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Attending Frosty Claws?

Lives Change – We Need Volunteers!

People are facing many changes these days and THE CATS need more volunteers! There are many ways to volunteer but right now we need to fill AM in the TNR room – that involves cleaning and feeding the ferals and if there are cats/kittens approaching tameness, scooping litter boxes in their crates. TNR is always in flux. There might be one cat or 35+, depending on time of year and how many s/n slots we have available for the week. Individuals need to be calm, speak softly, physically capable of moving a trap with a cat in it (could be 20lb weight), have attention to detail, and NOT try to make every cat adoptable, which can be very hard to NOT do – the cats really need to make clear how willing they are. Fill out a volunteer application and let’s see what fits for you! Cleaning and clerical, petting and coordinating fundraisers, managing a building improvement and of course trapping and transport! Truthfully, we are so short of time that you need to be insistent that you want to volunteer – we need you but can’t always call you! Can you imagine? We look forward to exploring the ways you can make a difference for THE CATS!

Cats Started Literature

The first novel written in English was called Beware The Cat by William Baldwin (1515-1563). Published in 1570 it includes cats as its main characters, set in Ireland and satirizes Catholicism. The cats were evil for the most part – was this the start of the prejudice against cats that have followed them thru history?

Cats Can’t Read – But This Is Good!

As noted in a previous blog post, mosquito control chemicals affect cats. A new Bill taking effect in Illinois in 2025 may help with keeping people aware of pesticide applications.  Summaries of each bill provided herein are pulled from the Illinois General Assembly’s website (ilga.gov) as a resource for municipalities. Any grammatical or syntax errors have not been corrected; the text is shown as obtained from ilga.gov.

“Provides that at least 24 hours before the state or a unit of local government, including a mosquito abatement district or a commercial entity hired by the state or a unit of local government applies a pesticide, including a pesticide intended to control mosquitoes, to a public right-of-way that is located within the corporate boundaries of a municipality, the state, mosquito abatement district or other unit of local government in which the application is to be made shall provide written notice to the public of the application of the pesticide, with certain notice information requirements, with notice sufficient if posted in newsletters, calendars or other correspondence currently published by the state or the unit of local government in which the application is to be made. Provides that the state or a unit of local government, including a mosquito abatement district, need not comply with certain notice requirements if the application of pesticide is in response to: (i) disease causing agents in vector mosquitoes; (ii) the occurrence of mosquito-borne disease in animal or human populations; or, (iii) a natural disaster recovery effort. IML opposed the legislation. Effective January 1, 2025.”

First Of 2025

Got a call about a cat that was attacking its caretaker despite being very friendly for a long time. First off, he wasn’t neutered and turns out he had wound on his chest. Now neutered and very calm in a crate, we’re going to try relocating him as a Working Cat once a location can be figured out. We’re hoping now that he feels better and is not subject to the hormone overload, things will work out for him.

01/06 – DCAS – 1 feral male.

Total: January and year to date - 1, since 2007 - 15,735.

As Many As Possible As Soon As Possible

Working Cat Study

More and more TNR and cat-rescue operations are implementing a Working Cat program - a program to re-home feral cats that cannot be returned to their trapped location. Feral Fixers Working Cat program has been in operation for many years with great success. A study was done of one of the Working Cat programs in Florida.

"Operation Catnip’s (OC) Working Cat Program (WCP) was created to contribute to life-saving efforts for poorly socialized unowned cats that cannot return to their original location and in turn relocation needs to be implemented. The goal of this study was to evaluate the OC’s WCP, a cat management program, conducted in Florida from January 1, 2019, to December 1, 2023."

"In conclusion, WCPs are an alternative for managing poorly socialized cats based on an understanding of cat behavior and population dynamics. Although there are disadvantages to relocating cats, the results from our study suggest that WCPs are well suited for well-man-aged relocations, making instrumental changes that improve cat welfare, and achieving overall caregiver satisfaction. These findings create a solid basis for sug-gesting the implementation of more well-structured WCPs should be considered a mainstay in animal wel-fare throughout Florida (and nationwide) in terms of promoting live-saving capacity and finding the right out-come for every cat."

Shown below are some of the items available for Silent Auction at the upcoming Frosty Claws! 

