Comfort for Critters

     Spring 2026

 ~ Critter News ~

Welcome Spring!

I am so very excited to welcome spring, especially this year with all the COLD days! Of course the main topic, in the sheltering industry during April, is the upcoming with Kitten Season! This is the time of year when the majority (but not all) of the year's kittens are born. In most parts of the US, it starts in March and can last through the fall. Here in Illinois, shelters usually see the first groups of kittens arriving in March or April, with the peak coming May through August.

For all areas, Kitten Season is a time that shelters can really get overwhelmed! The tiny lives coming into their shelters need people to care for them, supplies to support and feed them, and blankets to comfort them. CFC has always tried to do our part to support these shelters with our blankets and any other item we can provide. If there's a shelter nearby, which you are supporting, check out their "wish list" (usually on their website) to see other items you can drop off when you donate your blankets. 

With this surge of pets in mind, I'm happy to report that we've created and donated over 5,000 blankets already this year! Together in 2026, we're comforting 56 pets every single day! THANK YOU ALL! Let's keep it up and keep the comfort and caring headed to the shelters we support, in all 50 states.

Speaking of comfort and caring, I've really been troubled seeing the negativity that flows so easily in our culture. It's truly been overwhelming for me. When I feel this way I often turn to the many notes I receive from volunteers, conveying why they enjoy making blankets, or the shelters telling me about a special pet they were able to help. It's a reminder to me that there are people out there who truly care for others, and want to help even if it doesn't benefit them at all. I've started sharing these stories, and other uplifting recollections, via my new 2026 Substack. It's free to subscribe, and I try to write a short piece each week. I hope you find hope amongst my words that there is caring, comfort and compassion out there, for those willing to look for it.

  Wishing you a blessed spring,  Linda

Together we donated 1,554 blankets in January, 1,608 blankets in February and another 1,882 blankets in March. The homeless pets at 138 shelters in 41 states were comforted by you during the first quarter! Here are the happy recipients of your creativity and caring...

From C.A.R.E. in Skokie, IL:  "Thank you for donating two boxes full of hand crocheted blankets for the cats at CARE. We appreciate you thinking of our cats while the wait to be adopted!"

From the Baltimore Humane Society in Reistertown, MD:  "Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our animal shelter! We serve thousands of animals each year, so your support is crucial to our success. By donating, you directly contribute to our lifesaving efforts. Especially during these unprecedented times, your support means so much to us. Thank you again, we are truly so grateful for your blankets."

From the Tails Humane Society in DeKalb, IL:  "On behalf of everyone at Tails Humane Society, thank you for your blanket donation! Your generous donation helps animals just like 'Myers'. He was found abandoned in his carrier at a local gas station, scared, cold and alone. But thanks to the generosity of groups like yours, he received the care and compassion he so desperately needed. Surrounded by warmth

and kindness, he learned what it truly meant to be loved and eventually found the forever home he deserved."

From the Montgomery County SPCA in Conshohocken, PA:  "We would like to take this opportunity to thank your group for your thoughtfulness in donating hand-made blankets to comfort our cats. Much like you, all staff members here love animals too. Because of your kindness, we can continue to show our cats a little bit of extra comfort and care, as they await adoption to live in a new and loving home. We also send each cat home with their special blanket! Thank you for your time, talent and kindness!"

For many of us, evening walks with the pups are one of life’s greatest joys. Smelling the distinctive odor of a skunk, clearly is not! Fear of being sprayed by a skunk should not keep you, or your dog, stuck inside at dusk (when skunks are most active). It’s rarely dangerous, and if you’re prepared, clean up isn’t too bad.

Skunks do not seek out people and pets to “spray”. It is their only defense in a world that is sometimes startling to these timid critters. They only have a limited amount of “ammo” at any time, so they will only spray when they have no other option. Their spray causes temporary blindness when directed towards the face of predators, and allows the skunk to escape.

The noxious odor is created by Thiol, a chemical compound made of sulfur and hydrogen that is “fired” from the anal glands. This same combination is, not surprisingly, found in feces and rotting flesh. What makes skunk spray just a bit worse is that it is quite oily and contains additional compounds that, when mixed with water, release even more of the smell. So clearly it’s important to treat this as a unique problem, and one that a long bath will not resolve!

