T'Was the Night... After

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Subject: T'Was the Night... After

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Newsletter

Late December 2025

Our Newsletter is Best Viewed in Landscape Orientation on Mobile Devices!

(In other words... turn your phone sideways!)

In This Edition:

A Poem
A Plea
A Promise
Another Super Special Adoption Event!!

The Poem

T'Was the Night... After

Come here kittens, grab a cup of something warm, and let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, long, long ago - at least, before Just Cats Boarding Center opened their doors to us and we had that marvelous space for adoptions - we used to have an adoption center at a big, cold pet store.

When the holidays came around, the store was closed, and the kittens were all alone...

But then, a miracle happened. This - is that story.

T’was the night after the adoption event,

And all through the store,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a stray cricket on the floor

The Center Coordinator was all snug in her bed

Thinking of ways to move adoptions ahead

The cage cards were hung on the enclosures with care,

Each telling the story of the cats who were there

Poor Fluffy, poor Mittens, Whiskers and Sprite

Lonely and alone on this cold Post-Adoption night

Each was nestled in a donated cat bed, and thought twice,

I wasn’t naughty, I really was nice

Why was I left in a shelter,

Almost about to pay the price

When out in the store, there arose such a clatter,

All the kitties stood, stretched, took a lap of water, nibbled some food, groomed themselves for a moment,

And looked to see what was the matter

When what to their wondering eyes should appear,

But an old, tired-looking volunteer

She was clothed in FFGW purple, from her head to her toe

Her T-shirt full of claw holes, her hair the color of snow

There was fur on her clothing,

A cat toy behind her ear

She had catnip in her pockets

On her sleeve, an unidentified smear

“Look at you kitties, stuck here for the night!

This will not do, this is not right!

Come Scruffy, Come Midnight, come with me all,

I’m taking you home, we’ll have a ball!”

“We’ll play with felt mousies,

We’ll eat lots of treats,

I’ll brush you and comb you,

And nibble on your cute little feets!”

She gathered some carriers, and began to pack them all

When a little grey kitten, who was rounder than tall,

Asked her a question, in a mew quite small

“Are you our adopter, are you taking us home?

Will you love us forever, and ever, when we’re combed?”

The volunteer sat down, in her eyes there was sadness,

But then, in a twinkle, the kittens saw gladness!

“No! I’m just your foster, though I’m taking you home,

It’s only for the holidays, where you will roam,

Free of these cages, it will be fun

And after the holiday, when we’re all done

Back to the store, we will be on our way,

But this time, with you I will stay

I’ll tell the adopters that once in their home

You’ll be fabulous cats when you’re all grown

For you’re with FFGW now, you’ll always be safe

You’ll find love, You’ll have a great place

You’ll always be cared for, even if things go wrong,

But they won’t because our counselors are strong

They’ve been well trained in interviewing,

They know what to do

To find perfect forever homes,

For each one of you”

So with her they went

Out to her car

Though it was cold,

It didn’t seem far

And then each one found a home

That was good and was right

And as they left the store, one and all

They thought they heard the volunteer call

“Merry Catmas to all, and to all a good life!”

And the Plea...

Although the location has changed, the need for holiday fosters is the same.

If you can play Santa Paws for a week or more so that kitties won't be alone over the holidays, there would be a lot of grateful whiskers. If you're an existing foster, you can just email foster@ffgw.org and let us know. If you're new to fostering, fill out a foster application today!

The Promise

Our year end letter told the story of how we promise rescues like little Beaker that we'll do what is necessary to give them a chance at their best life. We hope that we can count on your support so that we can keep that promise to the next Beaker in the coming year. Earlier this month we gave readers of this newsletter an expanded version of our printed letter, and we have a few more photos to share! The expanded, expanded letter is below - it's growing, just like Beaker!

