FIV+... But Still Adoptable

Angus (KN)

One of the conditions under which people may adopt cats from RAPS Adoption Centre is that the cat they take should remain an indoor pet. Some people find this a very hard condition, and stretch it to teaching the cat to wear a harness and leash, or building a catio for “outside” ventures. But it’s a condition that we will continue to ask for, because outside life for a cat can be a risky business.

Obelix   (KN)

Not only are there perils like traffic, coyotes, poison (and poisoned prey) but other cats they encounter may be dangerous to them. This is because of two viral conditions which are common to ferals and strays. Both present no danger to humans, but to varying degrees, will compromise the feline immune system.  These are Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). There is no medication available to cure a cat once it is infected – all we can do is treat the secondary infections.

Dillon  (KN)

FeLV is the more dangerous of the two, severely compromising the immune system, and transmitted via the cat’s saliva. For that reason, our Leukemia cats are kept separate and we follow careful sanitation protocols with them – not to protect ourselves, but to prevent them from catching something we might bring into their enclosure.  FIV, sometimes called Feline Aids, is transmitted only through blood, and is often found among feral male cats, who fight each other over females, territory and food sources. Infected female cats may pass the virus to their kittens in utero; of our 40 or so FIV cats, only four are female.

Minuet's sister was adopted,
but this girl is still too scared  (LBF)

There are three stages to FIV: an initial acute phase as the virus replicates rapidly, an asymptomatic phase which may last for years, and a progressive phase in which secondary infections occur – skin, mouth, eyes, respiratory or urinary problems are all common in this stage.  Visitors are often surprised to see this healthy bunch of cats being kept apart, but it’s easier for the med staff to keep an eye on them for secondary issues when they’re all together like this.  Accepted wisdom holds that FIV+ cats should not have contact with FIV- ones, but in fact when there is no aggression between cats, there can be no transmission. The story of Simba and Jack is a good reminder that FIV doesn’t need to divide good buddies.

Angus snuggling with his favourite blanket  (KN)

So, though not kept in the Adoption Centre, there are several of our FIV cats who are eminently adoptable – and who, if they bonded with resident cats, could live in a mixed household.  Tuxedo Angus has been on Petfinder for some time; he’s a sweet boy, living in New Aids, and struggling a bit with some of the strong purr-sonalities there. You will often find him buried under a blanket as he shuts out the world, and he’s happy to come for petting and love if he can do so without Domino getting in the way. He's a happy lap-sitter/bread-maker! Sleek black Obelix came to us several years ago, and is related to the calico crew in the front courtyard.  He was very shy for some time, and still tends to hold back until he knows and trusts you – at which point he is excited to come for petting and treats.

Obelix is wary at first, but loving when he trusts  (KN)

The cats who live in the Val Jones corner are also FIV+, and most of them are friendly and sociable. There are three that are immediately adoptable, and they’re all black. Dillon came from the same source as Chai, Kahlua and Dominique, in the main courtyard. He’s pretty cat-friendly, and is definitely pro-human – willing to come out and visit; his buddy Charles was quickly adopted. Longer-haired Gizmo looks is a very different Gizmo from the grey Back Courtyard guy – this Gizmo is friendly and sociable and there’s been no hint of grey-Gizmo’s erratic temper. Unfortunately he is already showing some mouth problems, and it may be better to keep him where he has quick access to RAPS medical attention.

Gizmo loves to come for petting  (BC)

One other boy in the Val Jones is a shoo-in for adoptability - he's the first to climb into a lap, and give love - but he's also the most loving cat to other cats in the pen. Jim arrived with his beloved buddy Frank more than two years ago; we lost Frank last year. Jim now snuggles with everyone - even grumpy Magnus plays with him. He has been the comforter for scared Minuet, and helped bring her to a point where we can touch her. For the health of the Val Jones community, Jim may be a permanent fixture!

Jim  (LBF)

The third black boy is new, and much younger – Raymond is about four years old, and has only recently arrived at RAPS from another rescue. He is an outgoing and very affectionate boy with lots of love to give. Shelter Manager Shena says, “He truly is a real sweetheart and would love a family of his own. He loves chatting and has a lot to say. He is very easy-going and enjoys laying sprawled out across the window ledge looking at all the sights. He is polydactyl which means if you love toe beans, he has an extra one for you to love.” 

Raymond  (LBF)

All our black boys also suffer from black-cat-syndrome – they are easily overlooked for more colourful kitties.  But any black-cat lover will tell you that it usually takes only a little time to uncover the purr-sonality behind all that black fur – and that you will be the lucky one indeed if you take one of these guys to your heart, despite their FIV+ diagnosis.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Sully

Sully (LBF)

Any regular volunteer at the Sanctuary knows how much of our work revolves around bathroom habits. From the scooping of many litter-boxes (more than 35 in the back area alone) and dealing with sweeping up after enthusiastic litter-kickers, as well as changing and scrubbing boxes – there’s a lot of poo and pee in our lives.

Sully  (BC)

And that doesn’t account for dealing with the cats who choose not to use litter-boxes. In some cases, it’s territorial (yes, Jasper, I mean you!), in other cases it’s a physical problem (as with our Manx Syndrome cats) – but for many, it’s because they just like to; it’s a habit, and one they’ve been unable to break.

Ollie is the King of pee-ers   (KN)

Six-year-old Sully was surrendered for pooping outside the box.  When he came in, he was actually named Ollie, but we already had an Ollie so his name was changed.  We should have known – our resident Ollie (beautiful boy that he is) has no time for litter-boxes either.  It was thought that Sully might be mis-aiming because of children-caused stress at home – we have had cats come in labelled as pee-ers, and find that they’re just fine with us. But it didn’t matter where Sully was – the box was not getting used.

