A Voice For The Voiceless
Upcoming Events
Spay/Neuter Clinic Dates
February 15, 22, 29
March 7, 12, 14, 21, 28
April 4, 11, 16, 18, 25
Volunteer Orientation Dates
Saturday, March 10, 2012—10am to 11am
Saturday, April 14, 2012—10am to 11am
February 2012
www.forgottenfelines.com
(707) 576-7999
Serving Sonoma County since 1990
IN THIS ISSUE...

Message from the Director

Pick of the Litter— 14 years
and counting!

The NEW “Unforgettable
Inner Circle”

Colony Sponsors

A kitten, a storm drain,
and a determined rescuer

Captain Jack-saved by the
Fluffy Fund

And more…..
Next issue we
will have an
update on
Adam !
A message from Executive Director, Jennifer Kirchner
I just finished packing up my Christmas decorations and now Valentine’s Day
is just around the corner. Ah Valentine’s Day—love, romance, and oh yeah,
breeding cats! Although this is the time of year when many folks aren’t thinking
of their cats getting pregnant, it is precisely what we have on our minds.
To accommodate the hundreds of people who utilize our services, we’re offering five spay/neuter clinics every single month. And with several other low cost
altering programs available, there really isn’t any reason why we should have
kittens in our shelters this Spring. But just in case we do, our Foster and Adoption Programs are gearing up as well. Last year, we pushed the boundaries of
our Adoption Program by increasing adoption outlets, lowering adoption fees
and participating in numerous adoption events. We’ll be doing more of the
same this year.
Our Trapping Program last year expanded into a Rescue Program as we found
ourselves pulling cats out of storm drains, behind drywall, under mobile homes
and in and under wood piles—you’ll read about a few of these in this issue. For
2012 we plan to expand upon our mass trapping efforts. We already started the
year out with a bang by trapping 33 cats at one colony— in one trip! And then
we went back the next day and trapped 14 more!
Continued inside…..
Jennifer Kirchner continued…
Pick of the Litter has been bursting at the seams and we remedied that last year by expanding into the unit next door. More
parking, more retail and warehouse space is now available to our
valued donors and customers.
Stepping up our efforts, flowing with the needs of our community
and just plain rolling up our sleeves and getting the job done is
what we’re all about. But WE can’t do it without YOU. You’ll read
in this issue about our newest pledge program, our “Unforgettable
Inner Circle“. Please consider joining in, becoming a member or
renewing your current membership. Maybe you’ll simply send in
a donation of any amount to support our expanding programs. At
Forgotten Felines WE includes you. Every life we touch is also
touched by you. Thank you for your continued support and interest in our mission.
Meow,
Jennifer
Whether it is shop or drop, Pick of the Litter is
the place to find anything your heart desires!
Our Mission
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County is dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of feral cats through local spay/
neuter programs, placement services, community outreach
and nationwide education.
Our Vision
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County is committed to a world
where all animals are treated with compassion and respect.
We are dedicated to elevating the quality of life of feral cats
and ending the pain and suffering of all cats living among us.
Pick of the Litter Turns 14
In the fall of 1997, Pick of the Litter was
a freshly painted storefront with a few tables of merchandise and a lot of empty
space. We were only open for business
about 20 hours a week in the early days,
and sometimes the store cats, Cookie and
Hutch, outnumbered the customers. In
the past 14 years all of that has changed,
but not our mission to be the major funding source for Forgotten Felines.
Pick of the Litter celebrated our 14th anniversary in November of last year with a
huge sale, delicious homemade food and
refreshments. We had violinists playing
in the store and customers lined up
around the building to be part of our special day. When the doors closed at 5:00
p.m. we had done 385 transactions and
sold $1,067 worth of cat-related merchandise to sponsor a full Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Just as important, the event gave all of us
at Pick of the Litter the opportunity to
thank our devoted customers for the support that has made possible the success of
the store and Forgotten Felines.
Pick of the Litter Thrift & Gift Shop
1701 Piner Road
Santa Rosa, CA
707-570-2590
Open Monday—Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm
Just another stray cat……
