EFBC's Feline Conservation Center March News

[Cat House News]

We are proud to announce the birth of three Sand Cat (Felis margarita) kittens on February 29. Mom Scully came here from the Novosibirsk Zoo, while dad Fath is from Cincinnati. These tiny (3-11 pound) cats live in sandy and stony deserts in northern Africa and the Middle East. They can live far from water sources by utilizing moisture from their prey (rodents, snakes, etc). They are a pale yellow color with a ringed tail. The sand cat's ears are large and set widely apart and low on the sides of the head. They are nocturnal in their native habitat.  

Our first Twilight Tour of the year is in 1 month, on April 30.  These special evening open houses are held three times a year (spring, summer, and fall). The only time the compound is open in the evening, the cats are much more active, and we give them all enrichment items. Also, visitors can wander around parts of the compound that are not open to visitors during the day. This is because Twilight Tours are restricted to adults only (18 and over). There is an admission fee of $20 per person.  We do not offer online tickets sales currently, please call 661.256.3793 between 10 am and 4 pm (except Wednesdays) to prepay over the phone. You can pay at the door but that is cash only, and we will let prepaid people enter first.  Doors open no later than 5 pm until it's dark out. There is a bake sale sponsored by FCC's American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) chapter, a raffle, a barbeque by the Rotary club, and other surprises - goldfish in the fishing cat ponds, watermelons for the jaguars - there's something different every time, and of course lots of beautiful cats to see, hear, and photograph. 

We are still raising money to replace our small public restroom with an improved facility. In addition, our clinic's basement flooded in the rains so we are patching the adobe structure.

If you love to shop online, please remember us, those free-to-you donations really add up for us! Just start at our web page or these links: 
Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/?&tag=felineconservati&camp=216797&creative=394585&linkCode=ur1&adid=0B5KE87M46JR1VJJ0PNH&
IGive: http://www.igive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=31&mid=270 
GoodShop: http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx

PLEASE NOTE: Every September 1st Ralphs requires rewards members to re-register their charity of choice!
Ralphs rewards is a free donation program. When you shop at Ralphs and use your rewards card, Ralphs will donate a percentage of your purchases to EFBC/FCC. The more you buy, the higher a percentage Ralphs will donate. We appreciate you taking a few minutes to register EFBC/FCC as your charity of choice today.
1. Go to www.ralphs.com
2. Sign in to or Register for Ralphs rewards account
3. Click on “My Account”
4. Click on “Community Rewards”
5. Fill out the required information
6. To designate EFBC/FCC as your charity – Enter NPO # 82845
7. Save all changes