Hi Reader,

🎂 Celebrating My Dad’s Birthday & The Life-Saving Wisdom of Cats 🐾

In January of this year, my dad was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). It has been a very difficult 11 months, but today is his birthday—and I want to celebrate his incredible journey, his resilience, and a surprising partner in his health: cat care wisdom. 🐱❤️

Also - Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, including my dad.

Everything I have learned over the years while caring for my cats has directly benefited my dad as he navigates cancer treatment.

🏥 The ICU & A Breakthrough Realization

During his initial treatment, my dad spent six weeks in the hospital, including a harrowing stint in the ICU with acute kidney failure, 80% oxygen support, and AFib.

Listening to her discuss his acute kidney stress made me think deeply about how I care for Charlie and fluids. I realized that after giving fluids, the pendulum I use would swing straight to kidney support supplements—and hearing the doctor speak made me realize I was likely over-hydrating Charlie, causing a kidney balance problem.

After listening to her in the ICU, I always use my pendulum to check Charlie's fluid needs first now, and it no longer swings to kidney supplements right after fluids. Learning that lesson through my dad ended up helping Charlie, and watching out for Charlie, Chiggy, Caymus, Murphy, Hobbs, Diddley, and my Rags helped me advocate for my dad.

🩸 Lessons from the Frontlines of Chemo

Because of my dad's age, a bone marrow transplant isn't an option, meaning he will undergo outpatient chemo every 5–6 weeks for the rest of his life.

• Chemo & Blood Counts: Chemo heavily suppresses blood counts. Early on, my dad required constant blood and platelet transfusions. (Huge thank you to anyone who donates blood—you truly save lives!)
• Outpatient Progress: Since transitioning to outpatient care, my dad has not needed a single unit of whole blood, and only a handful of platelet transfusions.
• Astonished Experts: During a consultation with a Nurse Practitioner at Blood Cancer United (formerly LLS), she expressed complete disbelief at how stable his blood counts have remained.

So, what changed? Functional mushrooms. 🍄✨

🍄 How Functional Mushrooms Came to the Rescue

In traditional and integrative oncology across East Asia (especially South Korea, Japan, and China), functional mushrooms like Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Reishi, and Cordyceps are standard adjunctive therapies used alongside chemo to protect immunity and support blood count recovery.

I was already familiar with Turkey Tail—Charlie gets it regularly, and Chiggy did, too! Even though I’ve interviewed holistic experts like Julie Lee of Adored Beast Apothecary, a friend had to remind me just how vital it is for cancer support.

Here is where we are today:

• Remission: In August, my dad was officially deemed in remission! 🎉
• Daily Regimen: Since chemo continues for life, so do the mushrooms.
• The Vet Connection: Believe it or not, my dad is actually taking a high-quality functional mushroom formulation made for dogs—and yes, his oncologist knows and approves! 😉

🐈 Everything I Learned from My Cats Saved the Day

As my dad’s primary patient advocate, I accompany him to every doctor's appointment, blood draw, and chemo visit. Western medicine can be incredible at fighting disease and acutely saving a life, but it can be hard on the organs processing those toxins. Drawing from my cat care toolkit made all the difference:

• Hydration: Knowing when to request fluids to keep his system flushed and hydrated.
• Steroids & Glucose: Spotting rising glucose numbers early and asking the doctor to halt steroids when no one else caught it.
• Nausea Support: Using gentle homeopathic remedies to keep his stomach settled in patient.
• Inflammation Relief: Soaking his puffy, swollen feet in warm Epsom salt baths (it worked wonders!).
• Advocating for Better Care: When we sought a second opinion at a major cancer institute, the oncologist knew nothing about Turkey Tail’s 50-year history in integrative oncology. It reminded me so much of my journey with veterinarians—sometimes you have to keep searching until you find a practitioner who truly understands holistic, supportive care.

