Whiskers & Tails: Showing Up | September 2026 Newsletter
Summary
The September 2026 edition of Whiskers & Tails celebrates the many ways people show up for cats. Meet longtime volunteer Becky, get to know four striking adoptable cats, and see how supporters are helping Fat Cat Rescue feed more than 300 cats during an ongoing canned-food shortage. This issue also catches up with Marco two years after his adoption, introduces a newly identified wild cat species, shares important cat CPR resources, explores feline coat genetics, and looks ahead to upcoming fall and holiday events.
Table of Contents
• From the Editor: Showing Up
• Looking for Love: Black, White & Waiting for You  • Opal  • Noir  • Tita  • Lucky & Moose
• Happy Tails: Where Are They Now?  • Marco Celebrates Two Years at Home
• Community Heroes  • The Community Behind 300+ Full Bowls  • Our Ongoing Canned-Food Shortage  • Ways to Help Fill the Bowls
• Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Becky  • Six Years of Service  • The Dedicated Heart Behind the Morning Routine  • The Work That Keeps Fat Cat Going
• Cat Corner  • Meet the Tilcayo  • A New Wild Cat Species Identified in Bolivia
• Pet Safety  • Would You Know How to Perform CPR on a Cat?  • Pet First Aid Training and Emergency Resources
• Did You Know?  • Black, White, and Written in the Genes
• Ask Fat Cat  • What Is Considered a “Large Cat” During CPR?
• Coming Up at Fat Cat Rescue  • Fall Cat Adoption Event  • Paws & Peppermint Holiday Vendor Fair
• Until Next Month  • Every Cat Counts
Content
The September 2026 edition of Whiskers & Tails centers on the idea of “showing up.” Volunteers, fosters, adopters, donors, and supporters each contribute in different ways, and together those individual acts provide daily care, food, homes, and second chances for hundreds of cats.
This month’s Looking for Love feature celebrates a classic black-and-white color palette while introducing four distinct adoption stories. All-white Opal looks to people for affection and reassurance. Black cat Noir is calm, affectionate, playful, and social with other cats. Former mama Tita is ready for a home of her own after raising her kittens. Lucky and Moose arrived in rescue separately but formed a close friendship and are now searching for a family together.
Happy Tails catches up with Marco, formerly Mr. Meow, two years after his adoption. Once a rescue cat who fit underneath the couch, Marco is now thoroughly settled into family life, complete with favorite resting places and a generous snack allowance. His update offers a glimpse of what volunteers and fosters hope for every time a cat leaves Fat Cat for a permanent home.
Community Heroes recognizes the supporters who continue helping Fat Cat Rescue through an ongoing canned-food shortage. More than 300 cats receive wet food every day, including seniors, kittens, and cats with medical needs. Repeated wishlist orders, monetary donations, food drop-offs, and shared posts add up to hundreds of full bowls and provide critical support while other rescue expenses continue.
The Volunteer Spotlight introduces Becky, who has spent more than six years caring for Fat Cat’s residents. Twice each week, she arrives early to clean rooms, scoop litter boxes, wash dishes, prepare food, handle laundry, and, inevitably, spend a little extra time with the cats. Her story highlights the quieter work behind rescue and the dedicated volunteers who keep everything running day after day.
Cat Corner travels to Bolivia to introduce the tilcayo, a tiny wild feline recently formally described as a new species. Researchers used genetic evidence to distinguish the tilcayo from other South American tiger cats. The finding also draws attention to threats facing its cloud-forest habitat, including deforestation, agriculture, fires, and mining.
Pet Safety focuses on preparing for an emergency before one happens. Readers learn when CPR is appropriate for a cat and where to find evidence-based training and resources through RECOVER and the American Red Cross. The issue also highlights the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid course and Pet First Aid app as resources pet owners can keep available before an emergency occurs.
Did You Know? explores the genetics behind black and white feline coats, including the difference between dominant white coloring, white spotting, and albinism. Ask Fat Cat continues the CPR discussion by explaining why body size and hand fit, rather than a specific weight, determine the appropriate compression position for a cat.
The issue closes with two upcoming opportunities to connect with Fat Cat Rescue. The Fall Cat Adoption Event takes place October 17 at Petranek’s Pharmacy in Libertyville, while the Paws & Peppermint Holiday Vendor Fair returns December 5 at the Libertyville Civic Center with local shopping and support for the cats in Fat Cat’s care.
