News & In-fur-mation

ST. PATRICK'S DAY MESSAGE

Ah…the luck of the Irish…Setter.

Yes, it’s St. Patrick’s Day and our thoughts turn to Green Beer, Parades, Shamrocks and everything Irish! Let’s pause the celebration for a moment to go over some St. Patrick’s Day Pet Safety Tips.

Keep Alcoholic Beverages away from Pets

Dogs love the smell and flavor of alcohol, and they will drink it if given the opportunity. Please, place your drinks out of your pet’s reach. Alcohol can be toxic to pets. Remember: No Green Beer!

Parades/Celebrations and Loud Noises
can make your Pet Nervous!

If you’re having a St. Patrick’s Day Party – your pets may need a break from the excitement. If the celebration is likely to be too much for your pet, keep these tips in mind:

• Use a crate to confine them in a quite room with a distraction like a radio or television.  The familiar noises will make them feel like this is a day like any other.
• For those pets that are prone to anxiety, you can partially cover the crate to create more of a den.
• Soft lighting helps calm them as well.
• Reassure your pet with a calm, soothing voice.
• As a responsible pet owner, you must also know that if something causes significant anxiety in your pet, you may want to forego the events altogether. Use good judgment.

Read 7 Safety Tip For St. Patrick's Day Here.

Our Feathured Cat...
Our Lucky Lady, Ms Dooley!

Our MS DOOLEY came to us with her two brothers, Tiny Tim and Chupa. The trio came. in under the F.F.F. S.O.L. Program for at-risk cats and kittens. All were very underweight, full of parasites, and battling urinal and intestinal issues.            

MS DOOLEY has beaten the odds and developed into a confident, active, acrobatic cat. She loves to climb and explore places in the house.

She is loving and affectionate and gets along with other non-aggressive cats. She gives her wrestling brothers as good as she gets.

MS DOOLEY would make a loving and loyal companion for a family of her choosing and/ or individuals who enjoy an affectionate but independent and smart kitty companion.

MS Dooley is shown via our appointment program of HAVE CAT WILL TRAVEL.

  Contact us at (925) 808-8364

Sponsor a Kitty...
For 2025!

CAN'T FOSTER? • CAN'T HAVE A CAT WHERE YOU LIVE?
CAN'T ADOPT NOW? • GOT A HOUSEFUL?
ALLERGIC TO CATS BUT LOVE THEM?

HOWEVER, YOU CAN STILL HELP OUR KITTIES!

FFF's Martin

You can sponsor a kitty with a donation amount of your choosing to help us with our ongoing maintenance and care of our FFF "formerly friendless felines". Your donation will go to the care and maintenance of the kitty(s) that you choose. Just visit our Adoption List and SELECT a kitty that you want to sponsor.

You may then contribute an amount of your choosing, to the care and maintenance of that chosen kitty. The monies we receive will be applied to food, medical care, and maintenance of that chosen kitty.  Just WRITE THE CHOSEN KITTY(s) name on the bottom of your check.

FFF's Emily

You can also make a contribution of your choosing that benefits ALL of FFF's needy kitties. Your contribution will be put into our general fund for the benefit of all of our kitties.

Payment can be made directly to FFF via paypal or personal check.

If you wish, you can contact us at 925-808-8364 for updates on your chosen kitty and be a "VIRTUAL FRIEND" to that or all of the FFF “formerly friendless felines”.

ANY and all sponsorships are greatly appreciated and rest assured will be put to good use for the benefits of the kitty(s). We have no paid staff from these funds so it will directly benefit the kitty(s) you have chosen.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
FROM FRIENDS OF THE FORMERLY FRIENDLESS!

KITTY NEWS
& INFO

Cats & Avian Influenza

Since the U.S. outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) in dairy cattle began in March 2024, dozens of cats are known to have contracted the virus, including barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and big cats in zoos and in the wild (e.g., mountain lions, tigers, leopards, and bobcats). Cats were already known to be susceptible to the H5N1 virus, with several feline cases linked to poultry or wild bird exposure before the outbreak in cattle began.

Cats appear to be particularly susceptible to severe illness, often resulting in death. Whether infected cats can infect other cats is currently unclear; however, that possibility cannot be dismissed. The risk of cat-to-human transmission is considered extremely low, but may increase with prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected animals. Whether direct human-to-cat transmission can occur has not been established, although a recent report of H5N1-infected cats in the households of two dairy farm workers suggests this is possible.

