Tails High, Alexandria, VA (2025)

12/11/2025

Just like the little bear who went searching for what was missing, Corduroy has had us searching for answers about his health for so long, and yesterday we finally reached the place where surgery could give him the clarity he deserves. Spoiler alert - it wasn’t a button. 🧸

Many of you know him as the gentle boy who has managed feline idiopathic cystitis, undergone radiation treatments, and in recent weeks left us deeply concerned as he grew increasingly lethargic following an acute episode of front-limb lameness that no test could explain. We pursued every diagnostic possible, and when his ultrasound a couple of weeks ago revealed a significant omental mass, moving forward with surgery became essential.

At Harmony Hill, Dr Werden performed an exploratory laparotomy, removed the mass, and collected full-thickness intestinal biopsies that are now on their way to pathology. While previous fine needle aspirates didn’t indicate a clear or concerning cause, these biopsies will give us far more definitive answers. We’re hopeful Corduroy may begin to feel like himself now that the mass is gone, but we also know everything depends on what the pathology shows.

What we do know is that Corduroy faced this with remarkable bravery. The staff adored him, and now that he’s home he’s curled up with his foster mom, Casey, receiving constant care as he recovers. His total at Harmony Hill has reached $5,248. Thanks to the success of our Giving Tuesday fundraising, we’re able to support everything he needs, but we would be grateful for any additional donations toward his ongoing medical care.

Corduroy has persevered through every hurdle with a sweetness that has never wavered. We hope he feels every bit of the love surrounding him as he heals. 🤎

12/07/2025

It only feels right to close out this week with a reminder of what it’s all for. After the most successful fundraising day we’ve ever experienced in the last 15 years of being a small but mighty nonprofit, we have been overwhelmed with gratitude beyond belief. Giving Tuesday gave us assurance that we can keep making miracles happen because we have the most amazing supporters imaginable. More lives saved means more happy tails. So let’s celebrate with some recent updates we’ve received from adopters recent and long ago. Each one makes our heart sing and we hope they give you a smile.

As always, please consider sending us photos or a quick update whenever the moment strikes. We absolutely love sharing these sweet memories with the fosters that still love the kitties they cared for and we know our community enjoys seeing the happily ever after ending to the stories they’ve followed so closely.

Here’s wishing you a serene Sunday, hopefully with a kitty (or a few) to keep you warm. 🤍

12/06/2025

There is a certain kind of quiet grace that belongs to classic leading ladies, and our Elizabeth Taylor carries that same soft glow. At only about a year old, she was truly still a kitten herself when she selflessly raised five babies. Petite, gentle, and devoted, it is astonishing to think her tiny body carried such a big script.

We first learned about Lizzie on a freezing night in November when a community member discovered her and her kittens on her property. She had never seen them before, and it was sadly assumed they were abandoned there when someone no longer wanted to care for them. Thanks to their compassion and a foster willing to take in the entire family, Lizzie and her babies were brought safely indoors and earned the roles of the Turner Classic family, celebrating Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Once warm and cared for, Lizzie showed us who she really is. Affectionate, instantly friendly, and still full of kitten playfulness, she chased her babies around the house and soaked up every bit of attention. As her kittens grew, she blossomed even more, revealing the sweet, social personality that had been waiting beneath the weight of young motherhood.

Now retired from mom life, Lizzie is enjoying a well-deserved vacation in a new foster home. She would make a lovely solo star of your life or join an existing cast of friendly cats. She wasn’t intimidated by the small dog she met in her first foster home, so she may be open to a calm canine co-star as well.

Lizzie is ready to drive off into the sunset for that perfect fairytale ending we’ve seen in the classic movies so many times before. Her movie star kittens Hedy Lamar, Tippi Hedren, and Peter Loree are also available for adoption. Submit your application to be considered. 🌟

12/05/2025

We all know that feeling when a kitten is so cute you could just eat them up, and Plum Pudding fits the saying a little too perfectly. This orange floofy sweetheart was found all by herself in the cold with an upper respiratory infection. A community member we’ve helped before reached out for assistance after discovering Plum in the same neighborhood where other orange girls we’ve rescued in the past, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever, were found. We previously ensured a full TNR effort in that area, but with more cats being dumped there, kittens still appear from time to time. Plum Pudding was one of the lucky ones.

Even though we were slowing down intake with medical cases piling up, holiday adoptions stalled, and every foster home filled, saying no to Plum felt impossible. Her finder kept her safe until a foster placement became available, giving us the final piece we needed in this ever shifting rescue puzzle.

Since settling in, Plum Pudding has proven she is sweetness through and through. She cozies into any available lap, hands out head boops readily, and gives kisses like she has an endless supply.

When she shifts into play mode, the sugar and spice blend perfectly. She is spunky, funny, and full of character, especially when her beloved cat nip dynamite stick makes an appearance. At four months old she is ready to join a family that has another young cat to grow up with. She makes fast friends wherever she goes. If you do not already have a buddy for her, we have many playful kittens who would pair beautifully with her.

Plum Pudding deserves to spend her first Christmas in a forever home filled with warmth, love, and her very own lap to settle into. Submit an application on our website to meet her. 💜

—

ADOPTED!

