Comfort for Critters

     Spring 2024

 ~ Critter News ~

Happy Spring

Welcome to our second quarterly newsletter for 2024. There's lots to share and most importantly lots of "critters" being comforted so far this year! Together we achieved an amazing first quarter, donating over 2,000 blankets each and every month. In total, we provided blankets for 6,227 homeless pets during the quarter. That is simply amazing, but not surprising, given this group. We were able to help 156 different shelters across the US, with many receiving more than one group of donated blankets. We covered 47 of the 50 states, and I hope to reach all 50 this quarter! 

We continue to sign up new shelters each month, and occasionally have to drop one or two, so please keep checking the online list. Fourteen were signed up in the first quarter of this year, so there may be a new one near you! I'm also hearing from many shelters that due to the mild winter (in many areas) Kitten Season is starting early this year!

Besides making blankets for all those kittens, I encourage everyone to join our Facebook group, The Comfort for Critters Team. We stay 100% positive and it really is a fun place to hang out. We share what we're working on, pictures of our own pets, ideas, stitches and more! I also encourage everyone to read each and every thank you note contained in this newsletter. I am the one that receives them, but they're intended for YOU! Please enjoy them and be assured that you are truly making a difference to shelter pets, shelter workers and the families that will adopt the pets as well.

As always, a big thank you goes to our dedicated volunteers and supporters who keep Comfort for Critters going and on track! 

Linda

"Bean's new pet parents wanted to thank you for his post-adoption blanket! He was rescued last spring by an older teenage boy from a busy street when his mom accidentally dropped him during a move! We helped with a great start and he is now happily adopted by his rescuer and his mom! The happy trio now share an apartment. Thank you for being part of our work!"

~ Magicats in Buhl, ID ~

If you've ever wondered if a yarn you own would be appropriate to make blankets, this chart should help. Labels sometimes indicate "machine wash and dry" which is exactly what we're looking for, but often they only convey this information in symbols.

Highlighted in green are the symbols which indicate the yarn is great for blankets. I've found that if there's a specific temperature indicated (ie. dots placed within the symbol), really any temperature works for us. 

The main symbols to avoid are crossed off in red on the chart. While we truly appreciate yarn donations, these symbols also apply to yarn you may want to donate to CFC's headquarters. 100% of this yarn is resorted into smaller bags for pick up by grateful volunteers.

Thank you for making beautiful blankets that stand up to the repeated washings at the shelters. Remember, the blankets are sent home with the pets when they're adopted, so we want the blankets to last a LONG time! 

Together we donated 2,034 blankets in January, 2,062 blankets in February and another 2,131 in March! The homeless pets at 156 shelters in 47 states were comforted by you. Here are the happy recipients of your creativity and caring:

While we love to give our kitties the run of the house, we often don’t want them to bring their kitty litter along. Tracking litter out of the litterbox is often unavoidable for them. As their human companions, it’s up to us to minimize it as much as possible. There are a handful of simple and easy ways to stop “litter tracking” in its tracks!

1 – Scoop! One of the best ways to cut down on the litter you’ll find all around the area is to clean out the litter box as much as possible. Cats prefer to “go potty” in an area of the litter box that’s nice and clean. If the litter box is dirty, they will tend to dig around to find a clean spot. This digging ends up spraying litter all over!

2 – High Sides! This isn’t a great idea for older cats who may have trouble climbing in, or for kittens who are just too little (and cute!), but using a litter box with very high sides will help cut down on the litter spraying around outside. If they need to jump up, to get out of the box, this will also help knock the litter off their paws, and back into the litter box.

3 – Reconsider the Litter! A simple way to cut down on litter tracking is to try a heavier litter. Lightweight litter, while easier to buy and carry, usually scatters a bit more. Using a heavier weight litter will keep it in one place.

4 - Try a Mat! Using a rug or mat, placed just outside the litter box (in the direction the kitty will be traveling) can go a long way to cut down on litter tracked throughout your home. Really thick and shaggy bathmats work well, along with remnant pieces of thick, shag carpet. You may also want to invest in a litter tray which sits just outside the litter box and usually has raised areas that help knock litter off of paws. Many are made of a silicone material, which will attract the litter off your kitty’s paws and hold it to the tray.