The key to ridding your dog, cat, clothes, etc. of the skunk smell is to create a chemical reaction that will neutralize the odor. Even though the ingredients are fairly common, you may not have sufficient quantities on hand (especially if you have a big dog) when you need them. So it’s a great idea to stock up now, before you need them, and have all the items ready to go in a stinky emergency!

• 32 fluid ounces 3% hydrogen peroxide (this ingredient will expire in time, so replace your stock a couple times a year)
• ¼ cup baking soda
• 2 tsp liquid soap
• 1 quart lukewarm water
• Plastic bowl (one that can be thrown away)
• Plastic mixing spoon
• Protective eye ointment or mineral oil
• Rubber gloves
• Towels

Steps:

It’s important to start right away. The longer you wait, the worse it gets (another reason to stock up ahead of time)! It’s best to do this as you would bathe your dog outside, or if inside, be sure to open as many windows are you can.

1 – Put on rubber gloves and check your pet for any injuries. Check the eyes for redness or any discharge, since pets often are sprayed in the face. If you see any injuries, contact your veterinarian before doing anything else!

2 – Rinse out the pet’s eyes, nose and mouth with warm water, as best you can. Then put a few drops of the protective eye ointment or mineral oil in your pet’s eyes. This protects them from getting any of the remedy solution in their eyes.

3 – Combine the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap. Add some lukewarm water if you’re treating a large dog. The solution should start to fizz (remember elementary school volcanoes?), which means the chemical reaction is happening. Start using the solution as soon as you see this! This combination will oxidize the volatile thiols, and neutralize the smell.

4 - Massage the solution into the pet’s coat using a sponge or cloth. Massage it down to the skin to break up the oily skunk spray, and leave it there for at least ten minutes (20 minutes is better). Avoid the pet’s eyes, mouth and ears, and keep them from licking any of it.

5 – Rinse your pet with lukewarm water. You may need to repeat the previous step 3 to 5 times to fully neutralize the odor. The smell of skunk oil can last up to a year, so when in doubt, repeat step 4 one more time! Once you feel it’s really, truly gone, dry off your pet and give them a big treat!

You may be able to avoid skunks by not venturing out at dusk or early evening, but what fun is that? It’s best to keep your cat inside at night (and during the day), but a nighttime trip (if even to the bathroom) is unavoidable with dogs.

When walking your dog, if you shine a flashlight up ahead, and swing it left and right, you’ll likely catch the reflection of the skunk’s eyes in plenty of time to turn around. You may also want to discourage your dog from rummaging in drain-pipes, under bushes, and in other dark areas while on your walk. These are the areas where skunks hang out during the day, and then emerge at night. With a bit of warning, you can usually just quietly reverse course and all critters will happily go their own way. I've personally done this many times! However, having your own personal “de-skunking” kit on hand will be a welcome relief for the times you have no warning!

Is there anything more soothing, more relaxing, more all-around wonderful than the sound of a cat’s purr?  It’s interesting that despite all the research, scientists really don’t know how cats actually make the “purr” sound, and have even less of a clue why they do it. For many though, the speculation is half the fun, and boy, there’s a lot of speculation.

Most experts agree that when a cat purrs, it all starts in the brain. A message is sent to the laryngeal muscles causing them to vibrate anywhere from 25 to 100 times per second. It’s thought that the separation of the vocal cords, when a cat breathes in and out, combined with the twitching, causes the purring sound. Most scientists would back this up, but certainly not all. Some suggest that a small “hyoid bone” located between the larynx and base of the skull actually makes the sound. So the anatomy at the root cause, remains debated.

Why a cat purrs is even more interesting, and more misunderstood. Every cat owner has seen their cat purr as a reaction to love, comfort and a general feeling of “oo, la, la”. However, cats also purr when they are ill, in pain or frightened! They will also purr when approaching another cat, to say “hey, I’m friendly.”

