Winn Feline Foundation News

Winnie's Corner

Winnie
Meow...
As my loyal readers will remember, last month my human decided it was time to start a walking program for both of us. Well, just as an update, it is going fine. Fine. Except for the snow. Except for the rain. Except for the dog (I detest dogs!). Except for that darn squirrel. Except for the loud car... Other than these exceptions, it is just fine. Fine I tell you.
Add my new diet to this regimen and I should be as svelte and slim as a super model in a cat magazine, right? Well not quite yet. 
I'm also on a new low calorie dental treat as my doctor recommended to my human to keep a close eye on my teeth during our last visit. Tell me this - what good is a treat if it is low calorie?

Memo to Cat Owners:

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. A healthy set of teeth and gums are important to the overall condition of your favorite feline. Bad breath and loss of appetite can indicate a host of more serious problems such as tooth loss, gum infections and can even lead to damage of internal organs. Talk to your veterinarian about the specific dental needs of your cat companion.

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Quote of the Month

A charm of cats is that they seem to live in a world of their own, just as much as if it were a real dimension of space.

- Harriet Prescott Spofford

American novelist 
and poet
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Every Cat, Every Day Benefits from Winn -Funded Research ~ February 2016
Honoring Joan Miller-Keys with Emeritus Status


The Winn Board of Directors voted to establish an emeritus title for retired Winn board members who have had a major impact on the Foundation and have significantly contributed to Winn's goals. 

Joan Miller-Keys was selected as the first to receive the Emeritus title due to her many years as Winn Board President and her impact on cats and cat health issues. 

Dr. Brian Holub (Winn board member) presented Joan with the title along with an engraved silver platter on January 15 at the Fix by Five Focus roundtable in Orlando, FL. Steve Dale (Winn media contact and board member) and Dr. Glenn Olah (Winn President) also participated in the presentation. The engraving reads:

JOAN MILLER, EMERITUS MEMBER
IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO WINN FELINE FOUNDATION 
JANUARY 2016

Photo Contest Winner


Sophie
Many of you rose to the occasion and joined in the spirit of our Valentine's photo contest showing the love you have for your cat companion.

A hearty Thank You to all who entered and shared stories about your feline friends. These stories tell everyone how much our cats impact our lives and how we can share that love with others.

The judges found this contest difficult to pick the winner since all the photos submitted were wonderful. In the end, they selected a photo that brought a smile every time it was viewed. Congratulations to Sophie Day, the winning cat of the contest. Many Hugs and Kisses to Sophie and her friend.


Winn On the Road at the
  Western Veterinary Conference
Winn will be in the exhibit hall at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas for the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) from March 7th to 9th.

If you will be at the WVC, please stop by our booth, #731, in the nonprofit area of the exhibit hall. 

We would love to share how......
"Every cat, every day benefits from Winn-funded research".

Apply Now for Two Veterinary Scholarships

If you are a veterinary student or know of a veterinary student interested in feline medicine, the information below describes two scholarship opportunities.

Winn Feline Foundation (Winn) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are offering a joint scholarship for a third or fourth year veterinary student enrolled in an accredited veterinary college or school in the United States or Canada. The $2,500 award will be based upon academic achievement, financial need, leadership, and dedication to and excellence in the study of feline medicine, health and welfare. Download the application and send the completed application to  [email protected] by the March 18th deadline. 

Also, Winn and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) offer a joint scholarship of $2500 with similar guidelines. The application information is found on this AVMF webpage. Please select the Winn Feline Foundation scholarship in the process.


Allergies and Itching

Allergic responses and itching in cats, associated with exposure to environmental allergens, is fairly common. A study was recently performed to assess the efficacy of a drug that has proven to be effective in dogs with allergic skin conditions. The drug was well tolerated in the cats of this study and it appeared to decrease itching in approximately one half of the allergic cats.


A summary of published research can also be found on this Winn's Blog page.
pretty cat
Tritrichomonas foetus interim report available.

Dr. M. Katherine Tolbert, University of Tennessee-Knoxville College of Veterinary Medicine, is currently evaluating new methods that can potentially diagnose and treat a parasite,
Tritrichomonas foetus
which is recognized as one of the primary causes of chronic diarrhea in cats.

