A note from the founders

Jun 19

The Rainbow Bridge has seen one too many of our Windsor Kittens in recent weeks – Crazy Eyes, Tiny Diamond, Onyx, Bingo, and then sweet little Amelia. We knew we would never be invincible, but this wave of losses has been so hard on our hearts.

On one hand, we could celebrate the fact that our program survival rate is 97% – but our recent frustration has been on how to obtain perfection. We’re smart enough to know that’s not possible, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn from our experiences to keep trying to get there.

So through our tears and anger, we remember that the Rainbow Bridge in itself is colorful and vibrant. That brighter days are ahead. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that it’s Pride Month, but we are also an organization that proudly supports LGTBQ+ rights – and with our pain immersed in a month surrounded by beautiful color and love – it somehow seems fitting that this month of celebration is propelling us forward too.

We’ve spent countless hours trying to figure out what went wrong. Did we miss a sign? Did we miss a diagnosis? Did we miss a spot to clean? We know we are a small (but mighty) rescue – a new one on the scene. We know that there are stigmas associated with that newness, as well as when sickness and loss occur in rescue and shelter environments.

What we didn’t expect in all the recent heartbreak was how emotionally taxing it was going to be. Because in the midst of all the cleaning, and re-cleaning – the talking to our trusted vet partners, pouring ourselves into scientifically-backed research, seeking reassurance from our loved ones that we’re not alone – the fear and pain of peak COVID panic has creeped back into our minds and crushed our souls.

We find ourselves cleaning groceries, walking in the open air anxious that we’re the problem – or maybe the person we just passed is the problem. We are spooked at the slightest change in our environment. We are held captive to the voices in our head – telling us it’s our fault, and we should close our doors and throw in the towel.

And yet, while we’ve been battling our own anxiety, we’ve had additional WKs that demanded our care. We’ve managed to take off our cleaning gloves to snuggle our babies, shielding them from knowing anything is wrong and offering them extra treats so they keep playing and growing.

The Gemstones have evolved from scared, less than half-a-pound babies to a spunky, rambunctious group that loves to climb on our laps and demand new toys to play with. And while little Opal is a special needs kitten, she is full of life – maybe the happiest baby we’ve ever seen. You’re gonna love them when you meet them.

Boots & Pants, an older bonded pair, have been given a second-chance at happiness through our foster program – pulled from an outdoor dog crate and spoiled with the comfort of blankets and purrfect spot for bird watching.

These babies, along with so many others in our program – are thriving, and are excited to find their chance at a furever home. We hope you choose a WK adoption.

We’ve continued our TNR efforts – because TNR matters. TNR works. We’re busy building a new information-session event encouraging our community and those reaching out to us for help to share a drink with us and learn how to work together for the greater good.

We’ve helped 58 community cats through TNR – but we can, and need to, do so much more. We hope to see you at one of these sessions in the near future.

We’re pushing forward with our creative and fundraising events – making adjustments to our protocols to continue to ensure safety, fun, and wellbeing of our guests and our WKs. Because where we can extend our reach, we can increase our capacity. We hope to see you at one soon – whether it’s Kitten Yoga, an Adoption Preview Event, Windsor Park Fall Party, and/or our Christmas Benefit later in the year.

And right now, more than ever – we need your support – and your encouragement.

Monetary and in-kind donations are vital to our organization – we’ve had to toss products that we could not safely clean and we’re using our limited funds ensuring essential vaccinations and spay/neuter surgeries continue on schedule. We are running low on critical supplies.

Consider becoming a monthly donor, shop our wishlists, sign-up to volunteer. The more hands we have, the more eyes we have on our WKs, the more we can help.

Above all, we thank you for listening to our story – and being on our journey. We are committed to being an organization that operates with love and grace while providing transparency and advocating for change in the community we serve.

To our volunteers, foster families, board members and vet partners – thank you for giving your mind and time on a daily basis to further our mission. Your service and unwavering commitment to Windsor Kittens is unparalleled.

To our adopters and community colony watchers - thank you for showing our community cats the best thing this life has to offer – love.

To our family members, a special thank you for giving us a soft place to lay our heads at night and the encouragement to rise every morning to continue the race we started.

Brighter days ahead.

Alex Kastanas Holladay

Co-Founder & Vice President

Windsor Kittens .