Big Dave

So lovable....   (KH)

As many of the blog readers will know, my love affair with sweet tabby Elvis came to the best possible end last year when he was adopted to a loving family who adore him. There’s never any shortage of cats to love at the Sanctuary, and I’ve got lots to give – so my hands and my lap have been well occupied.  But it’s lovely to have an armful of chonky tabby again!

Will you play with me?  (KH)

Since joining the team of Kitty Comforters last fall, I’ve been spending one afternoon each week visiting shut-ins in their cages, having time with shy cats, offering bribes of food and grooming and petting (whatever works!) - all guilt-free; usually there is cleaning or feeding or scooping that has to take priority, and I love the afternoon shift when all I have to do is care for the cats emotional well-being. Anne, who heads up the team, keeps us well posted on who needs visits, and also reminds us that there are cats in the Adoption Centre that can use our love, as well.  Most of the Adoption Centre inhabitants are youngsters, but occasionally there’s a cat that for some reason needs isolation before being released to adoption potential or to a life at the Sanctuary.  Anne asked us to visit Big Dave before beginning our regular KC shifts. 

Such a chatty boy!  (KH)

Big Dave came to us from north Vancouver Island. He’s not that old – perhaps 3 or so – but he tested positive for the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and was going to be euthanized. The vet sent him to us as one of the few rescues where a leukemia cat can live. He’s obviously had a home – he’s very friendly and loves attention – but I suspect that his family allowed him outdoors and that he came in contact with another leukemia-positive cat and acquired the virus.  He could still live in a home (two of our younger leukemia cats, Adria and Creston, are soon going to their own new home), but it would need to be an indoors-only life, and alone or with another leukemia cat, and his former family might not have been able to supply that.   

First big out-of-the-cage stretch  (KH)

The SNAP test that shows the presence of FeLV is a very routine test, and one that is a regular part of preparing a cat for Sanctuary life – or for the potential of life with other cats. Unfortunately, it will sometimes throw what’s called a false positive – especially among young cats whose immune systems are not fully developed. In the normal way, a Sanctuary cat showing the FeLV virus will be caged with an indication that only the med staff will attend to their needs – so they don’t have multiple volunteers popping in and out of the isolation cage. If there is any possibility that the cat in question might be adopted, there is an isolation room in the Adoption Centre, where they stay until a second SNAP test can be done a month later. Until recently the room housed a couple of youngsters who have now passed their second SNAP with flying colours and have just been adopted.

Surveying his territory from above (BC)

Sadly, Big Dave’s second SNAP proved positive, and he was moved to the Leukemia area of the Sanctuary. There he was caged, though with the promise that he could come out if there was someone around to supervise. In fact, I think Dave has had enough people visiting him that he’s actually had quite a bit of out-of-cage time. He’s wary of the other cats, but not really aggressive; black Neptune and little Adria were both pretty hissy, but there was a lot of walking around each other. Dave is a climber – he took very little time to discover the cat-trees and take himself up to the cage-tops, from which he surveyed his new territory. He likes to be by the window and to watch what’s going on outside; when he has the confidence to brave the cat-door, I suspect he will enjoy the space of the outside area.

Enjoying window time  (BC)

He loves lap-time and attention, though is still a little nervous if another cat is also on the couch. He has an adorable little chirp, and will maintain a good conversation; he likes to play both solo and interactively.  What’s his future? - there’s no knowing. The virus affects the immune system, so we are very careful about sanitizing and maintaining a clean environment. Leukemia cats do tend to have shorter lifespans, but in some cats the virus seems to go dormant, and we’ve had our share of the ones who have lived good lives in our care – plus the ones who have been adopted by cat-lovers who understand the limitations needed for FeLV living. Because he is still young and so socialized, Big Dave would probably be a candidate for the latter – but until the right big-hearted person comes along, we will love him and enjoy his irresistible company.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Kim Howe

October 2024:  We lost Big Dave  - he didn't let on he was in pain, but was discovered to have an inoperable cancer and his leukemia body had no reserves to fight it.  We miss our sweet boy...