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11/11/09
A few weeks ago, Catster mom Jeanette and I were talking about wanting to adopt a special needs cat the next time we bring a new cat into the family. These are cats that have a hard time being placed in furever homes, and sometimes you’re saving them from certain euthanasia by giving them a chance.
Here’s a recent “special needs” success story from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary:
Change of plans
Story by David Dickson
Photo by Sarah Ause
When Roger Maas and his partner Rich were looking for a new cat at Best Friends, they thought they knew what they wanted: an older cat. You see, their 20-year-old Siamese had just passed on. They certainly knew the ins and outs of older cats. Little did they know who would end up stealing their hearts instead — a couple of fluffy kittens less than 6 months old!
Not just any kittens, either. These two kittens are FIV positive and came to Best Friends on trade from a rescue in Texas. Rich and Roger admit they didn’t know much about FIV cats before considering the adoption. They’d heard about FIV, of course, but didn’t know enough to make an informed decision.
It all started when they noticed Pixie Dust the kitten on the Best Friends website before making the trip up from Mesa, Arizona. That adorable little face was all it took to start swaying their focus away from the older cats. But first, the homework!
After speaking with their vet and reading up on the subject, they came to realize something. They realized FIV isn’t as big a deal as they had feared. FIV cats, they learned, can still live long and healthy lives. Anybody who doubts that point can swing by Best Friends and meet plenty of healthy, happy senior FIV cats who could probably still give you a run for your money! One other detail also helped sway their decision. They knew that FIV cats have a hard time finding homes. Here was a chance to help.
So they swung up to Best Friends and spent a little time with Pixie Dust and her brother Half Pint. That’s all it took to seal the deal. They wanted to adopt.
Back home, the two kittens (the only cats in the house) have been settling in perfectly. They’re still a teeny bit skittish taking in the new terrain — ceiling fans in particular make them scurry by in a hurry — but they are affectionate as can be. If Roger or Rich lie down on the floor, Pixie Dust and Half Pint hurry over and start rubbing up against their whole bodies, head to feet. Can’t beat a full body massage!
Goes to show that sometimes what you find isn’t always what you started out looking for, but no matter how you view things, this was a happy ending meant to be. Congrats!
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Avoid the misconceptions and learn more about FIV. Then check out some of the other adoptable cats with FIV living at the sanctuary.
Whether you adopt a senior cat, a blind cat, an FIV cat, or a cat with other special needs, you’re giving that cat a second chance at a happy life.
[LINK: BestFriends.org]
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11/06/09
FIV is not an immediate death sentence for cats. My mother-in-law’s FIV+ cat, Babe, has lived with FIV for more than ten years, and has had no more vet visits than the average cat. He’s a wonderful pet, and a great comfort to his mistress.
Today, meet O’Ryan, an FIV+ cat who was fortunate enough to have been rescued by Purrfect Pals, a sanctuary to nearly 300 cats who have nowhere else to go. These are cats who have tested positive for FIV or feline leukemia, cats with behavioral issues, feral cats, geriatric cats, and cats with diabetes or other long-term health issues. All live in colonies in a clean, comfortable, cat-oriented environment, receiving regular veterinary care.
Here’s O’Ryan’s story:
O’Ryan was found abandoned along a river bank, starving and ill. He probably wouldn’t have lived more than another day or two if a Purrfect Pals volunteer hadn’t rescued him. He was placed in a foster home and had dental surgery, abscess care, and extensive medication. His foster ‘Mom’ found him to be an extremely loving cat who wanted constant attention and loved to be petted while he lay next to her. He is very vocal and talks to you in his deep voice as long as you will listen.
After regaining his weight and his health, O’Ryan met a nice couple, Dianne and Donald, who fell in love with him and took him home to be a friend for their other FIV cat, Penny. Like all Purrfect Pals FIV positive cats, O’Ryan was ‘adopted’ as a permanent foster. FIV cats can live long and healthy lives, but they are also more susceptible to mouth and dental problems. As a permanent foster a FIV kitty can always have any medical problems related to FIV cared for at no charge at our Purrfect Pals clinic.
O’Ryan has become Penny’s best buddy. Even though Penny is a bit of a princess, she accepted O’Ryan immediately and they love to run, play and sleep together. When not playing with Penny, O’Ryan loves to sleep on the back of Donald’s chair or beside him begging for attention or to sit on Dianne’s craft table patting her hand to get her attention
O’Ryan is a very fortunate FIV+ cat. He has found a home where he is adored and well cared for. The Purrfect Pals Sanctuary has an FIV room currently occupied by many wonderful affectionate cats who are hoping that you might consider giving one of them a loving home as well. Donate now.
Read other heartwarming Purrfect Endings.
If you don’t currently have cats and are considering adoption, why not consider opening your home to a pair of FIV+ cats? You’ll certainly be saving a couple of lives, and are likely to be rewarded with an appreciative, devoted companion.
Can’t adopt but want to help? You can sponsor a Purrfect Pals cat or give a sponsorship as a gift.
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09/27/08
 Hey, evrybuddy, Skeezix heer! In today’s Catster Vet Blog, Dr Eric Barchas ansers the qwestion, “Should Cats with FIV/Feline AIDS be Euthanized?” The short answer was no, and I was vary happy to reed that.
Yoo see, my gramma’s cat, Babe, is FIV-positive. (That’s a pikcher of Babe above.) He was a tame feral cat hoo showed up on Gramma’s doorstep (we think he wuz dumped win his owners found out he was FIV-positive), and he’s bin the best cat she ever had. He sleeps with his hed on her pillow at nite and keeps her cumpany. Win she’s sik, he’ll klime on her chest and put his paws on the side of her cheeks. She ferst fownd owt he was FIV-positive many yeers ago win he ferst came to live with her. She was alarmd, but owr vet reassured her that Babe could live a long, happy, helthy life. He was rite. Babe’s had no more helth problems than the rest of us.
Babe is a geezer cat now, over 15 yeers old. If my gramma had made him go to the Ranebow Bridge win she first fownd out he was FIV-positive, she wood have mist owt on many many yeer’s of Babe’s wunderful companionship.
Shelters often have trubbul adopting out FIV-positive pets. If you have no other cats in the howsehold (or have anuther FIV-positive cat), consider adopting an FIV-positive cat. I can’t guarantee they won’t have any helth problims, but then, yoo takes yer chances with any cat yoo adopt — my vet bills have bin a million times higher than Babe’s, and I’m only 4 yeers old!
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