Afghan - hand knit by volunteer, "Assuring" pattern in Caron Deep Violet, 70" x 53"

Name brands of facial care - L'Oreal, Strivectin, La Roche, brushes, sponges, LED vanity mirror

Black Cat Tote/Purse - handmade by Rose, her crafting is wonderful!  Approx. retail value would be $200.

"Dream Watch" by Naomi Pridijian is a beautiful, framed print

Star Quilt - a masterpiece by JoEllen, measures 68" x 68"

Meriden B Company Silverplate Footed Tea Pot 1877 Found on eBay at a value of around $100 +/-. The 1877 marking isn't the year but the pattern. Silver plate and made by a company called Meriden Brittania Co. Meriden B Company Silverplate Footed Tea Pot 1877. Meriden B Co silverplate was unlike any other, using multiple different motifs and geometric designs. This piece has clovers embellishing the body and the use of lions sprinkled about on the handle, spout and legs. They also used the German cross as a finial. This piece was ahead of its time, with an art deco style but the patent was applied a good 50 years before the Art Deco movement. Measures 10" tall and 10" handle to spout.

4 one-way tickets for domestic travel up to 8/1/25 valued at up to $200 each depending on destination. Skyline 3pc hardside spinner luggage set - 28" 24" 20"

Black Cat Quilt - Another wonderful quilt from JoEllen. Measures 64" x 54"		Hello Kitty! Throw, carry-all, tote bag, watch, tumbler, key chain, coin purse, and more!

Tidings of the Season!

Black Cat Giving Tuesday

Feral Fixers’ Black Cat Giving Tuesday Fundraiser continues! We are currently at 82% of our goal as I write this! Our campaign continues until midnight of 12/31/24, you still have a week to participate – it would be tremendous if we could reach our goal! This fundraiser has matching funds of $25,000! It is heartwarming to see the pictures and hear the stories that come with the donations. This one way in which we realize the impact we have on the lives of the cats and people we encounter. Megan is an example of your impact; she is such a happy kitten!  Meeting our goal gives us the confidence that we can continue to spay and neuter hundreds of cats in the coming year. While we are focusing on black cats, please visit our adoptables and think about adopting a new family member. Our donors are making such a difference, please help us get to our goal!

Upcoming Adoption Events

• Saturday, 12/28, 11am-3pm, at Feral Fixers, 330 Eisenhower Ln N, Lombard, IL
• Saturday, 1/4, 11am – 3pm, at Feral Fixers, 330 Eisenhower Ln N, Lombard, IL
• Sunday, 1/12, 1pm - 4pm, at Feral Fixers, 330 Eisenhower Ln N, Lombard, IL

We have over 70 cats and kittens available for adoption! We have not finalized our list for Saturday, 12/28 but come visit! Get pre-approved, check out our posted felines and a meeting can be arranged upon application approval even if they will not be in attendance during an adoption event. Come see our cats and find the right fit for you! Application here. Change their lives and yours!

Last Trip For 2024!

We still have kittens in foster requiring s/n and there have been a few injured cats. We’ve relocated several Working Cats – they may go into nice warm barns and warehouses to bond with their new home. So much yet to do! Please join us for upcoming events and think about volunteering with us in the coming year. This is the time of year when we work very hard on adoptions and fundraising.

• 12/23 – DCAS – 4 friendlies, 2 males, 2 females. These are the last kittens we have in foster that will soon be available for adoption. The last Echo Point kitten and a litter of bottle babies born at the beginning of September.

Total: December - 20, year to date - 854, since 2007 - 15,734.

As Many As Possible As Soon As Possible

Is It on Your Calendar? - Frosty Claws 2025

Frosty Claws!! Sunday, January 19th, from 12 noon to 4PM, VFW Post 2801, 39 E St. Charles Rd, Villa Park. Join us for food, beverages, boutique, Silent Auction, door prizes, raffles and the company of fellow cat lovers! The Stick Raffle returns, and we will once again be accepting coin donations with our Coins for Cats! We welcome donations for our fundraisers, please contact Tammy (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to donate new or antique items. If you would gift it to a friend or family member, our attendees would love to bid on it! Hope to see you there!

Mosquito Treatments Poison Cats

Yeah, its December, but it is always time to look into the impact you are having on animals and pollinators.

