A Lifetime Commitment

A Lifetime Commitment

If you adopt a pet, please keep in mind that this is a commitment for the life of that pet. This poem was written with Hunter, a cat that Furry Friends rescued in mind. Although we don’t know 100% if Hunter was dumped it seems likely. Jenn Hutchman wrote this for all the dumped cats like him. Maybe one day people will realize this is not a solution to re-homing your pet.*

I got a new family when I was a kitten
They spent time with me all day
They fed me and loved me
And they really loved to play

Hunter, One Lucky Cat

Hunter, One Lucky Cat

Most of the cats and kittens that come to Furry Friends just need routine medical care, which can still cost from $200 to $500 per kitty. But then there are the handful of other cats that need a lot more care. For 2021 we had to perform several eye removals, a couple amputations, many dental procedures and more. We have spent about $126,000 on medical for 2021 alone. Here is a story about one kitty that is currently going through a lot.

FF Spotlight on Chris Kiefer

FF Spotlight on Chris Kiefer

Furry friends could not operate without the help and experience of all of our volunteers and fosters. Some have played many vital roles over the years. One of those amazing people is Chris Kiefer. She had this to say about her time with Furry Friends. 

Cat-Friendly Ideas for Holiday and Year-Round Giving

Cat-Friendly Ideas for Holiday and Year-Round Giving

The holidays are the perfect time of year to give back to the charities and organizations that you feel most passionate about — and if you’re a cat lover, Furry Friends is the perfect place to share some holiday joy. There are lots of ways to help cats & kittens during the holiday season and, really, anytime. For so many of us it seems like our homes are already filled with “stuff”, making us feel that it makes no sense to give one another even more “stuff”.

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Zelda and Jessica Blodgett

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Zelda and Jessica Blodgett

“I grew up around cats, but Zelda is the first one I adopted on my own,” Jessica says. “I kept her original name because it’s so unique. When people ask if she was named after the character in the Legend of Zelda video games, I say ‘yes’ but that I don’t play the games. I was won over by her beautiful eyes!

“She adjusted gradually to living with me and although she didn’t like my roommate’s cat at first, they tolerate each other now. She’s definitely made me feel less lonely since my move to Portland, and while I’ve been trying to harness train her, it’s not going well.

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Ella and the Scotts

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Ella and the Scotts

“Ella is kitty number 10 for us,” Julia says. “We were told that she was 8 years old and we figured that she was used to her name — it seemed to fit her.

“We wanted an older cat (12 + years), but we didn’t click with any of those available at the time. We’d been without a cat for seven months and we always try to adopt one who’s often overlooked. My husband chose Ella because of her cute features. And she really IS a cutie.

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Duncan and Karina Gress

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Duncan and Karina Gress

“I recently had to put down one of my two cats due to a progressive nerve injury,” says Karina. “I was devastated at losing my fun, affectionate seven-year-old Miles, and my other cat, Victor, showed signs of depression, such as hiding and not eating. I live alone, and I’ve always had pets in pairs, and it seemed so quiet with just one cat.

“After about six weeks, I decided it was time for a new friend, and began looking at rescue websites for a kitten. I wanted a kitten with lots of energy, lots of love to give, and who was good around other cats. I was looking at the Furry Friends website and saw a litter of black kittens, all with names that started with G. As soon as I saw Gunther, I knew that I had to fill out an application. I had had two black cats in college, and I have a soft spot for the mini-panthers (Victor is a tuxedo).

Ren’s Story

Ren’s Story

This is Ren (we called him Sadness because he always looked sad). Today (August 4) we had to be there for him while he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He was my bottle baby and has been with me since he was a tiny baby. After many tests it was concluded that he had Intussusception which is where a part of his intestines slid into another part. This caused him to go into sepsis and his best option was to be humanely euthanized. He would not have survived the surgery he would have needed to repair it. Jesse was with him holding him. It’s heart breaking to lose him but at least he was loved while he was here. He was such a funny, sweet little boy. Rest in peace little sadness

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Nori and Blair

Furry Friends Fur-Ever Tail: Nori and Blair

“Nori, formerly called Cutie at Furry Friends, is my very first fur baby,” says Blair.

“She’s been with us for four months now and we’re utterly in love. I chose Nori because she was friendly and wanted to snuggle, but I could never have imagined what a cuddle bug she truly was. Not only did she adjust to her new home right off the bat but in a matter of days it felt as if she had lived here forever.

“Although she’s extremely playful and has a lot of energy, she simply ADORES people and wants to be with us all of the time. She greets strangers with ‘open arms’ and always manages to finds a chest to lie on whenever we’re watching movies on TV.

Why is eye removal necessary?

Why is eye removal necessary?

We humans can only imagine what life is like for a cat that has a serious eye condition and needs to have that eye removed. They can’t understand why they have lost vision, why their eyes don’t work the way they once did.

Sweet Ulysses, one of Furry Friends’ kitties, is a cat that lost an eye. He doesn’t comprehend why he needed the surgery—or why he must wear two cones around his neck. (“Hey, humans, two cones are two too many!”). He also has no way of knowing the cost of his operation.

Furry Friends is a nonprofit cat adoption organization. Its mission is to help homeless, relinquished and abused cats by providing spaying and neutering, medical care, and foster shelter for as long as it takes to find their forever home. Copyright © 2013 – 2020 Furry Friends. All rights reserved. Website design and development by Christina Roberts.