious to humans or non-felines
5     FIV does not necessarily shorten life expectancy.
6    FIV cats do not have to be segregated if they coexist peacefully with non-FIV cats, because among neutered cats FIV can only be transmitted by a deep bite.

At FFGW, we have several awesome cats such as Maeve (left), and Alfred (below) who just happen to have FIV. You can find a clear and very good discussion of FIV, and why you absolutely should not be afraid to adopt an FIV+ kitty, here: FIV FACTS

Alfred is being fostered by none other than Murphy's former foster Ashley - and you can read more about our fabulous foster below.

BREAKING NEWS! -- Just before press time Alfred ADOPTED!

Foster Feature - Ashley Elstro

You might think, based on the above, that Ashley is our specialty FIV kitty foster - and you'd be right! Ashley started fostering in 2020, the week of the Covid shutdown. Her work travel schedule was canceled, and because she worked in health care she suspected that the shutdown was not going to be short, and she'd have time to be home with a kitty.

Ashley's first experience with fostering was a pair of young black cat siblings and she admits she almost "foster failed" - this is in no way a failure, she fell in love and had a hard time letting them go. Ashley says that she "hadn't built up resistance" yet, but in fact what she built up over her next fosters was the fabulous skill of loving and letting go so that she could make a huge rescue impact.

Ashley's next foster was Gregor, an ear-tipped tomcat a friend found behind Ruth's Chris steakhouse and FFGW, perpetually out of foster space, agreed to take in if she could foster. Ashley was impressed with Gregor's fine pallet which she discovered the first time she made steak (after all, he'd been living behind a high-end steakhouse!).

Ashley was again tempted to foster fail, as his personality just fit well, but it was discovered at his exam that Gregor was FIV+. Ashley educated herself about FIV and quickly realized that there was no reason not to keep him. She explains that FIV is not a fatal disease and all that's necessary to keep an FIV cat healthy is to be current with care such as prompt treatment should they catch a cold, and regular dental cleaning. (One factor in the increasing life span of all cats has been better dental care, which keeps oral infections clear and which in turn relieves stress on organs). Gregor's personality fit so well in Ashley's household that she made it permanent.

Transmission of FIV to humans or to animals other than felines is not possible, and the only way a spayed/neutered cat can transmit FIV to another cat is through a deep bite. If cats coexist peacefully and don't fight, FIV+ and non-FIV cats can live together..

Every cat to cat introduction (even non-FIV cats!) should be done carefully and slowly to avoid confrontation (see Jackson Galaxy's recommendation HERE) but where both the existing cat and the new cat are FIV+, of course, there is no worry about transmission.

This made Ashley and Gregor the perfect hosts for other FIV+ foster kitties - and Ashley (and Gregor!) welcomed the opportunity, leading to Ashley's amazing work with Murphy, and her latest foster Alfred.

We asked Ashley what one thing she'd like to tell adopters considering a FIV+ cat, and she said that they're no different than any other cat, resilient and amazing. Murphy was planned for a 3-day stay at the vet after amputation of his leg, but was doing so well he was cleared for home after just one day.

When he returned to Ashley, he immediately shimmied to his food bowl, pushed himself up, and never looked back - getting around perfectly on 3 legs from then on.

So the "+" really must stand for extraordinary!

We hope that you will help spread the message - FIV+ kitties are... just cats, with a lot of love and no real special needs, other than love in return.

Independence Day

But Not for Your Cat!

"Ask not what your cat can do for you... ask what you can do for your cat!"

--John F. Catnnedy

This Independence Day - what you can do is to prevent your kitty from gaining independence!

The noise and commotion of the 4th can be frightening and disorienting. Try keeping the shades drawn, use an interior room, play soft, relaxing music…

and if you have pets, take them in there with you!

Seriously, though, more dogs and cats go missing on this holiday than any other day of the year. Please make sure they’re in a room where someone won’t accidentally let them out, put signs on that door so that any guests know not to open it...and you already have collars and microchips for them, right?

Award winning pet blogger Ingrid King has provided a detailed discussion of steps to take to insure your pet's safety this week in addition to the above.

She tells us - in addition to creating a safe space and playing calming sounds as above, that our own emotions also affect those sensitive cat whiskers. If we remain calm, that will help Fluffy! You can read more, including some natural remedies which may help promote calmness, at Ingrid's Purrs of Wisdom.

Help us manage the calls from area shelters when they are overwhelmed with lost pets July 5th, by keeping your own safe today!

But if Whiskers did somehow get out - here's a list of steps* to take to get her back as quickly as possible. (You might see someone you know quoted!)

Recovering Your Lost Cat

*Current thinking is NOT to put her litter box outside, but to use items that smell like home - worn clothing, her bed, etc. The box may attract other animals who want to stake out territory, and actually keep kitty from approaching.

Back - the Ever-Popular Calendar Contest for 2027 Calendars!

A shot at your cat becoming a celebrity!his year’s contest will run again during the August - September timeframe. You enter the contest by submitting a photograph of your cat with a $10 donation. Votes are $1/vote and you can vote as many times as

Start taking pictures now so you have the perfect picture to enter! Your photos should be high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and in landscape format to display best in the calendar.

The top vote getter will win the coveted cover photo for the 2027 calendar! Shout out to Snorri for last year’s cover photo. The 2nd - 13th place winners will have their feline featured as Cat of the Month. You will also have the option to reserve calendar days and feature your kitty on a particular date block.

More details to come!

Future newsletters will provide additional details too!

Another VERY Special

Adoption Event!

The anonymous (and much beloved!) benefactors who have been sponsoring our adoption fees the past few months are continuing to help overlooked adult cats during kitten season!

Thanks to their generosity, adoption fees for cats over 1 year old adopted at one of our adoption events are waived!

You must adopt in the center, at the event, and your adoption fee will be $ZERO for cats 1 year old and up! As always, FFGW covers spaying/neutering, vaccines, vet exam, and microchip.

In addition, all adoptive families of any cat at an event will receive

a $50 PetSmart gift card!

We are extremely grateful for this fabulous opportunity

which we hope will help lots of cats find love!

Join us at Just Cats, 2 - 4 p.m., July 25 for this special event!

I Feel Like Something Chewy!

Actually, not that chewy, but "Chewy"!

www.chewy.com is a pet product company specializing in home delivery of all things pet-related.

FFGW has a "wish list" which you can find here:

Chewy Wish List

Any products you select from our wish list will be delivered directly to us for use at our adoption center at Just Cats Boarding Center and by our fosters!

Thanks to everyone who has donated food, treats, litter, beds, toys... Chewy's platform doesn't allow us to see the names of our generous donors, but please know that your support is very much appreciated! And if you drop us a line and let us know when you donate something, we'll be more than happy to send our thanks!

This post contains affilliate links. FFGW may be compensated if you buy something after clicking on these links.

Adoption Fairs

Just Cats Boarding Center

1601 North Washington Plaza

(Lake Anne) Reston

2 - 4 pm

Next Events:

Saturday, July 25

Saturday, August 22

Saturday September 26

Join the Caretaker Crew at Just Cats

Help socialize FFGW kitties at the center!