This Winn-funded research is ongoing and you can read an interim summary of the project, W15-011, here.

Dr. Tolbert will be speaking on Winn's behalf about T. foetus and other GI issues of cats on April 3 at the American Animal Hosp. Assn. (AAHA) Conference in Austin, TX. 

Winn's Cat Health Library and Blog

Two updated cat health articles have been added to our educational library .............Cats and Toxoplasmosis and Intestinal Parasites in Cats. The articles can be downloaded in pdf format. They join other informational articles added in the last year on feline diabetes, feline hyperthyroidism, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). 

The Winn Cat Health News Blog continues as a twice a week feature. If you are not a subscriber to the blog, we would love to add your name as a subscriber. You can choose to have the blog sent to you by email or an RSS feed app.

Double Your Impact for Cats

Your donation can have double the impact for FIP, heart disease, or other types of Winn-funded research. You can check your eligibility on our Matching Gifts page. Or you will have the option to check your eligibility and apply at the end of the donation process.

Companies like AT&T, Chevron, Starbucks, Tektronix, Microsoft, and others will match your donation if eligible. Make your gift go farther!
Do you use AmazonSmile?

Winn Feline Foundation is a participant in the Amazon Smile program when you shop Amazon.com. 
Winn is also a participant in the IGive/Amazon program for charities. When you sign up and shop, Winn will receive as a donation 1.3% of the purchase of eligible items. 

Please select Winn Feline Foundation as your charitable organization of choice when you use Amazon Smile and/or IGive when you do your personal online shopping. 

Planned Giving (Tax) Tip for February

One often overlooked part of estate planning is making sure your heirs/family know who to contact after your death and where to find your documents, records and assets.  It may be helpful to create a list which can be updated as needed.  

This would include the location of your original Will, Trust(s), life insurance policies or other estate planning papers.  You should provide the names and contact information for your attorney, accountant, stockbroker or other financial advisors.  You should list the places you keep important personal records like birth, marriage, death certificates, deeds, financial statements and records.  Of course you should include information about your bank, brokerage or retirements accounts and your other assets or sources of income.  

As you gather your financial information and records to prepare your 2015 tax return, now would be a good time to prepare or update your list.

For any questions, please contact [email protected]

Honored Donors for January 2016
Cleveland Persian SocietyKaja AltosaarCynthia Bardsley
Dr. Gerry BeekmanBig Y Foods, Inc.Ruth Ann Branoff
Dr. Steve CallahanDr. Marcus BrownDr. Arnold Plotnick
Dr. Kathryn ChristensenJoyce DadoucheTori Eames
David GilmoreBob/Dr. Vicki ThayerElizabeth Grosh
Dr. Daniel Hartnett Family FoundationDoris HausserMrs. Alwyn Hill
Elizabeth HoldenJohn Ball Hume, Sligo Creek Tile Co.Lena Gubarev
Gale JusticeJohn KennedyTamara Kuppusamy
Kelly LaneyJoyce LearyDr. Al Legendre
Camy LeungNancy MaranoEdmund Mauro
Margaret PanelliPaula Parr-MitchellDeLinda Pearson
Frank RowleyLorraine SheltonNicola Slator
Robyn SprungDr. Larissa TaylorCynthia Valles
Dr. Daniel WatsonCatherine WrayRachel Zimmer
Martha ZuckChris/Jamie Pearson

Special recognition this month to Kaja Altosaar who is helping raise awareness of FIP on Instagram which you can follow @Bria_Fund_FIP. She has raised over $700 toward FIP research through her efforts. 

Also special kudos are due to the Cleveland Persian Society for their generous support of four of Winn's special funds: Bria, Ricky, Amyloidosis, and cancer.

Thank You!
On the Calendar 
February ~

American Heart Month


Responsible Pet Owners Month

Love Your Pet Day - February 20

Please remember Winn and cats when you Give.


Thank you for your continued support.

Winn Feline Foundation Board of Directors

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Phone: 201.275.0624, ext 701

637 Wyckoff Ave., Suite 336
Wyckoff, NJ 07481