When most people see you they think oh, another stray cat, without a second thought. But I can’t get you out of
my mind. Do you belong to someone? Are you hungry? Are you cold? Do you have some type of shelter on rainy
nights? Why are you so close to the road?
I see you and I think of my own cat sleeping in the windowsill soaking up the afternoon sun without having to focus
on finding her next meal. She is safe. She is warm. And she is loved. Where are your people? Why would they leave
you behind?
Most people are able to walk past that storm drain and hear kittens crying for help down deep inside. I cannot. I
will not leave until they are rescued and safe from harm. They can forget you, I cannot.
You hiss and run away every time someone comes near. They see your actions as aggressive, but I know you are
only scared and secretly hoping they will leave a morsel of food behind. They’re not programmed like I am. Your
image isn’t burned into their memory. I cannot go on my way without recalling the look in your eyes. They can forget you, I cannot.
You are just a blur that barely registers in their consciousness each day-along the river path, behind the restaurant.
Too many times you are seen on the roads or hiding in the grass. They can forget you, I cannot. To the average
person you are just another stray cat to be forgotten.
…...but to us you are unforgettable!
Will you join us in making a difference in the lives of Sonoma County’s homeless cats? Become a member of our
“Unforgettable” Inner Circle of Donors. This is a select group of people who have made the choice to pledge a specific amount of support each month. When you join, we will help you set up a monthly pledge that will be automatically withdrawn from your bank account and transferred to Forgotten Felines so we can put it to work right
away. No need to write a check or pay for postage or envelopes. We will handle everything. You just pick the
amount for the pledge withdrawal and we will take care of the rest. At the end of the year we will send you a receipt
showing the total donation amount so you can have a tax write off.
Sign me up for the “Unforgettable” Inner Circle of Donors
Thank you for your generosity
and support.
Take advantage of this
program to make your
donations in a simpler, more
cost effective way.
I’d like to pledge $10____ $15____ $20____ $30____ $40____
$50____ per month to assist Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County.
____ I will mail in my pledge. Please send a monthly reminder.
____ Please contact me about having my pledge automatically
withdrawn from my bank account/credit card each month.
Name______________________ Phone number_________________
FFSC is a 501c3 Non Profit Organization and your donations are tax deductible.
Capt. Jack Sparrow
By Stephanie Schreiber, FFSC
Aargh! Sometimes a kitty needs a helping hand.
When a local woman found Jack in the weeds of her yard last year he was 2
weeks old, weighed 8 ounces and was freezing cold despite the fact it was
mid June. When the woman called us, she was frantic and insisted the kitten was dying. Typically we don’t go out on emergency calls, but when we
have staff or volunteers available and can assist, we do. When we arrived
on the scene, we found a severely dehydrated kitten suffering from a bad upper respiratory infection. One eye was in especially poor condition.
The little tuxedo ball of fur was scooped up and whisked off to the FFSC offices. There he got
his eyes and nose cleaned up and given warm fluids to raise his temperature. One of our staff
members grabbed a bottle, some formula and took him home. She realized very quickly this
little kitten had quite the will to live. Captain Jack was kept in a carrier with a heating pad on
her bed so she could keep a close eye on him. He was very vocal and willing to let her know
exactly what he wanted. Anyone who has ever nursed a kitten knows the feeling when you
sense they will survive. What a relief when Capt. Jack would go after his bottle with reckless
abandon, sometimes pulling it right out of her hand! Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate with an
eye patch, got his name due to his bad eye and spunky attitude.
During the next several weeks Capt. Jack was fostered by several staff members and volunteers
who coddled and cared for him while he grew stronger and regained his health. Unfortunately
his eye was destroyed beyond repair and despite our best efforts it was determined that he
would best be served by having it removed. When surgery day arrived, Jack came through
with flying colors and rebounded quickly. Soon he was darting all over again and playing like
nothing had ever happened.
On September 24th Capt. Jack went to his forever home with his new parents Brad (dad) and