The good news is that infection can be prevented with a few simple practices.

To read the full article, please click here.

DO YOU KNOW ME?

Found Tuxedo Cat

This tuxedo cat was found on Indian Spring Road between Spenceville Road and Highway 20. It is friendly and not feral.

Contact: (925) 808-8364

If you would like to provide T.L.C. and shelter for a needy cat...
please contact us today.

Contact FFF

You may contact us via
Email for adoption information
Email for inquiries
(925) 808-8364

Friends of the Formerly Friendless
P.O.BOX 863
Penn Valley , Ca 95946

New Mailing Address

FFF has a new address.

Should you wish to write to us,
please send all correspondence to:

Friends of the Formerly Friendless
P.O.BOX 863
Penn Valley, Ca 95946

F.F.F. Policies

Adopting a Friend

An interview, application and home visit, followed by a 5-7 day trial visit of the selected pet in the prospective adoptive home. An Animal Care Adoption Contract is required to be signed by the adopter and a FFF representative, and a recovery/adoption fee is tenderedThe adopter(s) must be of legal age to sign a legal contract.

FFF does NOT allow FFF animals to be given as gifts or adopted for third parties.

FFF would appreciate a contribution to help offset our veterinary costs which include:

• Combo test for FeLV and FIV (feline leukemia and feline AIDS)
• First FVRCP
• Spay or Neuter
• Pain medications for recovery
• De-worming
• Flea control

Special circumstance adoptions are available for eligible adopters.

Micro-Chipping

In an effort to provide our FFF graduates, their families, and our dedicated F.F.F. fosters/staff with peace of mind, we are exploring micro chipping all of our adoptees. This will provide a safety net for our formerly friendless felines that go on to their new homes.

If FFF begins microchipping, then FFF will be listed as the secondary contact in the event that an emergency or unforeseen circumstance causes them to be lost, stolen or strayed. This should make sure that our F.F.F. adoptees will always have a friend if they are in need and always be "formerly friendless".

Appointments

We show our cats by appointments at your home. Appointments can be made with FFF through our HAVE CAT WILL TRAVEL Program, (925) 808-8364. Availability of the cats or kittens for appointment depends on the availability of the foster and transportation arrangements. If you see a cat or kitten you are interested in on our website, contact Sally via our email or by phone to check on the availability of that cat or kitten for appointments.

Adoption Criteria

As a rule, F.F.F. prefers not to offer kittens until all veterinary test results are normal. All F.F.F. cats and kittens are combo tested for feline AIDS and feline Leukemia prior to adoption. Therefore, we will not release any cat or kitten for adoption until we can be assured of an accurate test result.

FFF's philosophy:

We will not knowingly adopt any cat or kitten into your home that we wouldn't place in our own homes. We appreciate your understanding.

Ages of our cats and kittens are approximate and may reflect the age
at which the cat entered F.F.F.'s Program.
F.F.F. makes every effort to update the ages of our cats periodically.

When inquiring regarding one of our cats, please ask regarding the current age.

NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
WITH IGIVE!

With AmazonSmiles no longer supporting non-profits, Friends of the Formerly Friendless has signed up with iGive. iGive works with over 2000 online retailers such as Walmart, Macy's, and so much more. Each of the retailers donate a percentage, usually 1 to 2 percent, with some as much as 18! This is great news for all as you get great deals on the stores that partnered with iGive and FFF gets free donations. A win-win for all!

Safe, Secure & Smart Ways to Give.
Create your free iGive account. After that, all you need do is shop through the iGive.com website, newsletters, or install the optional iGive Button to make sure you never miss an opportunity to raise money when you shop online. It’s all automatic, and it's all free of charge. iGive lets you control your membership information with a private password. You can review your store visits and purchase/donation history, and confirm the total amount raised and distributed to your cause. iGive values your privacy and will never release shopper information without consent. And there are no hidden fees or extra costs when you shop through iGive. Start iGiving at: www.iGive.com.

Once you have signed up, look for the tiny iGive ON SAVE MORE triangle at the bottom, right-hand corner of the page. You can also view the donors on the iGive webiste. .