Our Year End Letter

We admit it - we're a bit old-fashioned. Maybe it's that we're like a cat, we resist change! Although we've embraced modern technology such as social media and this e-newsletter, at this time each year we take a step back and mail an old-school letter - on paper, in an envelope - to our supporters, telling at least one story of how your time, money and help in immeasurable ways has

allowed us to rescue cats who otherwise might not have had a chance. That letter is on its way right now. The advantage of internet communication, however, is that we can pack a bit more into this newsletter than fits in that envelope. (We're still trying to figure out how to mail you a video!)

Our expanded Year End Letter is below. As the craziness of the holiday season ramps up, we hope you'll help us put a little something into the stockings of kitties who want nothing more from Santa than a loving home.

December 2025

The October event was quiet. Filled with cats, 16 to be exact, but not filled with people and just two kitties found homes. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that we answered the phone when one of our partner vets called during the event and we stepped right into a rescue. Someone had found a single, abandoned kitten in a pile of trash outside an abandoned house, and brought it to our vet. The kitten was severely underweight, malnourished, sick, and not likely to live much longer without around-the-clock care. Could we do that? Because of your support, and our dedicated foster crew, we knew we could say yes.

The urgency of the situation became clear when the vet said that she would drive the kitten to us right then and there at the event, where one of our volunteers had agreed to rush it home to foster. Too sick to even suckle on a bottle, our foster had to feed the tiny boy with a syringe – every two hours. Initially on seeing him, we thought he was perhaps three weeks old, but the vet said his pre-molars had already come in and so he was at least several weeks older. He weighed 8 ounces. Severely undernourished, suffering with a bad upper respiratory infection, we knew we could give him every chance, but it might not be enough.

A hard fact of rescue is that you cannot save every cat, but FFGW‘s philosophy has always been to give every cat in our care the care and love that you would give to your own cat. If a cat needs expensive treatment, we have always been able to count on our supporters to make it happen. This kitten needed a miracle, and he found one in the form of our foster’s male rescue Vizsla, who quickly took on the role of mother. Started on an oral antibiotic and eye ointment, the kitten began to rally, but he had a long way to go. And just as we said "we've got this" when the call came in, Auggie the Vizsla said "I've got this too! Little guy, you need a bath!

The foster's basset Addie stepping in to give Auggie a break!

Tell those dogs that even though I have only one eye I can see that you need to learn how to cat!

After days of round-the-clock syringe feeding, he figured out the bottle and began nursing - still every two hours - and then as his strength came back, he started biting the tips off the nipples and was introduced to mushy food. Now, a creature who just a month ago was at death’s door is thriving and has been given a name – Beaker.

The most amazing part of Beaker’s rescue is that it did not require extensive and costly veterinary intervention. Instead, saving Beaker required something perhaps even more precious to FFGW – a dedicated foster who looks at an emergency and says ‘bring it on – I’ve got this.’ Our fosters are confident, however, that whatever type of medical intervention is needed, FFGW has their backs, because our donors have ours. (It doesn't hurt to have a dog or two on the staff, either!)

As we enter the winter months and our rescue phone line starts heating up, we hope that you will make that confidence a reality for the next Beaker. Your end of year gift means FFGW can always step up when we are needed most. You can make your donation on our website using the button below.

Lisa, Brittany, Kristen, Carla, Pam, Harry

The Board of Directors of The Feline Foundation of Greater Washington

Donate

Another VERY Special Adoption Event!

After the success of our December adoption event where 8(!) kitties were adopted, our anonymous benefactor has offered to cover all adoption fees at our January 10 adoption event at Just Cats!

Our benefactor will also supply a $50 PetSmart Gift Card to each family adopting at the event!!

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

We are extremely grateful for this fabulous support

which we hope will help lots of cats get a great start for 2026!

Join us at Just Cats, 2 - 4 p.m., January 10 for this special event!

Sold Out Holiday Pet Portraits

a Picture Perfect Success!

Thanks to everyone who had their pet's photos taken at our photo fundraiser - you and your cat, dog and llama made a difference for rescued kitties!

Watch this space for the next opportunity!

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

Next Event:

Adoption Fees Sponsored!

Saturday, January 10

2 - 4 pm

Upcoming Events:

February 7

March 21