Here are some snippets of info from these articles:

• The Buzz on Mosquito Sprays
• Pyrethroid Poisoning in Cats
• What you need to know before spraying for mosquitos

“Cats lack sufficient levels of a liver enzyme that helps detoxify pyrethroids and can thus develop what is called pyrethroid toxicosis. A good indicator of cat sensitivity to pyrethroids is the standard warning of keeping cats away from pyrethroid-treated dogs. I.e., if you dose your dog with a large amount of pyrethroids (to kill fleas, e.g.), cats that cuddle with the dog are at risk. If you’d like to see a video of rag doll cat with pyrethroid poisoning (you probably don’t), here’s a video.”

Not just cats but monarch caterpillars, even weeks later, die due to the presence of insecticide dried onto milkweed leaves. The spray can kill honeybees, even if honeybees are inside their hives when the pyrethroids are spayed (workers bring small amounts back to the hive the following day if they land on treated plants or if they find small puddles of water to drink). Sublethal amounts of pyrethroids can change honeybee behavior and make workers smaller. Pyrethroids kill fireflies, which are most active in a yard in the late evening when mosquito-spraying franchises like to fog. I will not look at those mosquito treatment vans the same way ever again. Unfortunately, the municipal trucks also may be spraying adulticide pyrethrins. Something to think about as you await the return of green grass and warmer temperatures!

Cat Allergies

Outdoor Shelter Fact Sheet

(If you have trouble reading all of the text on the picture above, just click on it to view the full-size picture on the Humane Society website.)

Black Cat Giving Tuesday

Feral Fixers’ Black Cat Giving Tuesday Fundraiser continues! As I write this, we have achieved 31% of our goal! Our campaign continues until midnight of 12/31/24, so you have almost a month to participate – but please keep in mind that your donation encourages others to do so as well so please don’t wait until the last moment! This fundraiser has matching funds of $25,000! Of course, costs are rising, and currently spay/neuter packages are over $100/cat. Can you imagine funding the spay/neuter of almost 500 cats with just one fundraiser? We focus on publicity for our black cats at this time of year, please look at some of our wonderful representatives! Please share your photos and stories, join in and help us raise funds for the coming year!

Upcoming Adoption Events

• Sunday, 12/15, 1-4pm, at Feral Fixers, 330 Eisenhower Ln N, Lombard
• Saturday, 12/28, 11am-3pm, at Feral Fixers, 330 Eisenhower Ln N, Lombard

We have 27 cats and kittens scheduled to appear on Sunday! Come visit! Hope you have gotten pre-approved, but the applications can be used for a future meeting. Come see our cats and find the right fit for you! Application can be found here. Make a difference!

We’re Not Done Yet!

We still have kittens in foster requiring s/n and there have been a few injured cats. We’ve relocated several Working Cats – they may go into nice warm barns and warehouses to bond with their new home. So much yet to do! Please join us for Upcoming Events and think about volunteering with us in the coming year. This is the time of year when we work very hard on adoptions and fundraising.

• 12/4 – ADOPT – 5 friendlies, 3 female, 2 males.
• 12/12 – GEAH – 1 feral female.
• 12/13/24 – ADOPT – 10 friendlies, 7 female, 3 male.

Total: December - 16, year to date - 850, since 2007 - 15,730.

As Many As Possible As Soon As Possible

Put It on Your Calendar - Frosty Claws 2025

We’re already getting RSVPs in the mail! Sunday, January 19^th, from 12 noon to 4PM, VFW Post 2801, 39 E St. Charles Rd, Villa Park. Food, beverages, boutique, Silent Auction, door prizes, raffles and the company of fellow cat lovers! We welcome donations for our fundraisers, please contact Tammy, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to donate new or antique items. If you would gift it to a friend or family member, our attendees would love to bid on it! Tickets are $15 via Early Bird Access or $20 at the door - hope to see you there!

2025 – Already Here!

2023 – What A Year

The challenges have been immense. 

Kitten numbers have increased dramatically –societal changes may be the biggest impact: lack of vet access, money, movement of our population – combining households, isolation and hoarding, etc. People are actually paying more attention to the cats outside and are discovering the pregnant cat, the litter of kittens much more readily than in the past which results in overall increased volume that we are contacted about. Every shelter is full. Everyone is doing their best to save every cat they can. Adults and kittens are becoming friendly at an increased pace. Years ago, a feral was a feral was a feral. Not anymore. Kittens sometimes are friendly from the time they are trapped, adults will have a complete turnaround to being friendly. National organizations are seeing this and the only advice they can offer is that even if a cat is friendly, put it back outside – there just aren’t enough homes.

