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 In June, 2008 SHS took in six 6-week old kittens that were found abandoned in Fairhaven. All tested positive for feline leukemia (FELV), a virus that affects cats' immune systems. Kittens may inherit FELV from their mothers, but many cats possess natural antibodies to the virus and can fight it off, given time and good health. We decided to give these kitties a chance to survive in the hope that someday they could lead normal, healthy lives.
In November, 2008 two of the kittens tested negative for the virus and were adopted! Although the remaining 4 kitties showed no signs of infection and in fact appeared quite plump and healthy, their test results continued to come back "positive". Feline leukemia is contagious to other cats, so these special kitties needed to be kept isolated from the rest of the shelter cats. We gave them a room of their own and tried to make it cozy - with comfy beds, scratching posts, and lots of toys and attention - and we remained hopeful that someday Tommy, Corey, Mouse and Opal would find their forever home. In February of this year, Pat Bitton lost her beloved feline friend, Gillespie. After 18 years of companionship Gillespie succumbed to a wasting illness, leaving Pat to mourn her as only a devoted pet guardian can. Not quite ready to fill her home with the pitter-patter of feline feet, but knowing that eventually she would be looking for a pair of young cats to share her life, Pat confided in SHS executive director, Cynthia Ryan, putting a bug in her ear should the right match come along. Fully aware of Pat's devotion to her previous cat and knowing the safe yet stimulating indoor environment she could provide, Cynthia immediately thought of the FELV kitties. They were of the age and temperament Pat was looking for, and would be kept inside and away from other cats for as long as it took for them to recover from their condition. She convinced Pat to come visit the foursome, and it was love at first sight. Pat began making weekly trips to SHS to visit and play with the fabulous four, bringing special toys to entice them (some required more coaxing them others), and acclimating them to her presence. For animals that had spent their entire lives isolated, having limited interaction with 'new' people, they were remarkably easy going and quickly dubbed Pat their "person" - eagerly awaiting her shelter sojourns. Then came adoption day - yes, all four kitties were going home! We were curious to see how they would react to the vastness of their new Victorian playground. There was some slinking and sniffing, and of course some hiding under the bed, but eventually Pat won them over with toys and a great deal of patience. Not surprisingly, they were in sensory overload for several days!  The fabulous four have received new names in celebration of their new life - the boys are Wallace and Gromit, named after the English claymation characters of movie fame (well, Pat is British …) and the girls are Dora (the Explorer) and Dizzy (in memory of Gillespie).
Pat reported after the first couple of days: "They are beginning to settle down a bit more, although Dizzy still prefers to stay under the bed most of the time and only comes out for me if I shine a flashlight on her! "About 4.30 this morning, Gromit and Dora were having a chase game that involved a lot of chirruping. Wallace found that he could get under a couple of layers of bedclothes and guard my feet against intruders." Today, all four are charging around the house as if they own the place (well, to all intents and purposes they do), and Pat even held a tea party in their honor. In most shelters, cats testing positive for feline leukemia would be automatically euthanized. At SHS they receive a second chance at life. And in the case of the fabulous foursome, a wonderful life it is! humane@sequoiahumane.org |
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Sequoia Humane Society