Bridgette (daughter). They say he is the sweetest, most hilarious addition to the family and
feel very lucky and happy to have him. He follows them around like a dog, promptly wakes
one of them up at 6am for breakfast, plays with the water in the sink and shower and delights
them with his excessive purring and snuggling.
This story and many like them are made possible by YOU. The donors that give to the
Fluffy Fund provide the money to provide veterinary care to these cats in such dire
need. Thanks to you we NEVER have to say no to the care they need. For that we all say
thank you! You are the best, most wonderful group of supporters on the planet. It
takes a special person to care about the ones nobody else cares about. To slow down
and see the unseen, to remember the forgotten.
Feral Cat Colony Support
and Caretaking
by Taylor Page, FFSC
Each year Forgotten Felines provides food for feral cats living in over
100 individual feral cat colonies throughout Sonoma County. Each of
these colonies has a caretaker assigned. The caretaker for each colony picks up the food and delivers it to the cats. We are lucky
enough to have a small group of Colony Sponsors who buy a great deal of the food (thank you sponsors) by
making a small monthly contribution, and FFSC buys the rest. If you would like to become a Colony Sponsor or
caretaker please call Forgotten Felines at 707-576-7999.
Thanks in part to our Colony Sponsors, last year Forgotten Felines purchased more than 2,200 bags of Purina
Cat Chow—over 34,600 pounds! This food and fresh water is delivered to the colonies every single day by the
most committed and hard working group of caretakers on the planet, rain or shine!
Some volunteers feed one colony, others feed many. Some even get up before sunrise to get their feeding done
before going to work each day. You can’t question that type of commitment!
Everyone here at Forgotten Felines wants to send out a great big thank you to all our loving colony caretakers
and colony supporters. Thanks to them these cats can live out their lives as healthy felines in the freedom of
their own world.
A Kitten, A Storm Drain & One Determined Rescuer
After receiving a call that a kitten was trapped in a storm drain, one of our staff members
responded to assess the situation. Upon arrival she was greeted by the woman that
called for help who explained that the kitten had been crying in the drain for two days and she had called everyone
she could think of but nobody would come to help.
by Sherry Pribyl, FFSC
Our staff member looked at the drain and the manhole cover with dismay. This was not going to be easy. The drain
opening is only about 4 inches and too small for her to fit through, and the drop was about 7-8 feet once inside. She
knew she was going to have to get that heavy manhole cover off and get inside. She returned to the FFSC van and
found two pry-bars and set about trying to get to the kitten. After many long minutes and much effort she was able
to pry the lid off and jumped down inside. Once inside she could see that yet another pipe ran off to the side of this
drain and the kitten was all the way at the other end. She could see him with a flashlight but he was wet, cold and
too scared to come to her.
She quickly climbed out of the drain and returned with a small trap which she baited, set up and proceeded to wait.
It didn't take long for the smell of food to lure our little friend out of his pipe and into the trap.
Once safe and secure in our possession, he was wrapped in warm blankets and given food and water. We named him “Dexter” and placed the two month old orange tabby into our foster program.
Dexter was soon adopted shortly thereafter and is now residing in his forever home. From pipe to
penthouse in no time flat!
CATS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
Princess and Boy
Princess and Boy were left homeless when their 94 year old
loving companion left this earth. “We would like a nice quiet
home where we could live indoors and remain together.”
Boy is more outgoing and Princess more solitary, but both are
wonderful senior kitties patiently waiting for a home.
Patches
Patches and kittens showed up at the home of a nice woman in Santa Rosa who helped them find
FFSC. The whole group were made healthy and placed up for adoption. “All of my kittens have
been adopted, so now I’m ready for a home. I love to play with the teaser toy and lay in your
lap…..and if I can talk you into brushing me I love that too!” Patches is accepting visitors in our
Adoption Room at Pick of the Litter where she will remain until the right home comes along.
Sassy
“After being rescued from a wood pile (and a German Shepherd) I have been spayed and ready for
