OT: desperately need help with a kitty

[aggie94]

I know there are lots of animal lovers on this board, so here is my plea. My neighbor has essentially abandoned his cat. As you all know, I'm in the process of moving. Before I left the neighborhood, I was going to have Tiger (who I've been feeding for a few months) neutered and vaccinated -- I felt bad leaving him behind, but there was just no way I could take him with me (I'm already taking his other cat, Sara). Unfortunately, Tiger has tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus - akin to HIV in humans).

I desperately need to find a placement for this cat. He is sweet, wonderful, and loves people. He has been an exclusively outdoor cat all his life (roughly 4 years), but he is adjusting well to being indoors -- currently, I'm keeping him in an empty bedroom in our old house. We even managed (after several not-so-fun days) to get him litterbox trained. I have to be out of that house by June 7th, so unless I can find him a placement home by then, I may have to euthanize him, which I do not want to do. He would make such a wonderful companion for someone -- I've been reading a lot about FIV, and there's no reason why he can't live a long and happy life indoors with someone who can give him lots of love and attention.

Unfortunately, none of the shelters in my area take FIV+ cats, and I've got phone calls out to everyone I know (and lots of people that I don't) to see if I can find him a home. I am running out of time. Does anyone know of any organizations, shelters, or people who might be willing to take him, or even foster him for awhile until he can find a permanent home? I'm in Oregon, but I'm willing to travel with him if necessary to find him a good home. I'm also willing to pay for any costs -- vaccinations, neuter, treatment, etc. Feel free to email me privately (eva.herrera@harrang.com).

TIA

[kwormann]

being a kitty lover, I just want to cry....

I understand your not wanting to put him to sleep, but if your options are between that and letting him fend for himself on the streets, I would take the former!

The kitty we adopted and spayed and declawed to help find a home was helped by an organization that didnt take her, but forwarded calls to me from people who wanted a kitty. Check into something like that. I dont remember who they were.....

[SusanL]

Kim, me too... We took in a stray cat that was abandoned, but she had been declawed and neutered! After being attacked by an animal we took her in even with my severe allergy to cats. I agree that euthanizing is more humane if you can't get someone to adopt him. How can people continue to be so cruel??

[This message has been edited by SusanL (edited 05-30-2001).]

[BlueMoose]

GGrrrrrrrrrr.....I HATE people who do this to animals!!! They leave those of us who love animals to pick up the pieces.

My sister has a cat with FIV. He was diagnosed quite a few years ago. They can live normal lives.

I wish I could help & I understand what you are going through. I've been there!

[Maggie]

If all else fails, you might try contacting the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, their website is www.bestfriends.org. (http://www.bestfriends.org.) They accept pets who have been abandoned, abused or are sick. Since Tiger has FIV and has been abandoned by his owner, I think he'd qualify. I'm not sure exactly how they work but I know that they do not euthanize. Animals who are not adopted continue to live at the Best Friends facility for the rest of their life.

[luv2cook]

My inlaws had a cat with FIV. He lived for a good 8 years or so after diagnosis. It's amazing the female didn't have FIV, too. It's contagious to other cats and they can get it by drinking/eating from the same dish or by licking each other...so I hear. I hope the animal sanctuary can help.

As a side note, declawing cats is really not necessary except in extreme circumstances. They can be trained to use a cat tree. Just imagine cutting off your fingers at your knuckle. That's what it's like for a cat.
Declawing makes them defenseless if they were to get outside and all the posturing in the world won't help against a determined dog.

[This message has been edited by luv2cook (edited 05-30-2001).]

[hka]

That makes me mad too! I'm quite a kitty lover myself (I love dogs too) and have two right now. You might also check with your local vet and ask them about any organizations that they know about that take in abandoned cats. I would imagine that they'd be able to help with that. I hope you're successful in finding him a new home. I would cry my eyes out if I had to have one of my kitties put down or any animal for that matter. I love them too much!

[LGBurns]

We had a kitty with Feline Leukemia that we found last summer in our backyard. We kept her in the hopes of her having a fairly long life with us. Unfortunately, she died this winter of a tumor--a complication of the leukemia. I so understand how torn you must be--when we found out Melanie was sick, we didn't know what to do. I would also suggest you check on the web for FIV bulletin boards. I found lots of good info on leukemia this way and some of the boards or web pages may have info on places that adopt cats with FIV. Just so you know, though, we were advised by our vet that having cats with the disease together increases their risk of getting sick--since Feline Leukemia and FIV are very similar I would imagine this is also true in the case of FIV. But it certainly is better than letting him fend for himself or putting him down. You are so great for doing this! Personally, I would broach your neighbor about reimbursing you for some of the costs--after all, he brought the problem on himself. BTW, this story is an excellent argument for NOT having an outdoor cat. Cats who live outdoors (whether in the country or city) are much more likely to get diseases like this. Both Leukemia and FIV are highly contagious, so if your cat gets into a fight or shares food with another cat who has these diseases he/she can definitely get it.