Researchers compare a purr in a cat, to a smile in humans. We smile when we’re happy for sure, but we may also smile when nervous, or even grimace in pain. The same holds true for a cat’s purr. Of course a big smile, or purr, is a great way to greet someone new.

It’s also quite interesting that besides expressing emotion, cat’s may be actually easing their pain and promoting healing in their body. Ultrasounds given to humans, at the same frequency as a cat’s purr, have shown to increase the healing of bone fractures. Additionally, some research suggests that cats do indeed heal faster than comparable animals who do not purr, and that purring releases endorphins which help reduce pain.

So as your cat relaxes and purrs they may be both conserving energy, while engaging in low-intensity workouts which heal. The purring stimulates muscles and bones, without any heavy lifting at the gym. I wonder if people can learn that trick! The answer is “probably not,” though many other animals have mastered the technique. Rabbits, guinea pigs, squirrels, mongooses, hyenas, raccoons and lemurs have all been known to purr. Even elephants and gorillas sometimes purr while eating.

If you’re wondering about your kitty’s big cousins, the lions and tigers, that’s where it gets even more intriguing. It seems for these cats, there’s a tradeoff. The ability to roar, changes the anatomy of the larynx slightly, and makes it impossible to purr. Big cats that can purr, like bobcats and mountain lions, can’t roar. Lions and tigers, which are known for their roar, never purr. Experts see the development of the roar, as a way to claim the large territory of these big cats. Smaller cats simply “mark” their much smaller territory using their own scent. No roaring required.

The most telling part of a cats purr is the fact that humans ‘feel it’ as much as hear it. Studies have shown that cats do a great job of relaxing people, as they lower their stress levels, and yes, even blood pressure. They seem to do this better than most other pets (sorry, doggies). Since humans naturally relate purring to happiness (right or wrong), this brings calmness into our lives or at least into the moment. A cat purring on your lap can be your own mini-massage in its vibrations. It’s a singularly wonderful feeling of comfort we can all get from our “critters”.

So despite all the research, experimentation and theories, the how and why of purring remains as much a mystery as how they know it’s “get up time” in the morning, long before the alarm sounds. Maybe it’s better to simply relax and enjoy the sound, rather than diagnose and dissect it!

After running Comfort for Critters for nearly 20 years, I can honestly say that reading the comments I get from volunteers is one of my favorite things to do. As the world seems to get darker by the day, the comments from people about why they want to help, are literally rays of light for me. Thank you! Here are a few, which I hope will encourage you as well!

• "I am driven by a deep love for animals and a passion for arts & crafts. I sought a way to use my creative outlets for good. The moment I discovered I could hand-make beautiful, warm, comfy blankets for shelter animals to snuggle with, I knew I had found my calling and had to get involved!" ~ Alice A. in Norwalk, CT

• "I wish I had the room to take in as many animals as I could. Unfortunately, I cannot, therefore I crochet for anxiety and feel this is a small way to brighten a dog's day." ~ Riley D. in PA​

• "Every time I see a photo of a rescue animal laying on a homemade blanket from someone in this group, it melts my heart and reaffirms why it's important to give back to those in need, whether it is a human or animal." ~ Geni O. in IL

• "I like knowing the animals get a little comfort from the blankets. I do the crocheting, my friend handles getting the yarn and my cat makes sure each one is comfy!" ~ Carol J. in IL

• "Making and donating to a shelter or rescue is my way of helping the fur babies. They all need something of their own and maybe a soft blanket will make them more comfortable until they get a furever home." ~ Denise T. in GA

• "My love for all animals and crochet, motivate me to comfort homeless pets. Crochet is my therapy and calm." ~ Crystal V. in CA

• "I want to donate to animals in the shelter because many of them have a hard life. They may come from neglectful or abusive backgrounds, or be passed around from owner to owner without stability. If I can provide a shelter pet with a blanket as a symbol of love, hope and stability for them, then this means the world to me. It's hard knowing that so many animals suffer in the cold during the winter, or are abandoned after the holidays. If any blanket I make helps these animals feel loved, then that's the greatest joy, to spread love and comfort to them when I know they need it most." ~ Inge S. in CA

As with most Ted Talks I listen to, I was enthralled. The recounting of an act of compassion, not for another human, but for a creature that could swallow a human whole, and likely not notice. As it was told by the main hero, marine researcher Michael Fishbach, it was a tale that could hardly have been believed, except of course for the video evidence.