💛 Why I’m Sharing This Story

A relative once poked fun at me when I suggested mushrooms for a friend of theirs going through chemotherapy - "Can you imagine me telling her to take mushrooms?" Honestly, I think it’s a crime that more people don't know about their power!

Everything our pets teach us can ripple out into our lives in ways we never expect. I tell you all of this because when I say that I immensely enjoyed the interview below, I am not exaggerating.

Whether you're looking to support a senior cat, boost immune health for a young kitten, or learn more about integrative options, the conversation I had with Dr. Rob Silver below covers everything you need to know about functional mushrooms for our feline family members.

🎥 Shorts for Your Entertainment

• ​Why I Started Floppycats in 2008: The Real Story​
• ​When your 4 AM alarm is actually just your fluffy cat hitting those midnight opera notes! 🎶 ​
• ​A live I did with Diddley, Bo and MacGyver​
• ​Morning Chats with Charlie​

📱 Let's Connect!

Are you on Trybe? Please join us there and support our content by liking, commenting and subscribing.

Have a great week ahead!

Peace, love, and purrs,

Jenny

1. Watch

​

​Functional Fungi for Felines: 10 Critical Questions Answered by Dr. Rob Silver, DVM​

Discover how functional mushrooms can transform your cat's health, vitality, and immune response! Integrative veterinarian Dr. Rob Silver (author of There's a Mushroom for That) joins us to break down 40 years of clinical wisdom. Learn why fruiting body quality matters, how to get picky cats to consume mushroom powders, and the exact benefits of beta-glucans for senior felines.

• ​Real Mushrooms' Website​
• ​Real Mushrooms on Amazon
• Dr. Rob's book, There's a Mushroom for That!​

2. Split

​10 Best Ways To Keep Your Cat From Scratching Furniture​

Tired of finding your couch shredded by your favorite feline? Scratching is a natural and necessary behavior for cats, but that doesn't mean your living room furniture has to suffer. Discover 10 practical strategies—from strategic post placement to cat-friendly deterrents—to redirect your cat’s claws and save your home decor!

3. Win

​November 2026 BONUS Giveaway: Desk Nest and Lounge Nest​

This month's bonus giveaway features the Desk Nest and brand-new Lounge Nest—the ultimate high-style pet beds designed to keep your kitty right by your side without taking over your keyboard or workspace! Whether your cat loves swiveling 360 degrees in an elevated desk-side perch or lounging above a floor vent in the sleek new freestanding bed, these walnut and white oak beauties blend seamlessly into your home. Enter the giveaway today to win your choice of nest, or use code FLOPPYCATS for an exclusive discount to reclaim your desktop!

Giveaway Details:

• Number of winners: 1
• Prize Details: (1) Desk Nest Cat Bed or (1) Lounge Nest (winner’s choice)
• Open to Addresses in: USA

This giveaway ends on November 30, 2026, at 11:59 CT. A random winner* will be chosen in a drawing on December 1, 2026.

​Enter to win here​

4. Discover

​

​Necoichi Cozy Cat Scratcher Tower​

Looking to double-check that two-cat household dilemma? In our latest product review, we’re breaking down the Necoichi Cozy Cat Scratcher Tower—a space-saving, double-decker solution made specifically for kitties who love to lounge and scratch together.

Featuring two concave, reversible cardboard inserts set on a lightweight 5.5-lb frame, this tower gives each cat their own dedicated perch without taking over your living room. The top deck offers the ultimate window-watching vantage point, while the bottom tier gives your kitties a sturdy spot for daily scratching, with interchangeable refill pads that fit seamlessly across the whole Necoichi Cozy line.

​Grab a tower for your kitty.

5. Meet

​Shogun - Ragdoll of the Week​

"My sweet, furry little man is Shogun and he was born on December 9th, 2015. He’s a beautiful flame point with lynx markings and my boyfriend and I love him to death!"

Want to submit your kitty to be featured? See our simple submission guidelines here.