12/04/2025

📀 TAILS HIGH ADOPTABLES WRAPPED 📀
Cats really are the soundtrack to our lives, so we decided to celebrate the ones still waiting to become someone’s favorite song on repeat.

TOP SONGS:

Song: You Spin Me Round
Artist: Simon Says
Rear legs that do not work but joy that absolutely does. Simon spins, scoots and chases his tail like it is his signature dance song.

Song: Hop It Like It’s Hot
Artist: Katydid
Her spina bifida bunny hops turn every hallway into a runway. Tiny bounce. Big presence.

Song: Cloud Nine Lives
Artist: Flapjack
From the streets to sweetheart status. His cloudy eye and sunny personality make this the ultimate feel good song.

Song: Fetch Me Maybe
Artist: Willow
Black cat brilliance with pro fetch skills and world class cuddles. A bop with built in snuggle breaks.

Song: Perfect Pair, Perfect Stare
Artists: Gazelle & Springbok
Bonded sisters who survived FIP together and came out glowing. Their unique eyes and gentle hearts make them an unforgettable duo.

Bonus Song: Shell Yeah
Artist: Lobstah Bisque
Freshly rescued, orange and white, outgoing and goofy. A silly crowd favorite with claws for applause.

TOP ARTIST:
Bobby
Listening Time: 1,194 days
The number of days Bobby has been with Tails High since 8.28.22. From feral kitten to confident companion, he has been building his album “Trust Takes Time.” It deserves a forever home tour.

LISTENING AGE:
Blair is 9 years old which is about 52 in cat years and she still has plenty of life to live. She is an independent queen who enjoys toys, treats and peaceful coexistence. She prefers light affection on her terms and shows off the cutest little smile from her dental surgery. She is waiting for someone who appreciates a low pressure, mellow playlist.

Submit an adoption application today and check out the rest of our emerging artists on our website. 📀🐾

12/03/2025

It’s hard to describe how we feel today but we’re going to try. Humbled. Humbled in a way that we are so profoundly grateful and moved by your generosity. Yesterday really put things into perspective and showed us that you really do see us and the heart we’re putting in every single day for our cats. To feel seen is exactly what we want for them, and now we feel it too.

Since our last update, the night owls continued to donate and we are thrilled to share that we surpassed $38,000! This is a monumental achievement because it is the largest amount we have fundraised for a single campaign. We really can’t thank you enough.

As we’ve reflected on this gift bestowed upon our group, we’ve thought about the spirit of this season. You gave to us and we want to give to other worthy causes. Tails High will begin a food drive - Season’s Eatings for DC Community Cats - today through December 19th, so we can support the selfless feeders across DC struggling to afford the costly food it takes to care for their colonies. We’ve partnered with these amazing souls to get friendly cats off the streets and into foster homes all year long, but the kitties still outside need us. To get the drive started, we are contributing $500 of food and hope you’ll consider donating ANY cat food you might have to pass along.

Drop off dry bagged or canned wet food to any of our appointed locations and we will get the donation to the feeders on your behalf. We would LOVE to get these selfless souls enough food to last through the end of the year and well into 2026! If you have questions, feel free to email us at [email protected].

Donation Drop Off Locations:
726 Maryland Ave. NE DC // 64 Channing St. NW DC // 5304 Arapaho Lane Alexandria, VA
*Look for designated bins to leave food or place on porch. All food is accepted, including opened dry food bags with a reasonable amount remaining and taped shut. Please do not drop off any other items, aside from food, without emailing us in advance to confirm.

Thank you for being here! 🤍

12/03/2025

Once again, we’re astounded by the generosity and kindness of this community. ✨$37,000 in just one day✨. That is absolutely a miracle. We couldn’t be more grateful to be entrusted with these funds, to continue the life-saving work we are called to fulfill.

This is so unexpected. To have the most successful Giving Tuesday ever when we had braced for potentially, and understandably, missing our goal - it’s incredible. We brought in $23,000 in individual donations along with $14,000 in matching grants from loyal supporters.

When we say this fundraiser is life-changing, we mean it. Just when we were starting to worry how we would afford Corduroy’s exploratory laparotomy next week to remove his abdominal mass, or seniors Johnny B. Goode and Strega Nona’s dental surgeries, or the 20 kittens scheduled for spay/neuter this month - the miracle came yet again.

Cheers to an utterly amazing Giving Tuesday! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We promise to make you proud. 🩵

12/03/2025

IS THIS REAL LIFE?! While we set our expectations for this year not being as big as last year, we’re starting to think we might be able to pull this off. We’ve raised $31,000, exhausted $13,000 in generous matching grants, and just received $1,000 for a final match in remembrance of Purry, one of the first Tails High kitties to be adopted through our rescue shortly after becoming a nonprofit in 2009. Purry helped foster many Tails High kitties over the years and we’re honored his family wanted to help us surpass our goal today.

Can we make it to $35,000 by midnight? We can’t believe your generosity but like we said, we believe in miracles and you’ve showed us time and time again how dedicated you are to supporting our work. Please keep sharing so we can make these final hours count! ❣️

Tails High

12/11/2025

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