5 – Trim the Fur! If your cat has very long fur, you may consider trimming it just a bit around their paws. The fur tends to hold the litter, like a magnet! Less fur means less litter, means less tracking. Voila!

Please enjoy these thank you notes that are intended for YOU, CFC's wonderful volunteers and supporters!

• "Thank you for another wonderful blanket collection! It arrived just in time to share these blankets with some lucky kitties who were on their way to their forever homes! They were much appreciated! Also, we especially like to comfort a scared newcomer with her special blanket and let them absorb the lovely loving vibes of every stitch! We are all very grateful! Love & blessings to you!" ~ Magicats in Buhl, ID

• "I'm writing to express our heartfelt thanks for your recent donation of the blankets. Your generosity and support mean so much to us and especially to the animals who will be comforted by them. Thank you again!" ~ Prattville/Autauga Humane Society in Prattville, AL

• "I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for what you do. Your blanket program is so awesome. The animals really love the soft, handmade blankets and the colors grab an adopter's attention. They especially help the pets with black fur get seen!" ~ Sevier Animal Care Center in Sevierville, TN

• "All the rescue kitties send their purrs and appreciation. The blankets from you are a HUGE help during this busy kitten season, and bring so much warmth and sense of safety to the kitties. We can't say thank you enough!!!" ~ Seattle Area Feline Rescue in Seattle, WA

• "Your compassionate and generous donation of blankets will help us continue our mission of saving the lives of local animals in our community. Thank you for being part of our work and deciding to make a difference." ~ Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland, NJ

• "Thank you for the box of handmade blankets that you made for our cats. The cats at SARL are extremely lucky to have folks like you looking out for them. You have supplied us with some of the items that are essential to our daily operations. After being surrendered by their families or transported hundreds of miles to our shelter, cats and dogs are often anxious when they arrive here. You have provided some of the comforts of home that make all the difference in helping animals feel comfortable here while they await their forever homes. Your donation has eased their transition into shelter life, and for that, we are incredibly thankful." ~ Salem Animal Rescue League in Salem, NH

Having welcomed two new rescue pups into our family recently, I’ve been looking into the curious habits of dogs. One of the most interesting is how dogs get to know each other by sniffing each other’s behinds! If you wonder, as I did, what information they’re looking for, I can tell you, it’s a lot! They are able to learn the other dog’s gender, health, and even what they’ve been eating recently. Probably the most important thing they learn is the other dog’s mood. It’s similar to greeting someone and seeing a smile or a frown.

The reason all the focus is on the hindquarters, is due to the apocrine glands which reside there. These glands are located in other areas, but the butt is just so much easier to reach. They produce pheromones which provides interesting information to other dogs.

As we likely all know, a dog’s sense of smell is astounding. They have 150-300 million olfactory receptors in their nose, compared to only 5 million in a human’s nose! In addition, a full one-third of a dog’s brain is dedicated to processing scent signals, compared to a human who only devotes 5% of their brain to processing smells.

But it doesn’t stop there. Coupled with their amazing noses, dogs have a unique “Jacobson’s organ” in their snout for analyzing scents. They also have openings in the roof of their mouth that connect directly to their brain. The pheromones produced by the apocrine glands sail right through this area and are processed by the Jacobson's organ. In this way, the “chemical cocktail” of a dog is read by the other dog.

In case you’re wondering, humans have apocrine glands as well. They are found in our armpits and our crotches, as you may have guessed. This also explains why dogs seem to focus on this private area when they are getting to know a new human that enters their home. They are simply trying to get to know a possible new friend!

Gathering together to help others, is a sure way to have fun and enjoy the day! The Hinsdale Public Library, in Hinsdale, IL decided to bring people together to support our mission in February and we were thrilled! Under the direction of Allison Gammons, the Youth & Young Adult Services Assistant for the library, the group created 21 fleece blankets, lots of toys and even decorated some of our coloring pages! 

In total, 12 adults and 17 children participated, as they cut, tied and braided the many items. In addition, some of the children decorated the coloring pages, found on our website, as thank you notes for the shelter workers for all they do for pets. These notes, as well as all the items, were donated to the Hinsdale Humane Society, which has been part of our program since 2012, and has received almost 1,400 blankets from us!