Volunteers. The data can be looked at in many different ways, but finding information that DuPage County ranked 2^nd in 102 Illinois Counties of charities per square mile illustrates why it is so difficult finding and maintaining volunteers. No one seems to have as much time as we used to. There are so many choices of where to spend that valuable volunteer time. Our lives can change in an instant and our personal responsibilities must take priority. Feral Fixers has wonderful volunteers, and we treasure them every day. We need more, the volunteer staff is not a constant and can change quickly. From trapping to transport, fostering and shifts of cat care at the building, cleaning – oh my, the cleaning! We do need volunteers who can snuggle kittens just as much as we need those who can sweep floors and do laundry. Social people who can interact with adopters on adoption days, help with events, host events! Everyone has their own strengths and abilities, please share them with us!

Need everywhere. We can average five calls a day for help.

*Discovered kittens under the shed, come help. *My mother let a pregnant cat into her house, come trap and take the kittens. *My cat has lost its mind and is attacking me, help. *I have 15 cats in and around my house (usually results in 60+ cats). *I live outside your area, but I can bring the cats to you. *Been feeding a cat for 2 years, not neutered, now he’s injured from fighting, come help. On social media, you may often see “call Feral Fixers, they will help you” and we do help so many!

With all these challenges we must remember the impact we have had, can you imagine how many cats would be roaming the streets, producing more and more, the suffering we have alleviated, feline and human alike! We have much more work to do but what a difference has been accomplished! 

You - donors, volunteers, caretakers, are all responsible for the huge difference Feral Fixers has achieved in the last 16+ years!

What Can We Expect In 2023?

We continue to face the unknown. Who could have expected that across the nation, we are short 15,000 veterinarians? Who could have expected that our nation could be short millions of spay/neuter surgeries? So many different factors are affecting daily lives, it will be interesting to see the impact on cats outdoors, how many kittens will be born to these unneutered females still roaming that no one was able to get to. Prices have gone up for cat food, cat litter, gasoline to take them to appointments & adoptions, and on and on. What can we do? We can continue to get as many spay/neuter appointments as we possibly can and to FILL those appointments, making caretakers aware that they must contact us as soon as a cat is consistent in attendance. It is the ONLY way to lower costs in the future. Once those kittens arrive, we will care for them, using resources for current day expenses, not for preventing even greater expenditures in the future – that is unsustainable and returns us to the past when feral cats were euthanized regularly.

Trapping will resume around the end of March, beginning of April. Keep an eye out for ferals in your area, talk to your neighbors, help us help you to care for those cats.

What Can You Do?

The Amazon Smile donation in November, which covered purchases made between July 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022, came to $606.70. That means that our donors spent $121,340 in that time period and .5% was donated by Amazon Smile – Yay! Use AmazonSmile and designate Feral Fixers – could not be an easier way to raise funds!

Visit our wish lists at Amazon & Chewy – we always need food; canned food in particular goes fast when you are supporting so MANY kittens! Gift cards allow us to purchase what our greatest need at the time is – paper towels, bleach, laundry detergent, litter boxes – amazing the variety of things we purchase to keep going! 

Spread our information to coworkers, family, social media – we have donors across the country! Cats have a ripple effect, they don’t stay in one place and affect wider resources than those on their street, in their town, in their county – even in their state! New people are volunteering with us due to sharing information, but we need more volunteers, many more. Trappers, transporters, cleaners in the building, animal care in the building, fosters, event volunteers, the list goes on. You tell us what you want to do to help, and we try to make that fit for both of our benefits!

Frosty Claws in 2023 

We seem to be returning to some degree of normalcy. As a result, we will be holding our 2023 Frosty Claws on Sunday, January 15^th from 12 noon to 4pm at the Villa Park VFW. We may have huge attendance that day because of skipping years, please be patient. This is an event for our caretakers, adopters, donors, to talk about cats and network with some fundraising and food. We are about to start assembling our Silent Auction and door prize items – we may not have as much “stuff” as in previous years – we will post items as they are created, as soon as we have a chance. We look forward to seeing everyone who can attend!