In Loving Memory of Sam A Siamese Soul Who Defied the Odds

 

Some stories begin with heartbreak and end with grace. Sam’s story is one of those.

When Sam first came into my life, he was a young Siamese cat with quiet eyes and a gentle spirit. A routine vet visit turned into a devastating diagnosis: FeLV. The veterinarian told me he was dying that the kindest thing would be to let him go.

But I saw something else. I saw life. I saw possibility. I said no.

I brought Sam home, had him neutered, gave him his shots, and surrounded him with love. Six weeks later, I had him retested. The results changed everything: Sam didn’t have FeLV. He had FIV a condition far more manageable with care and compassion.

From that moment on, Sam lived exclusively indoors with my three other cats. They adored each other, and because their bond was peaceful and affectionate, there was no risk of transmission. Sam thrived in their company, curled up in sunbeams, and quietly became the heart of our home.

He lived for nineteen beautiful years.

In his final weekend, Sam suffered a stroke. No veterinarian was available, so we did what love demands we made space for peace. We placed him gently on his bed, and one by one, his companions came to say goodbye. My dog lay beside him. Then the three cats joined, forming a circle of warmth and silent devotion.

Sam passed away surrounded by love.

He was cherished. He is missed. And he will always be remembered not for his diagnosis, but for his resilience, and the quiet way he taught us that love is the most powerful medicine of all.

Footnote:
Too often, FIV-positive cats are overlooked in shelters and rescues, dismissed as “sickly” or “short-lived.” Sam’s life is proof that this simply isn’t true. With proper care, a loving home, and a peaceful environment, FIV cats can live long, joyful lives just like Sam did. He shared nineteen beautiful years with me and his animal family, never once defined by his diagnosis. If you’re considering adoption, don’t pass up an FIV cat. You might just find your soulmate.

Long Life for 18 Year Old FIV Cat

 My rescued cat Sam was diagnosed with FIV in 2008. At the time he was approximately two years old which means he has lived a long life considering FIV negative cats life expectancy is 15 years. Know that we did not realize he was as old as he is, but found his medical records that noted he was older than we thought.

Sam photo age 16

Studies have shown that cats with FIV do have similar life spans to cats that do not have FIV.  My cat Sam showed no signs of FIV throughout his life.  He did develop normal old age symptoms like arthritis and now at age 18, he has some cognitive issues.

I would say that Sam is a lucky cat because many FIV-positive cats develop secondary infections including cancer and immune disorders.  My friend has an FIV can that is sick all the time.  Not Sam he has a stress-free life, and we have always provided him with high protein quality cat food. Fish oil supplements and probiotics to help boost his immune. Along with nutritious food, I think the fact that he is a happy cat with no stress has prevented him from getting seriously ill.

 

Sam having fun at age 15

When we rescued Sam we were told that FIV was highly contagious and that it could be easily spread to our other cats by sharing food, water, and litter box.  So we did take steps to keep Sam away from our other three cats.  Sam lived at my office for the first five years.  It was not until there were air-conditioning problems that I brought him to the house. There he resided in a cat room where I had my home office.

One day when we were not home, Sam got out of that room and became friends with my other cats.  When we arrived home we found him lying on our sofa with our other cats.  We freaked out. Took all of the cats in for an FIV test and all of the cats were negative.

From that day forward Sam lived in the main house with our other cats. FIV is not passed by sharing food or water dishes, nor is it passed from grooming, play fights, or scratches.  Not even sneezes will infect my cats with FIV.  The only thing that will cause my cats to get  FIV is a deep bloody bite wound.

 

Sam has developed cataracts  and has arthritis he is age 17 in this photo 

Many FIV cats never leave the shelters because which is sad because FIV is not a fatality. Many FIV cats can live a long life just like my cat Sam

Sam the Homeless Cat is Rescued

In August of 2008, a car pulled up in front of my house, the door opened, and out came a Siamese cat. The car then backed up the hill and drove away.

The Siamese cat was left sitting on the side of the road. I ran outside to get him, but he was frightened and ran into the woods. I looked for him but could not find him, and gave up hope when winter came. Then on July 1st, 2009, Sam showed up on my front lawn. He was skin and bones and appeared as though he had been in a fight. The homeless cat that I named Sam, choose so I rescued him from a life of hardship.

In order to be successful in trapping I needed to develop a routine with the homeless cat. I developed trust with Sam by feeding him outside twice a day. I was able to lure him into the shed where there was shelter and straw bedding.

After three weeks, Sam would allow me to stand two feet from him while he ate his food. This was an indication that Sam trusted me. Sam grew to depend on me for food, water, and shelter. Trust and dependency meant that it was time to try to rescue him by trapping him.

Two days before trapping, I set the trap next to the food station. I did this to help Sam to get used to the trap. At first, he stared at the trap for a day and would not go near his food station. He finally gave in to his hunger pains and went to eat the food. On the day of trapping, I put out no food in the morning. I communicated with my neighbors to refrain from feeding Sam if he came to visit them. One hour before the evening feeding I lined the trap with heavy newspaper and then ran a trail of tuna fish down the middle of the trap. The tuna was stinky and it would attract Sam to the trap and lure him into the trap.

Sam arrived at the scene at 5:50 and promptly went into the trap. He ate the tuna, licked his paws, and walked out of the trap. Sometimes this happens, but do not be alarmed the trap door will close when the body weight is on the trigger. I successfully trapped Sam within three days.

When the trap door closed, I ran out to cover the entire trap with a blanket. Since Sam was trapped on a weekend, I could not take him directly to the veterinarians, so I brought him inside and placed his trap in the middle of my enclosed sun porch. The porch was equipped with a kitty condominium, cat toys, a food bowl, a water fountain, a cat bed, and a fleece shirt with my scent on it.

The room was a perfect area to rehabilitate Sam. I did not open the trap immediately, instead, I waited an hour before letting Sam out into the room. Sam emerged from the trap and proceeded to climb the walls. He was frantic for about five minutes before he settled down to eat. I talked to him in a soft voice and told him he was a good boy and that he was safe from harm. Sam allowed me to rescue him in the trap because he trusted me.