CAT’s mission is to work with our community to save the lives of homeless, sick and injured cats and kittens by offering shelter, adoption, foster, hospice, and veterinary services to end needless feline euthanasia in our community.
Thanks to two young CAT volunteers, Girl Scouts Hannah Mortensen and Bailey Powe, a handsome lynx point named Demitri had a very happy ending to his search for a new home.
Last year, Bailey and Hannah started volunteering at CAT’s Sherwood shelter. They enjoyed socializing with the cats and identifying their unique personalities and behaviors to help match the cats with adopters.
The girls noticed that cats in one free-roam room were not attracting the attention of potential adopters. Concerned and curious, Hannah and Bailey learned these cats were separated from the other cats because they tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), which causes feline AIDS. CAT veterinary staff explained that FIV is a retrovirus and it is closely related to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS in humans. The girls were relieved to hear that FIV was a manageable disease. In fact, FIV+ cats often live long and healthy lives with good quality nutrition and proactive preventative health practices such as teeth cleaning and prompt treatment of infection.
These young philanthropists realized that FIV+ cats were just as lovable and worthy of good homes as any other cat, if only potential adopters knew FIV was neither a death sentence nor a danger to humans. So Hannah and Bailey created a full-color brochure featuring five FIV+ cats, including photos, biographies, personality traits, and facts about FIV. They distributed the brochure in their neighborhoods, schools, and businesses in McMinnville and Forest Grove. They also posted one on the FIV+ positive free-roam room at CAT.
Demitri was one of the FIV+ cats featured. He was adopted in late March by Carla Perkins, who had been considering adopting a cat for several months. Carla and her son visited the shelter during spring break. She viewed the FIV room and saw Demitri, who she described as “lethargic and overweight.” In their brochure, Bailey and Hannah explain that Demitri should be named Garfield. He loves to eat and he has the belly to prove it. Demitri likes to be petted and brushed. When he is being loved he gives kitty kisses, it’s adorable.”
Carla and her son visited other cats in the shelter. However after the adoption counselors raved about Demitri, they returned to the FIV room and spent more time getting to know the loving, cuddling side of his personality.
Demitri may have been exposed to FIV in a cat fight while homeless. Since FIV lives in bodily fluids, it can be transmitted from the saliva of an infected cat into the blood of another cat through bite wounds and scratches. When Demitri was brought to the shelter, staff performed a blood test to detect the presence of FIV antibodies. Due to early detection in its shelter cats, CAT can provide each with good nutrition, extra-diligent health care, and separate them from the other cats to prevent the spread of the disease.
“CAT made a commitment to help cats with FIV. There is a reduced adoption fee, and the medical wellness certificate provides certain veterinary care for an adopted FIV cat for up to one year post-adoption,” explains Kristi Brooks, CAT’s Operations Manager. At some shelters, FIV+ cats face euthanasia due to the disease. CAT chooses to separate FIV+ cats from other shelter cats while they await adoption. This practice has the backing of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
Carla is determined to provide the healthy life Demitri deserves, the one Hannah and Bailey envisioned for him. He still likes to eat but has lost a few pounds since moving in with Carla and her dog, Jelly Bean. Since FIV infects only cats, Jelly Bean was safe; not that he was ever worried. Jelly Bean loves to playfully goad Demitri who loves his naps. Demitri feels right at home, napping and resting on the back of the sofa, in “his” meditation chair, and on the window ledge whenever the dog will give him some peace.
All the FIV+ cats featured by Hannah and Bailey were successfully adopted as a result of their efforts.
Written by Nancy Contolini, CAT volunteer
14175 SW Galbreath Drive.Sherwood, OR 97140.(503) 925-8903..(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
