I originally found "Orange Boy" wandering around the neighborhood late last May & assumed he was another feral Community Cat. He arrived in my yard injured with a severe bite wound to his leg. His wound was open & he walked with great difficulty. My backyard & chaise lounge became a safe place for him to slowly recover & have daily access to fresh food & water. He was shy but non-aggressive.
After a couple of months, I succeeded in trapping him. I took him to the Milpitas shelter (HSSV) where he became part of their T-N-R program. After being neutered, microchipped, treated for fleas & worms, & given basic vaccinations, he was released back to me. The shelter (mistakenly) thought he was feral & therefore not a good candidate for adoption. As time went on, it became clear to me that Orange Boy had once had a home.
He did not respond in the ways common to other feral cats. He was friendly as he got to know & trust me. He began to approch me with ease instead of keeping a safe distance. He purred & enjoyed head pats. He meowed for food & slept on the tall chair next to our front door. As the weather turned cold & wet, I invited OB into the (carpeted) garage, where he has comfortably been since. He loves his kitty bed, uses his litter box, & is unphased by the opening of the garage door. After his months on the street, I knew he'd benefit from an overall exam & some "general maintenane." I took him to my vet where he was examined, evaluated & cared for (bath, flea treatment, exam, ears cleaned, nails clipped). He sat calmly in the car enroute, since he was too large (18 lbs) for the carrier. No fuss at all! He is clearly a mellow boy, since he was also calm at the vet's office! His thorough exam included comprehensive bloodwork. We hoped having this information would make adopting him easier & more appealing.
The disappointing news is this: Orange Boy is FIV+, likely a result of the deep bite wound he endured. (There was an aggressive, intact, feral male cat hanging about at the time of OB's injury.) The good news is that FIV is NOT easily transmitted, unlike Feline Leukemia. It is typically passed only via deep bites. OB's other labs are stellar & he shows no sign of additional health problems. He happily shows no sign of gingivitis, common to many FIV+ cats. Going forward, it would be best if he were adopted into a home where he lived indoors, as either the only cat or with other FIV+ cats. Kitties with FIV make loving pets & many can enjoy a normal lifespan. This is what our vet said & expects, based on his lab results. He offered to speak directly with anyone open to adopting Orange Boy.
Sadly, out of fear or misinformation, many FIV+ cats are euthanized. I would like to spare OB this fate, since he is an awesome & sweet kitty. Regrettably, I am unable to keep him. I have cared for & will continue to care for him for as long as possible, but I do need to find him a home soon. If any of you are open to adopting him or meeting him, or know someone else who may be, please message me privately. Thank you!
Please contact Feline Friends Network if you would like to meet Orange Boy.
P.S. I knew little about FIV & had to educate myself. Here are helpful links that inform & answer questions:
https://tinyurl.com/hr9b7fy
http://www.crashslanding.org/FivAndFelv.html
April 18, 2024, 12:13 am
