Dear Heloise: In a recent column, a lady from Connecticut answered a question about where to donate suits and business outfits. In our hometown of San Antonio, there is an organization called "Dress for Success" where you can donate this type of clothing. This organization helps women in job preparation and career development. I don't know if this is just a local organization, but it certainly has helped a lot of women here. On another note, one of my sisters told me years ago that an elderly lady had given her this tip: Never rinse a dishcloth with hot water, only cold water! This keeps the cloth from smelling bad.
I have enjoyed all your mom's and your tips throughout the years. Thank you. -- Carmen Hernandez, via email
Feral cats
Dear Heloise: I just read the letter from Wendy A., in Boston, regarding taking care of feral cats and your response that some are abandoned pets. There is a huge difference between born-and-raised feral cats and ones who were abandoned pets.
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Feral cats are mostly very skittish, but they can learn to be somewhat trusting in exchange for food and water. The younger you can get to them, the better you can tame them. One that was previously a pet will not have much of a problem getting close to you and will allow you to pet it or pick it up. But the longer it has been living out in the outdoors with other feral cats, the more it may exhibit those wild behaviors.
I've been caring for feral cats that have come through my yard for five years, and in this time, I have humanely trapped 20 and gotten them fixed to help cut down the feral cat population. Unfortunately, I have not gotten one feral to become trusting enough to domesticate it as a pet. I tried through various channels for weeks to find an owner for a feral cat that obviously used to be a pet. I was unsuccessful, but one of my friends adopted it. It's living the good life now!
AlleyCat.org has excellent info about feral cats. -- Christina T., in Moreno Valley, California
Trunk storage
Dear Heloise: I keep a largestyrofoam cooler in my car trunk. It holds frozen groceries, hot pickups from a restaurant, fragile items and casseroles going to a dinner. I also use it to separate items to keep them from sliding around. It's easy to remove as needed. -- Marilyn Goldsmith, via email
Pet pal
Dear Heloise: This little kitty came to us from a shelter about six years ago. She was a small but mighty runt. Today she rules over two 1-year-old shelter kitties who are much larger. -- Bobbi Pointer, via email
Readers, to see Bobbi's cat and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise.com and click on "Pet of the Week."
Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@Heloise.com. -- Heloise
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