adoption. I have very nice house manners and like to be around people, but would prefer to be the
only cat. Other cats simply annoy me. I also have to admit that I am a nibbler. Sometimes I just
can’t help it. I get so excited I need to take a little bite! Do you have room for a petite blond beauty
in your life? I am currently in foster care, so if you want to see me, call the FFSC offices and schedule
a visit 707-576-7999. See you soon.”
Sara Smile
Sara was very sick before being rescued by a Good Samaritan and taken to PetCare, the
24 hour Pet Hospital. From there she was taken to Sonoma County Animal Care and
Control when they noticed she had a tipped ear and called us. We placed her in our
foster care program. At eight years old she is young enough to be fun and lively in your
home but is tired of living outside. “I’m a sweet kitty looking for security.” Wouldn’t
she look great at your house?
Abby
“My first owners lost their home in Petaluma and left all of us behind—my children,
brothers, sisters, cousins, etc. A neighbor lady with her cane came every day to feed
us until she found out about Forgotten Felines. Then they took over and vowed to
find a new home for all of us. I’m told I have intensely beautiful green eyes and a
luxurious coat. I’m flirty and petite and have no problem speaking my mind. I don’t
mind other cats, but don’t need them in my life. Feed me, pet me and let me be who
I am and I’ll be loving life. Can’t wait to see you!”
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County 707-576-7999 www.forgottenfelines.com
How do they end up there? Why are so many euthanized? Is there anything that can be done? How can I
help?
Where do we start? Feral cats end up in animal shelters for many different reasons. The main one
being citizens trapping them and taking them to the shelter because they are bothered by some type of
cat behavior. “They are digging up my flower bed…...they yowl and meow at night while I am trying to
sleep…..I keep finding cat poo in my yard.” Open admission animal shelters hear it all. It is too easy for
people to make their problem go away without having to face the reality of their decision. The reality is
that feral cats are almost always euthanized in animal shelters because they are not “adoptable.” As we all
know feral cats are afraid of people so are not likely to jump into anyone's lap and cuddle and purr. Does
that make them more deserving of death? Does it mean they are somehow not worthy of our attention?
Of course not. The bottom line is feral cats are placed in rooms where they are not viewed by the public
unlike a tame stray cat. They’re hidden from plain view because their fate is sealed when they come
through the door.
We cannot stop them from arriving in the shelter and we cannot blame the shelter for them being
there. What we can do is provide an alternative to euthanasia. No animal shelter director wants to euthanize animals they have other options for. There are advocates for dogs, advocates for cats, advocates for
rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, you name it. We advocate for feral cats proudly and loudly, but we need your
help. Often times all it requires is someone taking the initiative to ask about them and offer help to save
a life. What are some of those options?

Barn homes where cats can be managed and live out their lives.

Transitional homes to care for cats while waiting to be relocated to a new home.

Volunteers willing to handle the process of relocation for cats into existing colonies.

Volunteer Scouts for prospective property suitable for colony management.

Volunteers to liaise with their local shelter to help find placement options.

Colony Sponsors to help pay for the food these cats need to survive.

Appropriate housing such as, rabbit cages, dog-loos or dog houses to provide shelter.
When no one pays attention to a problem, it gets worse. With the proper attention and
commitment, this issue can be solved and the cats could be saved. Can you help?
If you’re interested, call us at 707-576-7999
and we will help you get started.
…..Francis Witham
Well…..don’t just stand there…..come on in!
Because you come forlorn and thin
I’d willingly relive all that
So if you really think, oh Cat,
And broke my heart the day he died.
He ruled in arrogance and pride
And claimed the middle of my bed.
He scratched the furniture and shed
Became within my house the law.
While he with purr and velvet paw
The master of my destiny.
For that day I ceased to be
To beg for shelter, warmth and food.
The gate where once another stood
Has brought you homeless to my gate?
Oh, what unhappy twist of fate
Stray Cat
P.O. Box 6672 Santa Rosa, Ca. 95403