Hard to Find Adopters for Cat with Disability and FIV

Buddy is an orange American short-haired cat that looks like a normal adult male cat. You would never know that he had a disability without watching him closely. Buddy is deaf and has vision loss due to a head injury and adopters like him until they find out what needs to be done to take care of him.

We rescued Buddy in April after his people had moved away and left him behind. We suspect that this unaltered cat had gotten into numerous fights and that is when the head injury occurred. When we rescued him we did not need a trap, this cat came to us with deep puncture bite wounds and deep scratches on his face. I remember telling my husband that I never saw a cat with red eyes, that is because the red that we saw was blood. 

We immediately took him to the animal hospital where we learned that His vision is distorted, as he has no depth perception, he does not hear and he is infected with FIV. (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). We also learned that his cocked head and shaking of his head may be permanent due to head trauma. 

When we first brought him home we put Buddy in the cat-safe room. In this room, there was a futon bed, carpet and tile on the floor, a cat tree, a window seat, cat toys, a litter box, and food and water bowls. A nice cat room with everything a feline would need. However, the entire room changed in a matter of minutes because Buddy had difficulty walking and could not keep his balance. Everything high off the floor was moved, the futon mattress came down to the floor, and the bed frame was removed.

Buddy has to live in a room where everything is on the floor because the head injury and inner ear have made him clumsy. He could not get to his litter box or to his food bowls so we picked him up and put him in front of everything, we are thankful that there is nothing wrong with his sense of smell.

Buddy underwent three months of veterinarian care, including surgery on his ear, and in the end, I suspect he hears a little because he plays with the toys that are in front of him but if they go too far he will sit and stare. I do not think he can see them or hear the bell in his ball.

We hoped that we would be able to find an adopter who had no other pets, that had time to take care of Buddy so that he could not try to jump on something because he would fall. But the truth is that there are no adapters for Buddy that are willing to remove furniture from a room in order to keep Buddy safe. When they realize that they have to pick him up and put in on the sofa, then watch so he does not fall when he gets down. 

The adopters turn away from this cat with disabilities and FIV because he is too much work. That is why I say it is hard to find adopters for cats with disabilities and FIV.

Entertain Indoor Cats with Window Bird Feeder

My FIV cats Sam and Lucy do miss being able to go outdoors. I know this because they both go to the side door and meow daily. We have an enclosed sun porch with many windows and both cats enjoy this room they love to lie in the sun, play with their toys, and also watch the birds in the yard. However, they get bored easily and go to the side door to meow and beg me to let them go outdoors.

Sam likes to play with his toys

My husband suggested that we buy the cats a window bird feeder. He thought that the FIV cats would find this entertaining and that it would be fun for humans too.

We found a window bird feeder with a mirror that was flush with the window. This mirror would allow the cats to watch the birds without frightening them. The birds could eat the seed peacefully, they would have no idea that a cat was behind the mirror watching their every move.

Both my husband and I liked the Coveside Panoramic In-house Window Bird Feeder with Mirrored Panel because the fit would be snug against my window. This feeder then could be viewed from our living room and we could watch the birds through the one-way see-through mirror panel.

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Before buying the feeder we did check to verify customer reviews. There were many positive comments. We learned that the feeder was quality made from wood and came already been assembled. Installation is as easy as it can be. One commenter said “ I opened the window, slid the bird feeder in place, and shut the window. That's it! It looks like a custom installation. It fits perfectly in the window and is a very attractive addition to the room”

Today we ordered the window bird feeder because we feel it will be wonderful entertainment for our FIV cats that can no longer go outdoors.

My Cat Sam is Losing Weight

Forty-five days ago my cat Sam was rushed to the veterinarian because he had a fever and stopped eating. These two symptoms are cause for alarm when your cat has feline immunodeficiency virus. My cat was admitted to the animal hospital and stayed there for ten days. That is when we learned that his kidneys were not normal and that he had chronic kidney disease, his teeth needed to be removed, and that he was losing weight.  Pounds were lost while at the veterinarian hospital.