As a perfect tie-in, Allison highlighted some books from the library's collection that had a focus on animal shelters or pets, for patrons to consider checking out. A big thank you goes to Allison for making this happen and helping this group bring comfort to nearby, but homeless, pets!

We’ve all learned to keep medications out of our children’s reach, but do we also take precautions with our pets? Between 25% and 50% of calls to animal poison control centers are for pets who have accidentally taken human medications. Some of the most dangerous are also medications found in most households. Knowing which are lethal, and how to keep them out of your pet’s reach, just may save their life.

Common and Dangerous Medications -

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) – Both cats and dogs can be affected by this common drug. It causes liver and red blood cell damage in both cats and dogs, but cats are especially sensitive.
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Aleve) – Some brands have a sweet coating which attracts pets. When eaten by a cat or dog it can cause kidney failure and stomach ulcers, even in very small dosages.
• Sleep-aids (Ambien, Lunesta) – Theses drug can make cats severely lethargic with drastically slowed breathing. Other pets can become agitated, with a racing heart rate.
• Anti-depressants (Cymbalta, Effexor, Xanax,  Prozac, Lexapro) – All of these are dangerous, but have differing effects on pets. They can cause a dangerous decrease in blood pressure, weakness, agitation, tremors and seizures.
• ADHD medication (Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta) – These medications act as a stimulant in pets and can lead to life-threatening tremors and even seizures – even in very low doses.

What to Do First –

If you even suspect your pet has ingested any medication not prescribed specifically for them, call your veterinarian right away. Many offices have a 24 hour emergency line, covering the hours when they are closed. You may also call a poison control center, focused on pets. A commonly used one is the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at 888-426-4435. It is answered 24/7 and they promise to have a veterinarian or toxicologist always on duty.  There are many other poison control centers for pets (found with a quick Google search). Each one does charge a fee for the call, ranging from $35 to as high as $75. Be sure you know a bit about the organization which operates the call center, so that the guidance can be trusted.

It’s a wise move to keep the phone number for your veterinarian and the poison control center of your choice in a handy location, or on your cellphone, so that you’re not scrambling in the event of an emergency.

What NOT to Do –

If you suspect your pet has eaten human medication, never induce vomiting. In some cases this is appropriate, but in many others it can lead to more problems if it’s a drug that could cause a lung infection. Always contact an expert and let them tell you the next step. Treatment varies depending on the medication, and if regurgitation is the best course, they will tell you which way to induce vomiting (salt water, Ipecac, etc.).

Never Leave Your Pills –

• On a bedside table – Although this is commonly done with sleeping pills, it makes them easily accessible to your pet.
• Sitting on a counter – Or really any place your pet can reach. Kitchen counters often hold treats or food items (which some pets like to steal!), so inside a cabinet is a better choice. If you put medications in a weekly pill container, be sure to keep that off-limits as well. To a puppy or dog, it can look just like a plastic chew toy!
• In a baggie – Though even the thickest pill bottle can be chewed through by a large dog, baggies that hold pills pose no barrier to any dog or cat.
• In a purse (which will be within reach) – It’s common to put a purse on the floor or chair, but this puts medication well within reach of cats and dogs. Purses often contain other items (mints, cigarettes, candy) which can attract curious or hungry pets. Keep this in mind for visitors too!
• Near your pet’s pills – Poison control centers report a very high incidence of pet owners mixing up pills and accidentally giving their own medication to their pet! Store your medications away from your pet’s medications (preferably in another room), so that there’s no confusion.

Keeping your pet safe really just requires some simple steps. By keeping all medication out of your pet’s reach, and keeping your veterinarian’s phone number well within your reach, our kids with four feet will be as safe and protected as those with only two!

We are now donating 1,500-2,000 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 out-of-state volunteers to please donate your blankets directly to a shelter right in your own state!

I can help you find a shelter near 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!!!

"Thanks so much Linda ... and thanks AGAIN for the blankets!"

Rover Rescue in North Aurora, IL

187,330 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! Every purchase keeps us going and keeps us shipping our free blankets!

E-books here!

Paperback "Crochet for Critters" on Amazon!

Paperback "Crochet for Your Comfort" on Amazon!