[phantomcg]

You could try posting on www.felinediabetes.com (http://www.felinediabetes.com) - a support group for folks with diabetic kitties. The people there have been successful in placing a number of cats in new homes. There are quite a few participants there who also have FIV cats. Best of luck to you, and God bless you for caring about this cat.

Cheryl

[Melina]

Maggie, thanks for posting the bestfriends website address. I've been looking for an organization/shelter I've heard about that has pets for people with special needs, but I haven't had any luck yet. I emailed the besfriends to ask if they could help. I'm disabled from a neurological disorder, but I can care for a small dog and would like to adopt one from a shelter. I had a Yorkie for nineteen years, and three of those years we spent together after I became disabled so I do know that I'm able do it. Especially since their pets are already house broken.

Perhaps someone here has information they could give me. I live in Beverly Hills, California, but I seem to remember that the organization covered the entire Southern California area.

It now looks like I'm about to have "every womens nightmare" surgery with kind of a long recovery period because of my previous condition. (Geez, I sound like a pile of junk!) It would be wonderful if my reward to myself could be to look forward to the love and cheerfulness of a sweet little dog. The quicker I recover, the quicker I get my dog. A great insentive, no?
Thanks,
Melina

[aggie94]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the information and your kind/encouraging words. I got online last night and posted on two Yahoo groups of owners with FIV+ cats. I've gotten several responses with information that I'm looking into, including Best Friends and a no-kill shelter in Portland that might accept him. The longer I have him in my old house, and the more time I spend with him, the harder it will be for me to put him down. I'd never just leave him to fend for himself (and infect other cats) - that would be almost as irresponsible as my neighbor letting it come to this in the first place. If it comes down to it, I'll have to euthanize him.

BUT, I got another hopeful response from one of the Yahoo groups last night. A woman in Dallas/Ft. Worth emailed me with some links to shelters in my area that might be able to give me some leads. She closed her email by saying that she would gladly take him if she could, but that she lived in Texas. Most of you guys know that DH & I are from Texas. Well, DH is planning to go home to visit his parents later this month or early next month. I emailed her back and asked if she was serious, because I would be willing to fly him down there. She responded that if I couldn't find anyone else, she could probably convince her husband that they should take him. I'm sure she was just being polite by closing her first email this way, and in a way, I'd feel like I was taking advantage of her generosity by actually asking her to take him, but I will do almost anything to avoid having him put down.

Thanks again, y'all! And if you have more ideas, please keep them coming!

[brooke4]

Okay- I have now become obsessed with finding resources for you! Here are some: http://www.adopthomelesspaws.org/leuk.htm http://www.safehavenforcats.org/shfcupdates/meetthecats.htm http://www.purrfectpals.org/fiv.htm http://www.azfelines.org/ http://www.felinefriendsinc.com/ http://205.139.122.86/index.html (cat adoption team in Portland, OR) http://www.furr-angels.com/fiv.htm

you can find more by searching in google.com.......

[brooke4]

I have also heard great things about bestfriends.org. I get their brochure, and they seem to provide excellent care. Unfortunately, I live in Philly and cant take in another cat (already have 2)- please keep us updated!

[aggie94]

I just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who posted here (or even just read my message) about Tiger. I have officially booked him (and DH) on a flight to Dallas later this month to be delivered to his new home. I wish I could meet the woman who so generously offered to take him, but I feel OK with sending DH down to visit her and her husband at their home and see where Tiger will be living. Thanks again to everyone for the links and encouragement. I would have been so heartbroken if I had had to put him down -- I still wish I could keep him, but I feel better knowing that he is going to live with someone who obviously cares a great deal about him, even though she's never met him!

[KathrynY]

aggie94 - so glad to hear that Tiger has a new home! He certainly is a lucky cat to have met you and your DH. I had my fingers crossed that things would work out for you all. Thanks for letting us know.

[SusanL]

Aggie, I have been wondering also! You are truly a kind and loving person to generously send that cat to a wonderful woman!! Also, DH is my kind of guy to do that for you!! St. Francis of Asisi(sp?) is smiling down at you!!