black cat with white chest and paws lounges on a pedestal with cat exercise equipment in background. His legs hang over the edge as he stares at the camera.
We can't say enough about 10-month-old Gucci, another tuxedo cat with a beautiful coat. Gucci loves the lounge to lounge around, and when he’s recharged, he's running around with a few of his furry rescue friends. Gucci offers a balanced relationship of relaxed and playful.

The Feline Good Social Club (FGSC) is all set to pounce on Valentine’s Day weekend. The happy place for people in need of a cat fix is done licking its little paws and is all shiny and sanitized and ready for a little speed dating.

For anyone who hasn’t spent an idyllic hour amongst the moggies who run on top of, over and around anything, including you, FGSC is exactly what its name says it is—a space filled with rescue cats who have all manner of playthings, exercise furniture, soft rugs and food. Here, they practice being social with humans. No people food is served, but you may bring your own lunch and nonalcoholic beverages. The lounge is also a great place to bring your laptop and do some work for an hour while the cats walk all over the keyboard and block the monitor. The kitties are all adoptable, and by the time they’re ready to go home with you, they know that a lucky hoomin will be giving them the love, care and respect that they deserve. A cover charge helps keep the cats healthy and happy.

FGSC is the brainkitten of Pam Leslie, the FGSC’s CFO—chief feline officer, as she defines her position. Several years ago, Leslie and two fellow enthusiasts banded together to get funding and a location for their project. After all the i’s were dotted, the t’s were crossed, and the pens were batted to the floor, the FGSC opened in August 2019, only to close a few months later because of the pandemic. They reopened for about five minutes, and then the cats went into hibernation at fosters.

Feline Good Social Club finally open for business—and pleasure

Now, the slinky loungers are going to be breaking and winning hearts this Valentine’s Day and, it is hoped, way into the future.

“We are excited to be reopening and have been purrservering after all the ups and downs of the past year!” Leslie said.

To help them celebrate, The Scratching Post is featuring a few FGSC adoptadorables. As you can see, there’s a new color scheme for Valentine’s weekend: black (and black-and-white) will be the new red. Black cats in their glossy profusion can evoke the little black dress for that special date, noir chocolate-truffle boxes, and shiny black onyx necklaces with an emerald or topaz clasp, resembling a cat’s eyes.

“With Valentine’s Day coming up, we would really love to associate black cats with love,” said Mikki Motley, FGSC’s business manager and Leslie’s grown kitten. “This is due to them sadly being associated with bad luck.”

Some research has indicated that black cats take longer to adopt because of their fur color, their propensity to “disappear” into the background, the reported inability by some people to read their emotions (certainly, there are other ways to know what Felix is thinking about), and of course, superstition. Others have found that the stigma falsely associated with them does not make black cats any less likely to find homes.

“The myth that black cats are less adoptable is likely the result of the large number of animals entering shelters around the country,” said Tina Reddington Fried, director of the ASPCA’s Los Angeles Volunteer and Kitten Programs. “Black cats make up the largest percentage of cats entering shelters and happen to be adopted more often than any color of cat. It is likely that a potential adopter will see more animals with a black coat than any other color in a shelter, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that those animals are being overlooked for aesthetic or superstitious reasons. The reason that more black animals come into shelters is because black coloration in pets is dominant, which means the gene is more present and there are simply more black cats than any other color.”

I’ve seen it both ways at adoption locations. Some people ask to see anything but a black cat because of the bad-luck thing, and others ooh and ahh at the glossy, playful, black kittens and their comparatively sedate adult counterparts. But it’s unarguable that black cats are, first and last, cats. In a free-roaming rescue like FGSC, where cats of many colors insist on your attention, it’s clear that black cats are just as much fun and comforting as any cat, not that I need to tell you that.

Make an appointment to visit the FGSC at this link.

Virtually pets

Make it permanent for Valentine’s Day or any day with one of these heavenly creatures from FGSC. To get the head and heart start for adoption, access this link.

black cat with white chest and paws strolls across a wood floor with a colorful painting in the background.
Penelope, a 9-months-old tuxie with big, beautiful eyes, is a sweet, happy and independent little lady. She’ll make any family’s Valentine’s Day! She loves to play with anyone that comes her way. You’ll probably see her bouncing around playing with one of her many toys.

 

Black cat with sultry green eyes and big ears sits on a white platform looking at the camera/
Tiki, 8 months old, is a true lap cat! He loves relaxing on your lap as long as you’ll let him. But once he jumps off, he’s very good at playing and enjoys the interaction with other kitties and his people. And then there are his stunning, glorious, good looks—unique green eyes and upright, tall ears. Surely you’ll see him some enchanted afternoon, across a cat-filled room …

 

black kitten with collar sits on white rug
Rondé, 8 months old, is Tiki’s brother. They’re so alike—the obvious resemblance, the insistence on taking a position on a human lap. His ears aren’t quite as prominent, of course, and his eyes are a stunning gold—he’ll light up your Valentine’s Day better than 24 karat! He’s brave and involved with all of his feline buddies at the Feline Good Social Club.
black cat with white chest and paws lounges on a pedestal with cat exercise equipment in background. His legs hang over the edge as he stares at the camera.
Talk about putting the cat on a pedestal. We can’t say enough about 10-month-old Gucci, clad in his designer tuxedo. Gucci loves the lounge to lounge around, and when he’s recharged, he’s running around with a few of his furry rescue friends. Gucci offers a balanced relationship of relaxed and playful.