I hope you enjoy these comments, left on our website from other volunteers. They do a great job of explaining why we do what we do!

• "We were snowed in for nine days which gave me time to knit nine blankets for the little critters at the shelter! The ladies at the shelter were so excited and thankful when I delivered them. They said people loved taking a blanket home with their newly adopted babies!!" ~ Susan H. in TN

• "I was motivated to make and donate blankets because all pets in the shelters deserve love, but all too often, they are ignored, adopted and subsequently returned, or arrive from terrible circumstances. Making blankets is a compassionate seasonal activity for me." ~ Inge S. in CA​

• "I make blankets because my heart goes out to unwanted dogs and cats. I pray they find their forever and loving family. Dogs and cats give unconditional love and deserve the best life can offer them." ~ Susan S. in CO

• "I love animals and my hubby, as sweet as he is, won't let me have them all. So this is my way of giving love and support to as many as I can without bringing them home. I really enjoy making each one, knowing where they go and that it helps them. I can't tell you how warm and fuzzy it makes me feel each time I complete a blanket. It puts a smile on my face and heart." ~ Linda R. in OH

• "I would take them all home if I could. This helps me manage my stress and anxiety and blesses the sweet souls at the shelter. Win, win. Thank you for letting me be part of this fabulous organization!" ~ Deborah C. in DE

• "I have so much yarn, and there are so many pets that need comfort and love. After I saw how much my dog loves her crocheted blanket, I thought other dogs and cats would also enjoy the comfort a blanket provides. This is an awesome organization, thank you for providing comfort for animals around the country." ~ Kimberly C. in OH

Emi relaxing under her CFC blanket between "takes" at the Puppy Bowl this year!

If you're not a sports fan, you may have tuned in to watch the Puppy Bowl, even if you skipped the Super Bowl. Did you know CFC had a connection to the event?

The Humane Society of Greater Dayton had two pups that were part of this fun event. One of the dogs, Emi (shown above), just had to bring her Comfort for Critters blanket along, when she participated. According to the volunteer who traveled with Emi to the event in New York, "Emi LOVES her blankie, she is inseparable from it!"

This story was shared with us by Peggy B. of Englewood, CO who has made hundreds of blankets for pets since 2019, as one of our volunteers. Thank you Peggy for sharing this, and for comforting so many homeless pets!

This quarter we added quite a few shelters. They have all agreed to use "yarn" or fleece blankets with their pets and then send the blanket home when the pet is adopted. If one of them is near where you work, live or visit, please consider supporting them with your creations!

Bichons & Buddies

Los Angeles, CA

Cat Nap Hangout & Adoptions

Huntington Beach, CA

City of El Dorado Animal Shelter

El Dorado, KS

Felicia's Feline Foster

Canal Fulton, OH

Grant County Humane Society

Elbow Lake, MN

Heartland Humane Society

Ottumwa, IA

Humane Society of Walden

Walden, NY

Keitha's Kittie Rescue

Lebanon, OR

Let Love Live

Wadena, MN

Mansfield Animal Shelter

Mansfield, MA

Noah's Ark Animal Foundation

Fairfield, IA

Quailwings Rescue

Cut Bank, MT

Starlight Strays Sanctuary

Pittsburgh, PA

Unicoi County Animal Shelter

Erwin, TN

"Thank you for your generous donation of knit blankets for our cats and kittens. We received the blankets last week and our cats are thankful for this gift! We appreciate your gesture which makes our cats and kittens more comfortable while they await a forever home."

~ Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department ~

If you'd like to keep up-to-date on our mission, follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Group, "The Comfort for Critters Team".  We share what we're working on, pet & craft humor, and tip & tricks for making beautiful blankets. It's a private group that stays 100% positive, 100% of the time! Please join us!

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

A cat has more bones (230) than a human being (206)!

A cat's hearing is much more sensitive than a human's, or even a dog's!

A cat can see six times better in the dark than a human!

Cats = Amazing critters!

Have questions? Check out our new FAQ page!

Once you make blankets:

• Local volunteers are welcome to drop off their blankets to a shelter near them or to CFC's headquarters in Glen Ellyn, IL. Please leave your name and email on whatever you drop off, so that I can send a thank you note.
• 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!

​

       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.