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Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:51 am
by lillycob
Hello thank you for allowing me to join.
On Saturday a stray tabby chap appeared at my house, and after a dramatic weekend trying to get him, managed to pick him up Sunday night. Took him to the vets Monday am to check for microchip and to cut a long story short he was tested and found to be FIV positive, he has one testicle present the other being somewhere in his person.After no chip, he had a 2 week antibiotic, pain relief for his very bad teeth and Metacam to follow this.After reading information on Catchat I have decided to have his balls off/out and his teeth seen to.I have 2 young cats both nuetuered,they live in my house with access outside at will.My question is whats the future problems, lifestyle he and I will have to cope with, he is between 5 and 10 years old and a sweet cat really and deserves a chance.He was very thin but appears to be putting weight on daily.Thanks sorry for the ramble.

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:22 pm
by bobbys girl
Hello and welcome to CC.

First of all Thank You for giving this FIV boy a home and a chance of a normal, happy life.

You ask,
lillycob wrote:My question is whats the future problems, lifestyle he and I will have to cope with
The honest answer is - nobody knows. But with the love and care you are about to lavish on him, there is absolutely no reason that he should not live a long, happy, healthy life.

That being said, Bobby is FIV+ and I worry about him constantly. :roll: But that is just me being an over-protective mummy.

I suggest you get in touch with Bob and Barbara at Catwork. They have a booklet all about FIV cats. It is free, but a donation would help. You can find them at http://www.FIVcats.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Good Luck

Sue

PS Does he have a name yet?

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 1:34 pm
by Cat
Welcome CC

I just wanted to echo Sue's words of advice.

My beautiful FIV+ boy, Scholes, was a stray. He too needed quite a lot of dental work but recovered quickly and now some three years later is doing really well.

Yes I worry about him - but then again I worry about any pet - and like with any pet, if I think something is amiss, I get it checked out. Scholes is a complete joy, and I'm sure your new boy will be too. Thank you for giving him a home. X

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 5:40 pm
by lillycob
His name is Mr Cat aka pus puss lol which he responds to,he is aggressive when he eats, but is not a fighter so that helps, and he does like me.He is quite good with the other two Melvin and Annie,so I am sure over time they will all get used to each other.I did think of pts until I read the catchat FIV article. The vet I used, which is a very local vet, and one I would not normally use, gave me the impression his life would be much darker than I have now found, so that is now out of the question.(I only took him there as a short distance for him in carrier etc).
My real question is can he lead a normal in out kind of life the others have, or would a house cat kind of life be more responsible.
I have rescued masses of animals in my time, its just another cry for help to me, so no thanks needed, I just wish it was the law to neuter cats and dogs other than licensed stud animals.
By the way the RSPCA were useless so I cancelled my monthly donation, but Cats Protection were very
helpful. The RSPCA got short shrift I can tell you lol.

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 6:31 pm
by bobbys girl
lillycob wrote:My real question is can he lead a normal in out kind of life the others have
As long as he is well - there is no reason he can't join the others. I know some folks keep their FIV+ cats indoors and there are usually good reasons for this, but if your other cats are safe outside it would be cruel to keep an ex-stray in.

We stopped using our local vet for the same reason. We now take them to a vet in another country! (OK we are only 100yds from the border :lol: )

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 8:04 pm
by lillycob
Thank you for your help, will be happy for him to have a normal life, especially as I have dogs too. Doors open in spring and summer most of the time, so as he's not a fighter, I'd like him to be free to come and go as the others do, and he is being very good, considering he is now indoors 24/7 although he now has access to the whole of the house.I have to laugh as he finds the dogs disgusting, and they don't understand this spitting monster, and can't quite see what the problem is,he is most affronted if they are lying on his settee already, and goes and lies on the stairs and sulks.Funny how animals adapt so quickly.
Thank you again.

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive sad news

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:06 pm
by lillycob
Mr Cat went to vets today to supposedly be neutered and have teeth done.He was weeing a lot so had a quick bloods done to check his kidney function.Unfortunately they rang to say his kidneys were very poor, he was anaemic, and would have to have most of his teeth extracted, and they felt they did not want to operate as he was so compromised.So he has been put to sleep.

I cannot say how upset I am.

Yes he had a week of being fed, was warm and comfortable and loved but what a shame his end was this.

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:19 pm
by bobbys girl
So sorry to hear the news about Mr. Cat. Yes it is a shame, but you did all you could for him and at least you spared him a long, miserable, painful death. Which is what would have been his fate as a stray. At least he was warm, comfortable and loved. Thank you for that.

RIP little one. x

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:37 pm
by lillycob
Your quite right bobbys girl and thank you for your support.
I cannot believe how you grow to love these cats so quickly, he was a gentleman of the cat world who fell on hard times.Am so sad for his end even though it is the most humane thing to do.
Thanks again this forum is so good.

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:32 pm
by honeychild
So Sorry for you and Mr cat, what a lovely lady you are.. Fiv strays have found their way to my cottage over the last 10 years.. ive another one now coming for food every night..another one will find you. xx

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 6:26 pm
by bobbys girl
FIV is not the death sentence it used to be. Yesterday Bob went for a check up and his vaccinations. The head of the practice, who did his op, saw him and said he was in excellent health and you would never guess he had FIV. :D

The problems start when they are strays, with no one to love them. :(

Re: Found stray took to vets and FIV positive

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:59 pm
by KittyCatKate
That is good you have taken him in. I know so many people that would give up and move on.

"My question is whats the future problems, lifestyle he and I will have to cope with..."

You won't know until they happen. Some cats can live with FIV happy and free from major problems their whole life, while others will need to go to the vet once a month. The cost may add up, so just be sure to have a back up plan if you are ever tight on money. You will learn and he will learn as you both go. It is like raising your first baby - You have no clue what may happen next, but love gets you through it. :)