Sam hiding in the water container.

 Sam was losing weight; was a warning flag for cancer. 

Sam had an ultrasound and the results were negative, of course, this ultrasound could not see inside his internal organs and we have no idea if he has kidney cancer or what.

So we bring Sam home and he has to eat special cat food; Royal Canin veterinary diet Renal LP in gravy canned food for chronic kidney disease or renal failure.

The food gives him more energy but also reduces his food intake, plus Sam hates canned food.  He is a kibble junkie cat, and I guess he does not like the taste, eats only when he has to and I can tell he does not like it because he growls at his food bowl.

Yes, my cat hates his kidney diet food.  He eats when is starving and seldom licks the plate clean. I think this is why he has lost more weight.

The veterinarian says the weight loss is not due to the lack of kibble food but thinks it is due to some underlining medical condition.  I am a worried cat mom. 

We go back to the veterinarian on Tuesday for a checkup.

FIV Cat Gets a Chance to Have a Feline Buddy

This week I adopted an FIV kitten and I intend on socializing my adult FIV adult cat Sam with the kitten.   When it comes to kittens the success rate for socializing with an adult is greater. The reason is because adult’s cats realize it is a baby cat and are watchful and caring.  My veterinarian approved that I could try to socialize Sam with the kitten and if it works then Sam will have a feline buddy to play, sleep and grooming with.

FIV Cat playing in zazzle box 

Whenever you introduce an FIV cats there is stress and this stress may weaken their immune systems so I have started the socializing by putting the kitten in the adjacent bathroom to my office. (Sam lives in my office) There is an open space bellow the door where the cats can sniff each other and play paws.

see Buddy in the back, they are keeping their distance 

The kitten is a female and she loves Sam and I so far Sam as been very sweet to her. Today Sam passed her one of his catnip toys under the door and this act of kitty kindness melted my heart.  The kitten will stay in the bathroom an entire week before I attempt to introduce Sam to the kitten. 

I am hoping that the socializing process will go well.

Sam's 2nd Anniversary Living with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Sam celebrated his Second Anniversary by spending a long afternoon with Benny Blue my pitbull puppy.  While this may seem very odd to you it is not odd at all to Sam and Benny.  They are quite fond of each other and will even sleep on the chair side by side. 

To start Sam's anniversary party  I invited Sam into the main house, he enjoys having free reign of the entire house without worrying about the other cats.  The first thing that Sam did was charge to the sun porch to sit on the ledge and look out at the birds that were busy eating from the feeder that hung from a branch on the tree.  

Sam did his kitty dance; two steps forward, two steps back, hesitate and pounce close to the glass and then he was content to talk to the birds by mimicking their chirping.  After the bird watching, Sam ran back inside and into to every room.  He was searching for something and while on his search he was talking rather loudly. When he finished his search he jumped up on my desk and rubbed his face on my cheek and then began to talk even louder.

I gave him some food and fresh water but that was not what Sam wanted.  So I decided to groom him because he always enjoys that.  

Sam was fussy and did not want to be groomed and I was getting worried because he seemed overly anxious and then we both heard steps coming from the kitchen and Sam lifted up his head and then leaped off my desk and ran as fast as he could to the kitchen.  Then I heard Sam cry out in excitement and I heard Benny bark and the two buddies were together again and Sam was as happy as he could be.  Sam chased Benny out of the kitchen and then they wrestled on the floor.  Sam got the upper paw and taught Benny to sit and stay until Sam said it was okay.

Sam and Benny played until it was nap time and then the puppy pit bull and the Siamese cat lay on the sofa and went to sleep.  It was the end of a perfect anniversary day.

I was blessed when Sam crossed my path two years ago.  He has given my family and I so much happiness.  I am so glad that I was able to rescue and save his life by boosting his immune system, had I not I know Sam would have died of Feline Leukemia, cold and alone in the woods.