Fishbach and his family stumbled upon what they imagined was a deceased Blue Whale, in the Sea of Cortez in 2009. Upon closer inspection, an act of bravery in and of itself, signs of life appeared. And what a tremendous life it was.

Blue Whales are the largest creature to have ever roamed the Earth. Larger, by a good measure, than even the largest dinosaur either us, or Hollywood, have ever imagined. Blue Whale babies, or calves, are born 23 feet in length and can weigh up to 8,000 pounds at birth. Being a mammal like us, they nurse from their mother, putting on 200 pounds a day, for up to six or seven months. Once fully grown they reach 100 feet in length (the size of a basketball court) and weigh 400,000 pounds. If that’s not impressive enough, their tongue alone weighs as much as an elephant (400 pounds) and their heart would be the size of your car.

In a demonstration of God’s sense of humor, these largest of all creatures, consume only the smallest in response. Blue Whales are classified as Baleen whales, so they lunge through massive swarms of Krill (tiny, shrimplike crustaceans), sucking in the ocean, straining out the water, and leaving a feast of Krill to enjoy. During feeding season, no less than 4 tons of Krill a day will be needed to maintain a healthy whale!

To say they are magnificent creatures does not begin to do them justice, and their immense size is their least impressive quality. Not surprisingly, they are also the loudest animal on earth. Their vocalizations can surpass that of a jet engine, at 188 decibels. The alluring sound they make can travel well over 1,000 miles, even underwater. This amazing ability helps their navigation, as they migrate thousands of miles each year from their breeding grounds in warm, tropical waters to their feeding grounds in the polar regions.

I don’t honestly know how much of the soft side of whales Michael knew when he donned a snorkeling mask and entered the water, but enter he did. What he found was a whale struggling to breath, struggling to hang on a bit longer, struggling to free herself from massive fishing lines that were dragging her to her slow death. It was obvious she had been battling these lines for a while, and equally obvious she didn’t have much longer to fight.

With the combination of his family on the boat, and him in the water, they worked for over an hour to cut the lines that encircled her massive tail and pinned her fins securely, sadly, to her side. With small pocket knives they were able to cut and detangle, cut and detangle, cut and pull, cut and pull, until the whale was free. To watch the video that captures the rescue is to root joyously for the good guys, comforted by the fact that the ending has been revealed. Without that knowledge, I’m sure my heart would not have allowed me to watch. I’m glad I did watch though, since I was treated to a post-ending surprise, that even I didn’t expect.

Early in the Ted Talk, Fischbach shares, “never has there been any record of a Blue Whale harming a human being,” though it would be easy to do given their massive size and daily interaction with boats in their habitats. The magnificence of their size, coupled with the gentleness of their spirit, puts them squarely in the crosshairs of a world that sees their value only in what they bring to the marketplace. That attitude is clearly the world’s loss.

While they have swam in every ocean, except the Arctic, for tens of millions of years, the future remains uncertain for these whales. They were hunted to near extinction in the 20^th century, but through some protections provided by international law, they are now considered “only” Endangered. Estimates put their population at 10,000 to 25,000 currently making their home in the Earth’s oceans. I like to imagine they all will raise their 188-decibel voice in protest as they are hunted, tangled, and run down. I’m a dreamer, so I also like to imagine we will listen.

Michael and his team named the whale they saved Valentina. Once she was freed from the massive amount of netting, she surprised everyone by circling their boat for almost an hour, repeatedly surfacing, breaching, and slapping her tail on the water. I would never have guessed this would be Valentina’s response. I would not have blamed her, and likely encouraged her, to bolt away from these humans and yet another boat. To watch Valentina’s reaction, is to see a physical manifestation of gratefulness and joy. It’s not hard to believe her heart is the size of a Volkswagen, I hope humankind can enlarge their collective hearts, before it’s too late.