 

Just fur fun and fur-ther education

Feline Good Social Club reopening, 301 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, Thursday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., $15/session, book here

The volunteers at the Feline Good Social Club are su-purr-excited to announce their February reopening during Valentine’s Week! What a more purrfect time to a return to cuddle than the month of love? Stop by the lounge and share yours with the lounge’s amazing 20-plus cats and kittens! Private sessions are available, so you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Weekend, they’ll be available Saturday and Sunday, the 13th and the 14th.

Celebrate World Spay Day with two animal-welfare organizations, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 5 p.m., free event, register here

Join Helen Sanders CatPAWS and Fix Long Beach for a virtual educational event on World Spay Day! Your optional donation to participate will support both organizations. All participants will also be entered to win a $100 American Express Gift Card. Read more about CatPAWS’ namesake, Helen Sanders, and the event and its organizers here.

Help wanted, help given

 

Feline Good Social Club needs willing subjects for its bewhiskered nobility

Feline Good Social Club will be closed to the public until it’s safe for humans. The cat curators said that in the interest of public safety, the kitties will be meanwhile curled up in foster homes and will return to bat toys and hearts around. Volunteers are needed in some key areas to help get things ready for reopening. Want to be part of a kowtowing staff to cats, because cats expect it? Email [email protected].

DIY Kitten Care Kits available free at Long Beach Animal Care Services

Kitten season is just about up, but kittens still enter shelters. It isn’t unusual to find nests of young, seemingly abandoned kittens during kitten season. It is a natural reaction to want to help, to save them.  If you are interested in obtaining a Kitten Care Kit made possible by Helen Sanders CatPAWS, please email [email protected].

Spay/neuter vouchers available at shelter

Long Beach Animal Care Services has spay/neuter vouchers available. They’ll take a healthy nip out of the cost of a procedure. Residents of any of the five cities served by the shelter can telephone the general number at 562-570–7387 to request a voucher.

 Spay/neuter appointments are available at SNP/LA

The Spay/Neuter Project of Los Angeles (SNP/LA) is back in business for free and low-cost spay/neuter services, and they’re extending the hours of their vaccination clinics. The San Pedro clinic, located at 957 N. Gaffey St., will give shots every third Thursday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Call 310-574–5555 to see if you qualify for services.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag

Helen Sanders CatPAWS offers, through specific private donors, e-gift cards for people struggling during the crisis to buy food for their pets. The CatPAWS Spay/Neuter Fund, also privately funded, has vouchers available for anyone not able to go to the shelter for them. They also accept donations.

Pets of the Homeless home page gives a self-description as the only organization focusing only on providing food and care for pets belonging to homeless people. Businesses and other organizations across the country receive in-kind donations of food and other needs that the dogs and cats’ human families can pick up at outreach locations. The following Long Beach businesses will accept your donations:

Trendi Pawz, 3726 E. Seventh St.

Belmont Heights Animal Hospital, 255 Redondo Ave.

Paw Shoppe Pet Center, Inc., 6416 E. Spring St.

Food and supplies are available at Beacon for Him Ministries, 1535 Gundry Ave., Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m.; and at Christian Outreach in Action, 515 E. Third St., Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Donations will be gratefully accepted at these locations as well.

Adopt, adopt, adopt

One tan rabbit and another gray rabbit sit on a red pillow with two Valentine's Day heart signs behind them.
Photo courtesy of Bunny Bunch Rabbit Rescue.

 

Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center: weekdays and Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, adoption fees apply.

This adoption center is a much-needed satellite operation of Long Beach Animal Care Services. Julie and her team pull adoptable cats—”adoptable,” to these guys, means any cat in a shelter kennel! The team socializes the kitties until they’re adopted, which takes less time than you could imagine!

 Helen Sanders CatPAWS adoption center: viewable daily during store hours, PetSmart, 12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, adoption fees apply.

Window-shopping’s a neat pastime and likely has become more common during the pandemic. Helen Sanders CatPAWS has applied window-shopping to cat adoption; you can peer at several of the fine felines through the windows of the PetSmart adoption center in Seal Beach. Sadly, no ear scratching or chin rubs at this time, but volunteers can answer questions and provide you with adoption information! Be sure to wear a mask. You can find adoption applications and all the kitties here.

Links to lovables

The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions, but as of now, adoptions are mainly by appointment. Click on the links for each rescue in case of updates or changes. These organizations operate through donations and grants, and anything you can give would be welcome. Please suggest any Long Beach-area rescues to add to the list.