Looking for a little attention   (KN)

Apart from his bathroom habits, he’s a sweet boy. He’s friendly and outgoing, and he seems to get on well with other cats.  He can be found all over the Front Courtyard – he’s not yet established his own niche area – and he is one of the cats that seems to enjoy visitors, rather than being spooked by them.
He reminds me of a friend with red hair and very pale skin who complains that her eyes vanish until she’s put mascara on; Sully’s eyes are a little squinty, especially in the sunshine, but it doesn’t stop him enjoying his feline sun-worshipping. 

Chilling out in the courtyard  (BC)

Some of our new cats take a while to adjust to life at the Sanctuary. Sully is pretty relaxed and feels quite at home. 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Boots is Getting Braver

Boots  (KN)

Boots came to us last year from Vancouver Island – he was feral-trapped by CATS (Cat Advocates Teaching and Saving in Comox). Their work initially focused on finding lost and dumped cats, and either reuniting them with their owners, or finding them new homes.  But in the course of this, they also come across many ferals.

Boots hiding out with the ferals  (LBF)

For many small rescues doing big work, ferals are a problem that needs a solution. Organizations like CATS do not have large facilities, and much of their work is done through fosterage. Fostering is good for kittens who have a chance to re-pattern their responses to humans in the first few months of their lives, but for many older cats, changing their ways is not easily done. CATS has a barn-cat program, encouraging local farmers to take on neutered, healthy cats – but the feral life, even within a barn-cat lifestyle, is a risky one.  CATS approached us about the possibility of taking Boots on. 

Anxious - but not ready to run just yet  (KN)

We think he’s about seven years old;  he began his life with us in the Connor building of the Front Courtyard. There we saw a hint that he might not be fully feral – though not ready for contact, he liked to be talked to. When released, however, he reverted to all the usual feral patterns – finding hiding places, emerging only early morning, and in the evening, responding with hissing and a strong smack when approached too closely. He was never an aggressive boy; his reactions were always defensive. He tolerated other cats, though he was basically a loner.

Snug in his favourite Connor hidey-hole  (BC)

I don’t know who was responsible for his change of heart, but in the last while we’ve seen him allowing touch – and not just touch, but real petting. He will accept treats, but they’re not the primary motivator. He’s beginning to be curious about humans, and will hover in the vicinity if other cats are gathered with a volunteer or visitor.  In fact, we’ve often seen him out during visiting hours – a real stretch of bravery for a cat that used to be so scared.

Treats for me?  (BC)

Though Boots sometimes hangs out with the other ferals in the Old Rabbit Area, increasingly he is basing himself at the Connor – not often inside, but on the porch in one of the shelf beds or in the cat-tree box.  If you get a chance to meet him, go slow and patient – he may initially huddle and hiss, but if he’s in the right mood, he will sniff your hand and investigate further contact, and sometimes allow (and enjoy) full-body strokes.  Offering him treats is appreciated, but it makes the other cats gather round jealously, and he then gets anxious about their proximity.

Relaxed and at ease  (KN)

We are always excited when a cat like this decides to put fear aside and approach us – whether a true feral, or a cat that has been a stray for a long time. The Kitty Comforters do much of the work in this area, but all of us, staff and volunteers alike, have a part to play in helping cats like Boots feel relaxed and at home in the Sanctuary. 

Blog by Brigid Coult
Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson

Peaches

Peaches says "MY space!"  (KN)

A couple of weeks ago I featured this girl as the lead photo for a blog I called “Love Attack”. She was more the Attack than the Love, sadly – she’s one of our collared cats, so marked to make it clear to visitors that this is a reactive feline – pet at your own peril!

This is definitely a trap!  (KN)

Peaches was surrendered to us because of her aggression, and she made it pretty obvious in the Adoption Centre that she was NOT a happy camper.  Usually when a new cat comes to us, if it has its name already, that doesn’t change. In this case, she was introduced as Precious, but the med staff asked for that to be changed to Peaches. It actually suits the warm tints in her colouring. We think she’s 7-8 years old.

Peaches  (KN)

She spent the first few weeks of her Sanctuary stay with the obligatory cage-time that allows a newcomer to adjust to a new space.  In her cage in the Double-Wide, Peaches didn’t have much trouble adjusting to new surroundings, but she didn’t want anyone in her space – staff and volunteers had to step carefully when cleaning there, and you took your life in your hands to change the bedding!  Sitting quietly and talking was permissible, but anything more tended to be greeted with an unfriendly rumble.

Laundry is usually a comfy place to hide  (KN)

Because we have visitors at the weekend – as well as occasional new volunteers – Peaches joined the collared cats when she emerged from the cage. She’s managing quite well in new and much bigger surroundings; she didn’t spend long inside and has now investigated all the corners of the back courtyard.  

Watching the treats action from a safe place  (BC)

Occasionally she will approach and ask for attention; as with JJ and Sophie and a few others, the best technique is to hold still and let her do the petting. Arms and legs are good for bunting and rubbing against; hands tend to produce a more aggressive reaction. We don’t know if she was abused in any way, but she certainly doesn’t expect good things from hands.

Sometimes it's worth suffering for beauty!   (LBF)

Other cats factor into her don’t-touch-me bubble – and yet, I wouldn’t label her as a Garbo cat (“I vant to be alone...”). She watches the activity around her with interest; she’s just not ready to be part of the crowd.  

That’s OK, Peaches – you’ve got all the time you need to decide how you fit it, and whether there are humans here that you can trust.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Lisa Brill-Friesen, Brigid Coult & Karen Nicholson