I'm now on Substack - If you'd like more stories like this in your inbox, you can subscribe here for free!

233,072 blankets donated so far!

Support our mission with the purchase of our pattern books: Crochet for Critters & Crochet for Your Comfort. Each book has 30 crochet patterns that are perfect for pet blankets. They also tell the story of CFC and why crafting helps the crafter, along with the pet! 

E-books here!

Paperback "Crochet for Critters" on Amazon!

Paperback "Crochet for Your Comfort" on Amazon!

Or check out a fun T-Shirt!

"Gus (pictured) and all his Good Mews friends would like to thank you for making them beautiful blankets to use and then send home with our adopted cats and kittens!" 

Good Mews Animal Foundation

Marietta, GA

If you'd like to keep up-to-date on our mission, follow us on Facebook (or Instagram) and join our Facebook Group, "The Comfort for Critters Team".  

We share what we're working on, pet & craft humor, and tips & tricks for making beautiful blankets. It's a private group that stays 100% positive, 100% of the time! Please join us!

With just a little bit of leftover yarn, this fun idea will help you create adorable cat toys. If your kitty loves to chase the plastic “rings” from the cap of a gallon milk jug, this is a way to make them soft and colorful too.

They will also look much better as they lay on your kitchen floor, and they won’t hurt when you inevitably step on them!

Click here for the

Cat Ring Toy pattern!

• Updates on our mission
• Craft ideas & patterns
• Pet information
• Animal shelter updates
• Easy ways to help pets
• Lots of "thank you's"!

Once you make blankets:

• Local volunteers are encouraged to drop off their blankets to a shelter near them since we support over 40 shelters in the Chicagoland area (see our list of shelters here)! We also encourage you to stop by our homebase in Glen Ellyn, IL to pick up a bag or two of free yarn, for your next batch of blankets!

• If you're outside of our area, please check our "Animal Shelters We Support" page to find a shelter in your state. Then ship your blankets directly to the shelter or drop them off. Please let me know how many you donate, via email or by using our website form.

• Patience is a plus! CFC is a small organization, with just one staff member! I do reply to every email, but it may take me a few days.

​Thank you!

Thank you volunteers, for being an example of kindness!

All these great shelters have joined our program during the first quarter of 2026. I always announce these additions on Facebook, so if you're not part of the CFC Team, or don't follow our page, you may be missing out!

If these rescue groups are in an area you live, work or travel to, please consider supporting them with your blankets.

Please also let me know when you do donate to them, so that I can update my tracking. Thank you!

Chesapeake Feline Association

North East, MD

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Furrever & After Cat Sanctuary

Austintown, OH

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Halfway Home Cat Rescue

Ludlow, MA

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Kzoo Cat Cafe

Kalamazoo, MI

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Montgomery County Animal Care & Control

Clarksville TN

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Surf City Kitties Rescue

Huntington Beach, CA

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Watermelon Mountain Ranch

Rio Rancho, NM

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Westside Cat Rescue 

Buffalo, NY

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Woof Rescue

Lemont, IL

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Wyoming County SPCA

Attica, NY

We are now donating 1,500+ blankets regularly every month, which is awesome! It's also A LOT of blankets to filter in and out of my house every month. 

With this in mind, we're asking all volunteers to please donate your blankets directly to a shelter right in your own area. If you don't see one near you on our list, I can help find one for you, and will do all the work getting them signed up. If you choose a shelter from our website list, I can promise you that in-state shipping will be less costly than sending them to me. I do ask though that you let me know, so that I can update my records!

Benefits of donating your blankets locally:

• Cheaper than shipping them to Illinois (if you're out of state)!

• You can email them for a tax receipt and possibly write off the donation (please check with your tax professional).

• You'll also get to hear just how much the shelter staff appreciates the blankets Thank you!!!

Have questions? Check out our FAQ page!

3s139 Sequoia Drive 

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Linda Kastiel Kozlowski Founder & Owner

Info@ComfortForCritters.org

~ Our Mission ~

To comfort all the animal shelter pets we can't adopt (but wish we could), and to be a blessing in the lives of every volunteer, supporter & shelter worker.