Linus is sunshine with whiskers
We received Linus this summer as a stray that had hung around a rural property for a couple years and had become a nuisance to the property owner. This stray orange and white in tact male was busy marking his territory and fighting for mating rights. He was trapped and it was arranged that we would take him into our care.
Linus was taken to the vet and neutered and tested and his test came back positive for FIV. (Feline immunodeficiency Virus or Feline Aids) Safe Haven is No Kill which means that kitties that test positive of either FIV or FeLV are not killed, instead they are given the opportunity to a long and happy life.
FIV is not transmitted to any other species but other cats, and is transmitted thru mating or deep penetrating bite wounds. If the cat is neutered he won’t be mating or fighting and so Linus was now adoptable and waiting.
Adult cats wait a long time usually for adoption. Adult cats with any health condition wait longer, and cats with FIV wait longer still. Thankfully there is education about FIV and more people are realizing that it is not a death sentence. Cats that test positive for FIV need to be monitored more closely than cats that are negative because their immune system is compromised so if they get sick, they have less resistance to illness than a cat that is negative. Therefore, with routine medical care and good care to the teeth, a FIV+ kitty can live a long and healthy life.
My husband and I have an FIV+ kitty in our home and he is now about 10 years old and has been sick only once and recovered quickly from a urinary tract infection. He is a great example of how you can live with an FIV cat and how these cats deserve the opportunity to live long happy lives with families. For more info about FIV go to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and read up on it. They have great links about FIV.
Linus did eventually get adopted and he came right back after the woman who adopted him listened to people tell her things that were not true about FIV. She was worried that he would die an early death and cost much in medical care. So Linus then went into a foster home. He didn’t work out in the foster home because there was another cat there that picked on him and Linus was not happy. So he returned to our adoption center and we were happy to have him back.
Linus helped fold laundry daily
He loved the kitchen, and helped with laundry and cat feeding preparation, dish washing, yard sale donation drop offs, and the general comings and goings of routine daily work. This fellow was much loved by us all. But we wanted him to have his own home so badly.
Just a few days ago, a wonderful enlightened, big hearted couple came into our building and fell for our boy. One look at this orange and white face perched up on his cushion in the kitchen with the sun shining on his face did it for them. The adoption team told the couple about FIV and they didn’t care. They called their vet to consult with him about FIV and to get his advice and their vet told them the same as we did, that he can live a long life and a healthy life. They went home and we all thought about it. And the next day they came back and we all agreed that Linus was their kitty!
Linus won the heart of this wonderful couple who calls him "Our Boy!"
It was tough to say goodbye to our Linus. We all loved him. But this couple is so wonderful for him. They already referred to him as “our boy” and the love they felt for him was clearly evident in their actions and words. We all kissed Linus good bye and good luck and he was put in his carrier and walked down the ramp to their car as we all waved goodbye.
Once they pulled away, our kitchen seemed it lost some of it’s sunshine with our orange boy on his way to Massachusetts. Nayla jumped up on the counter to beg for love and Peggy Sue slid over onto the chair. We all were quiet and teary eyed, but we all agreed we were so happy for Linus and this couple.
How wonderful to be a part of an organization that is NO KILL that gives cats like Linus this opportunity to life. How important it is for us all who love animals to continue this work, so others understand FIV and that every life is worth saving.
God Bless you Linus and your new wonderful, loving family!
The kitties thank you!
